- Pick it if you are:
- Professional colorists and color grading specialists; Budget-conscious YouTube creators
- Top complaint:
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Price:
- Free plan
- Pick it if you are:
- Families and casual users; Students
- Top complaint:
- iMovie 'Share Failed' export error
- Price:
- Free plan
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
DaVinci Resolve
- Frequent crashes and freezes(9/10)
- Hardware demands are excessive(8/10)
- 4K footage doesn't run smoothly without proxies(6/10)
iMovie
- iMovie spinning beach ball and freezing on Mac(7/10)
DaVinci Resolve
- Steep learning curve intimidates beginners(7/10)
- Basic editing functions unnecessarily complicated(7/10)
- Fusion VFX is extremely difficult to learn(5/10)
- Missing playback speed options(4/10)
iMovie
- Audio out of sync after export(6/10)
DaVinci Resolve
- Export adds black artifacts and audio pops(8/10)
- Projects not backwards compatible(6/10)
iMovie
- iMovie 'Share Failed' export error(8/10)
- 'Not enough disk space' error with plenty of free space(8/10)
- iMovie library corrupted or project won't open(8/10)
DaVinci Resolve
- Linux version lacks H.264/H.265 codec support(7/10)
- Fairlight audio editing has notable limitations(5/10)
iMovie
- Can't import iPhone video: HEVC and variable frame rate(6/10)
- Apple-only: no Windows or Android version(5/10)
DaVinci Resolve
- Free version limited to 8-bit codecs and UHD resolution(6/10)
iMovie
No signals
DaVinci Resolve
- Customer support is unresponsive(6/10)
iMovie
- Little official support beyond community forums(6/10)
DaVinci Resolve
- No Android app, iPad-only mobile support(5/10)
iMovie
- iPhone and iPad export fails with 'not enough space left on this device'(8/10)
- Mac and iOS versions differ in features(5/10)
DaVinci Resolve
No signals
iMovie
- No multi-track editing, one overlay layer only(6/10)
- No AI features or social aspect presets(5/10)
Pricing Comparison
DaVinci Resolve
Users: Single user
Storage: Unlimited (local storage)
Limits: UHD (3840x2160) max, 8-bit formats up to 60fps, no AI Neural Engine; Studio adds 10-bit up to 120fps and beyond-4K. Free includes HDR grading and multi-user collaboration per Blackmagic.
Users: Single license, unlimited machines
Storage: Unlimited (local storage)
Limits: Activation key works on two computers at once (or USB dongle); cannot convert an App Store license to a key
Users: Single license
Storage: Unlimited
Limits: Speed Editor primarily useful for Cut page workflow
iMovie
Users: 1 user
Storage: Uses device storage; projects stored on startup disk by default
Limits: One overlay layer, basic audio and colour tools, no AI features, Apple devices only
Feature Comparison
| Feature | DaVinci Resolve | iMovie |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Free professional version Full editing, color, VFX, audio - no watermarks | ||
| One-time purchase option $295 Studio with lifetime updates | ||
| Subscription needed | ||
| Editing | ||
| Timeline editing | ||
| Titles and themes | ||
| Movie trailers | ||
| Multi-track timeline One extra layer only per reviews | ||
| Advanced colour grading Basic tools only | ||
| Motion tracking | ||
| AI features Per a 2026 third-party review | ||
| Core Features | ||
| Professional color grading Industry-leading, used in Hollywood | ||
| VFX compositing (Fusion) Node-based, steep learning curve | ||
| Audio post-production (Fairlight) Built-in DAW, no MIDI support | ||
| Resolution | ||
| 4K editing Free: UHD only, Studio: DCI 4K+ | ||
| 8K editing Studio only | ||
| Codecs | ||
| 10-bit codec support Studio only - major free version limitation | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Mac version | ||
| iPhone and iPad versions | ||
| Windows or Android | ||
| Collaboration | ||
| Multi-user collaboration Studio only, includes Blackmagic Cloud | ||
| AI | ||
| AI-powered features Studio only - noise reduction, voice isolation | ||
| Platform | ||
| Windows support Full codec support | ||
| macOS support Full codec support, Apple Silicon native | ||
| Linux support No H.264/H.265 codec support | ||
| Mobile | ||
| iPad app Cut and Color pages only | ||
| iPhone app Only Blackmagic Camera app available | ||
| Android app Not available | ||
| Performance | ||
| Multi-GPU support Studio only | ||
| Color | ||
| HDR grading Studio only for advanced HDR | ||
| Workflow | ||
| Offline editing Full desktop app, no internet required | ||
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