DaVinci Resolve vs CapCut: Free Editing, Pro Tools and Price
Pick DaVinci Resolve if you edit on a computer and want professional color grading, audio mixing and effects for free, including on Linux. Pick CapCut if you make short videos for social media on your phone or in a browser and want templates and AI tools that get a clip posted fast.
Both have a free version you can use without paying. They are aimed at very different jobs, though: Resolve is a full post-production suite for desktop, while CapCut is a quick editor that runs on phones, the web and desktop.
DaVinci Resolve vs CapCut at a glance
| DaVinci Resolve | CapCut | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; DaVinci Resolve Studio listed at $236 | Free plan; Pro and Ultra paid monthly or yearly (price depends on your country) |
| Free plan | Yes, up to Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 at 60fps, 8-bit | Yes, basic editing tools and free templates |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows, Mac, web browser, iOS, Android |
| Open source | No | No |
| Phone app | No | Yes, iOS and Android |
| Pro-level tools | Editing, visual effects, motion graphics, color correction, audio post-production | Templates, keyframes, chroma key, stabilization, AI credits on Pro |
| Best for | Long-form video, YouTube, film and color work on desktop | Short social videos, Reels, TikTok and Shorts |
Which is cheaper, DaVinci Resolve or CapCut?
For most people both cost nothing, but Resolve's paid version is a single listed price while CapCut's paid plans are subscriptions. DaVinci Resolve is free from Blackmagic Design, and DaVinci Resolve Studio, the paid version, is listed on the official page at $236.
CapCut has a free plan, plus Pro and Ultra plans billed monthly or yearly, and a Teams plan priced per seat. The price you see depends on where you are.
On 6 November 2026, we opened both pricing pages from Pakistan. CapCut's page showed prices only in Pakistani rupees, with Pro at PKR 2,900 a month or PKR 19,900 a year, and a note that "Displayed pricing is for reference only" and final pricing appears after you sign in. Blackmagic's page showed DaVinci Resolve Studio at $236, marked down from $295. So check CapCut's page in your own country and account before you budget for it.
What can you do with the free versions?
Resolve's free version is unusually complete. Blackmagic describes it as an all-in-one solution for editing, visual effects, motion graphics, color correction and audio post-production. It works with virtually all 8-bit video formats at up to 60 frames per second, at resolutions up to Ultra HD 3840 x 2160, and includes multi-user collaboration and HDR grading.
CapCut's free plan gives you basic editing tools and free templates. The iPhone app lists keyframe animation, smooth slow motion, chroma key (green screen) and stabilization. CapCut's pricing page does not spell out export limits for the free plan, so check them in the app before relying on it for client work.
What do the paid versions add?
They add very different things. DaVinci Resolve Studio adds the DaVinci AI Neural Engine, dozens of extra Resolve FX, noise reduction, text-based editing and magic mask. It also supports 10-bit video up to 120 frames per second and resolutions beyond 4K. If you shoot in 10-bit on a modern camera, Studio is where Resolve starts handling that footage fully.
CapCut Pro is about AI and assets. It includes 1,200 AI credits a month, 1 TB of storage space, all premium templates and all premium Pro features. Ultra is the higher-priced tier above Pro.
Which is easier to use?
CapCut, by a wide margin, for short videos. It runs in a browser with no install, and its templates let you drop in clips and get a finished vertical video quickly. That is what most social media editing needs.
Resolve covers editing, visual effects, motion graphics, color and audio in one program. That depth is the reason to choose it, but expect a learning curve. It also needs a desktop computer: Blackmagic lists Mac, Windows and Linux, and there is no phone app.
Which runs on more devices?
CapCut. It has a desktop app for Windows 7 or above and macOS 10.14 or above, an online editor that runs in your browser, and apps for iPhone and Android. The current DaVinci Resolve 21 runs on Mac, Windows and Linux only, which makes it the one to pick if your editing machine runs Linux.
Still weighing other editors? Our guide to iMovie alternatives also covers Shotcut, which is free and open source, and Adobe Premiere.
Which should you choose?
- You edit Reels, TikToks or Shorts on your phone: CapCut.
- You want to edit in a browser without installing anything: CapCut online.
- You make long YouTube videos or films on a computer: DaVinci Resolve.
- You care about color grading or audio mixing: DaVinci Resolve, free version first.
- You use Linux: DaVinci Resolve, which CapCut does not support.
- You shoot 10-bit or beyond-4K footage: DaVinci Resolve Studio.
- You want AI video tools and templates: CapCut Pro.
FAQ
Is DaVinci Resolve really free?
Yes. The free version handles 8-bit video at up to 60fps in resolutions up to Ultra HD 3840 x 2160. DaVinci Resolve Studio, the paid version, is listed at $236.
Does CapCut work on a computer?
Yes. CapCut has a desktop app for Windows 7 or above and macOS 10.14 or above, and an online editor that runs in a browser.
Is there a DaVinci Resolve app for phones?
No. Blackmagic's product page lists Resolve for Mac, Windows and Linux only.
Which is better for beginners?
CapCut is faster to learn for short social videos. Resolve takes longer to learn but gives you full color grading, effects and audio post-production at no cost.