Lightworks

The Lightworks download puts a genuine professional NLE on your machine at no cost — and that claim has real-world backing. Tariq Anwar, editor of the 2010 Oscar Best Picture winner *The King's Speech*, cut that film using Lightworks. If you're new to RAW processing or non-linear editing, the first decision is the catalogue model: Lightworks uses a project-based structure where you set your frame rate up front, because that single setting determines which clips you can import later. Choose 24 fps and you gain a wide range of compatible frame rates; lock to 25 fps and only 25 or 50 fps footage is accepted. video editors

Getting footage into the timeline is straightforward — click the Import button in the toolbar or drag clips directly into the program window. Lightworks reads professional codecs including AVI, MOV, RED R3D, and DPX. MP4 and 3GP files are not natively supported in the free tier, so you may need a separate transcoder before your footage lands on the timeline. Once clips are loaded, double-clicking a thumbnail in the import panel opens a source viewer; from there, a single button push sends the clip to the edit timeline, where you can lay in audio tracks, set keyframes, and apply transitions. windows nle

On the performance side, Lightworks leans on keyboard-driven commands — an approach borrowed from broadcast edit suites — which speeds up cutting once you learn the shortcuts. Preview rendering is handled in real time for most codecs, though encode speed will depend on your CPU when exporting to H.264 or H.265. Color grading tools are present but modest compared to dedicated apps; you won't find a full LUT pipeline or advanced proxy workflow here. Editors who need deeper color grading or HDR output may want to look at davinci resolve as a companion tool. free

Lightworks is available as free software on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making the lightworks download accessible to beginners and budget-conscious professionals alike. The free version covers the core cut-and-export workflow; a paid tier unlocks higher bitrate export and additional format support. For editors stepping up from consumer apps, this is one of the few places you get a broadcast-heritage timeline without spending anything. Spread your learning across the basics first — frame rate, clip management, and audio track layout — then explore the more advanced encode and transition options as your projects grow.

Lightworks is a free video editors available for Windows, macOS, Linux. Browse more free software or nle programs.