kitio.aiDaVinci Resolve vs Smart Media Cutter
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. DaVinci Resolve starts at $295 one-time and Smart Media Cutter starts at $20 one-time. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Desktop video cutter that edits footage through its transcript
Freemium · $20 one-timeAt a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Magic Mask
- Voice isolation
- Smart reframe
- AI transcription
- Color grading
- Transcript-based editing
- Frame-accurate cutting
- Silence cutting
- XML export
- Transcript translation
| Feature | DaVinci Resolve | Smart Media Cutter |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Pro editing and color grading with an AI Neural Engine | Desktop video cutter that edits footage through its transcript |
| Category | Video | Video |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $295 one-time | $20 one-time |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Blackmagic Design | Smart Media Cutter |
| Based in | Australia | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
DaVinci Resolve starts at $295 one-time and Smart Media Cutter starts at $20 one-time. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
2 plans
DaVinci Resolve
Free
- Free editing, color, VFX and audio
- Most core features
DaVinci Resolve Studio
$295 one-time
- One-time purchase
- AI Neural Engine features
- Higher resolutions and frame rates
4 plans
Free
Free
- Download and try
- Core cutting features
Lite 2026
$20 one-time
- Unlimited exports and AI transcripts
- $1 cloud credit
- 1 year of premium features
Personal
$40 one-time
- $30 cloud credits
- Premium features forever
- Personal use rights
Company
$90 one-time
- Per user
- $60 cloud credits
- Business and team use
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
DaVinci Resolve
- Very capable free version
- Best-in-class color grading
- One-time Studio purchase
- Most AI tools need Studio
- Needs a strong GPU
Smart Media Cutter
- Fast cuts without full re-encoding
- One-time license instead of subscription
- Unlimited local AI transcripts
- Cloud transcripts use purchased credits
- Lite license includes premium updates for one year
- Desktop app only
Which one should you choose?
Choose DaVinci Resolve if you want:
- Very capable free version
- Best-in-class color grading
- One-time Studio purchase
Watch out: most ai tools need studio.
Choose Smart Media Cutter if you want:
- Fast cuts without full re-encoding
- One-time license instead of subscription
- Unlimited local AI transcripts
Watch out: cloud transcripts use purchased credits.
DaVinci Resolve vs Smart Media Cutter FAQ
What is the difference between DaVinci Resolve and Smart Media Cutter?
DaVinci Resolve: Pro editing and color grading with an AI Neural Engine. Smart Media Cutter: Desktop video cutter that edits footage through its transcript. Both are video tools.
Is DaVinci Resolve or Smart Media Cutter cheaper?
DaVinci Resolve starts at $295 one-time and Smart Media Cutter starts at $20 one-time. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do DaVinci Resolve and Smart Media Cutter have free plans?
DaVinci Resolve: Yes. Smart Media Cutter: Yes.
Who makes DaVinci Resolve?
DaVinci Resolve is made by Blackmagic Design, based in Australia.
Who makes Smart Media Cutter?
Smart Media Cutter is made by Smart Media Cutter.
Which should I choose, DaVinci Resolve or Smart Media Cutter?
Choose DaVinci Resolve if you value very capable free version and best-in-class color grading. Choose Smart Media Cutter if you value fast cuts without full re-encoding and one-time license instead of subscription.