What is Lightworks used for?

Lightworks is a nonlinear video editor with a free tier and paid plans, used by people ranging from first-time editors to film and television professionals. It is a good fit for beginners starting with a free editor and independent filmmakers stepping up to a pro tool.

Yes. Lightworks has a free plan.

Is Lightworks open source?

No. Lightworks is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to Lightworks include OpenShot, Kdenlive and Shotcut.

What are some alternatives to Lightworks?

Lightworks competes with DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro and VEGAS Pro. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Lightworks alternatives.

Lightworks: features, pricing and alternatives

About Lightworks

Lightworks is a nonlinear video editing application with a long history in film and television editing. The current product is built around an upgrade path: newcomers can begin with a free edition and move to more capable tiers as their needs grow.

The feature set covers video editing, audio, effects, color work and sharing finished videos. The free edition has a streamlined toolset for beginners, a Create plan adds more features, and the Pro plan offers the most complete set for professionals who want precise control. Lightworks runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.

It is commercial desktop software with a permanent free tier, so users can try it on real projects before deciding whether a paid plan is worthwhile. A forum, knowledge base and video tutorials support learning.

Key features

Nonlinear timeline video editing
Free edition for beginners
Paid Create and Pro tiers
Audio and effects tools
Color correction tools
Windows, macOS and Linux support

Good fit for

→Beginners starting with a free editor
→Independent filmmakers stepping up to a pro tool

Tags: video-editing; free-tier; nle; film; windows; macos; linux

Lightworks: questions and answers

What is Lightworks used for?: Lightworks is a nonlinear video editor with a free tier and paid plans, used by people ranging from first-time editors to film and television professionals. It is a good fit for beginners starting with a free editor and independent filmmakers stepping up to a pro tool.
Is Lightworks free?: Yes. Lightworks has a free plan.
Is Lightworks open source?: No. Lightworks is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to Lightworks include OpenShot, Kdenlive and Shotcut.
What are some alternatives to Lightworks?: Lightworks competes with DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro and VEGAS Pro. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Lightworks alternatives.