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Most buyers should pick DaVinci Resolve.
DaVinci Resolve is our pick for most buyers: its free edition has no expiry, and Studio is a $295 perpetual license. Lightworks is worth considering if you want an editor for Windows, macOS, or Linux and can work within the free version’s 1080p export ceiling. Its paid tiers add 4K and up-to-8K options, but their prices aren’t published in the published material. Choose based on workflow, not on a paid-price comparison.
01Side by side
| DaVinci Resolve | Lightworks | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free; Studio costs $295 once | Free; paid prices are not published |
| Free plan | No-expiry free edition; export limit not published | Free forever; exports up to 1080p |
| Best for | Editors and colorists seeking creative tools | Filmmakers and content creators |
| Core strength | AI assistant, stills, and 100+ editing tools | Import, shot organization, editing, color, and sound |
| Learning curve | Higher published ease-of-use score | Lower published ease-of-use score |
| Integrations and data | Cloud libraries $5/month; storage $15/TB/month | Cloud integration; codec and TotalFX prices unpublished |
| Team and seat costs | Studio $295 once; seat limits unpublished | Per-user plans; paid prices unpublished |
| Support | Published support score: 5 | Published support score: 5 |
DaVinci Resolve Choose DaVinci Resolve if
- Choose DaVinci Resolve if you want a free editor with no expiry.
- Choose DaVinci Resolve if you prefer a $295 perpetual Studio license.
- Choose DaVinci Resolve if AI tools and still photography matter.
Lightworks Choose Lightworks if
- Choose Lightworks if free exports up to 1080p fit your needs.
- Choose Lightworks if you need Windows, macOS, or Linux support.
- Choose Lightworks if its fixed or floating interface suits your workflow.
02Pricing compared
DaVinci Resolve is the clearer price choice: its free edition has no expiry, and the pricing details list Studio as a $295 one-time purchase for a perpetual license. Cloud Project Libraries are listed at $5 per month; Cloud Storage is $15 per TB per month, with 2 GB free. Overage costs are not published.
Lightworks also has a free plan, but exports are capped at 1080p. Its Create tier adds export up to 4K, while Pro supports video up to 8K. The published pricing information says Lightworks offers monthly and yearly subscriptions and a perpetual license, but gives no paid prices. It also lists some paid codec and effects options without prices. So we can compare the free limits, but not the total cost of paid Lightworks against Resolve Studio.
03Features and depth
Resolve’s homepage highlights an AI assistant in version 21.1, expanded still photography support, and more than 100 new tools and controls for editors and colorists. It also lists version 20.2 improvements to track patching and ripple trim controls, plus increased support for immersive workflows. That points to a broad toolset, though the published details do not spell out which features are limited to Studio.
Lightworks covers the core editing workflow: importing footage from phone clips to RAW, organizing shots with bins, tags, and search, then cutting and trimming on a timeline. Its feature list also includes color and sound adjustments, effects, graphics, and customizable fixed or floating layouts. The free plan includes effects and transitions, color correction and grading, and multitrack audio. Create adds 4K export and BRAW and ProRes decoding; Pro lists support up to 8K, 10-bit video, HDR editing, and ProRes encoding. Those format and export needs may decide the comparison.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Neither published product information establishes which editor is easier to learn. Resolve’s broad feature set may take time to navigate; our review assessment flags its learning curve as the main question and scores ease of use at 6.5. Lightworks’ review assessment scores ease of use at 5, but that alone does not explain what new users find difficult.
Compare the workflow you need before switching: Lightworks describes bins, tags, and search for shot organization, plus fixed or floating layouts. Resolve’s homepage emphasizes tools for editors and colorists, including track patching and ripple trim improvements. If you only need free HD editing, Lightworks is an option; if you want a free editor without an expiry, Resolve is the stronger starting point. Check the features you rely on against each product’s documentation before moving a project.
Questions people ask
Which is better, DaVinci Resolve or Lightworks?
DaVinci Resolve is our pick for most buyers because its free edition has no expiry and Studio is listed at $295 as a perpetual license. Lightworks may suit you if its workflow fits and 1080p export is enough, but paid-tier prices are not published on the vendor's site.
Is DaVinci Resolve free?
Yes. The published pricing details list DaVinci Resolve as a free download with no expiry. DaVinci Resolve Studio is a separate paid edition, listed at $295 as a one-time purchase for a perpetual license. Seat limits are not published on the vendor's site.
Does the free version of Lightworks export 4K?
No. Lightworks’ Free plan is listed with exports up to 1080p. Its Create tier adds export up to 4K, and Pro lists video support up to 8K. The published pricing information does not show the prices for either paid tier.
How much does DaVinci Resolve Studio cost?
The published pricing details list DaVinci Resolve Studio at $295 as a one-time purchase, not a monthly or annual subscription. The license is described as perpetual. Seat limits are not published, and cloud services are separate add-ons with their own listed prices.