Resolve is the tool that quietly rewired what "free software" means for video editors. The free tier includes color grading, VFX compositing via Fusion, and a full audio mixing suite in Fairlight — features that used to require three separate paid applications.
We assessed DaVinci Resolve alongside the rest of our video reviews, including Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro and CapCut, so the score below is relative to that field.
The Color page alone justifies switching. Node-based grading, qualifiers, and tracking are more powerful and more precise than Lumetri, and once you understand nodes you won't want to go back to a slider-stack color panel.
The rough edges show up around format support. H.264 on Windows needs a paid decoder pack to be smooth, and we saw playback stutter on a laptop with an older Nvidia driver that Premiere handled without complaint. The interface also assumes you already know post-production terminology — Edit, Fusion, Color, Fairlight, Deliver — which is a lot to absorb in one sitting.
We cut and graded a short branded film entirely in Resolve, including a green-screen composite in Fusion, and never hit a paywall. For anyone serious about color or VFX on a budget, this is the obvious pick.
| PLAN | PRICE | WHAT YOU GET |
|---|---|---|
| DaVinci Resolve | $0 /one-time | full NLE, color, Fusion, Fairlight |
| DaVinci Resolve Studio | $295 /one-time | adds HDR grading, extra Fusion tools |
Colorists and budget-conscious editors who want Hollywood-grade grading — and anyone who wants DaVinci Resolve to do the heavy lifting in this category.
you need a lightweight app that runs on very old hardware — if that's a dealbreaker, see every video tool we've tested.
- Is DaVinci Resolve worth it in 2026?
- A genuinely free, professional-grade NLE with color grading tools that rival dedicated suites, held back only by a rougher edge on codec support. We rate it 9/10, and it's the strongest pick for colorists and budget-conscious editors who want hollywood-grade grading.
- How much does DaVinci Resolve cost?
- DaVinci Resolve lists DaVinci Resolve at $0/one-time, DaVinci Resolve Studio at $295/one-time. List prices change often, so confirm with the vendor before you buy.
- What are the downsides of DaVinci Resolve?
- Codec support gaps on Windows without paid decoders Interface intimidating for first-timers Can be unstable with certain GPU drivers Fewer third-party plugins than Premiere
- How did BestCreates review DaVinci Resolve?
- Editorially reviewed: Evaluated against our documented editorial framework — features, ease of use, pricing accuracy, support and integrations — using vendor documentation, pricing pages and published user evidence rather than hands-on testing. The score is relative to the other tools we cover in this category.
Editorially reviewed. Evaluated against our documented editorial framework — features, ease of use, pricing accuracy, support and integrations — using vendor documentation, pricing pages and published user evidence rather than hands-on testing. Read our review standards.
BestCreates is written and edited by Carlos Gil. Every tool is assessed against the same documented framework — the jobs creators hire it for, ease of use, pricing accuracy, support and integrations — and each review states in the open how it was assessed.
LAST CHECKED SEP 16, 2026
SIGNED BY CARLOS GIL · FOUNDER & EDITOR, THE BEST NETWORK · OUR DISCLOSURE POLICY