Alternatives to Lightworks
Pro heritage editor with free tier
Lightworks ranks #4 of 18 in Video editing, with an Alt Score of 85. It is proprietary, freemium and available on Windows, macOS and Linux. 12 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Video editors ranging from hobbyists to professional film and broadcast editors; it has been used on Hollywood productions and supports both simple cuts and complex feature-film workflows.
A non-linear editor with a multitrack timeline for any resolution and frame rate, audio editing and mixing tools, color correction with LUT support, and hundreds of titles, transitions, and effects. Free, Create, and Pro tiers gate export resolution (720p/4K/8K), proxy and background-rendering features, and advanced audio/color tools. Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with support for RED camera footage and HDR.
Import and organize footage in bins, edit clips on a multitrack timeline using trim and A/B roll tools, apply color grading and effects, then export directly to file, YouTube, or connected cloud storage.
Why people leave Lightworks
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the Video editing checklist (16 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| Video editing checklist | Lightworks | Filmora | Premiere Pro | DaVinci Resolve | Final Cut Pro | VSDC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Timeline tracks (limit) | ||||||
| 4K/8K export | ||||||
| Watermark on free tier | ||||||
| Proxy editing | ||||||
| Color grading (scopes, LUTs) | ||||||
| Motion graphics / keyframing | ||||||
| Audio mixing | ||||||
| Speed ramping | ||||||
| Plugins ecosystem | ||||||
| Hardware encoding | ||||||
| Collaboration | ||||||
| Direct publish to platforms |
Every fact and feature listed for Lightworks is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-12
Copyright © 2023 LWKS.com
https://lwks.com/pricing -
Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-12
Everything in Free, plus: 4K Video Export
https://lwks.com/pricing -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux verified 2026-07-12
Windows 8 and later macOS 10.14 and later Linux
https://lwks.com/lightworks-tech-specs -
Status active verified 2026-07-12
2025.2-56356 -- January 2026
https://lwks.com/releases -
Timeline tracks (limit) Yes verified 2026-07-12
Up to 64 Video tracks & 32 Audio tracks with unlimited FX tracks per sequence
https://lwks.com/lightworks-tech-specs -
4K/8K export Partial verified 2026-07-12
Up to 720p Up to 4K Up to 8K
https://lwks.com/pricing -
Watermark on free tier No verified 2026-07-12
No Watermark
https://lwks.com/pricing -
Proxy editing Yes verified 2026-07-12
Edit swiftly with proxy files, ensuring smooth performance without compromising on quality.
https://lwks.com/#features_section -
Color grading (scopes, LUTs) Yes verified 2026-07-12
Dive into the vibrant world of colour correction and grading. Transform your footage from RAW and lifeless to captivating visual art.
https://lwks.com/#features_section -
Motion graphics / keyframing Yes verified 2026-07-12
Over 700 customisable titles and motion graphics to bring your video to life.
https://lwks.com/#features_section -
Audio mixing Yes verified 2026-07-12
Mix sound effects, foley, and background music for next level audio sophistication.
https://lwks.com/#features_section -
Speed ramping Yes verified 2026-07-12
Speed Tool for varispeed changes
https://lwks.com/lightworks-tech-specs -
Plugins ecosystem Yes verified 2026-07-12
Audio Plugins AU, VST and LADSPA Compatibility
https://lwks.com/lightworks-tech-specs -
Hardware encoding Partial verified 2026-07-12
Real time (GPU accelerated) Primary colour correctors
https://lwks.com/lightworks-tech-specs -
Collaboration Yes verified 2026-07-12
Project Sharing*: Multiple users working in the same project at the same time, sharing the same media
https://lwks.com/lightworks-tech-specs -
Direct publish to platforms Yes verified 2026-07-12
Built-in YouTube and social media sharing without leaving Lightworks.
https://lwks.com/#features_section
FAQ
Yes. Filmora, DaVinci Resolve and VSDC have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Shotcut, Kdenlive and OpenShot — every license claim links its source.