Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DaVinci Resolve VS Kdenlive

Compare DaVinci Resolve VS Kdenlive and see what are their differences

DaVinci Resolve logo DaVinci Resolve

Revolutionary new tools for editing, color correction and professional audio post production, all in a single application!

Kdenlive logo Kdenlive

Free and open-source, full-featured video editor.
  • DaVinci Resolve Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-05-04
  • Kdenlive Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-15

DaVinci Resolve features and specs

  • Comprehensive Toolset
    DaVinci Resolve integrates editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics, and audio post-production in a single software application, providing a complete solution for video creation.
  • Professional-Grade Color Grading
    Known for its industry-leading color grading tools, DaVinci Resolve offers advanced controls, color wheels, curves, and secondary color correction tools, making it a preferred choice for professional colorists.
  • Multi-User Collaboration
    DaVinci Resolve Studio allows multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously, supporting collaborative workflows for large teams and complex projects.
  • Free Version Available
    DaVinci Resolve offers a highly functional free version with a comprehensive set of tools, which is suitable for both beginners and professionals.
  • High-Performance Playback
    Optimized for timeline performance, DaVinci Resolve offers smooth playback and quick responsiveness, even with high-resolution and RAW formats.
  • Fairlight Audio
    The integrated Fairlight audio tool provides high-end audio production capabilities, including mixing, ADR, sound design, and full 3D audio support.

Possible disadvantages of DaVinci Resolve

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive feature set and professional-grade tools, beginners may find DaVinci Resolve challenging to learn and master without proper training.
  • Resource-Intensive
    DaVinci Resolve can be demanding on computer hardware, requiring a powerful system with a high-performance GPU, ample RAM, and fast storage for optimal operation.
  • Paid Studio Version
    Some advanced features, such as additional ResolveFX and FairlightFX plugins, HDR grading, and higher GPU acceleration, are only available in the paid Studio version.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Users have reported occasional crashes and bugs, particularly when working with large projects or specific hardware configurations.
  • Complex User Interface
    The user interface, while powerful, can be overwhelming for new users, and navigating through the multitude of features and settings can take time to get accustomed to.
  • Limited Third-Party Plugin Support
    Compared to some other video editing software, DaVinci Resolve offers limited support for third-party plugins, which can be a drawback for users relying on specialized tools.

Kdenlive features and specs

  • Free and Open-Source
    Kdenlive is completely free to use and its source code is open, allowing developers to modify and customize it according to their needs.
  • Cross-Platform
    Kdenlive runs on multiple operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS, making it versatile for users on different platforms.
  • Wide Format Support
    Kdenlive supports a wide range of video and audio formats due to its reliance on the FFmpeg libraries, enabling users to work with almost any type of media file.
  • Powerful Editing Features
    It offers advanced video editing features like multi-track editing, keyframes, and transitions, which are comparable to those found in professional software.
  • Customizable Interface
    Kdenlive allows users to customize the interface layouts to suit their workflow, enhancing usability and productivity.
  • Comprehensive Documentation and Community Support
    It has extensive documentation and an active community, providing valuable resources and support for troubleshooting and learning.

Possible disadvantages of Kdenlive

  • Performance Issues
    Some users report that Kdenlive may experience lag or crashes, especially when handling large projects or high-resolution media.
  • Learning Curve
    While powerful, Kdenlive can be complex for beginners due to its multitude of features and somewhat intricate interface.
  • Occasional Bugs
    As with many open-source projects, Kdenlive sometimes has bugs that can affect the stability and functionality of the software.
  • Limited Professional Features
    Although rich in features, Kdenlive might lack some advanced tools that are available in high-end commercial software, making it less suitable for some professional needs.
  • Resource Intensive
    Kdenlive can be quite resource-intensive, demanding a good amount of CPU and RAM, which might pose challenges for users with older or lower-spec hardware.

DaVinci Resolve videos

DaVinci Resolve 16 Review - Is it best?

Kdenlive videos

Openshot Vs Kdenlive (Which Is The BEST Free Video Editor?) Geekoutdoors.com EP1050

More videos:

  • Review - Kdenlive 19.04
  • Review - Lightworks vs Kdenlive | Comparing FREE Video Editors

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DaVinci Resolve and Kdenlive)
Video
47 47%
53% 53
Video Editors
48 48%
52% 52
Video Tools
41 41%
59% 59
Video Maker
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare DaVinci Resolve and Kdenlive

DaVinci Resolve Reviews

10 Best Video Editors for YouTube in 2024
DaVinci Resolve stands out as a top-notch video editing and color correction software, delivering professional-grade, advanced features for free! Renowned for its exceptional color grading, multi-track editing, and VFX options, it’s perfect for experienced editors or YouTubers aiming to craft high-quality content. However, the steep learning curve means it’s best for those...
13 Best Green Screen Software For Windows (2024)
We should also mention Shotcut and DaVinci Resolve 18. Shotcut is free and works on many platforms, with many green screen features. DaVinci Resolve 18 has a high-powered color grading, which is helpful for green screen projects.
Source: mixilab.com
9 Best Adobe Premiere Pro Alternatives in 2022 (FREE & Online)
While absolute beginners may find themselves scratching their heads as they come to terms with some of the more complex tools available, DaVinci Resolve rewards patience in spades, while more seasoned videographers will find its comprehensive tools exceptionally attractive.
Source: shotkit.com
Windows Best Video Editing Software
DaVinci supports both offline and online editing, and its high-performance playback engine speeds up editing and trimming, even for processor-intensive file formats like H.264 and RAW. The complex features of DaVinci Resolve may be too much for some users, but the free version is ideal for more advanced projects.
Best Free Video Editing Software for Linux
If you have a high-end computer and need advanced features you can go out with Lightworks or DaVinci Resolve. If you are looking for more advanced features for 3D works, Blender has got your back.
Source: itsfoss.com

Kdenlive Reviews

10 Best Video Editors for YouTube in 2024
Kdenlive stands out as a free, open-source video editor that’s loaded with advanced capabilities, such as multi-track editing, transitions, and effects. It’s an ideal choice for semi-professional editors seeking greater project control without the financial burden of costly software. While its customizable interface is advantageous, it might occasionally feel buggy and could...
9 Best Adobe Premiere Pro Alternatives in 2022 (FREE & Online)
What makes Kdenlive appealing for beginners is the intuitive interface that introduces the various editing features in a clear and concise manner, with the more advanced tools also inserted into the workflow in an easy-to-follow manner.
Source: shotkit.com
Best Free and Open Source Alternatives to Corel VideoStudio Pro
Shotcut is another powerful cross-platform video editor. Like Kdenlive it’s based on the awesome FFmpeg libraries and therefore supports hundreds of audio and video formats.
CapCut for PC - 8 Alternatives to CapCut for PC and Online
On the timeline, Kdenlive enables you to cut, resize, split video, group clips, add subtitles, and it also has multiple tools like razor tool, spacer too for better editing. Also, it offers various effects that allow you to blur, crop, rotate video, fade in/out audio, do color correction, and much more. What’s more, Kdenlive features a 2D title editor.
8 Adobe Premiere/Kdenlive/OpenShot Alternatives in 2019 - Pros, Cons and Price
As an excellent Adobe Premiere alternative, Kdenlive is a powerful and intuitive video editing tool for Windows, Mac and Linux. It offers tons of plugins, almost all formats, effects and editing tools for users. But it seems that Kdenlive does not suitable for those who have no video editing experience. But if you invest hours in it, you'll find out how wonderful it is.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Kdenlive seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 120 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

DaVinci Resolve mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DaVinci Resolve yet. Tracking of DaVinci Resolve recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Kdenlive mentions (120)

  • Show HN: Open-Source Video Editor Web App
    Hadn't heard of this (https://kdenlive.org/en/). Thank you! - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • FFmpeg 7.0 Released
    "Regular" people don't really need FFMPEG. Regular people need tools with GUIs that have a non-generic purpose. So stuff like https://kdenlive.org/en/ that are backed by ffmpeg are (imo) superior "regular" person tools. FFMPEG isn't complicated (its as complicated as any other CLI tool), it's that video encoding/decoding specifically is a hard problem space that you have to explicitly learn to better understand... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Flowblade: Open-Source Video Editor
    Great that you got it to work. Just to make the list with potential tools a bit more complete: - Kdenlive is also a fairly capable video editor. https://kdenlive.org/en/ - From what I have heard the Blender video editor for many people is a go to tool as well. In this case it likely would have been overkill, but figured it is worth mentioning. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • What Online video editors do you use?
    You might be interested in Kdenlive. It's not online, but can be installed on any OS and I've had it running on some pretty dated machines. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Remember when Windows had a native video editor?
    Kdenlive or shotcut for small/basic stuff. If you're outgrow those, then DaVinci Resolve Free. Source: almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing DaVinci Resolve and Kdenlive, you can also consider the following products

Adobe Premiere Pro - Edit video faster than ever before with the powerful, more connected Adobe Premiere® Pro CC.

Shotcut - Shotcut is a free, open source, cross-platform, non-linear video editor.

iMovie - Turn your videos into movie magic.

OpenShot - OpenShot is a open source video editing program.

Final Cut Pro - Professional, non-linear video editing software created by Apple Inc.

Filmora - Filmora is a trusted, legacy video editing platform that's strong in the fundamentals but lacks some of the bells and whistles that come with some other video editing software.