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Entertainment · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs DaVinci Resolve

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Entertainment

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DaVinci Resolve logo

DaVinci Resolve

Entertainment

Professional video editing, color correction, visual effects and audio post production

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DaVinci Resolve has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Adobe After Effects the Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's After Effects page on 1 January 2022 priced the standalone app at US$20.99 per month, with the full Creative Cloud All Apps bundle at US$52.99 per month; current prices may differ.; DaVinci Resolve free version limits noise reduction to CPU-only processing, significantly slower than Studio's GPU acceleration
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers 2D and 3D compositing, DaVinci Resolve covers Multi-user collaboration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe After Effects and DaVinci Resolve actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and DaVinci Resolve differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsDaVinci Resolve
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacosWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded19902008

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Adobe After Effects

  • 2D and 3D compositing
  • Animation tools
  • Keying and rotoscoping
  • Text animation
  • Particle systems
  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator

Only in DaVinci Resolve

  • Multi-user collaboration
  • 8K editing
  • Audio post production
  • Fairlight audio
  • Fusion VFX
  • Blackmagic hardware
  • Third-party plugins
  • OpenFX

Both cover

  • Motion graphics
  • Visual effects
  • Color correction
  • Local deployment
  • Windows support
  • Macos support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Adobe After Effects

  • Motion graphics creationnot DaVinci Resolve
  • Visual effects compositingnot DaVinci Resolve
  • Title sequencesnot DaVinci Resolve
  • Commercial advertisingnot DaVinci Resolve
  • Social media contentnot DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve

  • Professional video editingnot Adobe After Effects
  • Color gradingnot Adobe After Effects
  • Visual effectsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Audio post productionnot Adobe After Effects
  • Film productionnot Adobe After Effects

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Adobe After Effects

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's After Effects page on 1 January 2022 priced the standalone app at US$20.99 per month, with the full Creative Cloud All Apps bundle at US$52.99 per month; current prices may differ.

DaVinci Resolve

  • Free version limits noise reduction to CPU-only processing, significantly slower than Studio's GPU acceleration
  • Free version caps export resolution at 4K without 8K support
  • No multi-GPU support in free version, limiting rendering speed on powerful workstations
  • AI tools and features like Super Scale AI only available in $295 Studio version
  • Users report random issues requiring restart suggesting architectural stability concerns

Pricing, plan by plan

Adobe After Effects

$22.99/month
  • After Effects Single App$22.99/month
    • Motion graphics and VFX
    • 3D design space
    • Data-driven animation

DaVinci Resolve

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Professional editing tools
    • Color correction
    • Visual effects
  • Studio$295/one-time
    • All free features
    • AI tools and Super Scale AI
    • 8K editing support

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe After Effects if

  • You need 2d and 3d compositing.
  • You work on Windows, Macos.
  • You also want animation tools.
Adobe After Effects review

Choose DaVinci Resolve if

  • You need multi-user collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want 8k editing.
DaVinci Resolve review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or DaVinci Resolve better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and DaVinci Resolve at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or DaVinci Resolve?
DaVinci Resolve has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe After Effects and Free for DaVinci Resolve.
Does Adobe After Effects or DaVinci Resolve run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. DaVinci Resolve runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use DaVinci Resolve for free?
Yes. DaVinci Resolve has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month.
What is Adobe After Effects best used for?
Adobe After Effects is most often used for motion graphics creation, visual effects compositing, title sequences, commercial advertising. Of those, motion graphics creation and visual effects compositing are not what DaVinci Resolve is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that DaVinci Resolve cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools, Keying and rotoscoping, Text animation. DaVinci Resolve covers Multi-user collaboration, 8K editing, Audio post production, Fairlight audio. Both handle Motion graphics, Visual effects, Color correction, Local deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DaVinci Resolve: What is the pricing for DaVinci Resolve?

DaVinci Resolve has a completely free version with professional editing tools and no watermark. DaVinci Resolve Studio adds AI-powered features, 8K support, and multi-user collaboration as a one-time $295 purchase.

Source
DaVinci Resolve: What features are only in DaVinci Resolve Studio?

Studio version adds AI tools like Super Scale AI, noise reduction with GPU acceleration, 8K editing support, HDR color grading, multi-user collaboration, and advanced codec support.

Source
DaVinci Resolve: What are the hardware requirements for DaVinci Resolve?

For optimal performance with modern RAW footage, an NVMe SSD is required for cache and scratch files. Multi-GPU configurations benefit only specific effects workloads, while most users achieve better performance with a single high-VRAM GPU.

Source
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