DaVinci Resolve vs Olive (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, DaVinci Resolve grades higher than Olive: 3.4 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 2, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 2, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
DaVinci Resolve grades higher on features, ease of use and platforms. Olive grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
DaVinci Resolve
Video editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app
Which one is for you
Pick DaVinci Resolve if
- Fits if you want editing, color, effects and audio in one app
- Works for learning professional post-production tools without paying, on the free version
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you only trim clips for social media, as this is a full post-production suite with a learning curve
- Not for you if you shoot 10-bit video or 120fps and won't pay, since those need Studio
- Pricey if you only want magic mask or voice isolation, because the AI tools are in Studio at $236, a cut from $295 with no end date given
- Watch out: text-based editing and AI noise reduction are Studio only, and Studio on iPad is a separate $94.99
- Not for you if you want to edit on a phone or in a browser, as neither is offered
Pick Olive if
- Fits if you want a free editor and can live with crashes
- Works for people who like testing open-source software
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you need to finish a project, as the README calls it alpha and highly unstable
- Watch out: the project website shows only a notice that Olive will return, with links to old downloads
- Not for you if you want support, as help is a wiki and an unofficial Discord
- Skip it if you want a phone or web editor, as it runs on computers only
How we grade them
| 3.4GPADaVinci ResolveVery good | 2.8GPAOliveGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BStudio is $236 for a license, shown as cut from $295 with no end date, which is just under two years of this category's $10 middle. It's paid once against rivals who rent at $22.99 a month, and plenty of people never need it. On iPad the upgrade is $94.99. | AFree to download and run, with no paid tier. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe free version does editing, colour, Fusion effects and Fairlight audio for 8-bit formats up to Ultra HD at 60fps, with HDR grading and multi-user collaboration included. Shoot on a phone or a consumer camera and you never meet a wall. | AFree outright, with no paid tier to buy into. |
| Features | ATwo editing pages, node-based colour correction, a 3D compositor for effects and titles, and audio with up to 2,000 tracks, all in one program. No rival in this category puts a proper compositor and a full audio suite in the editor, and the whole team can work on one project at once. | CNon-linear timeline editing on three systems, but alpha software the README calls highly unstable. |
| Ease of use | B4.54 from about 3,000 App Store ratings for the iPad app. The cut page is built for quick turnarounds, which helps, but colour and effects are node-based and that takes learning if simple editors are all you've used. | CNo store rating on record, and a timeline editor has a learning curve with no vendor support. |
| Platforms and integrations | BMac, Windows and Linux plus a separate iPad app, and it trades projects with Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro and Media Composer. No phone app and no browser version, so not the full set. | CWindows, Mac and Linux, but a program for computers only; no phone or web version. |
| Best for | serious editing and color work without a subscription | trying a free open-source editor |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: DaVinci Resolve and Olive. How we grade
Where they differ
- DaVinci Resolve can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Olive is open source, according to its own site.
- DaVinci Resolve also covers noise cancellation.
At a glance
| DaVinci Resolve | Olive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $94.99 for Studio on iPad (in-app purchase); $236 for desktop Studio (was $295) | Free |
| Free plan | The free version works with nearly all 8-bit video formats at up to 60fps and Ultra HD 3840 x 2160, and includes multi-user collaboration and HDR grading. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Blackmagic Design | Olive Team |
| Price read from | blackmagicdesign.com | github.com |
| Checked | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
DaVinci Resolve
- The free version stops at 8-bit formats, 60fps and Ultra HD 3840 x 2160; 10-bit video, 120fps and higher resolutions need Studio.
- The DaVinci AI Neural Engine tools, temporal and AI spatial noise reduction and text-based editing are in Studio only.
- The App Store version is for iPad, where Studio is a $94.99 in-app purchase; no browser version is listed.
- Rental licenses for Studio are described for companies using Blackmagic Cloud Organizations; individuals buy a license.
Olive
- The README calls Olive alpha software and considered highly unstable; use it at your own risk.
- The project website currently shows only a notice that Olive will return and links to old downloads.
- There is no hosted or paid support; help comes from the wiki and an unofficial Discord.
Key features
DaVinci Resolve
- Cut and edit pages
- Two editing workspaces: the cut page for fast turnarounds and multicam work, and the edit page with a traditional track layout, trimming tools and subtitles.
- Color page
- Node-based color correction with primary sliders, qualifiers, PowerWindows, trackers and HDR grading tools. HDR grading is in the free version.
- Fusion effects and motion graphics
- A node-based compositor in a 3D workspace for visual effects, animated 2D and 3D titles and particle systems.
- Fairlight audio
- Audio post-production with up to 2,000 tracks, ADR and Foley tools, and effects such as reverb, de-esser, hum remover and AI Voice Isolation.
- Multi-user collaboration
- Editors, colorists, effects artists and sound engineers can work on the same project at once, with projects hosted through Blackmagic Cloud.
- DaVinci AI Neural Engine
- Studio-only AI tools including magic mask, smart reframe, Super Scale upscaling, speed warp retiming and object removal.
Olive
- Non-linear timeline editing
- A timeline editor for cutting and arranging video, built as a free alternative to commercial editors.
- Windows, macOS and Linux
- The README says Olive runs on all three desktop systems, with build instructions for each.
- Open source
- The code is public on GitHub under GPL-3.0, and anyone can compile it from source.
- Two download lines
- GitHub lists a 0.1.0 alpha binary and a 0.2.0 unstable development build.
Plans
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve$0
Editing, color, Fusion effects and Fairlight audio for 8-bit formats up to 60fps and Ultra HD, with multi-user collaboration and HDR grading.
DaVinci Resolve Studio for iPad$94.99
in-app purchase on iPad; billing period not shown
Upgrade inside the free iPad app that adds DaVinci AI Neural Engine tools such as magic mask, smart reframe and voice isolation.
DaVinci Resolve Studio$236
to buy a license; no subscription period is listed
Shown as Now $236, Was $295, with no end date. Adds the DaVinci AI Neural Engine, more Resolve FX, noise reduction, text-based editing and 10-bit up to 120fps.
Olive
Free$0
Open-source editor under GPL-3.0; the project asks for support through Patreon.
Ways to pay less
DaVinci Resolve
- Other savings
Studio key included with editing hardware
The DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor ($349, shown down from $435) and Editor Keyboard ($535, down from $669) both list a DaVinci Resolve Studio activation key under What's Included.
Olive
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, DaVinci Resolve or Olive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, DaVinci Resolve starts at $94.99 for Studio on iPad (in-app purchase); $236 for desktop Studio (was $295), and Olive is free.
Which has a free plan, DaVinci Resolve or Olive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both DaVinci Resolve and Olive have a free plan.
Which platforms do DaVinci Resolve and Olive run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only DaVinci Resolve lists an iOS app. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.