DaVinci Resolve vs Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve, one of its free alternatives, side by side.
DR
Best for pro-level editing and color on any desktop
License: Free tier
Status: Verified - DRPDRP: opens and saves, full fidelity
- MP4MP4: opens and saves, partial fidelity. The free version exports up to UHD at 60 fps; free Linux builds lack H.264 and H.265 support
- MOVMOV: opens and saves, full fidelity
- XMLXML: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Final Cut Pro 7 XML carries cuts, transitions and basic effects, not Premiere effects
- FCPXMLFCPXML: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Timelines and basic effects move across; Final Cut Pro effects do not
FC
Apple's video editor for Mac and iPad with a magnetic timeline, multicam editing and color grading, sold as a one-time purchase.
License: Paid
Status: Verified - FCPXMLFCPXML: opens and saves, full fidelity
- MOVMOV: opens and saves, full fidelity
- MP4MP4: opens and saves, full fidelity
DaVinci Resolve vs Final Cut Pro: facts| Fact | DaVinci Resolve | Final Cut Pro |
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| License | License: Free tier | License: Paid |
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| Maintenance | Status: Verified | Status: Verified |
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| Windows | Yes | No |
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| macOS | Yes | Yes |
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| Linux | Yes | No |
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| iOS | No | Yes |
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| Self-hostable | No | No |
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| Works offline | Yes | Yes |
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| No account needed | Yes | No |
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| Parity with Final Cut Pro | 86% | The reference |
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License classes: Free tier and Paid. Status rules: Active means a commit in the last 90 days. See the methodology.
Feature parity with Final Cut Pro
How DaVinci Resolve covers what people use Final Cut Pro for.
Feature parity with Final Cut Pro| Feature | DaVinci Resolve |
|---|
| Editing |
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| Magnetic timeline editing | PartialNote 1Track-based timeline and a Cut page; no magnetic timeline |
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| Multi-camera editing | Yes |
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| Color |
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| Color correction and grading | YesNote 2Node-based grading with scopes and HDR tools |
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| Effects |
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| Titles, effects and motion graphics | YesNote 3The Fusion page handles compositing and motion graphics |
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| Audio |
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| Audio cleanup and mixing | YesNote 4Fairlight page for mixing and repair; some AI tools are Studio only |
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| Captions |
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| Automatic captions from speech | PartialNote 5Subtitle tracks are free; AI transcription features are Studio only |
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| Organization |
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| Libraries, keywords and smart collections | YesNote 6Bins, smart bins and metadata keywords |
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| Parity score | 86% |
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- DaVinci Resolve, Magnetic timeline editing: Track-based timeline and a Cut page; no magnetic timeline
- DaVinci Resolve, Color correction and grading: Node-based grading with scopes and HDR tools
- DaVinci Resolve, Titles, effects and motion graphics: The Fusion page handles compositing and motion graphics
- DaVinci Resolve, Audio cleanup and mixing: Fairlight page for mixing and repair; some AI tools are Studio only
- DaVinci Resolve, Automatic captions from speech: Subtitle tracks are free; AI transcription features are Studio only
- DaVinci Resolve, Libraries, keywords and smart collections: Bins, smart bins and metadata keywords
All free alternatives to Final Cut Pro
DaVinci Resolve vs Final Cut Pro: file formats| Format | DaVinci Resolve | Final Cut Pro |
|---|
| .fcpxml | Opens and savesNote 1Timelines and basic effects move across; Final Cut Pro effects do notPartial fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
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| .mov | Opens and savesFull fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
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| .mp4 | Opens and savesNote 2The free version exports up to UHD at 60 fps; free Linux builds lack H.264 and H.265 supportPartial fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
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- DaVinci Resolve, .fcpxml: Timelines and basic effects move across; Final Cut Pro effects do not
- DaVinci Resolve, .mp4: The free version exports up to UHD at 60 fps; free Linux builds lack H.264 and H.265 support