After Effects 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 After Effects 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:
After Effects
Motion graphics and visual effects
Best for you if:
- • You want industry standard
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 | After Effects | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $22.99/mo, billed monthly After Effects plan | Free plan |
Category | Video Editing Animation | Video Editing Audio Editing |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 1,093 reviews | 4.8/5 Capterra 4.8 · G2 4.7 494 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | 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 After Effects or DaVinci Resolve?
Choose After Effects if
- You want industry standard
- You want powerful features
Choose DaVinci Resolve if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want powerful free version
- You want industry-standard color
In-Depth Analysis
After Effects
Motion graphics and visual effects
Adobe's After Effects pricing is fair for individual users at $22.99/month (annual), offering essential features.
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard
- Pro: Powerful features
- Pro: Huge plugin ecosystem
Weaknesses
- Con: Steep learning curve
- Con: Subscription cost
- Con: Resource intensive
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: After Effects vs DaVinci Resolve
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| After Effects |
| adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html read Oct 31, 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 After Effects pricing and DaVinci Resolve pricing.
Key Takeaways
After Effects
- Choose if you want motion graphics and visual effects
DaVinci Resolve
- Higher user rating: 4.8/5 vs 4.6/5
- 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 (4.6/5 from 1,093 reviews for After Effects, 4.8/5 from 494 reviews for DaVinci Resolve).
- After Effects 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 After Effects 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 (4.6/5 from 1,093 reviews for After Effects, 4.8/5 from 494 reviews for DaVinci Resolve). After Effects 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 After Effects and DaVinci Resolve used for?
After Effects: Motion graphics and visual effects. DaVinci Resolve: Edit, color grade, VFX, and mix audio in one app.
What does After Effects cost vs DaVinci Resolve?
After Effects's cheapest paid plan is After Effects 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 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between After Effects and DaVinci Resolve?
After Effects's main strength: industry standard. DaVinci Resolve's main strength: powerful free version.