The Wondershare Filmora Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Wondershare Filmora in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Wondershare Filmora
The Insider’s Guide
Desktop and mobile video editor with AI tools and a stock library
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from Wondershare Filmora’s own pages.
Made by Wondershare · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Wondershare Filmora’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Wondershare Filmora’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 45 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade
Wondershare Filmora is a video editor for Windows and Mac with separate apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. It combines a timeline editor, a screen recorder, color and audio tools, and a library of templates, effects and stock media. AI features such as text-to-video and automatic captions run on credits. It is sold as a yearly subscription or as a one-time perpetual license, and a free edition exports with a watermark.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Wondershare Filmora, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Wondershare aims it at beginners, though the phone app's reviews mention freezes and the three plans take some decoding.
- 1
Best for beginners making YouTube and social videos
If you want a free editor with clean exports, look elsewhere.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4.17 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $49.99 per year (Basic), or $79.99 one-time for a perpetual license.
- 3
There is a free plan
Free edition: all basic editing features and export, but exported videos carry a watermark. AI Mate is limited to 15 uses a day and the asset library is a small subset of the paid one.
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
- 5
Timeline editing
A magnetic timeline with multi-camera editing, keyframe animation, motion and planar tracking, and rough-cut tools that remove pauses or cut from the transcript.
- 6
AI generation and analysis
Generate video from text, images or audio, extend clips, and let AI Media Analysis tag people, scenes and speech so shots are easier to find. Most AI tools spend Filmora AI credits.
- 7
Captions and voice tools
Speech-to-text covers 27 languages and text-to-speech 28. Captions sit on dedicated subtitle tracks with dynamic styles, and audio tools reduce background noise.
- 8
A 3.0 GPA, above 45 of 52
That is against the other screen recording and video tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Wondershare Filmora you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Wondershare Filmora at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $49.99 per year (Basic), or $79.99 one-time for a perpetual license
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Wondershare, since 2010
- Category
- Screen Recording & Video
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 89,913 ratings
The report card
Best for beginners making YouTube and social videos
Filmora is a video editor aimed at beginners, with templates, effects and captions in panels beside the timeline, for $49.99 a year or $79.99 once. But the free edition watermarks every export, AI tools on Basic run on credits you buy separately, the stock library is $19.99 a month extra, the pay-once license covers one platform and one version, and the phone apps are sold apart. If you want a free editor with clean exports, look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $79.99 buys a perpetual license, less than a year of this category's $10-a-month middle plan, and Basic is $49.99 a year. AI credits, the stock library and the phone apps are all extra, mind. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Use it for as long as you like, but every video you export carries a Filmora watermark, AI Mate stops at 15 uses a day and the asset library is a cut-down one. Fine for learning. No good for posting. |
| Features | B | Multi-camera editing, keyframes, motion and planar tracking, color curves and LUTs, a screen recorder, captions in 27 languages and a pile of AI tools. Its AI-made images, stickers and text-to-video clips are for non-commercial use only. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.68 from 89,913 App Store ratings, just short of the 4.7 an A wants. Wondershare aims it at beginners, though the phone app's reviews mention freezes and the three plans take some decoding. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows and Mac plus separate apps for iPhone, iPad and Android, so computer and phone both covered. No web version, no Linux, and a desktop license doesn't cover the phone apps. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Wondershare Filmora is for
- Fits if you're new to editing and want templates and effects ready to go
- Works for tutorial makers, since it records your screen and edits it too, with captions in 27 languages
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a free editor with no watermark on your videos
- Too light for people who edit for a living and already know Premiere
- Pricey if you lean on the AI tools or stock footage: Basic has no AI credits, and the full library is $19.99 a month
- Tight if you swap between a PC and a Mac on the pay-once license, which also stops at Filmora 16
- Watch out: desktop licenses don't cover the phone apps, AI-made images are non-commercial only, and business use needs a separate plan
Good to know
Good for
- Hobbyists and YouTube creators who want a desktop editor with built-in templates
- Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription
- Tutorial makers who record the screen and edit in the same app
Worth knowing
- The free edition adds a watermark to every exported video.
- Individual plans are single-user, and Wondershare directs business use to its Team & Business plan.
- A Perpetual license covers one platform and only updates within Filmora 16; later major versions cost extra.
- The full Creative Assets library is a separate add-on (7 days free, then $19.99 a month), and desktop licenses do not cover the mobile apps.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.17
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Wondershare Filmora has a free plan. Paid plans start at $49.99 per year (Basic), or $79.99 one-time for a perpetual license.
AI credits, the stock library and the phone apps are all extra, mind.
Free
$0
Basic editing features and export with a watermark, 15 AI Mate uses a day and a smaller set of effects, titles and stock media.
Basic
$49.99
per year, billed yearly
One user on Windows and Mac: watermark-free 4K export, 1 GB of cloud storage and version upgrades. AI features are paid for with credits bought separately.
Advanced
$59.99
per year, billed yearly
Everything in Basic plus 1,000 Filmora AI credits a month and 10 GB of cloud storage. Shown as a discount from a crossed-out $69.99.
Perpetual
$79.99
one-time payment, for Windows or Mac
One platform only, updates within Filmora 16, a one-time grant of 1,000 AI credits and 1 GB of cloud storage.
The free plan
Free edition: all basic editing features and export, but exported videos carry a watermark. AI Mate is limited to 15 uses a day and the asset library is a small subset of the paid one.
Read from filmora.wondershare.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
Perpetual license for a one-time $79.99
A single payment buys a license for Windows or Mac with all updates to Filmora 16. Upgrades to future major versions are not included.
Stated on filmora.wondershare.comEducation
Discounted plans for students and teachers
Filmora's education store offers student plans at an educational discount to students and teachers who verify with an education email address or academic documents.
Stated on filmora.wondershare.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Filmora Pro”, against $49.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | Rp 799ribu | $44.69 | 11% less |
| Turkey | ₺2.299,99 | $46.77 | 6% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 2,990.00 | $47.60 | about the same |
| India | ₹ 4,999 | $51.68 | about the same |
| Brazil | R$ 299,90 | $59.92 | 20% more |
| South Africa | R999.99 | $60.48 | 21% more |
| Australia | $99.99 | $69.80 | 40% more |
| United Kingdom | £59.99 | $79.31 | 59% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Desktop and mobile video editor with AI tools and a stock library. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, AI features, transcription, noise cancellation, templates, screen recording, video editing.
Its AI-made images, stickers and text-to-video clips are for non-commercial use only.
- Timeline editing
- A magnetic timeline with multi-camera editing, keyframe animation, motion and planar tracking, and rough-cut tools that remove pauses or cut from the transcript.
- AI generation and analysis
- Generate video from text, images or audio, extend clips, and let AI Media Analysis tag people, scenes and speech so shots are easier to find. Most AI tools spend Filmora AI credits.
- Captions and voice tools
- Speech-to-text covers 27 languages and text-to-speech 28. Captions sit on dedicated subtitle tracks with dynamic styles, and audio tools reduce background noise.
- Screen recorder
- Captures the screen, camera, microphones and system audio at the same time and keeps each source separate for editing afterwards.
- Color correction and cleanup
- Color tools include HSL, RGB curves, 3D LUTs and a Color Mask for grading selected areas. Cleanup tools stabilize shaky shots and reduce noise.
- Creative assets
- Templates, effects, titles, transitions, music and stock media. The free edition lists 1,500+ effects and filters against 18K+ on paid plans.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Boris FX
- NewBlue FX
Wondershare Filmora is made by Wondershare, and has been around since 2010.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
45/52
Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above
Wondershare Filmora's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 45 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 39 of 52) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 4).
Its paid plans start at $4.17 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 7 of the 41 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Wondershare Filmora’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 39 of 52
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 52
- BFeaturesAbove 26 of 52
- BEase of useAbove 20 of 52
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 15 of 52
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 46 screen recording and video tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Wondershare Filmora is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Wondershare Filmora you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 45 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade. It costs $49.99 a year.
What you could make
- Templates: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A video editor.
- Audio cleaned up live as you speak.
- Recording the screen with its sound, and somewhere to keep the video.
- Speech turned into text you can trust.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Wondershare Filmora’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
CapCut, Camtasia, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere and Clipchamp
The 5 tools Wondershare Filmora is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
CapCut
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Video and photo editor with effects, auto captions and AI tools.
- Wondershare Filmora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Wondershare Filmora also covers transcription, noise cancellation, templates and screen recording.
- 2.4GPA
Camtasia
Free plan · from $39/yr
Screen recorder and video editor for tutorials and training videos.
- Only Wondershare Filmora lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Camtasia lists a web app.
- Wondershare Filmora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.4GPA
DaVinci Resolve
Free plan · from $94.99
Video editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app.
- Only Wondershare Filmora lists an Android app.
- Only DaVinci Resolve lists a Linux app.
- Wondershare Filmora also covers transcription, templates and screen recording.
- 2.6GPA
Adobe Premiere
Free plan · from $22.99/mo
Professional video editor for desktop, with a free mobile app.
- Wondershare Filmora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Wondershare Filmora also covers screen recording.
- 2.8GPA
Clipchamp
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Microsoft's browser-based video editor with a free plan.
- Only Wondershare Filmora lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Clipchamp lists a web app.
- Wondershare Filmora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Wondershare Filmora free?
Wondershare Filmora has a free plan. Free edition: all basic editing features and export, but exported videos carry a watermark.
How much does Wondershare Filmora cost?
Wondershare Filmora lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Wondershare Filmora work on?
Wondershare Filmora is available on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Does Wondershare Filmora offer any discounts?
Wondershare Filmora publicly lists the following: Perpetual license for a one-time $79.99; Discounted plans for students and teachers.
How is Wondershare Filmora rated?
Wondershare Filmora's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 89,913 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Wondershare Filmora have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Wondershare Filmora is listed for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Is Wondershare Filmora open source?
Wondershare Filmora is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does Wondershare Filmora integrate with?
Wondershare Filmora's listing names Boris FX and NewBlue FX. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Wondershare Filmora have a student discount?
Discounted plans for students and teachers. Filmora's education store offers student plans at an educational discount to students and teachers who verify with an education email address or academic documents.
Who makes Wondershare Filmora?
Wondershare Filmora is made by Wondershare. It dates from 2010.
What are the alternatives to Wondershare Filmora?
The closest alternatives to Wondershare Filmora in our directory are CapCut, Camtasia, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere and Clipchamp.
How does Wondershare Filmora compare with other screen recording and video tools?
Wondershare Filmora's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 45 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 4.
Is Wondershare Filmora good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Wondershare Filmora A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4.17 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 7 of the 41 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Wondershare Filmora?
To replace Wondershare Filmora you would be making a video editor. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Wondershare Filmora’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Based on Filmora's home, pricing, education, tech specs and user guide pages as of 9 October 2026, the App Store reviews of its iPhone app and the one Hacker News comment about it. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-14.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Wondershare. Prices change, so check filmora.wondershare.com before you buy.
- filmora.wondershare.com
- filmora.wondershare.com/shop/buy/buy-video-editor.html
- filmora.wondershare.com/shop/buy/buy-mac-video-editor.html
- filmora.wondershare.com/store/buy-education.html
- filmora.wondershare.com/store/buy-business.html
- filmora.wondershare.com/tech-spec.html
- wondershare.com/about/our-story.html
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Wondershare Filmora, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/filmora
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Wondershare Filmora: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/filmora
Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/filmora/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded screen recording and video tools after Wondershare Filmora, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Screen Recording & Video Insider's GuideEvery one of the 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, compared
- DaVinci Resolve Insider's GuideVideo editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app3.4 GPA
- Zencastr Insider's GuideFree podcast recording, chat-based editing and hosting in one app3.4 GPA
- Cap Insider's GuideOpen-source screen recorder with instant share links and an editor3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Wondershare Filmora’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Wondershare Filmora is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Wondershare. Prices and plans change: check filmora.wondershare.com before you buy.