Comparison
Sift vs Adobe Media Intelligence.
Adobe’s Media Intelligence is the engine behind search in Adobe Premiere and Frame.io. Here’s what that gives you and where Sift fills in.
In short: Adobe Media Intelligence analyzes media on your computer so Adobe Premiere’s Search panel can find shots by description and dialogue in your project. It doesn’t identify named people. Sift adds one library across every drive you sync, named people, a Resolve panel and Link sharing.
No editor needed. Sift works on its own as a desktop app on Mac and Windows: search, preview, build Selects and share footage by link without opening an editor. The editor panels are optional.
Written by the maker of Sift Clips, so read it with that in mind. Other products’ details come from the sources listed, checked October 21, 2026. Features and prices change, so check each vendor before buying. This is a workflow comparison, not a speed or accuracy test.
Side by side.
| Adobe Media Intelligence (Premiere) | Sift Clips | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | Adobe Premiere (formerly Premiere Pro) and Frame.io | Standalone app with Premiere and Resolve panels |
| What it searches in Premiere | Media imported into the open project | Every folder and drive you sync |
| Describe a shot | Yes | Yes |
| Spoken words | Yes, in transcribed media | Yes |
| Named people | Describes, doesn’t identify individuals (per Adobe) | Yes, name someone once |
| Where analysis runs | On your computer in Premiere | On your computer |
| Cost | Included with Premiere | $99 a year; free trial |
Who each suits.
Editors who work in Premiere on one project at a time and want search with no extra tool.
Editors with footage on many drives, past projects, named subjects, or who also use Resolve.
Questions
Is Media Intelligence the same as the Search panel?
The Search panel is where you use it in Premiere. Adobe documents the feature in its Media intelligence and Search panel FAQ.
Does Adobe’s search name people?
Adobe’s documentation says it can describe a person’s appearance but does not identify or name individuals.
Does Sift work with Adobe Premiere 26?
Yes. The panel works with Premiere Pro 25.6 and Adobe Premiere 26 and later.
Do I need Sift if I have Premiere?
Not always. If your footage is in one project and you edit only in Premiere, built-in search may be enough.
Updated 2026-10-22
Keep reading.
Try it on your own footage.
Free for 3 days or 25 searches. No card. Then $99 a year for one computer, Mac or Windows. Everything in Sift, including the optional editor panels and one free link to share footage.