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3D & CAD · head to head

Arnold vs DaVinci Resolve

Arnold logo

Arnold

3D & CAD

Advanced Monte Carlo ray tracing renderer

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DaVinci Resolve logo

DaVinci Resolve

Film & TV

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: Arnold the Internet Archive's capture of Autodesk's Arnold overview page on 30 December 2022 stated a subscription can be installed on up to 3 computers or devices, though only the named user may run it on one machine at a time, and includes access to the 3 previous major versions.; DaVinci Resolve free version limits noise reduction to CPU-only processing, significantly slower than Studio's GPU acceleration
  • They diverge on capability: Arnold covers Ray tracing, DaVinci Resolve covers Multi-user collaboration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arnold and DaVinci Resolve actually diverge.

Attributes where Arnold and DaVinci Resolve differ
AttributeArnoldDaVinci Resolve
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
Category3D & CADFilm & TV
Founded19982008

Identical on both: platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Arnold

  • Ray tracing
  • GPU rendering
  • Production shading
  • OSL
  • Denoising
  • Maya
  • 3ds Max
  • Cinema 4D

Only in DaVinci Resolve

  • Multi-user collaboration
  • 8K editing
  • Color correction
  • Visual effects
  • Motion graphics
  • Audio post production
  • Fairlight audio
  • Fusion VFX

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Arnold

  • Film production
  • Animationnot DaVinci Resolve
  • VFXnot DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve

  • Professional video editingnot Arnold
  • Color gradingnot Arnold
  • Visual effectsnot Arnold
  • Audio post productionnot Arnold
  • Film production

Both are used for film production, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

Arnold

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Autodesk's Arnold overview page on 30 December 2022 stated a subscription can be installed on up to 3 computers or devices, though only the named user may run it on one machine at a time, and includes access to the 3 previous major versions.

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

Arnold

$29/month
  • Arnold$360/month
    • Standalone renderer

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 Arnold if

  • You need ray tracing.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want gpu rendering.
Arnold 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 Arnold or DaVinci Resolve better?
Neither clearly leads. Arnold starts at $29/month and DaVinci Resolve at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arnold or DaVinci Resolve?
DaVinci Resolve has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Arnold and Free for DaVinci Resolve.
Does Arnold or DaVinci Resolve run on more platforms?
Arnold runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. 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. Arnold starts at $29/month.
What is Arnold best used for?
Arnold is most often used for film production, animation, vfx. Of those, animation and vfx are not what DaVinci Resolve is typically brought in for.
What can Arnold do that DaVinci Resolve cannot?
Arnold covers Ray tracing, GPU rendering, Production shading, OSL. DaVinci Resolve covers Multi-user collaboration, 8K editing, Color correction, Visual effects. Both handle Windows support, Linux support.

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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