# Descript vs Lightworks

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Descript

| Attribute | Descript | Lightworks |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 67 (61% (medium)) | 45.6 (40% (low)) |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true}` | `{"cloud":true}` |
| description.long | A web-based video and audio editor that lets users edit by working with transcribed text instead of traditional timelines. Features AI-assisted tools for audio enhancement, caption generation, background removal, and automated video synthesis, alongside standard editing capabilities. | Desktop-based video editing platform supporting timeline editing, color grading, visual effects, and cloud collaboration. Offers perpetual ownership or subscription options across Windows, Mac, and Linux. |
| features.capabilities | `{"hdr_4k8k":true,"multicam":true,"ai_features":true,"free_or_oss":true,"pricing_model":"freemium","platform_breadth":"Web","professional_nle":true,"cloud_collaboration":true}` | `{"hdr_4k8k":true,"free_or_oss":true,"codec_breadth":"ProRes, AVID DNxHD, AVID DNxHR, H.264, AVC-Intra, Cineform","color_grading":true,"pricing_model":"freemium","platform_breadth":"Windows, macOS, Linux","professional_nle":true,"cloud_collaboration":true}` |
| integrations.count | - | 4 |
| integrations.list | - | `[{"name":"Dropbox","native":true,"category":"cloud_storage","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"Google Drive","native":true,"category":"cloud_storage","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"NewBlue Titler Pro","native":true},{"name":"NewBlue TotalFX","native":true}]` |
| market.availability | `{"primaryMarkets":["US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | `{"hqCountry":"GB","primaryMarkets":["GB","US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"web":true}` | `{"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"freemium","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free","summary":"$0/month","features":["Text-based editing","1 media hour/month","100 AI credits/month","Export 720p","Limited Underlord AI co-editor access"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Start with text-based editing and AI tools","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"ai_credits":"100/month","media_minutes":"60/month","export_resolution":"720p"}},{"free":false,"name":"Hobbyist","summary":"$16/person/month (annual billing), or $24/month (monthly billing)","features":["10 media hours/month","400 AI credits/month","Export 1080p, watermark-free","Full Underlord AI co-editor access","Studio Sound, Remove Filler Words, Create Clips","AI Speech with custom voice clones","Video regenerate","Topups available for media hours and AI credits"],"minSeats":1,"commitment":"annual","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"person","amount":16,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Elevate your projects, watermark-free","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"ai_credits":"400/month","media_hours":"10/month","export_resolution":"1080p"}},{"free":false,"name":"Creator","summary":"$24/person/month (annual), or $35/month (monthly). Most popular.","features":["30 media hours/month","800 AI credits/month","Export 4K, watermark-free","Full access to Underlord and 20+ AI tools","AI video generation","Unlimited royalty-free stock media library","Multi-language transcription (25 languages)","Automatic speaker detection (8+ speakers)","Automatic multicam with layout selection","Dynamic animated captions","Custom font uploads and animations","Topups available"],"commitment":"annual","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"person","amount":24,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Scale to a team of 3. Advanced AI-powered creativity","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"ai_credits":"800/month","team_limit":"3","media_hours":"30/month","export_resolution":"4K"}},{"free":false,"name":"Business","summary":"$50/person/month (annual), or $65/month (monthly)","features":["40 media hours/month","1500 AI credits/month","Team-wide Brand Studio with shared templates","Translate and dub video in 30+ languages with proofreading","Custom avatar generation from photo or text","Priority support with SLA","All Creator plan features","Topups available"],"commitment":"annual","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"person","amount":50,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Scale to a team of 5. Empower team collaboration","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"languages":"30","ai_credits":"1500/month","team_limit":"5","media_hours":"40/month","export_resolution":"4K"}},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise","summary":"Custom pricing. Contact sales.","features":["Text-based editing with team-sized AI credits and media hours","Brand Studio with shared templates and company-wide guardrails","AI and data controls: opt-out of training, custom data retention","SOC 2 Type II compliance","SSO and SCIM provisioning","Audit logs","Custom MSA and legal terms","Flexible billing options","Dedicated customer success manager","Priority support and onboarding"],"description":"For teams with more video to make than editors to make it","contactSales":true}],"addOns":[{"name":"Additional Media Hours"},{"name":"Additional AI Credits"}],"summary":"Free tier with 1 media hour/month. Hobbyist from $16/person/month (annual billing). Creator from $24/person/month (annual). Business from $50/person/month (annual). Enterprise custom pricing. Annual billing saves up to 35% vs. monthly.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.descript.com/pricing","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T21:32:45.867Z","startingPrice":{"amount":16,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` | `{"type":"freemium","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free","features":["Timeline Editing","720p HD Export","Automatic Saving","Advanced Transitions","Simple VFX"],"description":"Beginner-friendly tier with unlimited availability","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Create","features":["4K Video Export","Social Media Templates","NewBlue Titler Pro","Dynamic Motion Graphics","Powerful Colour Controls","Advanced Audio EQ","Quick LUT Support","High Res Proxy Editing","High Res Timeline Rendering"],"description":"Subscription tier for editors seeking advanced features","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Pro","features":["10-Bit Support","Audio and Video Plugin Support","Increased File Formats","Advanced Video Effects","Custom Format Creation","Support for NewBlue TotalFX","Export Interchange Formats","Advanced Colour Scopes","In Timeline QC","Cloud Export/Upload"],"description":"Fully featured professional tier","contactSales":false}],"summary":"Free tier; subscription and perpetual (pay-once) options available","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://lwks.com/pricing","retrievedAt":"2026-08-31T15:10:33.313Z","billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | freemium | freemium |
| pricing.price_level | mid | low |
| pricing.transparent | yes | no |
| reliability.status_page | yes | - |
| security.gdpr | yes | yes |
| security.soc2 | yes | - |

## Capabilities (Video Editing Software)

| Capability | Descript | Lightworks |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Editing** |  |  |
| Professional NLE (multi-track finishing) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Colour grading | - | ✓ |
| Multicam editing | ✓ | - |
| **Technical** |  |  |
| 4K/8K + HDR support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Codec breadth (ProRes / HEVC / AV1 / RAW) | - | ProRes, AVID DNxHD, AVID DNxHR, H.264, AVC-Intra, Cineform |
| GPU acceleration | - | - |
| **AI** |  |  |
| AI features (captions / text-to-video / voice) | ✓ | - |
| **Capture** |  |  |
| Screen recording built-in | - | - |
| **Platform** |  |  |
| Platform breadth (Win / macOS / Linux / iOS / Android / Web) | Web | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| **Collaboration** |  |  |
| Cloud collaboration / team review | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Pricing** |  |  |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free / open-source available | ✓ | ✓ |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T16:36:15.942Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*