Sollestro vs Eddie AI: an honest comparison for Resolve editors
Both Sollestro and Eddie AI use AI to take the grind out of the first cut, but they are built differently. Eddie AI is a subscription assistant editor that works across Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve and Final Cut. Sollestro is a one-time licence built specifically for DaVinci Resolve Studio, with beat-synced creative edits and photo selection built in.
If you live in Resolve and you are tired of monthly fees, Sollestro will feel like it was made for you, because it was, by a working commercial filmmaker. If you switch between editors and lean on heavy multicam, we will tell you honestly where Eddie is the better fit. Here is the full picture.
At a glance
| How they compare | Sollestro | Eddie AI |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | One-time perpetual licence, with optional monthly or yearly | Subscription |
| Entry price | $199 once, own it (or $19/mo, $149/yr) | $25/month (Plus, 4 projects), or about $21/month billed yearly |
| Unlimited use | Included in the licence | $100/month (Pro) |
| Cost over 2 years | $199 one-time (or $149/yr if you subscribe) | About $600 (Plus) to $2,400 (Pro) |
| AI running cost | Your own Claude key, about $2 to $10 per project, no markup | Included in the subscription (cloud) |
| Core job | A full creative first cut from a plain-English brief | Sort A-roll and B-roll, speaker detection, rough cut from voice |
| Beat-synced and music edits | Yes | Not the focus |
| Auto B-roll over interviews | Yes | Assisted |
| Photo selection | Yes, thousands per run, Lightroom-ready | No |
| Editors supported | DaVinci Resolve Studio, native to the timeline | Premiere Pro, Resolve, Final Cut |
| Multicam | Standard multi-track editing | Up to 6 cameras with speaker-based switching |
| Setup | Install, plus a 2-minute one-time API key | Cloud, no API key |
| Made by | A working commercial filmmaker | A funded software company |
| Free trial | 14 days, full features | Free tier and trial |
Eddie AI figures from public pricing as of July 2026. Prices change, so check heyeddie.ai/pricing before you buy.
The short version
Pick Sollestro if
- You edit in DaVinci Resolve and want a tool native to it.
- You are done renting software and would rather own it.
- You want creative, beat-synced edits, not only a rough assembly.
- You also select photos and would value it in one tool.
Pick Eddie AI if
- You move between Premiere, Final Cut and Resolve.
- You need mature, heavy multi-camera assembly.
- You prefer a fully cloud tool with no setup.
- You do not mind a monthly fee.
Pricing and ownership
This is the biggest difference. Eddie AI is a subscription: roughly $25 a month for the entry tier and $100 a month for unlimited. That is about $600 to $2,400 over two years, and it never stops.
Sollestro is a one-time licence: $199, paid once, and you own it, updates included. If you would rather spread the cost there is a $19 a month or $149 a year option, but the licence is the point. The AI runs on your own Claude key, so you pay Anthropic directly, usually $2 to $10 per project, with no markup added by us.
Resolve editors tend to value this. Many of you chose Resolve precisely to escape subscription software. Sollestro fits that instinct. Eddie, by design, does not.
Core capability
Eddie AI is strongest at organising and rough-cutting: sorting your A-roll and B-roll, detecting who is speaking, and assembling a multicam rough cut from the voice track. For podcast and interview teams with several cameras, that is genuinely useful.
Sollestro aims a step further into the creative. You write a brief in plain English, for example "open on the founder's strongest line, lay workshop B-roll over the interview, build to the product reveal, keep it warm", and it assembles a first cut to match: clips chosen, ordered, trimmed, beat-synced, with cutaways laid in. It is built to give you a creative starting point, not just a tidy assembly.
Built for Resolve
Eddie AI spans Premiere, Final Cut and Resolve. That breadth is a real advantage if you switch editors. The trade-off is that it cannot go as deep into any one of them.
Sollestro does one thing: it lives inside DaVinci Resolve Studio and lays the finished edit straight onto your timeline. If Resolve is your home, that focus shows.
Creative breadth and the photo bonus
Sollestro also does things Eddie does not: beat-synced edits for reels and music-driven pieces, and a full Photo mode that selects the keepers from thousands of images and writes star ratings for Lightroom, Capture One and Bridge. If you shoot as well as edit, that is a second tool in the box at no extra cost.
Setup and friction, where Eddie has an edge
Being honest: Eddie's cloud setup is frictionless. You sign in and go, no key to configure.
Sollestro asks for a one-time, two-minute step: connect your own Claude API key. There is a short video that walks you through it. The pay-off is the lower price and no AI markup, but if you want zero setup, Eddie wins this round.
Trust and privacy
Sollestro runs through your own AI key, so your footage stays on your machine and under your control, and you can see exactly what each project costs. It is also made by one filmmaker who answers your support email personally. That is a different kind of relationship than a funded company, with the obvious trade-off: Eddie has a bigger team, more marketing and a longer track record.
Where each tool wins
Where Eddie AI is the better choice
- You edit across Premiere Pro and Final Cut as well as Resolve.
- You need heavy multicam, four to six cameras, with speaker-based switching.
- You prefer a fully cloud tool with no setup and do not mind a monthly fee.
Where Sollestro is the better choice
- You edit in DaVinci Resolve Studio and want a tool native to it.
- You are tired of subscriptions and would rather own your software.
- You want creative, beat-synced edits and B-roll cutaways.
- You also select photos and would value it in the same tool.
- You want transparent AI costs and your footage to stay yours.
An honest note
Eddie AI is a strong tool, and if the points on the left describe you it is worth your trial. A comparison that admits where the other tool is better is the only kind worth reading.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cheaper alternative to Eddie AI?
Yes. Sollestro is a one-time licence at $199 that you own, rather than a monthly subscription. Over two years Eddie costs roughly $600 to $2,400 depending on tier, while Sollestro is a single payment. You do pay your own AI usage directly to Anthropic, usually $2 to $10 per project.
Does Eddie AI work with DaVinci Resolve?
Yes, Eddie works as an extension across Premiere, Final Cut and Resolve. Sollestro is built specifically for DaVinci Resolve Studio and lays the edit straight onto your timeline.
Is Eddie AI a subscription?
Yes, Eddie is subscription based, from about $25 a month up to $100 a month for unlimited use. Sollestro is a one-time perpetual licence with updates included, with monthly or yearly options if you prefer to spread the cost.
Can AI really edit a video in DaVinci Resolve?
It can build a strong first cut. Sollestro reads your transcripts and watches your footage, then assembles clips, soundbites and B-roll into a timeline from your brief. You then refine and finish. It speeds up the assembly, it does not replace your craft.
Will an AI editor replace me?
No. Both tools do the tedious first pass so you spend your time on the creative decisions. You keep full control and finish in your editor as normal.
See also: how Sollestro compares to other AI editors and photo cullers.