Australian company Blackmagic Design offers their video editing application DaVinci Resolve for a wide range of high quality ultra HD effects, render queue, and video uploading options among other features.
$0
Free
Frame.io
Score9 out of 10
N/A
Frame.io is a video collaboration platform, supporting the video editing process by providing creative teams with time stamped comments, annotations and hashtags, and an accelerated sharing and approval process.
I learned so much from this instructional exercise, and I appreciated how the educator is an expert all-day colorist. The section on sound reduction was particularly instructive. I noticed a few inconsistencies between certain methodologies in this instructional exercise and approaches suggested in the Advanced Color Grading in Resolve 15 instructional exercise (e.g., where to place sound reduction in the hub tree), but this is to be expected given that there is no one right way to do any of this. I also learned a lot about Resolve's "Restoration" modules for working with authentic film. This instructional exercise will come up again and again in my work.
Based on my experience, Frame.io is well-suited for collaboration; it is clear, quick, and reliable for approvals. For us, approvals are critical and time-sensitive. Since we work on approvals quickly, we can move forward with placing the order and get it to our clients as soon as possible. Where it is less appropriate is uploading huge files. We would prefer it if Frame.io had integration with cloud storage providers.
Comprehensive - It has video editing, motion graphics, audio, and export tools in one package. It's probably more than most people need, but you don't have to use all of the tools.
Platform and format agnostic - I like that I can work on projects on Mac or PC, and there are regular updates for new codecs and cameras. You can edit pretty much any format with no compatibility worries.
Price - They offer a free version which has most of the functionality. It's a great way to try before you buy and learn the tools. The final price is only $300 per license for the full product. It's a bargain for everything you get, and you don't feel like you're not getting your money's worth, even if you don't use all of the tools.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
Some areas of Resolve can leave inexperienced users feeling a bit handicapped. Multiple user sign-ins can be confusing, and determining where to place the database of users might need troubleshooting. The exporting workflow is a bit finicky and will need to be learned to use for even simple capabilities.
Resolve is not friendly on a single screen editing workflow, and even worse on a laptop. Ideally, an editor has multiple screens in the first place, but because a colorist needs to see scopes and monitor, handling both on the same screen, along with all tools is a challenge. This software is best with more screens.
While the NLE capability of Resolve makes for a quick editing workspace, my little experience with it leads me to the conclusion that unless someone desires a completely free alternative to other NLE software, Resolve is not your best friend. Other programs are better.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
While collaboration features are useful, the number of comments and stakeholders can get overwhelming. We could tag and group them to better manage feedback.
Media teams do need to use other platforms to manage work (timelines, dependencies, etc.). Maybe Frame.io could take on some more project management/workflow features?
Organizing and naming assets could make discoverability challenging as they build up. Perhaps better support/community features could help improve working practices
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
I gave my rating of a 7 because times are getting hard in the nonprofit space. If we needed to, we could part with Frame.io and revert back to using free storage options. Frame.io has elevated our experience and we really enjoy using it. But sometimes you have to make tough choices when in tough times.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
I give it 9 out of 10 because I have been using Resolve since 2013 and am happy to see its evolution over the years. The Blackmagic team has really done a great job to make it better on a year-on-year basis. I like its workflow, that it has all a video editor needs, like transcoding, supporting a wide range of codes, video editing capabilities, a professional color grading suite, and improved Fusion and Fairlight, and in the end its export and mastering capability i can export pretty much every formate from it.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
Frame.io is overall very usable, but it could use slightly improved onboarding/training at the start for people who are not used to using these types of tools but want to improve their team's efficiency. I'm the type of person who feels like, "Lay it out to me like I'm a 5-year-old." I want it to be clear.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. TR verified that a representative sample of customers was invited. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. TR verified that a representative sample of customers was invited. More Info
When sharing videos for feedback, there are no noticeable performance issues with Frame.io. Everyone is able to complete their tasks without the program getting in the way.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. TR verified that a representative sample of customers was invited. More Info
Not only do they have classes available in Los Angeles, but they'll also allow you to work from home with the manual and demo materials, and then let you test out to get a certification. They get back to you quickly when you email, and they've got a "family" approach to customer service, they make you feel like you're important to them.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
The few times I have needed support I have received a quick response - though the one major complaint I have had is regarding the omission of an iPad app - supposedly it is in the works but I haven't seen it release yet. We do have issues with the browser being buggy - especially on slow internet. Whether or not that is something support has failed me on, i'm not sure - but they are responsive, but don't always provide immediate results.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
Getting Frame.io up and running was relatively straightforward on the backend. Account setup, project organization, and uploading media were all intuitive. The real challenge came with client and stakeholder onboarding. Many users found the interface unfamiliar and intimidating compared to everyday tools, requiring repeated training sessions just to get basic feedback workflows functioning. Integrations with Adobe Premiere worked well for internal teams, though the desktop app felt underdeveloped. Overall, implementation was low-difficulty for tech-savvy editors but moderate-to-high when external collaborators were involved. With patience and proper onboarding documentation, most teams got up to speed within a few weeks.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. TR verified that a representative sample of customers was invited. More Info
It has a free version that is very complete. It lets everyone on the team use a lot of very good tools for video editing that would be very expensive while using other solutions that are equally excellent but not as generous. The cost is a very good reason but not the only one, the software is actually really good.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
Box provides company-wide storage for our teams and remains our baseline file storage system; however, it is extremely limited for collaboration. Frame.io's review/comment system tags videos by timeline, making it invaluable for receiving client feedback and completing creative work faster and more efficiently.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
Frame.io's contract terms were straightforward, flexible, and largely free of the predatory clauses common in enterprise SaaS agreements. The language was clear, renewal terms were transparent, and the price lock provision gave long-term budget certainty. Data portability rights were explicitly defined, ensuring we could export our assets without restriction if we ever chose to leave the platform. The agreement also included a reasonable service level agreement with defined uptime guarantees. The single point deducted reflected the initial contract draft containing an auto-renewal clause with an uncomfortably short cancellation window, which required pushback to extend to a more reasonable notice period before signing.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. TR verified that a representative sample of customers was invited. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. TR verified that a representative sample of customers was invited. More Info
Frame.io's professional services delivered a structured, knowledgeable implementation experience that significantly accelerated our time to value. They arrived with a clear methodology, asked the right discovery questions upfront, and tailored their approach to our specific production environment rather than applying a generic template. Training sessions were thorough, well-paced, and adapted to varying levels of technical comfort across our team. The one point deducted reflected occasional scheduling delays in getting specialized resources assigned during peak periods, and a few instances where documentation provided after sessions lacked the detail needed for independent troubleshooting. Overall though, their expertise and professionalism made a meaningful difference in our implementation success.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. TR verified that a representative sample of customers was invited. More Info
Most of my videos are not public which is shown to clients. There is a clear improvement of quality which impacts the client interest. It's difficult to put a number but I am much more confident in showing our videos in the sales pitch.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
