Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Lightworks VS Shotcut

Compare Lightworks VS Shotcut and see what are their differences

Lightworks logo Lightworks

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

Shotcut logo Shotcut

Shotcut is a free, open source, cross-platform, non-linear video editor.
  • Lightworks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14
  • Shotcut Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-13

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.

Shotcut features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Shotcut is completely free to use, and its source code is open for anyone to review, modify, and distribute. This makes it an accessible choice for users with budget constraints or a preference for open-source software.
  • Cross-Platform
    Shotcut is available on multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, allowing users to work across different platforms without compatibility issues.
  • Wide Format Support
    Shotcut supports a broad range of video, audio, and image formats through the FFmpeg project. This makes it versatile for various media types and reduces the need for file conversion.
  • No Watermarks or Ads
    Unlike some free video editing software, Shotcut does not impose watermarks on exported videos or interrupt users with advertisements, providing a more professional and user-friendly experience.
  • Advanced Features
    Shotcut offers advanced features like 4K editing, multi-track timeline, and video and audio filters, which are often found in premium video editing software.

Possible disadvantages of Shotcut

  • Learning Curve
    Shotcut can be challenging for beginners due to its more complex interface and extensive set of features, requiring a significant amount of time to learn effectively.
  • Performance Issues
    Users have reported performance problems, especially when handling large projects or high-resolution videos. These issues can result in slow rendering times and occasional crashes.
  • Limited Official Documentation
    While there are tutorials and a user forum available, the official documentation for Shotcut is not as comprehensive as that of some other video editing software, which can make troubleshooting more difficult.
  • Less Professional Support
    As an open-source project, Shotcut lacks dedicated customer support. Users rely on community forums and online guides for help, which may not be as timely or reliable as professional support services.
  • User Interface
    The interface, while functional, is not as polished or intuitive as some commercial video editing programs, potentially impacting user productivity and satisfaction.

Analysis of Shotcut

Overall verdict

  • Shotcut is a good choice for those in need of a free and open-source video editing tool. While it might not have all the high-end features of some paid solutions, it provides robust enough functionality for most basic to intermediate video editing tasks. Its cross-platform availability and active community support make it a reliable option for hobbyists and independent creators.

Why this product is good

  • Shotcut is an open-source video editing software that's praised for its wide range of features and accessibility. It's available across multiple platforms, which makes it versatile. The software supports numerous video and audio formats, offers a variety of editing tools, and includes advanced features such as timeline editing, multi-track support, and a range of filters and effects. Shotcut's user interface is relatively straightforward, which often appeals to beginners, yet it is powerful enough for more experienced users looking for free editing solutions.

Recommended for

    Shotcut is recommended for hobbyist videographers, independent filmmakers, and content creators who want a zero-cost editing solution that doesn’t lack essential features. It's suitable for beginners due to its user-friendly interface and also appeals to more advanced users who require customization through open-source software.

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

Shotcut videos

SHOTCUT - IS THE FREE VIDEO EDITING SOFTWARE ANY GOOD? // Teo Crawford

More videos:

  • Review - DaVinci, Hitfilm and Shotcut ! Best Free Video Editing Software
  • Tutorial - Shotcut Hindi Tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Lightworks and Shotcut)
Video Editors
35 35%
65% 65
Video
30 30%
70% 70
Video Tools
27 27%
73% 73
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 Shotcut

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.

Shotcut Reviews

10 Best Video Editors for YouTube in 2024
Shotcut stands out as a free, open-source video editor, ideal for those seeking basic trimming, cutting, and merging functions. It offers a variety of filters and supports a wide range of formats, making it perfect for beginners who prefer open-source tools. It’s also great for anyone wanting simple editing options without the expense of premium software. While it has some...
5 Best Video Editors for Low-End PC in 2024
If you seek versatility, consider VSDC Free Video Editor and Shotcut. Both are optimized for older systems and offer a range of editing tools, from basic trimming to advanced effects. However, the slightly steeper learning curve might require more time to get accustomed to.
13 Best Green Screen Software For Windows (2024)
Shotcut is a free video editing software that’s great for both beginners and experienced filmmakers. It stands out because of its easy-to-use green screen feature. This makes creating green-screen videos a breeze for everyone. With Shotcut, green screen work becomes less complex. Plus, it also comes with a range of other video editing tools. This gives you a complete,...
Source: mixilab.com
9 Best Adobe Premiere Pro Alternatives in 2022 (FREE & Online)
While Shotcut might not have the bells and whistles of some of the other Premiere Pro alternatives, it’s still a great performing video editor with compositing features as well as effects, transitions, and filters for more in-depth editing work.
Source: shotkit.com
Windows Best Video Editing Software
Shotcut is a cross-platform, open-source video editor with a large library of tutorial videos. It also works with FFmpeg, 4K, ProRes, and DNxHD, among other formats. However, because Shotcut was created for Linux, some users may find the interface a little strange. Regardless, it’s still a fantastic editor.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Shotcut should be more popular than Lightworks. It has been mentiond 115 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: almost 3 years ago
View more

Shotcut mentions (115)

  • Flowblade: Open-Source Video Editor
    Any good open source video editor for Windows? Top google results include https://www.openshot.org/ and https://shotcut.org/, but both don't have obvious links to the code repositories and it took me a while to find them which is often not a good sign. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Pitivi – Free video editor with a beautiful and intuitive user interface
    Does anyone know how it compares with Shotcut[1]? It's free, open source, and works on Windows, Mac and Linux. I've been a happy user for a while. [1] https://shotcut.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Spacex-Style launch video + telem HUD!
    Shotcut (to put them together at the same framerate and size). Source: over 1 year ago
  • Introduction
    I used OBS to capture my screen, shotcut to edit the video, and this command to create a gif (Shotcut also supports exporting to a gif, but it seems to take longer to process). - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Comparison of Strafe Acceleration in Infinite, Halo 5, and Halo 3
    To set the test up, I used OBS, Shotcut, and Excel. As a comparison to Infinite I used H3 MCC and the PC Forge version of H5. Unless otherwise stated, I used a keyboard as an input device in order to reduce the variation between tests, since the analog nature of controller thumb sticks could affect the results. I programmed a keyboard macro to hold A for a period of time, then immediately switch to holding D for a... Source: over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Lightworks and Shotcut, 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!

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

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

OpenShot - OpenShot is a open source video editing program.

iMovie - Turn your videos into movie magic.

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