DaVinci Resolve
Riverside
| Feature | DaVinci Resolve | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $295/mo | Free / from $15/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | professional-editors, colorists, filmmakers, youtube-creators | podcasters, content-creators, media-companies, video-producers |
| Founded | 2004 | 2018 |
| Video Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Color Grading | ✓ | ✗ |
| Visual Effects | ✓ | ✗ |
| Audio Post | ✓ | ✗ |
| Motion Graphics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collaboration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hdr Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Local Recording | ✗ | ✓ |
| Separate Tracks | ✗ | ✓ |
| 4k Video | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Transcription | ✗ | ✓ |
| Magic Clips | ✗ | ✓ |
| Live Streaming | ✗ | ✓ |
| Screen Recording | ✗ | ✓ |
| Text Based Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ DaVinci Resolve Pros
- Free version is genuinely professional-grade
- Industry-leading color grading tools
- Audio (Fairlight), VFX (Fusion), editing in one app
- One-time purchase for Studio (no subscription)
✗ DaVinci Resolve Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Requires powerful hardware for smooth editing
- Large application size (2GB+ download)
✓ Riverside Pros
- Records locally for uncompressed studio quality
- Separate audio and video tracks per participant
- AI-powered editing with transcription and clips
- 4K video recording support
✗ Riverside Cons
- Free plan limited to basic features
- Requires stable internet for real-time monitoring
- AI editing features still maturing
The Verdict
DaVinci Resolve is built for professional editors and colorists, with a focus on video-editing and color-grading. Riverside targets podcasters and content creators and leads with local-recording and separate-tracks.
On pricing, Riverside is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $15/mo compared to $295/mo for DaVinci Resolve. That $280/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Riverside offers broader built-in capabilities (8 features vs 7), while DaVinci Resolve takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.