Video editing · Buying guide
Video Editing Software Without a Subscription: Editors You Can Own in 2026
Subscriptions add up: three years of Premiere Pro on the annual plan costs $827.64. These editors are free or sold once, so they’re yours to keep.
Three years of editing software, compared
U.S. prices in October 2026, before tax.
The editors
DaVinci Resolve: free, or $295 once for Studio
The most capable free editor there is, with professional color, effects and audio built in. It takes some learning, and it wants a decent graphics card. Windows, Mac and Linux.
Final Cut Pro: $299.99 once (Mac only)
Fast, polished and tuned for Apple computers. Apple also offers it in its $12.99-a-month Creator Studio bundle, but the one-time purchase is still sold.
Movie Maker Hollywood Pro: $20 once (Windows)
Our own app: a timeline editor plus 3D scenes, 2D animation, sound design and delivery up to a cinema DCP. It’s for people who want to make whole films, animated or live action, without a subscription. Mac version coming.
Shotcut, Kdenlive and OpenShot: free and open source
Three free, open-source editors that run on Windows, Mac and Linux. They cover everyday editing well and are a good fit for simple projects and older computers.
Side by side
| Price | Windows | Mac | Linux | Animation and 3D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DaVinci Resolve | Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Partly |
| DaVinci Resolve Studio | $295 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Partly |
| Final Cut Pro | $299.99 | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Movie Maker Hollywood Pro | $20 | ✓ | Coming soon | — | ✓ |
| Shotcut | Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Kdenlive | Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| OpenShot | Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Animated titles |
How to choose
- Mostly color and finishing, or professional work: DaVinci Resolve.
- On a Mac and want speed: Final Cut Pro.
- Want animation, 3D and editing in one place on Windows: Movie Maker Hollywood Pro.
- Simple edits on any computer for free: Shotcut, Kdenlive or OpenShot.
Free doesn’t mean worse. DaVinci Resolve’s free version is used on real productions. Pay when a paid tool saves you real time or does something the free ones can’t.