Adobe Premiere Pro vs Lightworks: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Adobe Premiere Pro and Lightworks side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Adobe Premiere Pro leads on higher user rating; Lightworks leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Adobe Premiere Pro
Professional video editing with advanced color, audio, and AI tools
Best for you if:
- • You want industry standard video editing
Lightworks
Unlock your video editing potential with a powerful, professional-grade video editor.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Adobe Premiere Pro | Lightworks |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $22.99/mo, billed monthly Individual Annual plan | Free plan |
Category | Video Editing Video & Media | Video Editing Audio Editing |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.7 2,251 reviews | 3.9/5 G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.5 · SourceForge 2.0 191 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | Cloud storage upgrades cost extra | n/a |
Choose Adobe Premiere Pro or Lightworks?
Choose Adobe Premiere Pro if
- You want industry standard video editing
- You want excellent timeline editing
Choose Lightworks if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want offers a free version for beginners to get started
- You want scales with user skill level from beginner to professional
In-Depth Analysis
Adobe Premiere Pro
Professional video editing with advanced color, audio, and AI tools
Adobe Premiere Pro's pricing is on the expensive side for individual users, with the Individual Monthly plan at $34.49/month being particularly high.
Watch out
Cloud storage upgrades cost extra
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard video editing
- Pro: Excellent timeline editing
- Pro: Creative Cloud integration
- Pro: Many plugins
- Pro: Professional features
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive subscription
- Con: Resource intensive
- Con: Stability issues
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Subscription only
Key features
Lightworks
Unlock your video editing potential with a powerful, professional-grade video editor.
Lightworks offers a generous free tier, making it accessible for beginners.
Strengths
- Pro: Offers a free version for beginners to get started.
- Pro: Scales with user skill level from beginner to professional.
- Pro: Provides a comprehensive suite of editing tools (video, audio, VFX, color).
- Pro: Supports high-quality footage and offers advanced features like HDR workflows.
- Pro: Streamlined sharing and export options, including direct social media integration.
Weaknesses
- Con: Advanced VFX features (supplied by NewBlue) are only available for Windows and Mac.
- Con: The full range of professional features requires a paid subscription.
Key features
Plans and prices: Adobe Premiere Pro vs Lightworks
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Premiere Pro |
| adobe.com/products/premiereread Oct 8, 2026 |
| Lightworks |
| lwks.com/pricingread Sep 30, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Adobe Premiere Pro pricing and Lightworks pricing.
Key Takeaways
Adobe Premiere Pro
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 3.9/5
Lightworks
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Adobe Premiere Pro leads on higher user rating; Lightworks leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Adobe Premiere Pro has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 2,251 reviews for Adobe Premiere Pro, 3.9/5 from 191 reviews for Lightworks).
- Adobe Premiere Pro starts at $22.99/mo, billed monthly; Lightworks has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Lightworks has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Adobe Premiere Pro and Lightworks compare in 2026?
On the data below, Adobe Premiere Pro leads on higher user rating; Lightworks leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Adobe Premiere Pro has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 2,251 reviews for Adobe Premiere Pro, 3.9/5 from 191 reviews for Lightworks). Adobe Premiere Pro starts at $22.99/mo, billed monthly; Lightworks has no public paid plan price on file. Only Lightworks has a free plan.
What are Adobe Premiere Pro and Lightworks used for?
Adobe Premiere Pro: Professional video editing with advanced color, audio, and AI tools. Lightworks: Unlock your video editing potential with a powerful, professional-grade video editor.
What does Adobe Premiere Pro cost vs Lightworks?
Adobe Premiere Pro's cheapest paid plan is Individual Annual at $22.99/mo, billed monthly. Lightworks has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 8, 2026.
What's the main difference between Adobe Premiere Pro and Lightworks?
Adobe Premiere Pro's main strength: industry standard video editing. Lightworks's main strength: offers a free version for beginners to get started.