The short version: four paid options, two platforms
Filmora sells three annual subscriptions (Basic, Advanced and Premium) and a one-time Perpetual licence. Prices differ between the Windows and Mac pricing pages, and Wondershare's own FAQ says licences are platform-specific: a Windows licence only works on Windows and a Mac licence only works on a Mac. There is no individual plan on these pages that covers both platforms for one price, so "cross-platform" in practice means buying the plan for the computer you edit on.
The one thing that does cross platforms is AI credits. The pricing FAQ says credits are shared across Windows and Mac under the same Wondershare account, and if you hold more than one plan the credits are combined. That matters if you own a Windows desktop and a MacBook but only want to pay for AI features once.
Everything below is the US price display on 30 October 2026. Several cards carried percentage-off labels, which signals promotional pricing. Treat these figures as a snapshot and confirm the price, tax and renewal amount at checkout.
What each plan costs and includes
All paid plans list export without watermark, 4K export, export in multiple formats and 500 free AI Mate conversations. Annual plans state that they renew automatically and can be cancelled at any time. The pricing page also says all products come with a 30-day money-back guarantee subject to Wondershare's refund policy.
Premium is described on the page as a bundle of Advanced, an AI credits add-on (listed at US$9.99 a month) and Creative Assets (listed at US$99.99 a year). The page separately advertises a 14-day Creative Assets trial that renews at US$19.99 a month and states "Software Not Included", so do not confuse that trial with the editor itself.
| Plan | Windows price | Mac price | AI credits | Cloud storage | Updates and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | US$0 | US$0 | None (AI Mate 15 free uses a day) | Not listed | Exports carry a watermark |
| Basic (annual) | US$49.99/yr | US$69.99/yr | None | 1 GB | Continuous version upgrades while subscribed |
| Advanced (annual) | US$53.99/yr (shown against US$59.99) | US$71.99/yr (shown against US$79.99) | 1,000 per month | 10 GB | Continuous version upgrades while subscribed |
| Premium (annual) | US$79.99/yr (shown against US$99.99) | US$95.99/yr (shown against US$119.99) | 2,000 per month | 100 GB | Continuous version upgrades while subscribed |
| Perpetual (one-time) | US$79.99 | US$99.99 | 1,000 once | 1 GB | Updates within Filmora 16 only |
Annual versus perpetual: what you give up with each
The perpetual FAQ is explicit: a perpetual licence lets you keep using a specific version, includes updates to the current major version, and does not include upgrades to future major versions. Wondershare's example of an upgrade is Filmora 15 to Filmora 16. When Filmora 17 ships, a perpetual buyer keeps Filmora 16 unless they pay again.
Subscriptions include all updates and upgrades during the subscription period. The trade-off is that they keep charging. Basic is the cheapest annual option but its AI credits row reads "None", and the comparison table marks most AI tools (Smart Short Clips, Speech-to-Text, Text-to-Speech, AI Object Remover and others) as paid by AI credits.
Perpetual credits behave differently from subscription credits. Wondershare's credit rules list perpetual-plan credits as permanently valid, while subscription credits are valid for 30 days from issue and unused credits are reclaimed when the next batch arrives.
Worked example: a solo YouTuber on Windows over one and three years
Assume one weekly tutorial edited on a Windows PC, and assume the 30 October 2026 prices hold at renewal. That assumption is ours; the pricing page shows the current charge and says plans renew automatically, but it does not promise the renewal amount.
If the creator only needs a watermark-free timeline editor and no AI tools, Basic costs US$49.99 in year one and US$149.97 over three years, while Perpetual costs US$79.99 once. Perpetual pulls ahead during year two, provided Filmora 16 still does everything the channel needs.
If the creator needs AI captions every week, Basic needs credit packs on top. The cheapest one-off pack listed was 1,500 credits for US$9.99, valid for one year. Advanced at US$53.99 a year includes 1,000 credits every month, so for regular AI use it is the better-value annual plan on these numbers. Over three years Advanced totals US$161.97 at the displayed price, or US$179.97 if renewal reverts to the US$59.99 shown alongside it.
| Scenario (Windows) | Year 1 | 3 years (if prices hold) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic, no AI | US$49.99 | US$149.97 | No AI credits included |
| Advanced | US$53.99 | US$161.97 (US$179.97 at US$59.99) | 1,000 credits each month, reclaimed after 30 days |
| Premium | US$79.99 | US$239.97 | 2,000 credits each month and 100 GB storage |
| Perpetual | US$79.99 | US$79.99 | Stays on Filmora 16; 1,000 credits once |
| Perpetual plus one 1,500-credit pack each year | US$89.98 | US$109.96 | Pack credits valid one year |
The same example on a Mac
Mac pricing changes the conclusion slightly. Basic was US$69.99 a year and Advanced US$71.99, only US$2 apart, so a Mac buyer paying annually has little reason to choose Basic. The Mac perpetual licence was US$99.99, which is cheaper than two years of Basic (US$139.98) or Advanced (US$143.98) at those prices.
Three years on a Mac at the displayed prices: Basic US$209.97, Advanced US$215.97, Premium US$287.97, Perpetual US$99.99. If you might move from Windows to Mac during that time, remember the licence does not transfer between platforms.
Who should buy which, and who should not pay
- Buy Perpetual if you edit conventional tutorials or vlogs, rarely use AI tools, and are comfortable staying on Filmora 16.
- Choose Advanced if you will use AI captions, translation or short-clip generation every month; it includes 1,000 credits monthly for a few dollars more than Basic.
- Consider Premium only if you will actually spend around 2,000 credits a month or need the 100 GB of cloud storage.
- Skip Basic on a Mac; at the displayed prices Advanced costs US$2 more a year and adds 1,000 monthly credits.
- Stay on a free editor if you only need occasional cuts and titles: DaVinci Resolve, iMovie on a Mac and Clipchamp's free personal plan all export without paying.
- Before any purchase, use the free version on your own footage; its exports carry a watermark, but it shows whether the editor suits you.
Checkout checklist
- Confirm the platform (Windows or Mac) of the licence you are buying; it cannot be moved to the other platform.
- Read the renewal amount on the checkout page, not only the first-year price.
- Check whether the Creative Assets trial is being added; it renews at US$19.99 a month and does not include the software.
- Note the 30-day money-back guarantee date and read the refund policy before relying on it.
- If you choose Perpetual, write down the version (Filmora 16) so you know when updates stop.
- Turn off auto-renewal if you only intend to pay for one year.
Questions before you decide
Is there a cross-platform Filmora licence for both Windows and Mac?
Not on the individual pricing pages checked on 30 October 2026. Wondershare's FAQ says licences are platform-specific and cannot be transferred between Windows and Mac. AI credits, however, are shared across both platforms under the same Wondershare account.
Does the Filmora perpetual licence include future versions?
No. The pricing FAQ says perpetual plans include updates to the current major version but not upgrades to future major versions. The plan card lists "Updates Within Filmora 16".
Does Filmora Basic include AI credits?
No. The plan comparison lists AI credits as "None" for Basic, 1,000 per month for Advanced and 2,000 per month for Premium. AI features marked "Paid by AI Credits" need credits from a plan or a credit pack.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Wondershare Filmora: Pricing and plans (Windows, US view) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Wondershare Filmora for Mac: Pricing and plans (US view) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Wondershare Filmora: AI credits rules Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Wondershare Filmora: AI credits packs store Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Blackmagic Design: DaVinci Resolve Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Microsoft Support: What are the Clipchamp paid plans and how do they work? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Mac App Store: iMovie Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.