Side-by-side comparison · Video & Audio
Microsoft Clipchamp vs DaVinci Resolve vs Riverside
Everything that matters when choosing between them, in one place: our rating, what each can do, what they cost, and the trade-offs.
Comparing 3 tools, the maximum.
At a glance
Pick it if: Beginners and small businesses on Windows who want a free, simple editor without a watermark.
Pick it if: In-house video producers, agencies and business owners who edit regularly and want pro results without a monthly fee.
Pick it if: Businesses running a podcast, interview series or webinar who want guests to sound and look professional without a studio.
Overview
| Attribute | Microsoft Clipchamp | DaVinci Resolve | Riverside |
|---|---|---|---|
| In one line | Microsoft's free video editor, with AI subtitles and voiceovers and no watermark. | Pro video editing, colour and audio in one app, with a full-featured free version. | Records podcasts and video interviews remotely in studio quality, with AI editing. |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $0 | $295 one-off (shown discounted to $236 when checked) | $29/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works with Claude Code | No | Yes | No |
Rating breakdown
Our scores out of 5. The higher bar in each row is highlighted.
| Attribute | Microsoft Clipchamp | DaVinci Resolve | Riverside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it. | 4.5 | 2.5 | 4.5 |
| FeaturesHow completely it covers its own job, and how well the pieces fit together. | 3.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them. | 3.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Value for moneyWhat you get for the price, including the free plan. | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Speed & reliabilityHow fast it is and how often it falls over. | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
Feature comparison
A tick means it does this today. A dash means we haven't checked.
| Attribute | Microsoft Clipchamp | DaVinci Resolve | Riverside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access & platform | |||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop app | Yes | Yes | No |
| Browser extension | No | No | No |
| API access | No | Yes | – |
| Teams & business | |||
| Team workspace | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise plan or SSO | Yes | – | Yes |
| Connects to other apps | Yes | – | Yes |
| Open source or self-hosted | No | No | No |
| AI abilities | |||
| Works with your files | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Understands images | – | Yes | – |
| Makes images | No | No | No |
| Makes video | No | – | No |
| Writes code | No | No | No |
| Runs agents or automations | No | – | Yes |
| Learns your brand or style | Yes | – | – |
| Works in many languages | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Capabilities score | 9/ 17 | 8/ 17 | 8/ 17 |
Pricing
Plans as listed on each vendor's site when we last checked. Confirm before you buy.
| Attribute | Microsoft Clipchamp | DaVinci Resolve | Riverside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plans | FreeOur pick $0 Most people making simple videos. | DaVinci ResolveOur pick Free Most businesses and anyone learning to edit. | Free Free Trying it with a test episode. |
Premium with Microsoft 365 Personal $9.99/mo or $99.99/yr People who also want Word, Excel and OneDrive. | DaVinci Resolve Studio $295 one-off (shown discounted to $236 when checked) Regular editors who want the AI tools and higher-end output. | ProOur pick $29/mo, or $24/mo billed yearly A business running a regular podcast or interview series. | |
Premium with Microsoft 365 Family $12.99/mo or $129.99/yr Households of up to 6 people. | Grow $39/mo, or $34/mo billed yearly Teams recording several shows or long interviews. | ||
Clipchamp for work Included in some Microsoft 365 business plans Office teams already on Microsoft 365. | Webinar $99/mo, or $79/mo billed yearly Businesses that run webinars and live events. | ||
Business Custom Larger teams with several producers. | |||
| Which plan to pick | Stay on Free unless you need 4K or premium stock. If you already pay for Microsoft 365 Personal or Family, you have Premium already. | Start on the free version; it is not time-limited. Buy Studio once you find yourself wanting Magic Mask, text-based editing or vertical reframing, since it is a single payment with free upgrades. | Pro on yearly billing covers most company podcasts. Move to Grow only if you record more than about five hours a month, and to Webinar only if you host live events. |
Key features
| Attribute | Microsoft Clipchamp | DaVinci Resolve | Riverside |
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Pros and cons
| Attribute | Microsoft Clipchamp | DaVinci Resolve | Riverside |
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Who each one is for
| Attribute | Microsoft Clipchamp | DaVinci Resolve | Riverside |
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Questions people ask
Which is better, Microsoft Clipchamp, DaVinci Resolve or Riverside?
They tie on our overall rating (Microsoft Clipchamp 4.0/5, DaVinci Resolve 4.3/5 and Riverside 4.3/5). Microsoft Clipchamp is best for free editing with no watermark and simple social videos and slideshows. DaVinci Resolve is best for brand films and product videos and colour grading and matching footage. Riverside is best for company podcasts with remote guests and recording client or customer interviews.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Clipchamp, DaVinci Resolve or Riverside?
Microsoft Clipchamp: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $0. DaVinci Resolve: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $295 one-off (shown discounted to $236 when checked). Riverside: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $29/mo.
How we compare
Ratings are our own, from using each tool, across ease of use, features, output quality, value for money, speed & reliability.
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