CapCut vs Lightworks

CapCut8.7Visit Lightworks8.5Visit

Higher score CapCut #6 in Video Editing Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit CapCut

vs

Lightworks #8 in Video Editing Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Lightworks

• CapCut fits best

  Cross-platform social and team editing

• Lightworks fits best

  Editors seeking a capable free desktop tool

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Side by side

Feature	CapCut 8.7/10 Visit ↗	Lightworks 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.5
Ranking	#6 in Video Editing Software	#8 in Video Editing Software
Best for	Cross-platform social and team editing	Editors seeking a capable free desktop tool
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Desktop
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features CapCut 5/5 · Lightworks 3/5
Desktop app	✓	✓
Web app	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Mobile app	✓ (best)	—
4K export	✓	✓
Team collaboration	✓	✓
Specs
Included cloud storage	100 GB	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android editing workflows AI tools include subtitles, transcription, text-to-speech, and background removal Teamspaces support shared projects, review, and real-time collaboration	Free timeline editing with automatic saving and 720p HD export Multicam, colour, audio, VFX, proxy editing, and subtitles Windows, macOS, and Linux support with cloud-library connections
Cons	Pro pricing varies by region, device, and promotions Some 4K export options depend on supported devices and platforms Cloud storage allowances vary by plan or account version	Free export is limited to 720p HD 4K, 8K, 10-bit, and advanced features depend on paid tiers No mobile or tablet download; it is a desktop application
Our verdict	CapCut is video editing software for creators, marketers, and teams working across browsers, computers, and mobile devices. Its free plan provides browser-based editing alongside essential tools, effects, and templates, while desktop and… Read the review →	Lightworks is non-linear video editing software for beginners, content creators, filmmakers, and professional editors. Its desktop application runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with Free, Create, and Pro editions. The workflow covers… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• CapCut — where it wins

  • Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android editing workflows
  • AI tools include subtitles, transcription, text-to-speech, and background removal
  • Teamspaces support shared projects, review, and real-time collaboration

  Where it doesn't

  • Pro pricing varies by region, device, and promotions
  • Some 4K export options depend on supported devices and platforms
  • Cloud storage allowances vary by plan or account version

• Lightworks — where it wins

  • Free timeline editing with automatic saving and 720p HD export
  • Multicam, colour, audio, VFX, proxy editing, and subtitles
  • Windows, macOS, and Linux support with cloud-library connections

  Where it doesn't

  • Free export is limited to 720p HD
  • 4K, 8K, 10-bit, and advanced features depend on paid tiers
  • No mobile or tablet download; it is a desktop application

• CapCut8.7/10 · Free plan

  A flexible editor for social content, AI-assisted workflows, and collaborative teams.

  Visit CapCutFull verdict →
• Lightworks8.5/10 · Free plan

  A capable free desktop editor with broader export and workflow features in paid tiers.

  Visit LightworksFull verdict →