Adobe Premiere Pro vs DaVinci Resolve
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
AI tool · Paid
Adobe's professional video editor, with AI features such as text-based editing, generative extend and audio clean-up.
AI tool · Freemium
Blackmagic Design's editing, colour, VFX and audio suite, with AI-driven Neural Engine tools in the Studio version.
The short answer
Choose Adobe Premiere Pro if you need…
- Professional editors
- Teams on Creative Cloud
Choose DaVinci Resolve if you need…
- Colour grading
- Editors wanting a powerful free tool
Side-by-side
| Adobe Premiere Pro | DaVinci Resolve | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Video · Video editing | Video · Video editing |
| Price | Paid | Freemium |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Works with | Adobe | — |
| Hands-on tested by us | Not yet | Not yet |
| Last checked | 2026-10-29 | 2026-10-29 |
What each one is
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe's professional video editor, with AI features such as text-based editing, generative extend and audio clean-up. Industry-standard depth. It is subscription-only and heavier than casual creators need.
DaVinci Resolve
Blackmagic Design's editing, colour, VFX and audio suite, with AI-driven Neural Engine tools in the Studio version. The free version is remarkably complete. Steep learning curve, and many AI tools need the paid Studio licence.
Best for
Adobe Premiere Pro
- Professional editors
- Teams on Creative Cloud
DaVinci Resolve
- Colour grading
- Editors wanting a powerful free tool
Strengths
Adobe Premiere Pro
- Multi-track timeline editing
- Text-based editing
- Generative Extend
- Enhance Speech
DaVinci Resolve
- Pro colour grading
- Fusion VFX and Fairlight audio
- AI masking and voice isolation
- Free version available
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve?
Adobe Premiere Pro: Adobe's professional video editor, with AI features such as text-based editing, generative extend and audio clean-up. DaVinci Resolve: Blackmagic Design's editing, colour, VFX and audio suite, with AI-driven Neural Engine tools in the Studio version. Adobe Premiere Pro suits professional editors, while DaVinci Resolve suits colour grading.
Are Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve free?
Adobe Premiere Pro: Paid. DaVinci Resolve: Freemium.
What are other alternatives to Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve?
Other options people compare them with include Gling, CapCut, Clipchamp, Kapwing, VEED.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.