Premiere Pro vs Final Cut Pro vs DaVinci Resolve: What Mac Users Should Use
Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve on a Mac? Compare costs and Apple Silicon performance, and see who can stop paying Adobe.
Premiere Pro has long been the default video editor on the Mac, but it’s no longer the obvious choice. With Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve offering powerful alternatives, many Mac users can stop paying Adobe entirely. Here’s how to choose.
Why video editing is where Adobe loses the most ground
If Photoshop is the first Adobe app people question, Premiere Pro is often the first one they cancel. That’s because video editors feel Adobe’s subscription cost most sharply, Apple Silicon has changed performance expectations, and strong Mac-optimised alternatives now exist. On a modern Mac, Premiere Pro is no longer the only “professional” option.
Premiere Pro on Mac: the reality in 2026
What Premiere Pro still does well: it remains a capable editor, especially if you work across macOS and Windows, rely on After Effects integration, or collaborate in Adobe-centric teams. It’s familiar, widely taught, and deeply embedded in agency workflows.
The downsides for Mac users: on macOS specifically, Premiere Pro often struggles with performance consistency on Apple Silicon, and carries high system resource usage alongside ongoing subscription costs.
Approx cost (AU): Premiere Pro single app around A$36 per month1, or Creative Cloud Pro (the full suite) at A$113.49 per month1 (A$1,361.88 per year)1 if you need multiple Adobe apps. For Mac-only editors, this is where alternatives shine.
Final Cut Pro: Apple’s native video editor
Final Cut Pro is fully owned and developed by Apple, and it shows.
Approx cost (AU): one-time purchase around A$5001, or included with Apple Creator Studio.
Where Final Cut Pro excels: performance on Apple Silicon, large timelines and high-resolution footage, fast turnaround editing, and content creation, YouTube, and social video. The Magnetic Timeline divides opinion, but for many editors it dramatically speeds up work once learned.
Where Premiere still wins: Final Cut Pro is less ideal if you need cross-platform projects, work heavily with After Effects, or collaborate with Premiere-based teams. Final Cut Pro is best when you commit to it fully.
DaVinci Resolve: the professional disruptor
DaVinci Resolve has quietly become one of the most powerful video tools available.
Approx cost (AU): free version available at no cost, or DaVinci Resolve Studio (one-time purchase) at A$5051. Yes, the free version is usable.
DaVinci Resolve is particularly strong for colour grading, all-in-one editing, long-form work and avoiding a subscription. Resolve Studio adds advanced AI tools, noise reduction, and performance features, but many users never need it.
Where Premiere still wins: Resolve has a steeper learning curve, especially for new editors, fast casual projects, and teams already trained on Adobe tools.
Final Cut Pro vs DaVinci Resolve: choosing between them
Choose Final Cut Pro if you: are Mac-only, value speed and responsiveness, edit frequently but not collaboratively, or want deep Apple ecosystem integration.
Choose DaVinci Resolve if you: care deeply about colour grading, want a powerful free option, prefer traditional timelines, or work on longer or more complex projects.
Both outperform Premiere Pro on Apple Silicon in many real-world scenarios.
A common Mac video workflow in 2026
Many Mac users now use Final Cut Pro for fast editing and delivery, DaVinci Resolve for colour grading or finishing, and Premiere Pro only when required for collaboration. This hybrid approach often eliminates the need for an Adobe subscription entirely.
How Apple Creator Studio fits in
Apple Creator Studio includes Final Cut Pro, Motion and Compressor.
Approx cost (AU): A$19.99 per month1, or A$199 per year1.
For Mac-only video creators, this bundle alone replaces Premiere Pro, After Effects (for many use cases), and media encoding tools, at a fraction of the cost.
Who should keep Premiere Pro
Despite everything above, Premiere Pro still makes sense if you work across macOS and Windows, collaborate in Adobe-centric studios, depend heavily on After Effects, or teach or train using Adobe workflows.
On a Mac in 2026, Premiere Pro is no longer the default choice. Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve are faster, cheaper (long-term), and better optimised for Apple hardware. For many Mac users, cancelling Premiere Pro is the easiest Adobe win of all.
Need help setting up your video editing workflow?
If you run a creative or design business and want help choosing between Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve, or setting up storage and backups for video work specifically, see our Creative & Design Businesses industry page, our Backup & Recovery page for protecting large video projects, or get in touch directly.
1. Prices shown are current as at August 2026.
