Kitsmith / Creator Tools / DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve
Free; DaVinci Resolve Studio $295 one-time (adds the AI Neural Engine, more Resolve FX, noise reduction, text-based editing, 10-bit/120fps and beyond-4K support)
Price checked at source August 28, 2026.
Hollywood’s color-grading tool grew into a full free NLE — editing, color, VFX (Fusion), and audio post (Fairlight) in one app, with a $295 Studio upgrade for the AI and HDR extras.
Our take
The free version alone is a legitimate professional editor — most of what makes DaVinci Resolve famous (the Emmy-winning color tools, node-based Fusion compositor, Fairlight audio mixing) is already in it, capped at 8-bit color and Ultra HD rather than gated behind a paywall. Studio ($295 one-time, no subscription) adds the AI Neural Engine tools, more Resolve FX, noise reduction, and 10-bit/beyond-4K support. The Mac App Store build is the one caveat: Blackmagic’s own listing says it skips some external control-panel and third-party OpenFX/VST plugin support that the direct download has.
- Price
- Free; DaVinci Resolve Studio $295 one-time (adds the AI Neural Engine, more Resolve FX, noise reduction, text-based editing, 10-bit/120fps and beyond-4K support)
- License
- Proprietary
- Requires
- Current-model Mac with Apple silicon, macOS 15 or higher, 8GB memory (16GB for Fusion) — per the Mac App Store listing.
- Get it via
- Mac App Store · Direct
- Developer
- Blackmagic Design Inc
Do you use DaVinci Resolve?
Who made this
Blackmagic Design’s own company page names Grant Petty as CEO, quoting him directly on the company’s mission: to make "the highest quality video... affordable to everyone." The founders’ background was in high-end telecine, film, and post-production engineering, per the same page.
What it does
One app, five pages
Cut, Edit, Fusion (VFX/motion graphics), Color, and Fairlight (audio) — switch between them with one click instead of round-tripping between separate apps.
Blackmagic Cloud collaboration
Multiple editors, colorists, and sound engineers can work on the same project library in real time via Blackmagic Cloud, with clip and bin locking.
Node-based color grading
Hollywood’s most-used color corrector, per Blackmagic — primary and unlimited secondary corrections, power windows, tracking, and HDR grading tools.
The deal
- Free version: full editing, color, Fusion VFX, and Fairlight audio, capped at 8-bit/Ultra HD
- Studio: $295 one-time, no subscription — adds AI Neural Engine tools, more Resolve FX, noise reduction, text-based editing, 10-bit and beyond-4K
Worth knowing: The Mac App Store build doesn’t support some external control panels and may not work with all third-party OpenFX/VST plugins — Blackmagic’s own listing says to use the direct download from their site if you need those.
DaVinci Resolve — questions people ask
Is DaVinci Resolve really free?
Yes — the free version includes editing, color grading, Fusion visual effects, and Fairlight audio, capped at 8-bit color and Ultra HD resolution. Studio ($295 one-time) removes those caps and adds AI tools.
What’s the difference between DaVinci Resolve and DaVinci Resolve Studio?
Studio adds the AI Neural Engine (facial recognition, smart reframing, speed warp), dozens more Resolve FX, temporal/AI noise reduction, text-based editing, and support for 10-bit video past 4K resolution — $295 one-time, no subscription.
Does the Mac App Store version have limitations?
Yes — per Blackmagic’s own listing, it doesn’t support some external control panels and may not be compatible with all third-party OpenFX or VST plugins. Download directly from Blackmagic’s site if you need those.
Is DaVinci Resolve free?
DaVinci Resolve is free to use with optional paid unlocks.
Does DaVinci Resolve work alongside a notch app like Alcove?
Yes — DaVinci Resolve lives in the screen, so it runs happily alongside any Dynamic Island hub or notch app.
Where can I download DaVinci Resolve?
DaVinci Resolve is available via Mac App Store, Direct.
Reviews
No public ratings yet. Reader reviews are coming to Kitsmith soon.
Listing hand-verified August 28, 2026 from the developer's site and public sources.
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