If you’re a video editor, DaVinci Resolve is one of the very best options available to you, and it is made even better by the fact that using it is free—though the paid version adds some features that might be needed at the highest levels of video production. It doesn’t hurt that DaVinci Resolve can also handle VFX, audio post-production, and even motion graphics.

However, for many, DaVinci Resolve might not be the best choice for them. It could be because the learning curve is too steep, the hardware requirements are too high, or the paid version of the app is out of their budget. Thankfully, there are countless DaVinci Resolve alternatives to explore, and we’ll talk about a bunch of them.

Key Factors to Consider in a DaVinci Resolve Alternative

On a list of the best video editing software 2024, you’re going to see DaVinci Resolve show up on a lot more than just a few lists. However, you might have reasons why you don’t want to use that particular program (if it’s the learning curve, these courses and classes can help). If that’s the case, there are numerous free and paid alternatives to DaVinci Resolve. Here are the things to consider to find the perfect one for you:

• The features you need: Are you looking for something that can just splice and join video and audio clips, or do you need a full VFX suite and color correction along with that?

• The program’s learning curve: Software that is harder to learn can sometimes have more potential, but are you ready to spend weeks learning a new video editing program?

• Your computer’s hardware: The system requirements of your DaVinci Resolve alternative should be tailored to the hardware that you have.

• The program’s pricing: If you’re looking for free video editing tools to use instead of DaVinci Resolve, you can find those. Maybe you’re willing to pay, but just want something cheaper.

• The collaboration features: If your work is being done with a team, video editing software with convenient collaboration tools are a no-brainer.

Top 7 DaVinci Resolve Alternatives

There are a lot of free alternatives to DaVinci Resolve, and even more that will cost you something out of your wallet. We’ve done the hard part and scoured through all the options. Here are seven of the best alternatives to explore.

1. Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is the first option for most who are ready to take their video editing journey seriously, for several reasons. Comparing DaVinci Resolve vs Adobe Premiere Pro, you’ll find the latter has a similarly wide and powerful feature set, from color grading to audio mixing; but the added perk of fantastic integration with other Adobe programs like After Effects, as well as rich collaboration tools, great software support, and more.

However, the major downside when comparing DaVinci Resolve vs Premiere Pro is that the latter uses a subscription model. Premiere Pro on its own will cost you about $25 each month.  DaVinci is free, but if you want the paid version, many people will prefer its flat fee. 

2. Final Cut Pro

If you do all your video work on your Mac computer, you simply have to consider Final Cut Pro, as it is macOS-exclusive. If you’re looking for software you can easily get into, the simple UI eases the learning curve. Despite that, you still get powerful tools for color grading, basic VFX, and motion graphics.

It is minimally more expensive than DaVinci Resolve Studio, with a one-time $299 charge and Final Cut Pro is yours for life. If you have a Mac running on Apple Silicon, there’s no battle in DaVinci Resolve vs Final Cut Pro. The latter is optimized beautifully and you’ll fall in love with its performance on newer Macs.

3. Avid Media Composer

Avid is an industry-standard option for film and TV, and for good reason. If you’re working on an enormous project or you need one of the most versatile toolsets on the list, Avid Media Composer is the way to go. It is stable and reliable, and it comes with all the features you’d expect: color grading, VFX, and audio.

Unsurprisingly, being so heavy-duty, the learning curve is steep. You’re also going to need to pay $259.99 each year, on a subscription model, to use this. That’s close to the same price as Resolve Studio’s flat fee. That’s expensive.

4. VEGAS Pro

In the right hands, Vegas can work very well for professionals. However, it is simultaneously great for relative beginners, thanks to an incredibly designed UI. It might look simple, but it still has the power for the usual suspects such as VFX, motion graphics, audio mixing, color correction, and of course, video editing.

Vegas is exceptional since you can choose to buy a perpetual license for $169.99 or a monthly subscription for as low as $20 every month. The biggest downside to Vegas Pro, for most, is that it is only available for Windows systems.

5. Kdenlive

If you’re the kind of guy who wants your software to not just be free but open-source too, you won’t find many open-source options. Fortunately, Kdenlive is available as one of the few open-source alternatives to DaVinci Resolve.

Despite being free and open-source, don’t doubt Kdenlive’s functionality. You can do advanced color correction, and VFX work, and handle multi-track editing and audio mixing. You can also customize the interface to your taste. However, it does lack some features professionals might need and its learning curve is a bit steeper.

6. Filmora

I first heard of Filmora when I needed a video editor on my smartphone, and it did a great job. Filmora is a fantastic option if you’re looking for lightweight video editing software for PCs, as it has a user-friendly UI and basic features related to color correction, audio mixing, and VFX that non-professional workflows can benefit from.

Of course, its non-professional-grade approach means it might not be the choice for the most serious workflows. It makes up for that by being very affordable—a perpetual license costs just $63.99. This is great if you edit videos for your social media, personal projects, or other basic use cases.

7. Lightworks

If you’re looking for professional-grade video editing software without committing too much, Lightworks is a smart place to start. It has a fantastic free version, but for more advanced features, you can pay for the Create and Pro tiers of the program. The former costs $199.99 for a perpetual license, and the latter $419.99.

You can give the free version of Lightworks a spin without dropping a cent, and if you like the interface and flow of the app, it might be worth putting down some money. 

Comparison Table: DaVinci Resolve vs Alternatives

| Program              | Free Version? | Pricing                  | Operating Systems     | Notable Features                                                                 |
|----------------------|---------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| DaVinci Resolve      | Yes           | $295; One-time           | Mac, Windows, Linux  | Very capable free version, professional-level VFX compositing and audio mixing tools |
| Adobe Premiere Pro   | No            | $283; Yearly             | Mac, Windows         | VR content support, Adobe software integration, good collaboration tools        |
| Final Cut Pro        | No            | $299; One-time           | Mac                  | 360-degree video editing, leading performance and speed on Apple Silicon        |
| Avid Media Composer  | No            | $259.99; Yearly          | Mac, Windows         | Industry-grade features, collab tools, and support for surround sound audio mixing |
| VEGAS Pro            | No            | $169; One-time           | Windows              | Easy-to-use UI, ProRes GPU acceleration, solid color grading feature set        |
| Kdenlive             | Yes           | Free                     | Mac, Windows, Linux  | Entirely free and open-source, supports customization and multi-track editing   |
| Filmora              | No            | $59.99; One-time         | Mac, Windows         | AI-powered features such as automatic stabilization, object removal, and noise reduction; royalty-free sound library |
| Lightworks           | Yes           | Create: $199.99, Pro: $419.99; One-time | Mac, Windows, Linux | Very capable free version, simple multi-cam editing workflow, basic color grading and VFX tools

How to Choose the Right Video Editing Software

When trying to choose the right software for your video editing life, you need to make sure that you look at all of the most important factors.

How much are you willing to spend? If it is little to nothing, Lightworks and DaVinci Resolve have amazing free versions, Kdenlive is entirely free, and Filmora is affordable.

Maybe you need something that won’t demand too much from your hardware. Be sure to take a look at the system requirements for each program. For Mac users, Final Cut Pro is one of the best choices.

Sometimes, you need specific standout features. Perhaps you’re working with tens of cameras. Something industry-grade like Avid can be a major help in that regard. DaVinci Resolve supports a number of plugins; maybe you need something like that. It all depends on your exact needs.

Vagon Cloud Computer: A Solution for Complex Projects:

Take your DaVinci Resolve and other Video editing tools to the next level with Vagon’s high-performance cloud PCs. Harness the power of 48 cores, 4 x 24GB RTX-enabled Nvidia GPUs, and 192GB of RAM to streamline your workflow, tackle demanding tasks like color grading and advanced editing, and access your projects seamlessly from any device through your browser. With Vagon, you can focus on creativity and efficiency, whether you’re a beginner or a professional. Try Vagon today and transform your editing experience.

Conclusion

Your needs determine which DaVinci Resolve alternative is best for you. However, some of the best options are Final Cut Pro for Mac users, Avid Media Composer for those with extremely professional projects, and Filmora if you need something basic and don’t want to break the bank. Most of these programs offer free trials, so you can always shop around for a bit to find which is truly best for you.

If you’re using an older system for video editing, you don’t need to struggle to find DaVinci Resolve competitors for low-end PCs. Instead, give Vagon Cloud Computer a spin. You can access a high-performance rig over the cloud and utilize it for lightning-fast rendering and seamless video editing, regardless of your device.

Frequently Asked Quesitons (FAQs)

1. What is the best free alternative to DaVinci Resolve?

   The best free alternative to DaVinci Resolve is arguably Lightworks. It has a full-fledged free version, though you will be locked out of some features.

2. Is Adobe Premiere Pro better than DaVinci Resolve?

   Whether Premiere Pro is better than DaVinci Resolve depends on your particular needs. However, both applications are capable of handling professional-grade projects.

3. Can I use these alternatives on low-spec systems?

   Some of these alternatives will struggle on lower-end computers. An option like Vagon Cloud Computer can help circumvent hardware limits.

4. Which video editor is best for beginners?

   Many people generally agree that VEGAS Pro has a UI that is very well-suited for beginners. Filmora is another good option, especially due to its leaner feature set. 

5. Are these tools suitable for professional video editing?

   Several of these alternatives, particularly Avid Media Composer, as well as Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro, are very well-suited for professional video work.