Lightworks
🇬🇧 GB · Free plan · paid from $279.99/user/mo
UK-based professional video editor with a free tier and real-time 4K effects, hosted in the US.
Replaces
Lightworks is sought as a European alternative to:
Features
Video Editing
- Universal timeline supporting footage of any size, frame rate, and quality
- Background processing for uninterrupted editing
- Proxy editing for smooth performance
- Advanced transitions and video mask effects
- Support for various camera formats, including RED R3D clips
- Up to 8K export and custom formats in Pro tier
Audio
- Refined audio editing tools: trimming, splitting, layering tracks
- Syncing audio with video
- Built-in audio effects: reverb, chorus, distortion
- Native audio FX for dialogue and music enhancement
- Third-party audio plugins (AU, VST, LADSPA) in Pro version
- External MIDI control and DAW workstation integration
Visual Effects (VFX)
- Simplified VFX suite with over 700 customizable titles and motion graphics (NewBlue)
- Complex animations, transitions, and filters
- OpenFX compatibility in Pro tier
- Upgrade option to NewBlue TotalFX with 1,500 presets and 177 video plugins
Colour
- Colour correction and grading with pre-built and custom LUTs
- Isolate and adjust colours or regions
- HDR workflows
- Advanced colour scopes and enhanced tools in Pro tier
Sharing and Export
- Export resolutions from 720p (Free) to 8K (Pro)
- Social media presets for YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat
- Direct uploads to YouTube and cloud export
- Physical media targets: DVD and Blu-ray (Pro)
- Integration with cloud storage services for collaboration
Metadata and Quality Control
- Advanced metadata handling (Pro)
- In-timeline video quality control with QScan license (Pro)
- Import and export of interchange formats: AAF, XML, OMF, EDL, film cutting lists
Pricing
- Basic video editing features
- 720p export resolution
- Full editing engine and background processing
- 4K export
- Social media templates
- Dynamic motion graphics
- Advanced colour controls
- 4K export
- Advanced titles and cloud editing
- Social media export templates
- 8K export
- Advanced video and audio effects
- Third-party plugin support
- Comprehensive format support
- 8K export
- Full professional feature set
- Two months free compared to monthly billing
- 8K export
- Full professional feature set
- Lifetime ownership of the software
Prices vary by region (USD, GBP, EUR) and exclude applicable sales taxes. Subscription plans include monthly or yearly options with discounts for annual billing.
EU Trust Profile
0 of 9 criteria verified with evidence, last checked 2026-08-07. Every ✓ links to its source.
- Data Processing Agreement (DPA)not verified
No Data Processing Agreement (DPA) is mentioned on the vendor's pages.
- Trust center / security pagenot verified
No dedicated trust center or security/compliance page is available.
- EU data residencynot verified
No information about EU/EEA data residency or server locations is provided.
- Public sub-processor listnot verified
No public sub-processor list is available.
- ISO 27001not verified
No ISO 27001 certification is mentioned.
- SOC 2not verified
No SOC 2 certification or report is mentioned.
- BSI C5not verified
No BSI C5 certification is mentioned.
- TISAXnot verified
No TISAX certification is mentioned.
- German-language supportnot verified
No information about German-language product support is provided.
Verified means: the claim was publicly documented at the linked source on the check date. The vendor's own information prevails.
Reviews
Recurring themes, synthesized from public reviews across portals.
What users value
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface suitable for both beginners and experienced video editors
- Efficient handling of multiple timelines simultaneously for diverse video formats
- Customizable shortcuts that accelerate editing workflows
- Free version with essential tools for simple projects like social media content
- Wide range of effects and plugins to enhance creative flexibility
- Efficient processing of large raw footage and support for high-quality 4K exports
- Flexible and accessible for users at different skill levels
Where users see room to improve
- · Occasional software crashes, though content is usually saved
- · Outdated user interface in need of modernization
- · Limited advanced tools for professional-grade editing beyond basic features
Integrations
Feature, pricing and integration details are based on web research (as of 2026-08-07), without guarantee, errors are possible. The vendor's website prevails.