**To learn more about the fascinating history of DaVinci Resolve watch this video from Learn Color Grading** Free vs. While version 16 was already full-featured, the release of DaVinci Resolve 17 brought even more (over 300) new features like the color warper, HDR controls, Fairlight audio engine, and support for the new Apple M1 chips. Version 16 introduced the cut page to speed up the editing process. DaVinci Resolve is free and has another version called DaVinci Resolve Studio that has a number of enhanced features that you need to pay $295 for. It’s free and includes editing, visual effects (Fusion), audio post-production (Fairlight, a DAW) and professional color grading. It’s not a trial, it doesn’t have a watermark. Fusion was acquired and fully integrated as well as Fairlight.įrom version 14 onward, DaVinci Resolve became not only a viable editor but a full post-production suite and best of all it is free. Davinci Resolve became free, not just lite.

Then Blackmagic Design started to add more editing features, opening up the possibility of it becoming a viable video editor. Suddenly this legendary color grading suite was available to anyone.ĭevelopment continued, a Windows version was released with more features continually being added while the interface was overhauled to be more user-friendly. Eventually, a free “lite” version for Mac was released. Soon the price dropped and development changed. It was focused on color grading only and not fully featured as we know it now.

At this point, DaVinci was still the domain of high-end film productions and very, very expensive. Around 2009 DaVinci Systems was acquired by Blackmagic design who made DaVinci Resolve their focus for development. Before we get to the business end of what’s the difference between the free and studio version of DaVinci Resolve, it’s worth looking at its evolution.

Davinci resolve studio trial