DaVinci Resolve is Blackmagic Design’s video post-production application. One program covers editing (the Edit and Cut pages), colour grading, Fusion visual effects and motion graphics, and Fairlight audio. Version 21 added a Photo page that brings Resolve’s colour tools to still images. Blackmagic sells two editions: DaVinci Resolve, which is free, and DaVinci Resolve Studio, which is $295 on Blackmagic’s site.
The free version suits students, YouTubers and anyone learning professional editing or grading. The Studio licence is aimed at people who need the features Blackmagic reserves for the paid edition.
How to get the official version
- Windows and Linux: use the “Free Download Now” button on the DaVinci Resolve product page. Blackmagic’s download system asks you to fill in a short registration form before the file is served.
- Mac: download it from the same page, or install the free “DaVinci Resolve” app from the Mac App Store. The App Store listing showed version 21.1 and requires macOS 15.0 or later.
- iPad: Blackmagic publishes a separate “DaVinci Resolve for iPad” app on the App Store. It is an iPad app, not an iPhone app.
Be careful with the Mac App Store search results: “DaVinci Resolve Studio” is a separate paid listing ($299.99 in the US store when we checked), while plain “DaVinci Resolve” is free.
Price, account and upgrades
The free edition has no subscription, no ads and no time limit. Upgrading means buying DaVinci Resolve Studio, which Blackmagic lists at $295. Blackmagic’s site also sells hardware such as editor keyboards and colour panels; none of it is needed to use the software.
Current version
Blackmagic’s support site listed DaVinci Resolve 21.1, dated 8 September 2026, for Mac, Windows, Windows on ARM and Linux. Version 21.0 was released on 3 June 2026.
System requirements
Resolve is demanding, and its needs depend on your GPU, operating system and the media you edit. Blackmagic publishes minimum system requirements in the release notes of each update on its support site. Read them for your platform before downloading; we do not repeat them here because they change between versions.
Safety notes
Search results for “DaVinci Resolve Studio free” often lead to cracked copies and fake installers. Blackmagic’s own site and the Mac App Store are the only places to get Resolve. Downloads packaged by other sites can carry malware, and cracked Studio copies are not legal.
Questions
Is DaVinci Resolve really free?
Yes. The standard edition is a free download from Blackmagic Design and a free app on the Mac App Store. Only the Studio edition is paid.
Why does the download ask for my details?
Blackmagic’s support downloads are set to require registration. You fill in the form on blackmagicdesign.com and the download starts after that.
Is there an iPhone version?
No. The mobile app Blackmagic publishes is DaVinci Resolve for iPad. Its separate Blackmagic Camera app runs on iPhone, but it is a camera app, not an editor.
