DaVinci Resolve vs Blender
Both are free video editing & conversion tools. Here is how they actually differ.
DaVinci Resolve and Blender at a glance
| Feature | DaVinci Resolve | Blender |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Blackmagic Design | Blender Foundation |
| Licence | Free tier | Open Source |
| Cost | Free tier | Free |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile | No | No |
| Source code | Closed | Public |
DaVinci Resolve: what it's good at
DaVinci Resolve is genuine professional post-production software used on feature films and commercials, combining editing, industry-leading colour grading, visual effects and audio post in one application. The free version is remarkably complete rather than crippled.
- Industry-standard colour grading
- Full non-linear editor plus Fusion VFX
- Fairlight audio post-production
- Free version is fully usable for real work
Blender: what it's good at
Blender is a complete 3D creation pipeline covering modelling, sculpting, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, plus a capable video editor. It is used in professional studios and is entirely free.
- Full 3D modelling and sculpting toolset
- Cycles and EEVEE render engines
- Animation, rigging and simulation
- Built-in compositor and video sequencer
Which should you choose?
Both are free, so the honest answer is that you can install either and decide for yourself — that is the advantage of free software over a paid trial.
Both run on Windows, macOS, Linux. If open source matters to you, Blender publishes its source code and DaVinci Resolve does not.
We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either. We have no way to verify a rating that would be honest at scale, and an invented one would be worse than none — so we give you the facts and let you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Is DaVinci Resolve better than Blender?
Neither is universally better. DaVinci Resolve hollywood-grade editing and colour grading, free, while Blender professional 3D creation suite — modelling, animation and VFX. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.
Are both really free?
DaVinci Resolve is free tier and Blender is open source. Both can be downloaded without paying.
Can I install both?
Yes. Since neither costs anything, installing both and comparing them on your own files is usually the fastest way to decide.