Last updated: October 22, 2026. Checked against Apple’s Final Cut Pro, Creator Studio and tech specs pages.
Quick answer: Apple no longer offers the old 90-day Final Cut Pro free trial. Since January 2026, the way to try Final Cut Pro for free is a 1-month free trial of Apple Creator Studio, which includes Final Cut Pro for Mac and iPad and then costs $12.99 a month or $129 a year. People who buy a new Mac or a qualifying iPad can get 3 months free. You can still buy Final Cut Pro for Mac outright for $299.99 (£299.99 in the UK, ₹29,900 in India).
Final Cut Pro is Apple’s professional video editor for Mac and iPad. This guide explains how the current free trial works, what is included, the system requirements for Final Cut Pro 12 and your options when the trial ends.
How to Get the Final Cut Pro Free Trial in 2026
- On your Mac, open the App Store and search for Apple Creator Studio, or go to apple.com/apple-creator-studio.
- Start the 1-month free trial with your Apple Account. If you recently bought a new Mac or a qualifying iPad, check whether you can get 3 months free instead.
- Download Final Cut Pro from the App Store. The subscription version is a separate app from the one-time-purchase version, and both can be installed on the same Mac.
- Set a reminder. Unless you cancel in your Apple Account subscription settings at least a day before the trial ends, Creator Studio renews at $12.99 a month.
What happened to the 90-day trial? Apple redirected its standalone 90-day trial links when Creator Studio launched on January 28, 2026, and removed the remaining regional links by early February 2026. Some older Apple support pages still mention it.
What’s Included in the Free Trial?
The Creator Studio trial gives you the full apps, not cut-down versions. During the trial you get:
- Final Cut Pro for Mac and iPad, with every editing feature, including 360-degree video, motion graphics and colour grading
- Logic Pro and Pixelmator Pro for Mac and iPad
- Motion, Compressor and MainStage for Mac
- Premium content in Keynote, Pages, Numbers and Freeform
- Family Sharing for up to 6 people
How Long Does the Trial Last?
The standard trial lasts 1 month. If you bought a new Mac or a qualifying iPad, Apple offers 3 months free. Students and educators can continue afterwards at a reduced price.
Are There Watermarks or Project Limits?
No. You can create and export as many projects as you like, and exports don’t carry a watermark. If you are comparing editors, see whether DaVinci Resolve has a watermark in its free version.
System Requirements For Final Cut Pro
These are Apple’s minimum requirements for Final Cut Pro for Mac (version 12.4, released September 29, 2026):
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| macOS | macOS 15.6 or later (macOS 26 recommended) |
| Memory | 8GB RAM (16GB recommended) |
| Graphics | Metal-capable GPU (needed on Intel Macs) |
| App storage | 7.2GB of free disk space |
| Chip | Some features require a Mac with Apple silicon |
Leave plenty of extra space for media and libraries. As a rule of thumb, keep at least 50 to 100GB free for 4K projects.
Final Cut Pro for iPad needs an iPad with an M1 chip or later, an iPad (A16) or an iPad mini (A17 Pro), running a recent version of iPadOS. Check Apple’s Final Cut Pro tech specs before you start, because requirements change with updates.
What to Do After Your Trial Ends?
When the trial ends, you have three options.
Option 1: Keep Apple Creator Studio
Creator Studio renews automatically at $12.99 a month or $129 a year in the US (£12.99 or £129 in the UK, ₹399 or ₹3,999 in India). Students and educators pay $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year.
Option 2: Buy Final Cut Pro Outright
Final Cut Pro for Mac is still sold as a one-time purchase of $299.99 on the Mac App Store (£299.99 in the UK, ₹29,900 in India). Apple says one-time buyers get the same new Final Cut Pro features as subscribers. The education Pro Apps Bundle is now only offered with a Mac bought from the Apple Education Store.
Option 3: Cancel and Keep Your Files
If you cancel, your projects and media stay on your Mac. Projects open in either the subscription or the one-time-purchase version of Final Cut Pro, so you won’t lose work if you buy later.
Which Option Is Cheaper?
At $129 a year, Creator Studio costs less than the $299.99 one-time price for the first two years, and it also includes Logic Pro and Pixelmator Pro. If you only need Final Cut Pro and plan to use it for many years, buying it once is cheaper. You might also compare other creative software costs, such as how much Canva Pro costs.
FAQ’s:
Is There Still a 90-Day Final Cut Pro Free Trial?
No. Apple replaced the standalone 90-day trial with a 1-month free trial of Apple Creator Studio in January 2026, or 3 months with a new Mac or qualifying iPad.
Can I Get Final Cut Pro on Windows?
No. Final Cut Pro only runs on Mac and iPad. On Windows, look at DaVinci Resolve (which has a strong free version), Adobe Premiere Pro or budget editors like Filmora and CapCut.
Can I Extend or Reset the Final Cut Pro Trial?
No. Apple doesn’t offer trial extensions, and unofficial “trial reset” tricks break Apple’s terms. If you need more time, one month of Creator Studio costs $12.99.
Will My Projects Be Deleted After the Trial?
No. Your libraries stay on your Mac, and you can open them again if you subscribe or buy the one-time version.
Is Final Cut Pro Still a One-Time Purchase?
Yes, on Mac. You can still buy Final Cut Pro for Mac for $299.99. Final Cut Pro for iPad is now available only through Apple Creator Studio.
What Are Some Free Alternatives to Final Cut Pro?
DaVinci Resolve is the strongest free alternative on Mac and Windows; guides such as how to zoom in DaVinci Resolve cover the basics. Other options include iMovie (free on Mac), Shotcut and Blender.
Conclusion
The Final Cut Pro free trial still exists in 2026, but it now comes through Apple Creator Studio: 1 month free (3 months with a new Mac or qualifying iPad), then $12.99 a month. If you would rather own the app, the $299.99 one-time purchase is still available for Mac.
Check that your Mac runs macOS 15.6 or later, start the trial from the App Store and decide before it renews whether the subscription or the one-time purchase suits you better.
