Our verdict: buy once for a stable workflow, subscribe for moving targets
If you edit the same kind of video on the same computer and do not rely on AI features that consume credits every month, a one-time licence is the cheaper path over three years in every pairing we priced. If you need the newest major version as it ships, a recurring credit allowance, or one licence that works on both Windows and Mac, the subscription is usually what you are actually paying for.
One practical warning: one-time licences are disappearing. Screen Studio says one-time licences were possible in the past but are no longer available for new purchases; existing holders renew to regain updates. Do not assume a perpetual option exists for the tool you want until you see it on the checkout page.
What is actually sold as a one-time purchase
These are the options we could confirm on official pages on 30 October 2026. Blackmagic lists a price for DaVinci Resolve Studio but the product pages we fetched do not state licence or update terms, so read the checkout terms before treating it as perpetual.
| Product | Price shown | Platform | Update terms stated | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filmora Perpetual | US$79.99 one-time (struck from $109.99, Mac store page) | Windows or Mac, not both | Updates to the current major version only; future major versions need an extra fee | 1,000 AI credits one-time, 1GB cloud |
| Final Cut Pro | $299.99 on the Mac App Store | Mac | Not stated on the listing | Version 12.4; requires macOS 26.6 or later |
| DaVinci Resolve Studio | $236 (was $295) | Studio page does not restate platforms | Not stated on the pages we fetched | Free DaVinci Resolve runs on Mac, Windows and Linux |
| Screen Studio | No longer sold one-time | macOS only | Lapsed one-time holders renew for updates | Subscription $29 a month or $9 a month on the yearly plan |
Three-year totals and break-even
Three-year totals assume the price shown today is charged again at each renewal. That is an assumption: several figures are displayed as discounts from a higher struck-through price, and vendors can change pricing at renewal. Tax is excluded.
Break-even is the point where cumulative subscription payments exceed the one-time price. Filmora Perpetual ($79.99) versus Filmora Advanced ($59.99 a year): 79.99 / 59.99 = 1.33 years, so the perpetual licence is cheaper once you make the second annual payment (the first renewal). Against Filmora Basic at $49.99 a year, 79.99 / 49.99 = 1.6 years, so the second Basic payment also tips it. Versus the Mac monthly plan at $19.99: four payments total $79.96, so the perpetual licence is cheaper from the fifth month. Final Cut Pro ($299.99) versus Descript Hobbyist billed annually ($192 a year): 1.56 years, although those two tools do different jobs.
| Option | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Three-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filmora Perpetual | $79.99 | $0 | $0 | $79.99 (plus a major-version upgrade fee if you want one) |
| Filmora Advanced annual | $59.99 | $59.99 | $59.99 | $179.97 |
| Filmora Basic annual | $49.99 | $49.99 | $49.99 | $149.97 |
| Filmora Mac monthly | $239.88 | $239.88 | $239.88 | $719.64 |
| Final Cut Pro | $299.99 | $0 | $0 | $299.99 |
| DaVinci Resolve Studio | $236 | $0 if updates stay free (not stated) | $0 if updates stay free (not stated) | $236 |
| Screen Studio yearly ($9 a month) | $108 (assumes billed as 12 x $9) | $108 | $108 | $324 |
| Screen Studio monthly | $348 | $348 | $348 | $1,044 |
What the perpetual licence leaves out
Filmora's own comparison makes the trade explicit. Perpetual includes 1,000 AI credits once; Advanced issues 1,000 AI credits every 30 days. Perpetual includes 1GB of cloud storage; Advanced includes 10GB. Perpetual is licensed per platform, so a Windows licence does not run on a Mac, while one Advanced licence covers both. And the Perpetual FAQ says it includes updates to the current major version but not upgrades to future major versions.
There is also an inconsistency to check: Filmora's main buy page describes the perpetual plan as covering Filmora 16 updates, while its Mac store page still says Filmora 12 updates only. Confirm which version your purchase covers on the checkout screen and keep a copy of the order confirmation.
- If you rely on AI captions, voice or generation every week, one-time credits will run out.
- If you switch between a Windows desktop and a MacBook, a per-platform licence means two purchases.
- If the next major version adds a feature you need, budget the upgrade fee rather than assuming it is free.
Operating system compatibility is the hidden expiry date
A one-time licence does not expire, but the computer around it changes. Apple's current Final Cut Pro listing requires macOS 26.6 or later, which tells you new versions track recent macOS releases. Filmora's guides list Windows 7 or later (64-bit) and macOS 10.15 or later for downloads, and Screen Studio recommends macOS Ventura 13.1 or higher.
The practical risk is a mismatch in either direction: a new major version that needs a newer OS than your machine supports, or an old frozen version that you have not confirmed on the OS you are about to install. Before upgrading the OS on an editing machine, check the vendor's current requirements page and keep an installer for the version you own.
Decision rules
If you are unsure, start with a monthly subscription for one or two months to confirm the editor fits, then decide. The extra cost of one monthly payment is small compared with buying a perpetual licence for the wrong tool.
| Your situation | Lean towards | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One computer, stable editing needs, little AI use | Perpetual | Cheaper after year one or two in every pairing priced here |
| Weekly AI captions, voice or generation | Subscription | Recurring credit allowance instead of a one-time batch |
| Windows and Mac both in use | Subscription that covers both | Filmora Perpetual is per platform |
| Want each major version on release | Subscription | Perpetual covers the current major version only (Filmora) |
| Screen recording polish on Mac | Subscription is the only new-buyer option | Screen Studio no longer sells one-time licences |
Questions before you decide
Does the Filmora perpetual licence include future versions?
No. Filmora's FAQ says perpetual plans include all updates to the current major version but not upgrades to future major versions, which require an extra fee. It also includes 1,000 AI credits once rather than monthly.
Can I still buy a lifetime licence for Screen Studio?
Not as a new customer. Screen Studio says one-time licences were possible in the past but are no longer available for new purchases; it offers $29 a month or $9 a month on the yearly plan, and existing licence holders renew to get new updates.
Is DaVinci Resolve Studio a one-time purchase?
Blackmagic lists Studio at $236 (was $295) on 30 October 2026, but the product pages we fetched do not state licence or update terms. Confirm them at checkout. The free DaVinci Resolve is available for Mac, Windows and Linux.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Wondershare Filmora: plans, perpetual licence terms and FAQ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Wondershare Filmora: individual plans for Mac Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Filmora user guide: Silence Detection (Windows) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Mac App Store: Final Cut Pro Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Blackmagic Design: DaVinci Resolve Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Blackmagic Design: DaVinci Resolve Studio Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Screen Studio: pricing and FAQ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Descript pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.