# Lightworks Reviews **Vendor:** EditShare **Category:** [Video Editing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/video-editing) **Average Rating:** 3.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 30 ## About Lightworks Lightworks is a professional-grade non-linear video editing system designed for editing and mastering digital video across various formats, including 2K and 4K resolutions, as well as television standards like PAL, NTSC, and high-definition. With a legacy dating back to 1989, Lightworks has been instrumental in the evolution of digital video editing, offering tools that cater to both novice editors and seasoned professionals. Key Features and Functionality: - Timeline Editing: A robust and intuitive timeline that supports real-time editing, allowing users to manage multiple video and audio tracks seamlessly. - Multicam Editing: Advanced multicamera editing capabilities enable synchronization and editing of footage from multiple cameras, ideal for interviews, events, or multi-angle shoots. - Real-Time Effects and Transitions: A suite of built-in effects, transitions, and titling options to enhance video projects without the need for third-party plugins. - Audio Editing Tools: Comprehensive audio editing features, including leveling, equalization, and support for third-party audio plugins, ensuring high-quality sound design. - Wide Format Support: Compatibility with a broad range of video formats, from SD to 4K, facilitating flexibility in media handling. - Cross-Platform Availability: Operates on Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing versatility across different operating systems. Primary Value and User Solutions: Lightworks addresses the needs of video editors by offering a scalable solution that grows with the user's skill level. Its free version provides essential tools for beginners, while the Create and Pro versions unlock advanced features like 4K/8K exporting, advanced effects, and high-end color grading. This tiered approach ensures that users have access to appropriate tools as their editing requirements evolve. Additionally, Lightworks' efficient workflow, real-time collaboration capabilities, and extensive format support streamline the editing process, enabling users to produce professional-quality videos efficiently. ## Lightworks Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users value the **intuitive interface and customizable shortcuts** of Lightworks for enhancing their presentation skills effectively. (1 reviews) - Users value the **efficient screen recording capabilities** of Lightworks, allowing for seamless editing across multiple timelines. (1 reviews) - Users love the **speedy creation** capabilities of Lightworks, enabling seamless work across multiple timelines for diverse video formats. (1 reviews) - Users appreciate the **user-friendly interface** of Lightworks, enhancing productivity and simplifying video editing tasks. (1 reviews) - Users enjoy the **work simplification** offered by Lightworks, enabling efficient multitasking across multiple timelines for video projects. (1 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users find Lightworks **lacking in advanced tools** for complex visual effects and professional color correction needs. (1 reviews) - Users find Lightworks **limited in selection** , especially for complex visual effects and professional color correction tools. (1 reviews) ## Lightworks Reviews ### 1. Delivers just the right mix of editing speed and polished results. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Marketing and Advertising | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 23, 2025 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** Lightworks lets us work on multiple timelines simultaneously, which is ideal for creating long, short, and vertical versions of our videos. The interface is intuitive, and the customizable shortcuts really speed things up. It handles large amounts of raw footage efficiently, and 4K export ensures we maintain high visual quality—even on big screens. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** Well-suited for medium editing tasks, though potentially limited when handling complex visual effects or requiring advanced tools for professional color correction. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** Being able to quickly produce polished short clips has helped us boost our video output, especially for social media and sports highlights. Lightworks makes the process smoother without a steep learning curve, which makes it a great fit for fast-paced content environments. ### 2. Lightworks- a nice and accessible video platform for any user! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Public Safety | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 25, 2023 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** Lightworks is a fantastic program that is free, convenient and easy to use. I like the fact that is downloadable onto any computer and it provides a no-hassle approach to video editing. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** What I would like to see Lightworks apply is an easier approach to keyboard commands. I find myself having to look at video tutorials alot in an effort to complete basic functions. Sometimes the interface can be somewhat rigid in employing specific commands for use. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** What it solves is a no-nonsense and quick approach to getting videos completed. The interface is simple, yet effective in terms of allowing anyone at any experience level to be able to use the platform. ### 3. Detailed but not user friendly **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mariah B. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 21, 2022 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** This product has a lot of resources for building videos. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** It is a bit difficult or confusing to use as it doesn't have instructions and is in tiny writing. I thought I'd try it since many others said it was good for beginners but I have a difficult time figuring it out. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I'm still trying to figure out how to use it properly, but I hope to use it in the future for creating Youtube videos. ### 4. Good editing program for Intermediate users **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Julie B. | Project Coordinator II & Change Analyst, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 08, 2021 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** Gives you more advanced options if you have iMovie down. If you understand how to use timelines, it's not that difficult to get up and going with this program. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** It may be a little confusing for a green user. That's perfectly fine as it has more advanced features and you need a basic 101 understanding of how video editing works. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** Quick mobile app **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I haven't experienced any problems but have noticed for ease of use, I'm using iMovie on my phone for quick turnouts. If they had a mobile quick version maybe that would be nice. ### 5. Perfect for beginners! **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ben L. | Actor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 18, 2020 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** I like how easy lightworks is to use. It is perfect for someone with little editing experience. With lightworks, I can easily upload film footage and edit it together. I was even able to navigate the advanced FX features with very little outside help. Lightworks enables you to upload your project directly to Vimeo or YouTube by simply associating your accounts through the lightworks application. You also have to freedom to work on a project in mixed frame rates, which is imperative if you are editing footage from multiple sources. Lightworks is the ideal free software package. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** I dislike Lightwork's UI. It's unattractive and can at times be confusing. Lightworks can also be very prone to crashing if you attempt to do too many processes at once. For this reason, you are forced to move slowly and deliberately. The upside of this, however, is that lightworks regularly autosaves your work, so you don't have to worry about losing your progress to crash. Lightworks can also improve by better labeling its features, to make it even more friendly to the casual editor. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** Give it a try! It's free, you have nothing to lose! **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I have used lightworks to edit together my acting reel. I have attracted the attention of industry professionals with my well edited reel. I even secured professional representation due to my acting reel. Using lightworks' easy to navigate editing log, I was able to finely synchronize small hand movements precisely to the beat of a sound track. ### 6. Best software for someone who is looking for a freeware for editing videos. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stephen N. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 27, 2020 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** I am glad that a company is providing a software and its basic features for free. Not everyone can afford purchasing software for their work. The software even auto saves your work, which is pretty cool. It avoids much of my stress to constantly save my work, to prevent loss of my project. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** The software provides only the most basic editing features. Limited transitions, and font settings. Also, since the software is not widely used, there are only a few tutorials available online. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** If you are someone with little or no budget, and need basic video editing done, Go for it. Otherwise, go for a premium brand like Filmora or Adobe Premier Pro. However, you may end up paying a lot, as compare to a freeware like Lightworks. One tip for those planning to use Lightworks: Be sure to know what you're getting into, as there are not many tutorials available. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use the software for all my editing work. I have been using it to edit my Music Lyric Video, Music Covers, etc. I have even used it for editing Ads, during my college. The software does all the saving, making the user care free, about forgetting to press the Ctrl+S buttons. ### 7. Some learning curve, but relatively easy to use **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Biotechnology | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 17, 2020 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** I was new to video editing when i started using this program when I started using this program. I like that the program is rather user friendly, self-explanatory, and that there are several locations that i can go to for technical support/suggestions on the web when i am stuck. I like that you can have several sequences that can be created and then joined together. It has different buckets for video clips, sub clips, images. Tweaking transitions and sound at first can look daunting (or at least wasn't a self-explanatory part for me), but one of the youtube videos can show you how to do these quickly. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** Sometimes i make a change and somehow the undo button just does not work and i need to scrap my project. But i'm a beginner, a more advanced user may be able to get around this. However, as i've become very accustomed to this program, recreating the work that i had in place takes me only a few minutes to recreate the videos. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** I think that this is a great program, it allows me to do everything that i need - clip videos, combine clips, add sound, add transitions, and more that i haven't needed to do yet. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** We are able to create short little clips of videos from larger videos in a short amount of time, that look professional. We use a professional videographer and editor for our larger videos currently. ### 8. Lightworks: a solid editing tool for filmmakers **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** L. L. M. | Quantitative Researcher, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 28, 2020 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** Precision in video editing. Sound manipulation. Some visual effects. Great output quality (for pro version) **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** Little options regarding Title and Subtitle options. Also end crawling credits function could be improved to a more pro-like appearance. You could also add a few more options for video transitions. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** Making movies. ### 9. Lightworks review by Ankit Rawat **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ankit R. | Head Of Advertiser Relations, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 30, 2020 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** I have used multiple video editing software & then comes Lightworks. Easy to use & have multiple editing features. What else you need. I will repeat myself. It's easy to use. It has tons of features. It takes less space in your storage. Also, I have edited this short film with Lightworks. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVQMvVecwK0 **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** There's nothing in it to be disliked. Though you can add tutorial video within the software to make amateur understand your software in a well manner like OlympTrade & other trading apps. They have an inbuilt explanatory video about their feature of app & it makes easy for the user to use the app. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** Just make it's UI more user friendly & bright. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** It's good editing software & it takes less time to render any video if you compare with other video editing software. ### 10. Enjoyable once you get the hang of it **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Media Production | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 30, 2020 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** It is a great beginner editing software and it's free **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** There is a bit of a learning curve and importing video clips gave me a bit of trouble (formatting issues). **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** If you are willing to stick with it and learn this software I think you will be satisfied **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** Lightworks helps me get around buying an expensive editing software. It has helped me learn about editing and work around issues like its unusual workflow ### 11. Senior editor **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Dragan V. | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 24, 2020 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** It was a simple software to learn.I saved a lot of time with Lightworks. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** More time for investigating tool of color grading. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** Tested and usit **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** Integrating with live shows and trying to implement in daily news. ### 12. Easy to use - perfect for beginners **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Leisure, Travel & Tourism | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 29, 2020 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** Simple layout and it was easy to navigate around the software. Free version comes with all the tools you need to put a simple slick video together such as typography and transitions and you can even alter the speed of your clips to your liking. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** Not many features with the free version, very basic transitions but when you upgrade you can unlock a whole host of new effects that will make your video stand out. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I saved a lot of time with Lightworks. As it was a simple software to learn, it didn't take me long until I had finished my first video and felt comfortable using the software. ### 13. Approachable editing **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Broadcast Media | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 28, 2020 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** While Avid and Final Cut are not going anywhere if you are looking to get more physical with your editing then you’ll like the hands on physical controllers of lightworks layout **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** Nothing to speak of - you have to try it for yourself to see if it fits your style **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** N/A **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** N/A ### 14. Edit videos easily. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Miguel C. | Miguel Caraballo, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 12, 2019 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** This great editor is one of the best that exists, it has a completely free version, is cross-platform, and has great editing tools with which you can perform very professional work. The video cutting tool is the best it has. The program does not consume many resources from your device. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** This program has two versions, one that is completely free and another that is paid and somewhat expensive. There is a big difference between the two versions, there is a great imbalance between them, since the paid version has many more and better editing tools, while with the free version you can hardly do many things. So if you are a professional in this, I recommend using the paid version, so you don't waste your time. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** This program is one of the most comprehensive in the field of video editing. If you already have experience in this, I recommend the paid version, which is much more complete than the other version, as it includes many more editing tools and much more comprehensive ones with which you can perform any type of editing. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** We have edited videos that we use in company meetings, every time we are going to explain a new project or to show the progress of previous projects. The truth is that this editor is very easy to use; anyone without video editing experience can use it very easily. ### 15. I am an editor of over 20 years **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Broadcast Media | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 17, 2020 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** Having used every non linear editing platform, I find the interface the most non taxing out there. Simple, effective and great to use. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** Visual effects tools can still be better developed as all in one systems are more weedly needed these days. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** Assess the needs of the project. If it requires a good deal of vfx and graphics, be prepared to look to other software to help in those areas **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am not limited by any software I use to dictate my ability to solve problems, at least when it comes to straight up editing. ### 16. Advanced video editing software **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 30, 2020 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** It gives the possibility to have all professional instruments for videoediting also with the free version. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** It is not easy to understand, the first steps are quite hard **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** Absolutely recommended, invest a week to learn the basis, then enjoy **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I was able to made a leadership video for my university ### 17. Lightworks video editor **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Plastics | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 24, 2019 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** Lightworks is undoubtedly an excellent video editor, featuring a free version that is available for the most commonly used operating systems. It contains the basic tools to achieve good work in this field of video editing. The video cutting tool is the best feature of this editor. It also has the timeline option, which allows you to change the video speed significantly. Editing footage with multiple cameras is also possible thanks to Lightworks. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** The free version is limited in terms of tools, it has the basics but for professional use I don't think it works, since we don't have the titling tool which is something that cannot be missing, so if you want to work with this editor, you have to opt for the paid version. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** If you are going to start in this branch of video editing, I recommend that you use this editor, which has the basics to begin this great journey. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** With Lightworks, we edit our videos to play them in our work meetings, explaining new projects, so that we don't prolong the presentations too much. ### 18. audio sync issues and they do not give consumer refunds in breach of consumer rights **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Events Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 29, 2019 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** This software may be ideal for those who have some technical or previous video editing experience **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** There tutorials are complicated, had to rely on youtube tutorials. Also, they have issues with audio syncing, it's been reported on forums and I had issues with it, I needed to make video by certain day, so had to buy another software and requested for refund from lightworks but they refused to give it to me and ignored my emails about it. I dont think they're a small company, so they must know that they are breaching consumer rights. There were discussions in the forums that they dont give refunds, I dont think anyone can be bothered to take them to court. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** I would say if you are use to video editing software and do not mind technical jargon then light works may be for you. Do not spend money on lightworks if you are uncertain this is the software for you. Be warned if you have issues that make you decide to use another software, you will have to take lightworks to court to get a refund. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I wasnt able to solve my problem unfortunately, instead it created a problem. I needed to create a video for an event but had audio syncing issues from the start, despite setting the fps to auto. I've used several other video editing software, including free ones and never had that problem. Unfortunately, they refuse to acknowledge their software has an issue. ### 19. Super powerful editing machine **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rob M. | Social Media Manager, Marketing and Advertising, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 02, 2018 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** With their new update the program is much more intuitive and easy for new comers to learn. I also like that you can create proxies of the videos you are editing. This makes it much easier to operate the program on less powerful machines. The ability to work with other plugins and third party software makes this program very versatile. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** It would be nice if it had more creating features instead of just editing elements. Also, improvement on the audio editing and controlling would be a nice upgrade. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** It is not as easy to learn as other products but it is extremely powerful and can operate smoothly on less powerful computers. There are many features that a variety of users can make use of. From the professional level to the hobbyist this program can definitely handle all your needs. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** There is a big problem when you buy a new computer, it is very award transferring over the program to a new machine. Their customer support is amazingly good. I have had to contact them regarding activating a license when changing to different computers and they have always been quick and super helpful. ### 20. The Free but Flawed Video Editor **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Akia R. | Freelance Writer, Computer Games, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 06, 2017 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** Lightworks is a very flexible editor. You can add custom effects and such, and really take control of different aspects of the video creation process. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** The free version is nice but has several flaws. Random crashing, spotty performance, a steep learning curve...It's a powerful editor but needs to be refined a little bit more. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** You're going to need to have a bit of patience when you first begin to use this software, especially if you're coming from other free video editors. THIS IS NOT another iMovie or Windows Movie Maker. This is a powerful editor like After Effects, Sony Vegas, etc. As a result, there is a technique to using this that will take time to master. But, once you do get to that point, it's a pretty nice piece of software. But, there are some bugs and the support for the free version is limited. So, make sure to keep all that in mind when diving in. But, hey, it's free so you don't have anything to lose. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** Using Lightworks allows me to create videos for my work that are actually nice. It's not iMovie or Windows Movie Maker, so my presentations actually look somewhat professional. ### 21. Lightworks Review **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jason R. | Library Assistant, Human Resources, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 29, 2017 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** It's a very powerful editing processor that is comparable to paid editing software such as Adobe Premiere. Creating new projects is incredible intuitive. Once I select my folder of clips, once I click import, the software starts to analyze all of my clips instantly. The bin that then pops up all the videos in an orderly fashion. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** I am quite disappointed that there is a resolution cap of 720p in the free version. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** For a free software, it's pretty great. It does have it's limitations (being that it is a free software) but it is a quality product that deserves attention and accolades. I definitely recommend Lightworks and look forward to how the software progresses over time. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** Using this software enables me to efficiently and quickly. A huge benefit in a business sense is that it's intuitive enough to teach other employees in a short amount of time. ### 22. Hardcore movie making **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Edo M. | Owner, Building Materials, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 09, 2017 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** This is a video editing software that have several features regarding PRO and SEMI-PRO video editing. Many options are familiar only to people with experience. Color corection is fantastiv (with S-CURVE You can do fantastic efects but You need a fast PC) **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** When importing, video analyzing is VERY fastidious and slow. Learning curve is very problematic. Some standard multimedia options and features are missing. Powerfull PC is needed for almost everything. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** This is a HARDCORE stuff. So if You are just looking for something simple this is nota solution for You. If You are experienced in video filming and video editing this is a good soluton for Youo. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** Video editing and pubishing on YOUTUBE.Video editing in general (color corection and similar features). ### 23. Great For The Novice Or Hobbiest **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Billy L. | Director of Information Technology, Marketing and Advertising, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 08, 2016 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** It has a ton of advanced features not normally found in free software packages. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** The interface is can be confusing and lacks a flow. It will take some getting use to and learning how to best move through your projects. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** Be very very patient. When you first open this product as a novice it will seem a bit overwhelming. Get past it and you will be pleasantly surprised how well this product works. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** Creating and editing videos so they look great without spending a lot of money. ### 24. Too little, too late **Rating:** 1.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** David S. | Freelance Filmmaker, Media Production, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 30, 2016 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** The features offered at the price (especially free) are good, and the heritage of being a filmmaking tool is fun. The commitment to a powerful trimming experience is respectable. This is a tool designed for nothing but narrative editing—its commitment to focus is commendable. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** Stability has been a problem for me on every version of Lightworks I've used on both Windows and Mac OS X. I just cannot get through a project. Additionally, an overall problem with this program is how little it's fundamentally changed over the years—it's designed to feel like film editing, and it's limited to many of the things film editors could do. This is not a powerhouse for complex edits—it's a tool for cutting narrative scenes in. It's lack of interoperability with other tools, and it's failure to keep up with expected features are its downfall. Its impassioned followers like to say "Don't drive Lightworks like ____; drive it like Lightworks" as the umbrella excuse for it's lack of innovation. I have to say, I disagree with this notion. The way Lightworks "drives" is poorly. I had high hopes for this product, and remain disappointed every time I try it. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** Learn all you can, download the trial and give it a shot. But at the end of the day, if you're doing real work with real deadlines, I'm confident you'll be better with almost anything else. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I was hoping to find an alternative to other editing systems, to find something that lets me focus on the edit well without costing as much as Media Composer. ### 25. I used Lightworks a lot before moving to Adobe Premiere **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** KC M. | Freelancer, Animation, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 15, 2016 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** One aspect of Lightworks I like a lot, and the reason I recommend it frequently, is the free version, which is enough for almost all beginning editors despite the limitations. The dynamic workspace also works really well and I like the flexibility in organizing windows. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** The interface can be a bit confusing at first as it doesn't operate like most NLE interfaces, but once you get used to it it's not too bad. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** I'd recommend starting with the trial and comparing it to other programs like Premiere, Final Cut, Vegas, Media Composer, and Edius. The program is very unique, but it can also be very powerful. The integration with things like Boris FX that is being introduced is very useful. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I primarily used Lightworks for editing tutorial and gaming videos. One function which always worked particularly well was the color-keying function, which was much faster than any of the functions I've used elsewhere, even in compositing programs like After Effects. ### 26. Good But Not Great **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Entertainment | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 14, 2016 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** I like the idea of Lightworks. One of my heroes, Thelma Schoonmaker has been using it for the past thirty years. Her work is evidence enough of its promise. I've evaluated the software and, at the time I reviewed it (late 2014), I felt it a lot of nice things in one package, but not quite developed enough. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** I don't really get a sense of where my data is being stored. It's not intuitive what is happening to it and that makes me wary. If you have an assistant editor who knows it well, it's a non-issue. If you're on your own, though, it may take you some time to get up to speed. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** Give it a try before you commit to it. The small user base should be mentioned. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I do post-production for web, online media, commercials, fine art and music videos. I've yet to immerse myself enough in the software to see a unique benefit it offered opposed to other NLEs. ### 27. New way of editing **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Internet | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 22, 2016 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** Lightworks deserve to mention in whole family of editing software. Few years before you have to pay for it, now you can download free fully working version. This is big big advantage of Lightworks. Lightworks was used in many Hollywood films. Maybe interface doesn't tell you that because it looks a little bit funny. And Lightworks works also different than other editing programs. Is is better or worse? I don't want to judge but Lightworks is attracvite alternative for other expensive programs. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** For me disadvantage in Lightwork is different and weird interface. I want to accent that - for me. Many people like this interface so maybe it is not so bad. But you need to learn new way of thinking when you are using Lightworks. In a free version also you had fewer export options and file format support. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** I recommend Lightworks for people that just want to start do videos and movies. It is complete software but maybe some people will not like the interface which is very different that other editing software. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** Lightworks will help do professional edit for users that needs free but fully worked software. For sure you can edit professional movie with it. There is no obstacles for that. The only thing is that you must like it's interface. ### 28. Beast in need of taming **Rating:** 1.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Christian K. | Director, Media Production, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 17, 2016 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** It feels so powerful and flexible, like a wild animal ready to hunt. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** It's not that stable and is really difficult to get going with. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** Give it a go, read a lot of manuals and tutorials and follow protocol. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** None really ### 29. Fast and easy editing **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Xavi F. | Realizador Freelance, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 07, 2016 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** The fast way you can edit and it's reliability. Working with multiple computers with the same project is really easy. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** Working directly with the mouse on the timeline is a bit awkward at the begining **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** Workflow is diferent from other editing softwares. Should give it a try for some time. It works as it should. **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** Free edition has no useful exporting features (just for vimeo). Linux and Mac can't benefit from the Boris FX bundle. The autosaving feature will save you the day. ### 30. Lightworks is OK **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Gambling & Casinos | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 15, 2016 **What do you like best about Lightworks?** The thing I like the best is that it is a fully featured video editor, it has everything you would need to edit videos. **What do you dislike about Lightworks?** The interface to me is a bit clunky, It takes a lot of time to get use to it. **Recommendations to others considering Lightworks:** If you are doing just video **What problems is Lightworks solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am currently not using this product as I have found another product that fulfills my needs better. ## Lightworks Discussions - [Who uses Lightworks?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/who-uses-lightworks) - [Is Lightworks free any good?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-lightworks-free-any-good) - [What is the use of Lightworks software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-use-of-lightworks-software) - [Ieuebbwisyg](https://www.g2.com/discussions/27270-ieuebbwisyg) - 1 upvote - [Is there any latest version of soft ware?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/12741-is-there-any-latest-version-of-soft-ware) - 1 upvote - [View Lightworks pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/lightworks/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-05-31+01%3A22%3A21+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=dd3c4184-fe1e-4311-8bbd-9fd4a41a8e7e&secure%5Btoken%5D=f7007cfc48681a29e56e51e21f31ef671fff363359125b4b9dd2cb24c5e362d1&format=llm_user) ## Lightworks Features **Editing** - Audio Mixing - Transcription - Text Animation - Time Mapping - Overlays and Watermarks - Clip Editing - Titles and Captions **Platform** - Operating System - Format Compatibility - Team Review **Generative AI** - AI Text Generation - AI Text-to-Speech **Agentic AI - Video Editing** - Autonomous Task Execution - Multi-step Planning - Cross-system Integration - Proactive Assistance ## Top Lightworks Alternatives - [Adobe Premiere Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-premiere-pro/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (1,630 reviews) - [Wondershare Filmora](https://www.g2.com/products/wondershare-filmora/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (587 reviews) - [iMovie](https://www.g2.com/products/imovie/reviews) - 4.3/5.0 (566 reviews)