DaVinci Resolve vs Lightworks

Last Updated:

Our analysts compared DaVinci Resolve vs Lightworks based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Video Editing Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

DaVinci Resolve is a comprehensive software suite designed for video editing, color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production. It is particularly well-suited for professional filmmakers, video editors, and colorists due to its robust feature set and high-quality output. Industries such as film, television, and digital media production frequently utilize this software for its advanced capabilities.

One of the standout benefits of DaVinci Resolve is its seamless integration of multiple post-production tasks within a single application, which enhances workflow efficiency. Popular features include its powerful color grading tools, multi-user collaboration, and Fairlight audio post-production suite. Users often praise its intuitive interface and the ability to handle complex projects with ease.

Compared to similar products, DaVinci Resolve is noted for its professional-grade features and cost-effectiveness. Pricing varies, with a free version available and a more advanced Studio version offered at a one-time purchase price. For specific pricing details, users are encouraged to contact SelectHub for a tailored quote based on their needs.

read more...

Lightworks is a comprehensive video editing software designed to manage tasks such as trimming, color correction, and audio editing. It is particularly well-suited for professional filmmakers, video editors, and content creators in industries like film production, broadcasting, and digital marketing. This software offers a range of powerful features, including multi-cam editing, real-time effects, and advanced color grading, which make it a versatile tool for high-quality video production.

One of the unique benefits of Lightworks is its intuitive user interface, which allows for efficient workflow management. Additionally, it supports a wide array of file formats and resolutions, making it adaptable to various project requirements. Users often praise its robust performance and the ability to handle complex editing tasks with ease.

In comparison to similar products, Lightworks stands out for its professional-grade features and user-friendly design. Pricing details can vary, so it is recommended to contact SelectHub for a personalized quote based on specific needs.

read more...
$300 One-Time
Free Trial is unavailable →
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
$9.99 Monthly, Freemium
Free Trial is unavailable →
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small
Medium
Large
Small
Medium
Large
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Cost Efficiency: DaVinci Resolve offers a free version with robust features, making it accessible for both beginners and professionals without the need for a significant financial investment.
  • Comprehensive Toolset: The software integrates video editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics, and audio post-production in a single application, streamlining the workflow.
  • High-Quality Color Grading: Renowned for its advanced color grading capabilities, DaVinci Resolve allows precise color adjustments, which is why it's a preferred choice in the film industry.
  • Collaboration Features: The software supports multi-user collaboration, enabling editors, colorists, VFX artists, and sound designers to work on the same project simultaneously, enhancing productivity.
  • Scalability: Suitable for projects of all sizes, from small independent films to large-scale Hollywood productions, ensuring it can grow with your needs.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, DaVinci Resolve ensures flexibility and accessibility across different operating systems.
  • Regular Updates: Frequent updates and improvements keep the software current with industry standards and user needs, ensuring it remains a competitive tool in the market.
  • Customizable Interface: The user interface is highly customizable, allowing users to tailor their workspace to their specific workflow preferences, enhancing efficiency.
  • Extensive Format Support: DaVinci Resolve supports a wide range of video formats and codecs, ensuring compatibility with various media sources and export requirements.
  • Professional Audio Editing: The integrated Fairlight audio post-production suite provides advanced audio editing tools, enabling high-quality sound design and mixing.
  • Learning Resources: A wealth of tutorials, forums, and official documentation is available, making it easier for users to learn and master the software.
  • Integration with Other Software: Seamless integration with other industry-standard software like Adobe Premiere Pro and Avid Media Composer facilitates a smooth workflow across different platforms.
  • Performance Optimization: Optimized for high performance, DaVinci Resolve leverages GPU acceleration to handle complex tasks efficiently, reducing rendering times.
  • Advanced Effects and Compositing: The Fusion module offers powerful visual effects and compositing tools, enabling the creation of sophisticated visual elements within the same application.
  • Community and Support: A strong user community and professional support options provide assistance and foster knowledge sharing, helping users overcome challenges and improve their skills.
read more...
  • Professional-Grade Editing: Lightworks offers advanced editing tools that are used in Hollywood productions, ensuring high-quality results for any project.
  • Multi-Platform Compatibility: Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, Lightworks allows you to work seamlessly across different operating systems.
  • Real-Time Collaboration: The software supports collaborative workflows, enabling multiple editors to work on the same project simultaneously, which enhances productivity.
  • Extensive Format Support: Lightworks can handle a wide range of video formats, from SD to 4K, making it versatile for various types of media projects.
  • Efficient Workflow: With customizable keyboard shortcuts and a user-friendly interface, Lightworks streamlines the editing process, saving valuable time.
  • High-Quality Export Options: The software provides numerous export presets, including direct uploads to platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, ensuring your content is ready for distribution.
  • Advanced Effects and Transitions: Lightworks includes a rich library of effects and transitions, allowing you to enhance your videos with professional-grade visual elements.
  • Scalable Performance: Optimized for both low-end and high-end systems, Lightworks ensures smooth performance regardless of your hardware capabilities.
  • Comprehensive Training Resources: Access to extensive tutorials and a supportive user community helps you quickly master the software and troubleshoot any issues.
  • Cost-Effective Solutions: Offering both free and affordable pro versions, Lightworks provides powerful editing capabilities without breaking the bank.
read more...
  • Advanced Color Correction: Offers a comprehensive suite of color grading tools, including primary and secondary color correction, curves, and color wheels.
  • Fusion Visual Effects: Integrates a powerful node-based compositing engine for creating complex visual effects and motion graphics.
  • Fairlight Audio Post Production: Provides a full-fledged digital audio workstation (DAW) with multi-track recording, editing, and mixing capabilities.
  • Multi-Camera Editing: Supports multi-cam editing with real-time switching and synchronization for projects involving multiple camera angles.
  • Collaboration Tools: Enables multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously with features like shared timelines and bin locking.
  • HDR Support: Includes tools for editing and grading High Dynamic Range (HDR) content, ensuring compatibility with the latest display technologies.
  • DaVinci Neural Engine: Utilizes machine learning for features like facial recognition, speed warp retiming, and auto color balancing.
  • Customizable Interface: Allows users to tailor the workspace to their specific needs, with detachable panels and customizable layouts.
  • Extensive Format Support: Compatible with a wide range of video formats and codecs, including RAW, ProRes, and H.264.
  • High-Performance Playback Engine: Ensures smooth playback and real-time editing, even with high-resolution 4K and 8K footage.
  • Comprehensive Media Management: Features robust media organization tools, including smart bins, metadata tagging, and proxy workflows.
  • Integrated Delivery Options: Offers a variety of export presets and direct upload options for platforms like YouTube and Vimeo.
  • Extensive Plugin Support: Compatible with OpenFX plugins, allowing for expanded functionality and creative possibilities.
  • Keyframe Animation: Provides detailed keyframe control for animating effects, transitions, and other parameters.
  • Title and Text Tools: Includes a range of text and title templates, along with advanced typography controls for custom designs.
read more...
  • Non-Linear Editing: Allows for flexible editing where you can make changes without affecting the rest of the timeline.
  • Multicam Editing: Supports simultaneous editing of footage from multiple cameras, ideal for complex projects like live events.
  • Real-Time Effects: Offers a variety of real-time effects, including color correction and transitions, to enhance your video without rendering delays.
  • Advanced Trimming: Provides precise trimming tools, enabling frame-accurate edits for a polished final product.
  • Wide Format Support: Compatible with a broad range of video formats, including 4K, ProRes, and DNxHD, ensuring versatility in your projects.
  • Customizable Interface: Features a flexible user interface that can be tailored to fit your workflow preferences, improving efficiency.
  • Project Sharing: Facilitates collaboration by allowing multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously, streamlining team efforts.
  • Export Options: Provides various export settings, including direct upload to platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, as well as customizable output formats.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts: Extensive support for keyboard shortcuts to speed up the editing process and improve productivity.
  • Proxy Workflow: Enables editing with lower-resolution proxies to ensure smooth performance, especially on less powerful hardware.
  • Audio Editing Tools: Includes comprehensive audio editing features such as waveform visualization, audio mixing, and effects.
  • Asset Management: Offers robust media management tools to organize and locate your assets efficiently, including bins and metadata tagging.
  • Third-Party Plugin Support: Compatible with various third-party plugins, allowing for extended functionality and specialized effects.
  • Cross-Platform Availability: Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, providing flexibility regardless of your operating system.
  • Free and Pro Versions: Offers both a free version with essential features and a pro version with advanced capabilities, catering to different user needs.
read more...

Product Ranking

#1

among all
Video Editing Software

#11

among all
Video Editing Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

80
77
100
97
100
93
100
86
Show More Show More
Advanced Editing Tools
Audio Editing Tools
Basic Editing Tools
Collaboration
Platform Capabilities
Advanced Editing Tools
Platform Capabilities
Audio Editing Tools
Basic Editing Tools
Integrations

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

DaVinci Resolve
Lightworks
+ Add Product + Add Product
Advanced Editing Tools Audio Editing Tools Basic Editing Tools Collaboration Platform Capabilities 100 100 100 93 91 97 93 86 71 94 0 25 50 75 100
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
83%
17%
0%
100%
0%
0%
71%
14%
15%
100%
0%
0%
75%
0%
25%
83%
8%
9%
92%
8%
0%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

71%
0%
29%
71%
14%
15%
67%
0%
33%
50%
33%
17%

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated DaVinci Resolve and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Advanced Editing Tools.

Advanced Editing Tools Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Lightworks and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Platform Capabilities and Integrations.

Platform Capabilities Award
Integrations Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Professional Tools Included: DaVinci Resolve is a comprehensive software package that includes tools for editing, color correction, visual effects, audio post-production, and motion graphics, eliminating the need to switch between different applications.
Efficient Workflow: The software's dual timeline feature provides simultaneous zoomed-in and zoomed-out views, enhancing workflow efficiency.
Superior Playback Performance: DaVinci Resolve is known for its better playback performance, reducing the need for proxies, which can be time-consuming to create and manage.
Show more
Intuitive Interface: Lightworks boasts a user-friendly interface that simplifies video editing, making it easy for both beginners and experienced editors to navigate and utilize its features effectively.
Cost Effective: Lightworks offers a free version without watermarks, making it a budget-friendly option for businesses and individuals.
Professional Features: Despite its free availability, Lightworks doesn't skimp on professional-grade features. It includes advanced tools like color grading and keyframing, enabling users to achieve high-quality results.
Third-Party Integration: Lightworks seamlessly integrates with popular third-party applications such as Blackmagic Fusion and Boris FX, providing users with expanded options for visual effects and motion graphics.
Show more
Steep Learning Curve: Its extensive features can be overwhelming for new users, potentially hindering productivity as they navigate the interface.
Less Intuitive Interface: Compared to competitors like Adobe Premiere Pro, some users find the interface less intuitive, potentially slowing down workflow, especially for editors accustomed to other programs.
Limited Software Ecosystem: Unlike Adobe products which seamlessly integrate, DaVinci Resolve has less third-party plugin and software support, potentially limiting options for specialized tasks.
Show more
Steep Learning Curve: While considered user-friendly, some find the initial learning phase challenging and time-consuming.
Stability Concerns: Users have reported instances of crashes and bugs, especially in recently released versions, potentially disrupting workflow.
Limited Free Version: The free version, while offering a good starting point, lacks some advanced features that may be essential for professional business needs, potentially requiring an upgrade to a paid version.
Show more

Is DaVinci Resolve really the ultimate resolution for video editors? User reviews from the past year suggest it's a strong contender, especially for its robust color grading tools, often cited as best-in-class compared to rivals like Adobe Premiere Pro. Users rave about the precision and control DaVinci Resolve offers, allowing for granular adjustments and creative looks that elevate their projects. This focus on color makes it a favorite for professionals and aspiring colorists. However, this strength comes at a cost. Reviews consistently point out DaVinci Resolve's steep learning curve. Its interface, while powerful, can feel overwhelming for beginners, especially those used to more intuitive options like Premiere Pro. Some users report occasional crashes and a less streamlined workflow compared to Premiere Pro's tight integration with other Adobe products. Despite these hurdles, DaVinci Resolve's free version, with its surprisingly professional feature set, makes it a compelling choice for budget-conscious creators. This, coupled with its powerful color grading, makes it ideal for independent filmmakers, YouTubers, and anyone serious about pushing their visual storytelling through color.

Show more

Is Lightworks the lightning rod for video editing software, or does it leave users in the dark? While Lightworks offers a robust suite of professional-grade video editing features, user experiences over the past year have been somewhat mixed. Many appreciate its user-friendly interface, making it a relatively easy program to learn, especially for those new to video editing. The free version, a rarity in the industry for not slapping watermarks on exported videos, is a significant draw for budget-conscious creators. However, this generosity comes with a caveat: several advanced features are locked behind paywalls, requiring users to shell out for the paid versions to unlock the software's full potential. A recurring pain point in user reviews is the occasional instability of the software. Reports of crashes and bugs, while not widespread, are frequent enough to cause concern, potentially disrupting workflow and leading to frustration. This inconsistency in performance, coupled with the limitations of the free version, has led some users to jump ship to competitors like DaVinci Resolve, which, while boasting a steeper learning curve, offers a more comprehensive free version and a reputation for stability. In conclusion, Lightworks is a decent choice for beginners dipping their toes into the video editing waters or casual users who don't require the bells and whistles of more advanced software. Its intuitive interface and the allure of a watermark-free experience make it an attractive proposition. However, professionals or serious hobbyists might find the occasional stability issues and the limitations of the free version to be dealbreakers, steering them towards more robust alternatives.

Show more

Screenshots

Top Alternatives in Video Editing Software


Adobe Premiere Pro

After Effects

Camtasia

Clipchamp

Corel VideoStudio Ultimate

Descript

Final Cut Pro

iMovie

Kapwing

Lightworks

Luxea Pro

Minvo

Movavi

Pinnacle Studio Ultimate

PowerDirector 365 Business

Wondershare Filmora

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

Compare products
Comparison Report
Just drag this link to the bookmark bar.
?
Table settings