Blackmagic Design Reviews 

I'm buying DaVinci Resolve Studio today, under protest, and I want other buyers to know exactly what Blackmagic put me through to hand them my money.

Their own store won't let you simply pay with a credit card. You're forced to create a PayPal account to finish checkout. I don't want a PayPal account, so I called support to ask for another way to pay. The rep was condescending from the first sentence. He treated me like the problem for not wanting to sign up for a third-party payment service, and he offered no help and no alternative. I hung up.

So I did his job for him and researched my options. There are three, and every one of them is bad:

1. Create the PayPal account Blackmagic is forcing on me.
2. Buy a digital key from an authorized reseller for $335 instead of $295, a $40 penalty just for wanting to pay with a card.
3. Order a physical activation card from B&H at the normal price, then wait days for it to arrive in the mail.

I'd have gladly gone with B&H, but I need the software today. I'm not paying a $40 ransom to avoid a signup. So I'm cornered into the one thing I didn't want: creating a PayPal account for a single purchase, then deleting it the minute I'm done.

That's not a checkout. That's a trap. Blackmagic built a system where every honest option either costs more, takes days, or forces you into a service you never agreed to use, and their support staff talks down to you for noticing.

The software may be excellent. That's exactly why they get away with this. They know people want it badly enough to swallow it. I did. I'm paying them anyway, and I resent every step it took to get here.

Blackmagic: accept credit cards directly, and teach your support team that a customer trying to give you $295 isn't the problem. Until that changes, I'll be telling every editor I know how to buy your software without ever touching your store.

The free version of Davinci Resolve is pretty incredible. The paid version is worth it for the AI audio tools alone. You can even get a one month license for $30 to do what you need to do if you're not ready to commit.

There's a steep learning curve, but I've used a lot of advanced editing programs and they all require some tutorials. I can't believe how much you get for FREE, and that the full paid license is less than $300 in 2026. No subscription.

Davinci Resolve is Garbage software. Everyone praises the control you have over all the functionality, yet no one talks about how crappy it works. I spent weeks sorting through audio issues that had essentially made the software unusable. Paid to take courses to train me how to use it. Several weeks invested just learning the software only to run into so many issues I thought I was going crazy. The audio is totally broken and after months of trouble shooting why I am unable to hear my audio during editing, I learned it's a Davinci problem that is known with no solution. Absolute garbage. When I called customer support I was told no refund after 15 days!?!?! It took me way more than 15 days to even learn how to use it wtf!! So now after spending $295.00 on a perpetual license I am SOL because I actually tried to learn how to use it before totally giving up. What a load of crap.

I purchased DaVinci Resolve Studio for its advertised AI audio tools, but the text-to-speech feature (Speech Generator) is deeply disappointing. The native voices only work properly in English; when using other languages, the AI applies an unusable English accent, forcing us to rely on third-party platforms. Furthermore, alternative options like AI Voice Training impose an unadvertised, strict 8 GB VRAM hardware lock that completely blocks me from using the feature. Had I known about these language and hardware limitations beforehand, I would not have purchased this software, as this was the main use I intended to give it.

If you want a piece of software that turns a three-second task—like making a simple image background transparent—into a forensic investigation through hidden nodes, obscure luminance keyers, and algorithms that choke on static pictures, DaVinci Resolve is the absolute champion. On paper, it can do everything; in practice, it makes the simplest operations feel nearly impossible.

The interface seems purposely designed to make you waste time hunting through non-intuitive menus for options that should be right at your fingertips. A deeply exhausting experience for basic graphic tasks.

Davinci Resolve in 2026 is plagued by so many random bugs and such notoriously unintuitive UX that I hate it with passion and will be switching to good old Premiere Pro. Absolute state of this company. Currently audio stop playing back mid project, and there's nothing I can do about it (forget soloing, routing, patching - nothing works) that I need to restart my project. This company is a joke.

Da Vinci Resolve, Used for a number of years now, never had any issues with it, Unusual perpetual license model I suspect this will eventually change to Annual. Excellent product, good value, powerful, steep learning curve though to be expected.
Would recommended for someone into video editing, better than Adobe in my opinion.
Not used, or needed to, customer service so cant comment on that.

After using Davinci Resolve for a while, I am unfortunately very disappointed with many aspects. Constant bugs, old-school settings and functions that they have refused to update, and now.. I have lost all my projects, because I backed up the wrong instance of the "Blackmagic Design" folder. Apparently two identically named folders are created when Davinci is installed, with only the one hidden in Appdata storing backups. Before sending my laptop in for repair I searched and got the answer; backup the "Blackmagic Design" folder. I did so, only to realize it was the other "Blackmagic Design" folder (that I didn't know existed) I should have backed up. Many others have complained about this with no real response from Blackmagicdesign. Great.

When I was initially introduced to Davinci, I was hoping for it be the future, but now I fear it. Because it seems we will only get more of the same old shit Above has been doing for so long.

We have been working with DaVinci Resolve for years and undeniably it is a powerful and feature-rich software. Blackmagic continuously adds impressive new features, which we really appreciate. However, the support experience is seriously disappointing.

Despite its strengths, DaVinci Resolve suffers from numerous quirks and bugs that disrupt our professional workflow. As users, we want to communicate these issues to Blackmagic so they can be addressed effectively. Unfortunately, every attempt to contact support feels unnecessarily complicated. Instead of a straightforward support email or a user account system that tracks your requests, you are required to fill out lengthy contact forms with personal details for every inquiry. There is no way to maintain ongoing communication or have a consolidated support history.

This outdated approach to customer support makes it hard to stay in touch and leaves professionals feeling frustrated. Blackmagic should consider implementing a proper support portal with user accounts to better serve their dedicated user base.

After using Final Cut Pro & Adobe Premiere for several years I tried Davinci Resolve. The software beats the hell out of Final Cut Pro, Leaves Adobe Premiere well and truly behind, and the knowledge and service from the support staff at BlackMagic Design is the benchmark of what other companies need to aspire to. I phoned with 5 problems (due to my lack of knowledge) and all were promptly addressed, along with additional assistance - try getting that from Final Cut or Adobe. Not only that, but even the full studio version of the software which I purchased is a one off "own forever" purchase, that is cheaper than and adobe license for just 12 months. The product is Far superior, the service has been incredible, and the price is cheaper. I don't understand why Adobe Premiere are still in business with this competitor around! Lastly, thank you to Jonathan and Warwick in the Melbourne Support centre for your incredible help and service today.

The Black Magic 6K Pro is an incredible camera. It is extremely easy to work with and produces fantastic footage. In addition, DaVinci Resolve and Fusion Studios are both outstanding applications.
The company has made shooting and editing indie films painless.

Adobe was breaking into my bank account and now with Davinci Resolve, my money is safe and sound.

I really love all the functions offered and there are tons of tutorials on YT to learn. Free version is more than enough for most average amateur video editors out there.

Keep it up guys!!

I started a little YouTube channel and used the free version of davinci resolve to edit my videos and for 2 years I had absolutely ZERO problems. Then blackmagic changed something because everything I edit even old footage that's was already edited has a audio sync problem that gets worse with the more cuts you make!

I asked the company for help but I just received an automated response basically saying they don't offer support with the free version and I'd need to buy the full version of davinci resolve studio so I did.. I was really happy to start recording content again but it was short lived as the audio sync problem is still happening, I contacted blackmagic support again (new ticket) I explaining everything in detail including full system specs and again ZERO response!

I spent £300 on the software as I got the bundle including the speed editor (the speed editor NEVER connects easy, it's always a 10 to 15 minutes pain in the ass process) and I can't edit ANYTHING.. I have emailed them 3 times over a 7 day period and just received the same generic automated response saying someone will be in touch shortly but it never happens!!!

I'm autistic with other disabilities so my little channel was everything and gave me a purpose, before that I used to play with razer blades on christmas day and I struggle to use software like this. I would only use the ripple cut to cut down a 3hr video to around 1.5hrs then render entire timeline (yes I had the chain lock on) but now I can't do anything and I'm absolutely SHOCKED at the lack of help i have received and DEFINITELY DON'T RECOMMEND BUYING THE FULL SOFTWARE!!!!
Lucky for me I purchased the speed editor with the license included for around £300 and it was under 1 year ago so I'm opening a case with UK trading standards and they have already agreed to send out a warning letter given Blackmagic 30 days to repair/replace or refund me.

If you are new to editing use the free version if you can get it to work but I absolutely 10000% don't recommend buying the full version just because the customer service is none existent and the speed editor is horrible to connect. It wasn't originally but between Microsoft's garbage updates and blackmagics lack of support (firmware or drivers) to keep it working correctly is as bad as there customer service!!!

At this point I have basically wasted £6000 plus setting up a studio with 4k cameras and a powerful pc running a 4090 all USELESS because of davinci resolve and the poor customer service, that's a bitter bill to swallow trust me.. 😣
Ps before editing the footage is fine and I used it fine for a long while, looking on Reddit there are PLENTY of other people experiencing the same problem.

A fantastic company making a fantastic product (Da Vinci Resolve) that goes from strength to strength with each release. I can't recommend it enough.

Better than Adobe!

This isn't equipment reviews as I currently don't have the money to afford their equipment but plan to buy some later on.

This is about DaVinci resolve studio.

I love paying one price and owning the license to the software. Instead of annoying subscriptions.

I love the fact that they provide continuous updates. And that I myself as a small channel owner have not run into any problems using their software.

On the other hand had a lot of issues with adobe premiere.

I don't need cloud. I don't want my stuff used in training their language model.

I don't want to pay a subscription. And I don't want to use a software that isn't user friendly. Their software was very difficult to understand. And half the time it frustrated me.

With DaVinci resolve studio I picked it up quick and it was easy to use.

I plan to eventually do more business with this company. And I would recommend them based on my great experience I've had so far.

crashing and lagging all the time, i saved my project, than the program randomly crashed and deleted my video

I use DaVinci Resolve everyday, works just fine. It's the best free video editor out there, at least for Windows.

Disability discrimination! I liked the DaVinci Resolve Studio free version so much that I paid £245 pounds for the paid version back in October, but the paid for features didn't work. I requested help and I was sent a link. The emails I got didn't communicate well. There was literally an email saying, 'your details are...' and then a series of numbers with no explanation as to what the numbers meant or how to activate the paid for version.

Unfortunately around this time I had a Lupus flare-up (which lead to extreme fatigue and brain fog) I spent November, December and January unable to do anything, missing a lot of work etc... I spent February and March recuperating and trying to catch up with work.

It's now April and I finally am getting to deal with some of the things I hadn't been able to put my attention on over the past 5 months. I contacted Blackmagic and explain I had never gotten their product working and could I just have a refund.

The response: I got an email saying they 'did not believe I had never used their product or that their had been an ongoing issue.' (I have that in writing) I then phoned up and tried to explained about my Lupus and the way it effects me. The woman on the phone talked over me as I tried to explain this. Because she was talking over me she couldn't hear what I was saying but at some point laughed at me and said, 'Oh so you haven't been able to call us due to fatigue for 6 months.' Had she listened while I spoke she would have understood that it's not that simple, whenever you have energy, you will have a pile of things that need seeing to first, and often those are extremely basic things like basic medical care. I wish we lived in a worked were people were more understanding of disabilities and wouldn't belittle people when they try to advocate for themselves. Whether or not they would agree a refund doesn't excuse this treatment.

I am impressed with Resolve and I wanted to do the right this and buy the studio version to support them. I went to buy from their website and it directed me to paypal. I dont remember my password for paypal as I never use it. I paid as a "Guest" but then there was some error and I got redirected back to Blackmagics web site. Stupid me tried again and the same thing happened. I then checked my bank account as sure enough I was charged twice but because of this error I still dont have a software key and a refund for the extra purchase. Paypal customer service was pretty good and basically said Blackmagic will have to cancel the payment on their side. Blackmagic customer service kept telling me it was a paypal problem and they'd refund me all my money. A week later I still dont have my money back. Black magic also tried to get me to buy from a "Reseller". Clicking on those links you get directed to production companies etc where it is even harder to buy Davici Studio. Total craziness!! I still want to buy their program but dont want to try again untill I get my original 2 purchases of almost $1000 canadian back. It just seems and feels like they really dont care. Very frustrating. All I was trying to do was do the right thing and buy their software instead of using it for free.

I dropped adobe like a hot potato when I found out about resolve. Then I found out about their cameras [they rock]. These guys are top dogs and they are great innovators.