// head-to-head
Premiere Pro vs DaVinci Resolve
Adobe Premiere Pro is the default in agencies and broadcast. DaVinci Resolve is the free professional NLE that quietly took over color grading and is increasingly a complete post-production suite.
If you don't already work in an Adobe house, Resolve is hard to beat on cost and performance.
No paid rankingsPricing checked June 15, 20263 options
Pricing comparison
| Tool | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Premiere Pro | $22.99/mo | Subscription. After Effects, Audition cost extra unless on All Apps ($59.99/mo). |
| DaVinci Resolve (free) | $0 | Most features unlocked. H.264/H.265 export limited to 4K on some platforms. |
| DaVinci Resolve Studio | $295 one-time | Unlocks H.265 hardware encode, neural engine, more codecs, multi-user collab. |
Who should switch
- ✓Independent editors and small studios.
- ✓Anyone who color-grades regularly — Resolve's color page is industry-leading.
- ✓Editors on Apple silicon — Resolve performance is excellent.
- ✓Documentary and narrative editors who want one tool for cut, color, sound, and VFX.
Who should not switch
- ·Editors in After Effects + Premiere dynamic-link workflows.
- ·Agency editors handing off .prproj files to clients.
- ·Broadcast workflows standardized on Adobe Productions.
Savings math
- Premiere Pro single app: $275.88/yr.
- DaVinci Resolve free: $0/yr.
- Annual savings: $275.88 (100%).
- DaVinci Resolve Studio: $295 one-time → break-even vs Premiere in 13 months.
- Over 5 years: Premiere ≈ $1,380 vs Resolve $0–$295.
Caveats
- !Resolve's motion graphics (Fusion) are powerful but have a steep learning curve vs After Effects.
- !Plugin ecosystem is smaller than Adobe's.
- !Project files don't migrate between Premiere and Resolve cleanly — you'll rebuild timelines.
Final verdict
Independent editors: switch to DaVinci Resolve. Agencies tied to Adobe ecosystems: stay until a project lets you re-evaluate.
Pricing checked June 15, 2026. We re-verify every comparison page on a rolling basis.
Sources
Related guides
Prices change often — verify on the vendor's site before switching.