Blackmagic Cloud Collaboration vs Frame.io: Feature Comparison & Pricing

Blackmagic Design’s new Cloud Collaboration Service: What it offers and how it stacks up against Frame.io

With the launch of Blackmagic Design’s cloud platform, the company has brought real‑time collaboration directly into DaVinci Resolve 18. In this article we compare the new service to Frame.io – a proven industry standard that Adobe acquired for $1.275 billion last year.

Free Resolve 18 vs. Resolve Studio

Resolve Studio adds the DaVinci Neural Engine, extra Resolve FX, temporal and spatial noise reduction, stereoscopic 3D, film grain, optical blur, and mist effects. It also supports 10‑bit video at 120 fps and resolutions beyond 4K.

The free edition handles 8‑bit video up to 60 fps and up to Ultra‑HD 3840 × 2160. It includes the new cloud service, but you’ll need to pay $5 per project per month (plus tax) and provide a payment method in your online account.

How Blackmagic Cloud Works

The platform is a thin‑client model that connects to a server you select during signup – typically the nearest to your location. Your Resolve projects live on that server, while media is stored in an external cloud service such as Dropbox or Google Drive (both are supported).

Dropbox’s Sync feature can be configured to cache media locally, speeding up collaboration. Blackmagic plans to add more synchronizable services in the future.

Unlike a subscription fee, the cloud service charges $5 per project per month and does not monetize user data.

Frame.io Basics

Frame.io offers a free tier with 2 GB of storage, 2 projects, and 2 users. Media and project files are stored on Frame.io’s servers. For larger teams, Frame.io’s Pro plan supports 1–10 users, unlimited projects, 250 GB of active storage, 500 GB of archival storage, camera‑to‑cloud ingestion, and 4K UHD playback. The Pro plan costs $15 per user per month; the Team plan ($25 per user per month) supports up to 15 users, while the Enterprise package is custom‑quoted.

Collaboration Features

Blackmagic’s beta release already allows multiple users to view and edit the same timeline in real time, with chat and comment functionality that can be accessed directly from Resolve. Frame.io’s platform is well‑known for its comment system, where reviewers can drop annotations on a frame and instantaneously view camera‑to‑cloud footage on mobile devices.

Proxy Workflow

Both services support proxies. Frame.io uses its own transfer app for bulk uploads, large folder structures, and entire projects, offering high‑ and low‑resolution proxies. Blackmagic’s Proxy Generator automatically transcodes media to H.264/H.265 HD, 1080p, and ProRes 422 10‑bit 4:2:2 1080p. The generated proxies sync with your chosen cloud storage and can be rendered simultaneously by networked users.

Hardware‑Accelerated Cloud Storage

Blackmagic is also launching a line of cloud‑storage devices that use flash memory for speed and reliability:The new Cloud Store from Blackmagic Design. Image via Blackmagic Design.

• Cloud Store 20 TB – $9,595
• Cloud Store 80 TB – $29,995
• Cloud Store 320 TB – custom pricing (built to order)
• Cloud Store Mini (8 TB, half‑rack) – $2,995

The Cloud Pod ($395) turns any USB‑C drive into a network disk with full sync features, ideal for DITs or independent filmmakers.New Cloud Store Mini from Blackmagic Design. Image via Blackmagic Design.New Cloud Pod from Blackmagic Design. Image via Blackmagic Design.

Which Solution Is Right for You?

Blackmagic’s solution is deeply integrated into Resolve and leverages its existing hardware ecosystem, making it an attractive choice for studios that already own Blackmagic gear. The per‑project fee keeps costs predictable, and the proxy workflow is tightly coupled with Resolve’s timeline.

Frame.io remains a leader for cross‑application collaboration, especially within the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, and its robust commenting and camera‑to‑cloud features make it suitable for larger, distributed teams.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your workflow, team size, and existing hardware. Both platforms are moving toward a future where remote collaboration is as seamless as local editing.

For more Blackmagic tips and updates, check out our related articles:

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