Lightworks icon
Lightworks icon

Lightworks

 165 likes

Lightworks is an editing powerhouse, delivering unparalleled speed and flexibility, fully integrated with the other members of the Complete Collaboration family.

Lightworks screenshot 1

License model

  • FreemiumProprietary

Application type

Country of Origin

  • US flagUnited States

Platforms

  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Linux
2.8 / 5 Avg rating (13)
165likes
12comments
0news articles

Features

Suggest and vote on features
  1.  Ad-free
  2.  Chroma Key / Green Screen
  3.  Node Based
  4.  Keyframe Animation
  5.  Color correction
  6.  Non linear editor
  7.  Watermarking
  8.  Capture Video

 Tags

  • realtime-effects
  • broadcasting

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Lightworks information

  • Developed by

    US flagEditShare
  • Licensing

    Proprietary and Freemium product.
  • Pricing

    One time purchase that costs $0, and / or subscription that costs $0 per month + free version with limited functionality.
  • Rating

    Average rating of 2.8 (13 ratings)
  • Alternatives

    103 alternatives listed
  • Supported Languages

    • English

AlternativeTo Category

Video & Movies

Our users have written 12 comments and reviews about Lightworks, and it has gotten 165 likes

Lightworks was added to AlternativeTo by solomongaby on Apr 13, 2010 and this page was last updated May 8, 2020.

Comments and Reviews

   
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Comment summary: Lightworks offers powerful tools and is appreciated for its unique UI, making it suitable for both beginners and professionals. However, users experience a steep learning curve and notable limitations in the free version, like restricted exports to 720p. Issues also include a cumbersome interface, difficulties with compatibility and system stability, and a disappointing lack of promised open-source development. Its pricing and export options are viewed as restrictive compared to competitors.
Top Positive Comment
jeremiahwatson
Jan 3, 2018
2

You have to get into the groove of the program, but once you're there, it's great. I just wish video stability wasn't behind a paywall.

Top Negative Comment
Shoji
Feb 23, 2017
6

• need user account to use it • No user friendly,Cumbersome UI. • Imports only some clips since does not manage different frame rates in one project. • Frequent locks. • Difficult zooming and syncro video/audio. Playback not working with xvid coded clips (XVID!)

Pavlin Lazarov
Feb 11, 2024
0

Lightworks is good for beginners and professionals editors, but this program have problem with cutting video when someone cut the video the audio is not sync.

K0RR
Jan 29, 2024
1

Great UI and automated export to YouTube functionality. That's all good I can say about lwks.

The free plan only lets you export in 720p AND H.264 codec. This would be fine in 2015 but now it's just ridiculous.

I can understand no AV1 and VVC in the free plan but EVEN THE CHEAPER of the PAID PLANS doesn't have HEVC. MKV format and VP8/VP9 (webm) video codec are not supported AT ALL.

Why does the free version require an account? Garbage software, just use Davinci for free.

Akhilesh_T
Mar 10, 2021
-1

I have edited so many videos on this software and love it. There is a slight learning curve, but once you master a few features and shortcuts, you'll edit videos quickly.

The free version limits the export to 720p.

Xandros Darkstorm
Aug 22, 2020
1

Difficult to use UI. I lost my work twice, because this app doesn't save files correctly (all my exports became "Media offline"); it even lost its own sequences (important project parts). Free version doesn't allow you to render video in 1080p. I can understand paywall blocking some features, but exports? No sir, that is over the top bullshit. Manuals also available only as Youtube videos, which i consider a bad thing, because i read and look for necessary parts faster than i can navigate through their videos. I barely managed to get my work done with that thing, so I will not recommend it to anyone.

The only positive things i found is that it works on Debian 10 Stable and it autosaves your project (if you are too lazy to click "Save" in your editor of choice).

[Edited by Xandros, August 22]

dadapotok
Apr 5, 2020
0

**app is great but it's still laser-focused for TV and cinema production - you cannot even render vertical video or use nonstandard fps. **

$400 for a perpetual license also doesn't sweeten the deal.

I do love it's unique UI - it really speeds up editing when you get the hand of it - but most features are already decently implemented in other NLEs. I tend to customise other editors to somewhat mimick Lightworks way of doing things.

You can go to Shotcut (free and fast) and Premiere for subclips that also works.

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7 of 12 comments

What is Lightworks?

Lightworks is an editing powerhouse, delivering unparalleled speed and flexibility, fully integrated with the other members of the Complete Collaboration family.

Lightworks is an Academy and Emmy award-winning professional-grade video editor with over 20 years of history in the film and broadcast industry. Having cut hundreds of films such as Pulp Fiction, The Departed, Centurion, Shutter Island,The King's Speech, Martin Scorsese's The Departed, Mission Impossible, Pulp Fiction, Braveheart and Batman, it includes a full feature set of editorial tools -- from advanced trimming and media management, to stereoscopic support and real time effects including multiple secondary color correctors. Lightworks has an advanced effects pipeline, utilizing the power of your GPU. And with support for up to 2K workflows with real time effects, it is the most advanced editing application available.

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