However, many users are stuck in a dilemma situation: which video editing software should they choose, Lightworks or DaVinci Resolve? To help you decide which one can fit your needs better, we will have a closer look at the comparison between them, including their similarities, pros and cons, main features, and more.
Lightworks is an advanced and non-linear video editing software that won EMMY Award in 2017. It uses an advanced video editing engine called Silverlight that allows users to create a variety of social media videos and 4K movies on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Lightworks allows you to import the most widely used video formats, such as WMV, AVI, MOV, FLV, and more. It also comes with a huge library of professionally designed images and transitions, which you can use for free in the video editing process.
Lightworks has a streamlined user interface with a range of features for adjusting colors and editing audio and video. In addition, it enables you to use its rich features, like splitting and trimming video, adjusting video speed, adding video effects and text, and more to video to create stunning videos.
Davinci Resolve is divided into 7 pages, including Media, Cut, Edit, Fusion, Color, Fairlight, and Deliver, which gives you specific workspaces for specific tasks. Each page will offer you a unique experience. You can switch between different workspaces with just one click.
With its text and Chroma key tools, you can easily access full-color correction. More importantly, Davinci Resolve works best for remote collaboration video editing by using its cloud-based workflows. A group of members from everywhere can edit the same video in real-time.
After having a basic understanding of these two video editors, what is the difference between Lightworks and DaVinci Resolve? And is DaVinci Resolve better than Lightworks? Next, we will compare them in the following aspects, including system requirements, price, user interface, supported formats, and main features.
DaVinci Resolve has a paid version called DaVinci Resolve Studio, which costs $295. It includes every feature in the free version, plus many other unique features, including lens distortion, noise reduction, stereoscopic 3D, remote grading, and much more.
Beginners who want to do basic editing prefer a simple user interface. So, here comes Lightworks. It mainly provides a clearer and simpler user interface. Since DaVinci Resolve is designed for more professionals, the user interface may not be simple for beginners.
Davinci Resolve vs Lightworks: how do they differ in supported formats? Davinci Resolve supports almost all kinds of video formats, even GIFs. However, Lightworks supports limited media file formats in comparison to DaVinci Resolve. So, in this aspect, DaVinci Resolve is a better choice.
Both of them offer a wide range of features for users, but there are still some differences in the specific features provided. Lightworks supports HD resolution, adjustable timeline, audio capture, basic color grading, third-party plugin, adding transitions/filters, text effects for 3D and 2D applications, various export options, etc.
Similar to Lightworks, DaVinci Resolve also supports audio capture, color grading, and adding transitions and effects. In addition, it involves many other features, including support for 4K resolution, VST Plugins, multi-user collaboration, 3D video editing, motion tracking, adding animations, and more.
The first alternative we recommended here is MiniTool MovieMaker. It is a simple yet powerful video editing software without watermarks, bundles, and ads on Windows. Compared to Lightworks and DaVinci Resolve, it is more friendly to novices and users with a limited budget.
You can import videos, images, and music and use video templates to generate stunning videos with just several clicks. Besides that, with its transitions, filter effects, animated elements, and motion effects, your video will become more dynamic and attractive.
Based on FFmpeg, OpenShot supports many widely used video, audio, and image formats. In terms of basic video editing, it allows you to resize, rotate, scale, snap, cut, and trim your videos. And you can also add transitions, filter effects, and text to your video.
Moreover, it comes with unlimited tracks which means you can add as many tracks according to your need. For advanced video editing features, you can use a green screen, add 3D animated titles and effects, display waveforms on its advanced timeline, separate the audio from your video clip, and much more.
This video editor is powerful, but the interface of Olive is a little bit complicated for beginners. Thus, you should get familiar with the interface before you use it and what you can do with these features.
Another nice Lightworks and DaVinci Resolve alternative is HitFilm Express, a free video editing software with a variety of features that can be used to easily create great video content for Mac and Windows.
It offers more than 100 hours of free classes and tutorials for users to help them get familiar with HitFilm Express. You can drag and drop your media files into HitFilm Express directly. Then, you can use its rich features to edit your video. Also, the program will not add any watermark to your media content when you export it.
Final Cut Pro has powerful video editing tools, which offers a precise and intuitive interface to arrange and edit video clips. It comes with real-time graphics and effects like text and blur. More importantly, Final Cut Pro enables you to use other advanced editing features, such as multi-camera editing, a green screen, a built-in 3D animation modeling function, etc.
Lightworks vs DaVinci Resolve: which video editing software is better for you? We have made a clear comparison in many aspects. You can make your decision based on this comparison. Otherwise, you can try some alternatives to DaVinci Resolve and Lightworks.
There are lots of other good options too. The free app DaVinci Resolve is very good, especially on colour correction, while HitFilm is especially powerful and good for both beginners and experienced editors once you get past the learning curve.
Video consumption is growing - recently, it was revealed that YouTube captures more viewers than Netflix in the US. Add in social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and the trajectory is clear. Whether it's growing a YouTube channel or building brand awareness around your business, video is essential. And the best way to get started is with free video editing software, to understand how to add professional polish to your content.
How many tracks can you use? Can you pull in footage and audio from multiple files, swapping between them as needed, or will you need to do some pre-production first because the app can only handle a couple of tracks at once?
Does the app have any smart features to make everyday editing easier, such as smart trimming of clips or simple editing modes? Is it easy to add titles, transitions between scenes or to adjust the colours?
Our team of expert reviewers live and breathe video, from testing out the best video editing software to comparing all the best video editing software for beginners and best video editing apps. So, whether you're creating web and social media clips or starting up a YouTube channel, you'll get hands-on tips and advice.
In our experience, DaVinci Resolve is easily the best free video editing software (and arguably overall, at least for those who dislike Premiere Pro). It's a professional-level video editor and VFX tool and once you get to grips with the node-based editing, you'll find it's more powerful than you could possibly imagine.
Alongside Resolve, we've tested and reviewed classics like iMovie, Shotcut, and Lightworks, newer apps like Clipchamp, and beginner-friendly editors like Adobe Express. During our review process, we've explored editing processes and workflows, extras like VFX tools, system requirements and performance. Where optional pricing is available, we'll note this - but all of these video editors are completely free to use.
Earning 4.5 stars in our review, the software is pitch-perfect for professionals and anyone serious about editing. It gets regular updates, and rivals the likes of studio darling Adobe Premiere Pro. And while the interface may feel complex at first, it won't overwhelm you - and the community support around the product is incredible. The software even includes its own VFX software, Fusion.
You can also get the more powerful Resolve Studio - it's $295 for a perpetual license, with all future upgrades free from then on. But it's wholly optional, and most users won't need to spend anything to get the most from Resolve.
But that was with the Pro version. The free option offers you the same interface but has a more limited selection of tools. It was something we highlighted in our review, noting that it has just enough tools to suit casual users, but advanced features are paywalled.
While HitFilm isn't the only free video editor for Windows 11, it's a very user-friendly choice, especially if you're coming at this fresh. Running across Windows and Mac, it boasts professional tools, and like Resolve, even has built-in VFX software.
While it's not perfect, Shotcut is still good, honest, free video editing software of the open-source variety. We did find some issues during our testing with it, but nothing serious, nothing that broke the timeline.
The free version retains all the features of the premium, paid-for upgrades (available on a monthly/annual subscription, or a lifetime license). The only downside is that Luxea adds an intro and outro to all exported videos.
Clipchamp is a free online tool that runs in your browser without needing some heavy duty video editing computer. However, a Windows desktop app is also available, and given it's Microsoft-owned, it's arguably one of the best free video editing software for Windows 11 for lightweight projects.
Many of the apps here are available for Mac, but if you're looking for one made by Apple, iMovie is still a strong contender. It's a simple tool that comes pre-loaded on Mac, perfect for casual use or new starters who will one day graduate to Apple's superior Final Cut Pro.
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