Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Lightworks VS Natron

Compare Lightworks VS Natron and see what are their differences

Lightworks logo Lightworks

Lightworks is an editing powerhouse, delivering unparalleled speed and flexibility, fully...

Natron logo Natron

Natron is a piece of software designed for compositing purposes, and it is entirely free and open source. The software is node-based, which makes it easy to use and customize. Read more about Natron.
  • Lightworks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14
  • Natron Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-14

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.

Natron features and specs

  • Open Source
    Natron is free and open-source software, allowing users to use, modify, and distribute it without any cost. This encourages community contributions and makes it accessible to a broad audience.
  • Cross-Platform
    Natron is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing flexibility and ensuring a wide range of compatibility.
  • Node-Based Compositing
    Natron uses a node-based compositing workflow, which is highly efficient for complex visual effects tasks and allows for greater control and flexibility.
  • Wide Range of Plugins
    Natron supports OpenFX plugins, which expand its functionality and allow users to integrate third-party tools and effects into their workflows.
  • Strong Community Support
    The software has a robust community that actively engages in forums, shares tutorials, and develops additional resources, contributing to a collaborative environment for learning and improvement.

Possible disadvantages of Natron

  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Due to its node-based workflow and advanced features, Natron may have a steeper learning curve for beginners or those unfamiliar with node-based compositing.
  • Limited Development Resources
    As an open-source project, Natron's development relies heavily on community contributions and may not receive updates and new features as rapidly as commercial software.
  • Less Polished Interface
    Compared to some commercial compositing software, Natron's user interface may appear less polished or intuitive, potentially affecting user experience.
  • Performance Issues
    Users may experience performance issues or slower processing times, especially when handling large projects or high-resolution files, as Natron may not be as optimized as some paid alternatives.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there is community support, official documentation and tutorials may be limited, making it challenging for new users to find comprehensive resources for learning Natron effectively.

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

Natron videos

Wayne Reviews Natron The FREE Open Source Compositing App

More videos:

  • Review - Natron vs the "Other Guys"
  • Review - Natron Trailer
  • Review - should you use natron
  • Review - why natron is king
  • Review - why choose natron

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Lightworks and Natron)
Video Editors
78 78%
22% 22
Video
70 70%
30% 30
Video Tools
60 60%
40% 40
Marketing Videos
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

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.

Natron Reviews

We have no reviews of Natron yet.
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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.

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

Natron mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Blender - Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.

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

Adobe After Effects - Motion graphics and visual effects toolset .

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

NUKE - Our industry-leading Nuke Studio, NukeX & Nuke offers cutting-edge toolkits covering node-based compositing, editorial and finishing.