Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DaVinci Resolve VS Lightworks

Compare DaVinci Resolve VS Lightworks and see what are their differences

DaVinci Resolve logo DaVinci Resolve

Revolutionary new tools for editing, color correction and professional audio post production, all in a single application!

Lightworks logo Lightworks

Lightworks is an editing powerhouse, delivering unparalleled speed and flexibility, fully...
  • DaVinci Resolve Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-05-04
  • Lightworks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14

DaVinci Resolve features and specs

  • Comprehensive Toolset
    DaVinci Resolve integrates editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics, and audio post-production in a single software application, providing a complete solution for video creation.
  • Professional-Grade Color Grading
    Known for its industry-leading color grading tools, DaVinci Resolve offers advanced controls, color wheels, curves, and secondary color correction tools, making it a preferred choice for professional colorists.
  • Multi-User Collaboration
    DaVinci Resolve Studio allows multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously, supporting collaborative workflows for large teams and complex projects.
  • Free Version Available
    DaVinci Resolve offers a highly functional free version with a comprehensive set of tools, which is suitable for both beginners and professionals.
  • High-Performance Playback
    Optimized for timeline performance, DaVinci Resolve offers smooth playback and quick responsiveness, even with high-resolution and RAW formats.
  • Fairlight Audio
    The integrated Fairlight audio tool provides high-end audio production capabilities, including mixing, ADR, sound design, and full 3D audio support.

Possible disadvantages of DaVinci Resolve

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive feature set and professional-grade tools, beginners may find DaVinci Resolve challenging to learn and master without proper training.
  • Resource-Intensive
    DaVinci Resolve can be demanding on computer hardware, requiring a powerful system with a high-performance GPU, ample RAM, and fast storage for optimal operation.
  • Paid Studio Version
    Some advanced features, such as additional ResolveFX and FairlightFX plugins, HDR grading, and higher GPU acceleration, are only available in the paid Studio version.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Users have reported occasional crashes and bugs, particularly when working with large projects or specific hardware configurations.
  • Complex User Interface
    The user interface, while powerful, can be overwhelming for new users, and navigating through the multitude of features and settings can take time to get accustomed to.
  • Limited Third-Party Plugin Support
    Compared to some other video editing software, DaVinci Resolve offers limited support for third-party plugins, which can be a drawback for users relying on specialized tools.

Lightworks features and specs

  • Professional-grade Editing Tools
    Lightworks offers industry-standard editing tools that are used in professional film editing, including support for multi-camera editing, advanced trimming, and various video and audio effects.
  • Extensive Format Support
    Lightworks supports a wide range of video formats, making it highly versatile for different types of projects.
  • High Precision
    The software is known for its high-precision editing capabilities, allowing for frame-accurate video editing which is essential for professional-grade video production.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Lightworks works on multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac, and Linux, providing flexibility for users who work on different platforms.
  • Real-time Effects
    The software supports real-time effects, allowing editors to see the impact of their changes without having to render the video first.
  • Collaborative Editing
    Lightworks offers collaborative features that make it easier for multiple editors to work on the same project simultaneously.
  • Free Version Available
    Lightworks offers a free version with a substantial set of features, making it accessible for beginners and independent filmmakers.

Possible disadvantages of Lightworks

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Although Lightworks is feature-rich, it has a steep learning curve that may be challenging for beginners.
  • Free Version Limitations
    The free version has some limitations, such as restricted export options—maximum resolution of 720p and limited export formats, which may not be suitable for all projects.
  • User Interface
    Some users find the user interface to be less intuitive compared to other video editing software, which can slow down the learning process.
  • System Requirements
    Lightworks requires a relatively powerful computer to run smoothly, which could be an issue for users with older or less powerful systems.
  • Customer Support
    The support for the free version is limited to community forums and documentation, which may not be sufficient for users needing immediate or more detailed help.
  • Price of Premium Version
    The premium version, which includes additional features and higher export resolutions, can be relatively expensive compared to other video editing software.

DaVinci Resolve videos

DaVinci Resolve 16 Review - Is it best?

Lightworks videos

Review: EditShare Lightworks from the perspective of a Premiere Pro editor

More videos:

  • Review - Is Lightworks Actually Free?
  • Review - Lightworks vs Kdenlive | Comparing FREE Video Editors

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DaVinci Resolve and Lightworks)
Video
74 74%
26% 26
Video Editors
71 71%
29% 29
Video Tools
73 73%
27% 27
Video Maker
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using DaVinci Resolve and Lightworks. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare DaVinci Resolve and Lightworks

DaVinci Resolve Reviews

10 Best Video Editors for YouTube in 2024
DaVinci Resolve stands out as a top-notch video editing and color correction software, delivering professional-grade, advanced features for free! Renowned for its exceptional color grading, multi-track editing, and VFX options, it’s perfect for experienced editors or YouTubers aiming to craft high-quality content. However, the steep learning curve means it’s best for those...
13 Best Green Screen Software For Windows (2024)
We should also mention Shotcut and DaVinci Resolve 18. Shotcut is free and works on many platforms, with many green screen features. DaVinci Resolve 18 has a high-powered color grading, which is helpful for green screen projects.
Source: mixilab.com
9 Best Adobe Premiere Pro Alternatives in 2022 (FREE & Online)
While absolute beginners may find themselves scratching their heads as they come to terms with some of the more complex tools available, DaVinci Resolve rewards patience in spades, while more seasoned videographers will find its comprehensive tools exceptionally attractive.
Source: shotkit.com
Windows Best Video Editing Software
DaVinci supports both offline and online editing, and its high-performance playback engine speeds up editing and trimming, even for processor-intensive file formats like H.264 and RAW. The complex features of DaVinci Resolve may be too much for some users, but the free version is ideal for more advanced projects.
Best Free Video Editing Software for Linux
If you have a high-end computer and need advanced features you can go out with Lightworks or DaVinci Resolve. If you are looking for more advanced features for 3D works, Blender has got your back.
Source: itsfoss.com

Lightworks Reviews

10 Best Video Editors for YouTube in 2024
Lightworks stands out as a professional video editing tool with robust multi-track editing and dynamic real-time effects. It’s perfect for semi-professional or experienced YouTubers who require advanced editing capabilities without an initial cost, as the free version is feature-rich but restricts exports to 720p. To access higher resolutions, upgrading to the pro version is...
13 Best Green Screen Software For Windows (2024)
Lightworks is a video editing software for newcomers and pros in the film world. It has easy-to-use green screen tools for creating high-quality chroma key effects in your videos. Popular with YouTuber experts, Light Works has several features that make it a leading choice for creating green-screen videos.
Source: mixilab.com
Windows Best Video Editing Software
Lightworks has a user-friendly interface that makes it simple to get started. Lightworks is a video editing software that comes with a library of detailed video tutorials, making it one of the more accessible and simple to learn Linux video editing software options on this list.
Best Free Video Editing Software for Linux
Both Resolve and Lightworks have their issues as well; Resolve’s being it only supports CentOS 7 and has features locked away behind Resolve Studio, and Lightwork’s is the same locked down features with the added subscription/license model. 720p in 2020? Get out of here. If you make you living in video, then by all means spring for the licensed copies of these – but for the...
Source: itsfoss.com
The Complete List of Video Marketing Tools (Updated for 2022)
Lightworks is a capable, versatile, and valuable video editor that almost anyone can learn-- even the amateurs. If you’re working on video production and suddenly need an advanced tool for post-production, this tool can provide you with anything you need. The color correction, filters, video effects features can help to get your audio and visuals just right.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Lightworks seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 19 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

DaVinci Resolve mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DaVinci Resolve yet. Tracking of DaVinci Resolve recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Lightworks mentions (19)

  • Lightworks Pro 2024 Crack Download
    Turn off the antivirus that you have on your system. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Creative logos vs the periodic table
    Haven't done video editing in a long time, but what's wrong with lightworks? Source: over 2 years ago
  • Looking for Lightworks Console
    It is always good to know different editing systems if you plan on doing this for a career. Lightworks is a very good editing system that lets you focus on the editing itself without bogging you down in lots of effects and many different panels. Lightworks has a free version which makes it very advantageous to start out with. It does have a bit of a learning curve but the people on the forum @ lwks.com are great... Source: over 2 years ago
  • What's some really useful software?
    Lightworks is a decent video editor, also great for a gaming video editing, though there are alternatives. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Daily Megathread - 09/08/2022
    No time like the present to learn a new hobby! Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing DaVinci Resolve and Lightworks, you can also consider the following products

Adobe Premiere Pro - Edit video faster than ever before with the powerful, more connected Adobe Premiere® Pro CC.

Kdenlive - Free and open-source, full-featured video editor.

iMovie - Turn your videos into movie magic.

Final Cut Pro - Professional, non-linear video editing software created by Apple Inc.

Filmora - Filmora is a trusted, legacy video editing platform that's strong in the fundamentals but lacks some of the bells and whistles that come with some other video editing software.

VirtualDub - VirtualDub is a video capture/processing utility for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows platforms...