Adobe Audition vs DaVinci Resolve: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, DaVinci Resolve leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Adobe Audition
Professional audio workstation
Best for you if:
- • You want professional features
DaVinci Resolve
Edit, color grade, VFX, and mix audio in one app
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Adobe Audition | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $22.99/mo, billed monthly Annual (Monthly) plan | Free plan |
Category | Audio Editing Video & Media | Video Editing Audio Editing |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.6 664 reviews | 4.8/5 Capterra 4.8 · G2 4.7 494 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | Cloud storage limited to 100GB on All Apps | Free version limits GPU acceleration: only one GPU is used, and some GPU-accelerated effects (noise reduction, lens blur) are Studio-only. On large projects, this means slower renders |
Choose Adobe Audition or DaVinci Resolve?
Choose Adobe Audition if
- You want professional features
- You want adobe integration
- You work in audio editing, not video editing
Choose DaVinci Resolve if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want powerful free version
- You want industry-standard color
- You work in video editing, not audio editing
In-Depth Analysis
Adobe Audition
Professional audio workstation
Adobe Audition's pricing is on the expensive side for a single application, especially the $34.49/month 'Monthly' plan.
Watch out
Cloud storage limited to 100GB on All Apps
Strengths
- Pro: Professional features
- Pro: Adobe integration
- Pro: Great for podcasts
Weaknesses
- Con: Subscription required
- Con: Overkill for simple editing
Key features
DaVinci Resolve
Edit, color grade, VFX, and mix audio in one app
DaVinci Resolve is the best deal in professional video editing, period.
Watch out
Free version limits GPU acceleration: only one GPU is used, and some GPU-accelerated effects (noise reduction, lens blur) are Studio-only. On large projects, this means slower renders
Strengths
- Pro: Powerful free version
- Pro: Industry-standard color
- Pro: All-in-one solution
Weaknesses
- Con: Steep learning curve
- Con: Hardware intensive
Key features
Plans and prices: Adobe Audition vs DaVinci Resolve
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Audition |
| adobe.com/plans read Oct 1, 2026 |
| DaVinci Resolve |
| blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/pr… read Oct 10, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Adobe Audition pricing and DaVinci Resolve pricing.
Key Takeaways
Adobe Audition
- Choose if you want professional audio workstation
DaVinci Resolve
- Higher user rating: 4.8/5 vs 4.5/5
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, DaVinci Resolve leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- DaVinci Resolve has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 664 reviews for Adobe Audition, 4.8/5 from 494 reviews for DaVinci Resolve).
- Adobe Audition starts at $22.99/mo, billed monthly; DaVinci Resolve has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only DaVinci Resolve has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve compare in 2026?
On the data below, DaVinci Resolve leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. DaVinci Resolve has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 664 reviews for Adobe Audition, 4.8/5 from 494 reviews for DaVinci Resolve). Adobe Audition starts at $22.99/mo, billed monthly; DaVinci Resolve has no public paid plan price on file. Only DaVinci Resolve has a free plan.
What are Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve used for?
Adobe Audition: Professional audio workstation. DaVinci Resolve: Edit, color grade, VFX, and mix audio in one app.
What does Adobe Audition cost vs DaVinci Resolve?
Adobe Audition's cheapest paid plan is Annual (Monthly) at $22.99/mo, billed monthly. DaVinci Resolve has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 10, 2026.
What's the main difference between Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve?
Adobe Audition's main strength: professional features. DaVinci Resolve's main strength: powerful free version.