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Video Production · head to head

HitFilm vs Mocha Pro

H

HitFilm

Video Production

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mocha Pro logo

Mocha Pro

Video Production

Planar motion tracking and rotoscoping plugin

From
$37/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only HitFilm has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Mocha Pro single-host plugin licensing is $37 per month or $295 per year, while multi-host plugin access costs $75 per month or $595 per year
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HitFilm and Mocha Pro actually diverge.

Attributes where HitFilm and Mocha Pro differ
AttributeHitFilmMocha Pro
Starting priceFree$37/month
Pricing modelPer user per monthone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb

Identical on both: 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 HitFilm

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

Only in Mocha Pro

Nothing recorded that HitFilm does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

HitFilm

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

Mocha Pro

  • Planar tracking for motion tracking on difficult shotsnot HitFilm
  • Removing wires, rigs, and tracking marksnot HitFilm
  • Generating editable splines with AI-powered rotoscopingnot HitFilm
  • Handling organic moving objects via PowerMeshnot HitFilm
  • Exporting stabilization data to host applicationsnot HitFilm

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Mocha Pro

  • Single-host plugin licensing is $37 per month or $295 per year, while multi-host plugin access costs $75 per month or $595 per year
  • Perpetual licenses cost $695 single-host or $1,495 multi-host and include only one year of updates and support before lapsing
  • Floating licenses and enterprise deployment are quote only through sales

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Mocha Pro

$37/month
  • Monthly Single-Host$37/month
    • Single-host license
    • Works with Adobe, OFX, or Avid
  • Annual Single-Host$295/year
    • Single-host license
    • Works with Adobe, OFX, or Avid
  • Perpetual Single-Host$695/one-time
    • One free year of upgrades and support
    • Single-host license
  • Monthly Multi-Host$75/month
    • Multiple different hosts on same workstation

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Mocha Pro if

Nothing in the data separates Mocha Pro from HitFilm on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Mocha Pro review

Questions people ask

Is HitFilm or Mocha Pro better?
Neither clearly leads. HitFilm starts at Free and Mocha Pro at $37/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HitFilm or Mocha Pro?
HitFilm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for HitFilm and $37/month for Mocha Pro.
Does HitFilm or Mocha Pro run on more platforms?
HitFilm runs on Windows, macOS. Mocha Pro runs on Web.
Can I use HitFilm for free?
Yes. HitFilm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mocha Pro starts at $37/month.
What is HitFilm best used for?
HitFilm is most often used for cutting and finishing an effects-heavy short film without moving between an editor and a compositor, producing a youtube channel with recurring motion graphics on one subscription, learning compositing concepts on the free tier before committing to a paid effects tool, adding tracked 3d elements to live footage in a one-person production. Of those, cutting and finishing an effects-heavy short film without moving between an editor and a compositor and producing a youtube channel with recurring motion graphics on one subscription are not what Mocha Pro is typically brought in for.
What can HitFilm do that Mocha Pro cannot?
HitFilm covers Composite shots, Particle simulator, Camera tracking, Keying.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Mocha Pro: How much does Mocha Pro cost?

Mocha Pro costs 37 USD/month (single-host) or 75 USD/month (multi-host) for subscriptions, 295 USD/year (single-host) or 595 USD/year (multi-host) for annual plans, or 695 USD to 1,495 USD as perpetual one-time purchases.

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.

Mocha Pro: Is there a free trial?

A 14-day trial is available through Boris FX Hub registration with no credit card required.

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.

Mocha Pro: What licensing is included?

Single-host licenses cover one workstation; multi-host licenses cover multiple different hosts on the same workstation. Enterprise and floating licenses available upon request.

Source
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