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Video Production · head to head

HitFilm vs VEGAS Pro

H

HitFilm

Video Production

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
VEGAS Pro logo

VEGAS Pro

Video Production

Professional timeline-based video editing software from Boris FX

From
$19.99/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.; VEGAS Pro windows-only, with no native macOS or Linux version.
  • They diverge on capability: HitFilm covers Composite shots, VEGAS Pro covers Timeline-based editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where HitFilm and VEGAS Pro differ
AttributeHitFilmVEGAS Pro
Starting priceFree$19.99/month
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOSwindows

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 VEGAS Pro

  • Timeline-based editing
  • Color grading tools
  • Audio mixing
  • Sound Forge integration
  • VFX and compositing (Post/Suite tiers)
  • Perpetual or subscription licensing

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

VEGAS Pro

  • Professional video editing on Windowsnot HitFilm
  • Color grading and finishing for video projectsnot HitFilm
  • Audio post-production paired with Sound Forgenot HitFilm
  • Long-form video editing needing perpetual licensingnot 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.

VEGAS Pro

  • Windows-only, with no native macOS or Linux version.
  • Subscription pricing across Edit/Post/Suite tiers can be more expensive than one-time-purchase competitors.
  • Smaller plugin/effects ecosystem compared to Adobe Premiere Pro.
  • Perpetual license versions can lag behind the latest subscription features.

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

VEGAS Pro

$19.99/month
  • VEGAS Pro Edit$19.99/month
    • Core non-linear editing
    • Color grading
    • Audio tools
  • VEGAS Pro Post$29.99/month
    • Everything in Edit
    • Advanced finishing and VFX tools
  • VEGAS Pro Suite$49.99/month
    • Everything in Post
    • Full VFX and compositing suite

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 VEGAS Pro if

  • You need timeline-based editing.
  • You work on windows.
  • You also want color grading tools.
VEGAS Pro review

Questions people ask

Is HitFilm or VEGAS Pro better?
Neither clearly leads. HitFilm starts at Free and VEGAS Pro at $19.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HitFilm or VEGAS Pro?
HitFilm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for HitFilm and $19.99/month for VEGAS Pro.
Does HitFilm or VEGAS Pro run on more platforms?
HitFilm runs on Windows, macOS. VEGAS Pro runs on windows.
Can I use HitFilm for free?
Yes. HitFilm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. VEGAS Pro starts at $19.99/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 VEGAS Pro is typically brought in for.
What can HitFilm do that VEGAS Pro cannot?
HitFilm covers Composite shots, Particle simulator, Camera tracking, Keying. VEGAS Pro covers Timeline-based editing, Color grading tools, Audio mixing, Sound Forge integration.

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.

VEGAS Pro: What does VEGAS Pro cost?

VEGAS Pro offers three subscription tiers: Edit at $19.99/month, Post at $29.99/month, and Suite at $49.99/month, each bundling more finishing and plugin tools than the last.

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.

VEGAS Pro: Is there a free trial of VEGAS Pro?

Yes, Boris FX offers a free trial of VEGAS Pro that does not require a credit card to start.

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.

VEGAS Pro: Can I buy VEGAS Pro as a one-time purchase instead of a subscription?

Yes, VEGAS Pro is available as perpetual licenses priced at $399 (Edit), $599 (Post), and $799 (Suite), in addition to the monthly subscription tiers.

Source
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