DaVinci Resolve vs OpenShot (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, DaVinci Resolve grades higher than OpenShot: 3.4 against 3.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 2, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 2, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
DaVinci Resolve grades higher on features, ease of use and platforms. OpenShot 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 OpenShot if
- Fits if you want a free editor with no watermark for home videos
- Works for people who also want a built-in screen and webcam recorder
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you have an Apple silicon Mac, since the page only describes an Intel installer
- Not for you if you need a phone or browser editor, as it's desktop only
- Too light for team editing, since nothing on the site covers sharing or cloud projects
How we grade them
| 3.4GPADaVinci ResolveVery good | 3.0GPAOpenShotVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 use, and anyone can run it. The site says no subscriptions or watermarks, and donations are optional. |
| 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. | AThe full editor is free on all platforms, with no project limits, per the site. |
| 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. | BUnlimited tracks, keyframes, transitions, titles, color grading and a screen recorder. Nothing in the listing is missing from the core editing job. |
| 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. |
| 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. | CDesktop only: Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome OS installers, and no phone or browser version. |
| Best for | serious editing and color work without a subscription | a free, simple desktop video 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 OpenShot. How we grade
Where they differ
- DaVinci Resolve can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- OpenShot is open source, according to its own site.
- DaVinci Resolve also covers noise cancellation.
- OpenShot also covers screen recording.
At a glance
| DaVinci Resolve | OpenShot | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Free to download and use, with no subscriptions, watermarks or project limits, according to the site. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Blackmagic Design | OpenShot Studios, LLC |
| Price read from | blackmagicdesign.com | openshot.org |
| Checked | Nov 2, 2026 | Nov 12, 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.
OpenShot
- Desktop only: the download page lists Windows, Linux, macOS and Chrome OS installers.
- The macOS download is described as a 64-bit Intel installer; the page does not mention a separate Apple silicon build.
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.
OpenShot
- Timeline editing
- Video, audio and images go on unlimited tracks with snapping, waveforms and frame-by-frame stepping. Project files move between Linux, macOS and Windows.
- Keyframe animation
- Position, scale, rotation, opacity, volume and effect settings can be animated with linear, constant or Bezier interpolation.
- Transitions and effects
- More than 400 transition patterns, plus effects such as chroma key, blur and lens flare.
- Titles
- More than 40 editable 2D title templates, custom SVG templates, and 3D animated titles rendered with Blender.
- Color grading
- Color wheels, curves and LUTs, with waveform, histogram, vectorscope and RGB parade scopes.
- Built-in recorder
- Captures a screen, window or region plus a webcam and microphone, and places each recording on its own timeline track.
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.
OpenShot
Free$0
The full editor on Windows, macOS and Linux. Donations are optional.
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.
OpenShot
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, DaVinci Resolve or OpenShot?
As of Nov 12, 2026, DaVinci Resolve starts at $94.99 for Studio on iPad (in-app purchase); $236 for desktop Studio (was $295), and OpenShot is free.
Which has a free plan, DaVinci Resolve or OpenShot?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both DaVinci Resolve and OpenShot have a free plan.
Which platforms do DaVinci Resolve and OpenShot run on?
As of Nov 12, 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.