Softwr

Video Production · head to head

Filmora vs HitFilm

Filmora logo

Filmora

Video Production

Edit faster, smarter and easier

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
H

HitFilm

Video Production

Video editor and 3D compositor in one application, now owned by Artlist

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Filmora free version adds watermarks to all exported files; HitFilm editing and compositing share one interface, which suits a single operator and obstructs a team that wants to split the edit from the effects work.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Filmora and HitFilm actually diverge.

Attributes where Filmora and HitFilm differ
AttributeFilmoraHitFilm
Pricing modelfreemiumPer user per month
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Video Production).

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 Filmora

Nothing recorded that HitFilm does not also cover.

Only in HitFilm

  • Composite shots
  • Particle simulator
  • Camera tracking
  • Keying
  • Text and titling
  • Export presets

What people use each for

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

Filmora

  • Create short-form social media videos for Instagram Reels YouTube Shortsnot HitFilm
  • Generate videos from text prompts using Veo 3.1 AInot HitFilm
  • Produce professional marketing videos and product demonstrationsnot HitFilm
  • Edit multi-camera footage with simultaneous perspectivesnot HitFilm
  • Transform long videos into short vertical clips automaticallynot HitFilm

HitFilm

  • Cutting and finishing an effects-heavy short film without moving between an editor and a compositornot Filmora
  • Producing a YouTube channel with recurring motion graphics on one subscriptionnot Filmora
  • Learning compositing concepts on the free tier before committing to a paid effects toolnot Filmora
  • Adding tracked 3D elements to live footage in a one-person productionnot Filmora

Where each one falls short

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

Filmora

  • Free version adds watermarks to all exported files
  • Perpetual licenses do not include upgrades to future major versions
  • Basic plan limited to 1 GB cloud storage versus 10 GB in Advanced
  • Basic plan lacks AI features available in Advanced tier

HitFilm

  • Editing and compositing share one interface, which suits a single operator and obstructs a team that wants to split the edit from the effects work.
  • The perpetual HitFilm Pro licence was retired after the Artlist acquisition, so long-standing owners who bought outright must subscribe to receive current versions.
  • Effects and add-on packs were historically sold separately, and archived projects can open with missing effects if the current plan does not cover them.
  • Performance falls off sharply on integrated graphics, so a machine that edits comfortably can still be unusable for the particle and 3D work that is the reason to choose HitFilm.
  • Colour management and delivery options are thinner than DaVinci Resolve, so any project with a broadcast or cinema deliverable ends up round-tripping to another application anyway.

Pricing, plan by plan

Filmora

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editing access
    • Watermarked exports
  • Basic$49.99/year
    • Watermark-free export
    • 1GB cloud storage
    • Entry-level editing
  • Advanced$59.99/year
    • 1000 AI credits monthly
    • 10GB cloud storage
    • All Basic features
  • Perpetual$79.99/one-time
    • Perpetual Filmora 15 updates
    • 1000 one-time AI credits

HitFilm

Free
  • Free$undefined/month
    • Editing and basic compositing
    • Limited export resolution
    • Limited effects set
  • Creator$undefined/month
    • Expanded effects
    • Higher export resolution
    • Additional export formats
  • Pro$undefined/month
    • Full effects set
    • Highest export resolution
    • Advanced compositing and tracking

Which should you pick?

Choose Filmora if

  • You want to start without paying.
Filmora review

Choose HitFilm if

  • You need composite shots.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want particle simulator.
HitFilm review

Questions people ask

Is Filmora or HitFilm better?
Neither clearly leads. Filmora starts at Free and HitFilm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Filmora or HitFilm?
Filmora starts at Free and HitFilm at Free.
Does Filmora or HitFilm run on more platforms?
Filmora runs on Web. HitFilm runs on Windows, macOS.
Can I use Filmora for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Filmora best used for?
Filmora is most often used for create short-form social media videos for instagram reels youtube shorts, generate videos from text prompts using veo 3.1 ai, produce professional marketing videos and product demonstrations, edit multi-camera footage with simultaneous perspectives. Of those, create short-form social media videos for instagram reels youtube shorts and generate videos from text prompts using veo 3.1 ai are not what HitFilm is typically brought in for.
What can Filmora do that HitFilm cannot?
HitFilm covers Composite shots, Particle simulator, Camera tracking, Keying.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Filmora: Does Filmora offer a free version?

Filmora offers a free version but adds watermarks to all exported files. Watermarks are removed only through paid subscription or perpetual license plans.

Source
HitFilm: Is HitFilm still free?

There is still a free tier with limited effects and export resolution. The perpetual Pro licence is gone; the paid tiers are subscriptions.

Filmora: What's the difference between annual subscription and perpetual license?

Annual subscriptions include continuous updates and upgrades to new major versions with AI credits renewed monthly. Perpetual licenses are one-time purchases that receive updates only within the current major version; future major version upgrades cost extra.

Source
HitFilm: What hardware does it actually need?

A discrete GPU with adequate video memory. Integrated graphics will run the editor but stall on composite shots, particles and 3D layers.

Filmora: Is there a refund policy for Filmora?

All Filmora plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee for customers unsatisfied with their purchase.

Source
HitFilm: Does the Artlist acquisition affect the software?

It puts HitFilm inside a stock media subscription business. The licence model changed after the acquisition, and the roadmap now serves that business.

Filmora: Do I need separate licenses for Windows and Mac?

Annual subscription plans support both Windows and Mac under one license. Perpetual licenses are platform-specific and require separate purchases for Windows and Mac.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Filmora

More on HitFilm

Keep looking

Other head to heads