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Video Production · head to head

HitFilm vs ScreenFlow

H

HitFilm

Video Production

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ScreenFlow logo

ScreenFlow

Video Production

Mac-only screen recording and editing sold as a one-time purchase

From
On request
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.; ScreenFlow it runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.
  • They diverge on capability: HitFilm covers Composite shots, ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HitFilm and ScreenFlow actually diverge.

Attributes where HitFilm and ScreenFlow differ
AttributeHitFilmScreenFlow
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelPer user per monthOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOSmacOS

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 ScreenFlow

  • Screen and device capture
  • Callouts
  • Animated zoom and pan
  • Caption authoring
  • Stock media library
  • Direct publishing

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 ScreenFlow
  • Producing a YouTube channel with recurring motion graphics on one subscriptionnot ScreenFlow
  • Learning compositing concepts on the free tier before committing to a paid effects toolnot ScreenFlow
  • Adding tracked 3D elements to live footage in a one-person productionnot ScreenFlow

ScreenFlow

  • Producing a paid online course where a recurring software subscription would erode the marginnot HitFilm
  • Recording software tutorials for a support knowledge base on a fixed annual budgetnot HitFilm
  • Capturing an iOS app demonstration directly from a connected device without a screen mirroring workaroundnot HitFilm
  • Training teams who need captioned, annotated walkthroughs without a full editing suitenot 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.

ScreenFlow

  • It runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.
  • Each major version is a paid upgrade rather than an included update, so the one-time purchase is in practice a purchase every eighteen months to two years if you want current macOS compatibility.
  • New macOS releases have repeatedly broken screen and audio capture until an update arrives, which is a scheduling risk for anyone recording to a publication calendar.
  • Media lives inside a project bundle that grows quickly and there is no real media management, so a long-running series consumes disk with no straightforward way to consolidate or relink.
  • It is a recorder with an editor attached; multicam, colour work and audio repair beyond simple cleanup all require a proper non-linear editor.

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

ScreenFlow

On request
  • ScreenFlow$undefined/year
    • Perpetual licence for one major version
    • Screen, camera and device capture
    • Full editing timeline

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 ScreenFlow if

  • You need screen and device capture.
  • You work on macOS.
  • You also want callouts.
ScreenFlow review

Questions people ask

Is HitFilm or ScreenFlow better?
Neither clearly leads. HitFilm starts at Free and ScreenFlow at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HitFilm or ScreenFlow?
HitFilm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for HitFilm and On request for ScreenFlow.
Does HitFilm or ScreenFlow run on more platforms?
HitFilm runs on Windows, macOS. ScreenFlow runs on macOS.
Can I use HitFilm for free?
Yes. HitFilm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ScreenFlow starts at On request.
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 ScreenFlow is typically brought in for.
What can HitFilm do that ScreenFlow cannot?
HitFilm covers Composite shots, Particle simulator, Camera tracking, Keying. ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture, Callouts, Animated zoom and pan, Caption authoring.

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.

ScreenFlow: Is it a subscription?

No. The application is bought outright. Major version upgrades are charged separately, and the optional stock media library is a subscription.

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.

ScreenFlow: Will it ever run on Windows?

No. It is a macOS application and Telestream has never shipped a Windows version.

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.

ScreenFlow: How does it compare with Camtasia on cost?

Both are bought rather than rented and both charge for major upgrades. ScreenFlow is Mac only; Camtasia runs on both platforms, which usually decides it for a mixed team.

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