Lightworks is not so popular among videographers but an effective tool that has been used to create blockbuster movies like Wolf of Wall Street, Heat, Hugo, and more.

Overall, Lightworks is a decent looking tool which is packed with features yet easy to use.

But is it at par or better than the premium video editing software we tested previously?

Let’s find out by going through its most significant pros and cons.

Lightworks Pros

#1. Unlike the majority of editing programs, the user interface of Lightworks is pretty slick and clean.

Even though the tool is jacked with essential features, there is lots of blank space that makes the interface intuitive and easy to navigate.

To start your work, just click on the ‘create a new project’ button on the top left, give a name, set frame rate, and click ‘Create’.

Once you’ve done that, you enter the next screen where all the actions happen. It has four tabs – Log, Edit, VFX, and Audio.

(Interface in ‘Log’ mode)

In the log tab, you import all the local contents and then switch to the ‘Edit’ tab to start manipulating the clips. The VFX and Audio tabs are where you add effects and music, respectively.

In simple words, Lightworks looks much cleaner and is easier for novice users than the other heavyweight alternatives.

And in case, you’re still unable to find your way, you can always refer to their robust YouTube tutorials to learn all the tricks to make your project glossier.

#2. As I’ve already mentioned, this tool is Rich of features like Multicam, transitions, Chroma key, picture in picture, etc. But to make things more interesting, Lightworks has also added the 360° video support in its armor.

Of course, the package is not as comprehensive as you get in a service like Video Pro X, but it’s still good enough to edit VR videos and add some effects to them.

And what’s more?

The color grading and VFX effects you get with the tool are just impeccable, and the separate VFX tab makes them more convenient to add.

#3. 4K video support is another plus point of Lightworks, and what’s more consoling is the render time that doesn’t take hours to export an ultra HD video.

#4. I could find a plethora of choices, but Lightworks still has ample sharing options and allows users to directly post their videos on YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook without any snag.

#5. Regardless of the operating system of your PC, Lightworks can be installed on Windows, Mac, as well as Linux computers.

But the only catch is, according to its strict license policy, you can run the software only on one machine.

This is a substantial jolt for those who like keeping a copy of the video editing software on their laptop and work while traveling on a bus or train.

Lightworks Cons

#1. If you see the big picture, you will find that Lightworks contains almost all the essential editing attributes.

But not having the ability to work on 3D objects or videos is the most notable drawback of the program.

The only way to add some 3D touch to your movies is to first, use Blender for all the 3D editing and then import all your work on Lightworks and continue from there.

This whole process could eat some severe amount of time and would surely irk many of the experienced videographers who often have a shortage of time.

#2. Lightworks is not available on small screens and also doesn’t provide any cloud space to the users.

Lightworks pricing plans and payment options

Lightworks is free for the first 7 days, and after that, you can upgrade to the more powerful version of the tool – Lightworks Pro that costs $24.99/month.

And that’s for a single month. For keeping the software for an entire year, you need to pay $174.99 every year as long as you want to use it.

The yearly package comes with free additional services – Boris FX and Boris Graffiti – but you’re allowed to choose only one.

However, for those who want to keep the program forever, it would be wise to go for the one-time fee that sets you back $437.99.

And guess what? You get both the additional services (Boris FX and Graffiti) free with the lifetime license.

Lightworks accepts almost all the renowned debit/credit cards and PayPal as a method to pay for their license.

Do I recommend Lightworks?

The answer mostly depends on what you need.

Lightworks has almost all the equipments that you need to create a high-end feature film, and best of all, the tool is extremely easy to use.

So if that’s what you need, then I would suggest going for their yearly plan because that’s more cost effective.

If you do a quick calculation, their yearly plan comes down to a little less than $15/month, which is a standard market rate for a video editor software.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more professional looking tool that boasts an array of features and particularly provides complete support for 3D and VR videos, then it’s better to skip Lightworks.