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Home / Software & Apps / Video Editing Software / DaVinci Resolve
8.7 Tested Aug 26, 2026 by Team RankingRight

DaVinci Resolve (Resolve 19 (free) / Studio) review 2026

Hollywood colour grading and a full editor, free, with a one-time $295 upgrade — the best value in software of any kind

PriceFrom $0 · checked Sep 11, 2026
4K export (Mac)5.4 min
3-year cost0 $

Is the DaVinci Resolve Worth It?

Best video editing software overall. Resolve does more than editors costing $800 over three years, for nothing, and the one-time Studio licence is the best deal in the category. The price of that is a learning curve; give it a week and it is the last editor you need.

DaVinci Resolve Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Free version has no watermark and includes editing, Fusion effects, Fairlight audio and the Color page
  • Studio is $295 once, with free major updates for years
  • Best colour tools of any editor here
  • Runs on Linux
Cons
  • Steepest learning curve — our beginner took 4 hours to a finished video
  • Demanding on hardware; the Windows desktop struggled without the GPU
  • Free version exports capped at 4K and lacks some AI tools

DaVinci Resolve at a Glance

8.7 Editor Score
Editing toolsMulticam, keyframing, colour grading, audio, titles, effects — what the project needed and what was missing.
29/30
PerformanceTimeline playback and export time for the same 4K project on the same two machines.
18/20
Ease of learningTime for a beginner on the team to produce a finished 2-minute video.
12/20
AI & outputAuto-captions, silence removal, text-based editing, export presets and direct publishing.
8/10
ValuePrice over three years, including whether a one-time licence exists.
20/20
Reader ratingNo reader ratings yet — not part of the score
–
Own one? Rate it:

Rubric v1: Editing tools 30 · Performance 20 · Ease of learning 20 · AI & output 10 · Value 20. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.

Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026

Blackmagic Design — $0

Best priceVisit Site

DaVinci Resolve specifications

PriceFree; Studio $295 one-time (free updates)
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, iPad
Free versionYes
One-time licenceYes
MulticamYes
Colour gradingIndustry-leading (Color page)
Auto captionsYes (Studio: AI transcription)
Max export4K free; 32K Studio

Why it scored 8.7

Resolve does more than editors costing $800 over three years, for nothing, and the one-time Studio licence is the best deal in the category. The price of that is a learning curve; give it a week and it is the last editor you need.

Where it loses

Ease — hardest to learn.

Still the right pick for

Anyone willing to learn; anyone who grades colour.

DaVinci Resolve8.7 · $0
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