Video editing · Buying guide

# Video Editing Software Without a Subscription: Editors You Can Own in 2026

Wisconsin Tech Shop · October 31, 2026 · 3 min read

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

What you pay over three years

- Premiere Pro, annual plan$827.64
- Final Cut Pro$299.99
- DaVinci Resolve Studio$295
- Movie Maker Hollywood Pro$20
- Free editors (Resolve, Shotcut, Kdenlive, OpenShot)$0

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](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/3d-cgi/), [2D animation](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/2d-animation/), [sound design](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/sound-music/) and [delivery up to a cinema DCP](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/delivery/). 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](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/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.

## Try it yourself

Ready-made software from our [software store](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/), installed on your PC or Mac.

[Movie Maker Hollywood ProA whole film studio on your PC: edit, animate, build 3D scenes and deliver.$20 · Windows (Mac soon) · Available now](https://wisconsintechshop.com/store/movie-maker-hollywood-pro/)

## Questions

### What is the best free video editor?

For most people it’s DaVinci Resolve. For simpler projects or older computers, Shotcut, Kdenlive and OpenShot are lighter and easier.

### Is there a one-time-purchase video editor for Windows?

Yes: DaVinci Resolve Studio ($295), Movie Maker Hollywood Pro ($20) and the free open-source editors. Final Cut Pro is Mac only.

## Want it done for you?

- [Professional Video Editing Services](https://wisconsintechshop.com/creative-media/video-editing-services/): Send us your footage and get back a polished video: cut, color-corrected, mixed, captioned and branded, ready for your website, YouTube or social media. (From $250)
- [Custom Video Editing Software & Automation](https://wisconsintechshop.com/creative-media/custom-video-editing-software/): Software that edits for you: automatic captions, templated videos from data, batch trimming and branding, and editing pipelines built around how your team works. (From $2,500)

## More from the blog

- [DaVinci Resolve vs Premiere Pro in 2026: Price, Features and Which to Pick](https://wisconsintechshop.com/blog/davinci-resolve-vs-premiere-pro/): DaVinci Resolve vs Premiere Pro in 2026: what each costs over three years, how editing, color, effects and audio compare, and which one fits your work. (October 31, 2026)
- [How Much Does Premiere Pro Cost in 2026? Plans, Yearly Totals and Cheaper Options](https://wisconsintechshop.com/blog/premiere-pro-cost/): Premiere Pro costs $22.99 a month on an annual plan or $34.49 month to month in 2026. Yearly totals, what you get, and editors you can buy once instead. (October 31, 2026)
- [The Best Premiere Pro Alternatives in 2026, for Every Kind of Video](https://wisconsintechshop.com/blog/premiere-pro-alternatives/): The best Premiere Pro alternatives in 2026 by need: professional editing, Mac, free and simple, and animation and 3D, with prices and side-by-side features. (October 31, 2026)

## Questions about your own setup?

Tell us what you’re working on. We reply within one business day with honest advice.

- Big projects and small ones are all welcome
- Fixed-price quotes, no surprise invoices
- You own your code, data and accounts
- A client portal to track progress, invoices and payments
- Rooted in Wisconsin, serving businesses nationwide

Rather talk it through? [Call us](https://wisconsintechshop.com/contact/#call)

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Source: https://wisconsintechshop.com/blog/video-editing-software-no-subscription/
Contact: hello@wisconsintechshop.com · https://wisconsintechshop.com/contact/