SanbilaSanbila

Sanbila vs LucidLink

Per file proxy or stream, with role permissions for teams of 1 to 25 users, versus an always on mounted cloud drive.

Two different cloud philosophies

Sanbila lets each editor choose how to access every file. Keep a lightweight proxy on the local SSD for offline editing, or stream the original from R2 through a WebDAV mount with zero downloads. Sanbila scales from solo editors to studios of 25 users, with permissions assigned by role (Owner, Editor, Viewer). When an editor uploads a new master cut, the colorist sees it instantly. LucidLink presents the cloud as a single mounted file system shared by everyone. Sanbila scopes everything to projects with explicit roles.

Feature by feature

FeatureSanbilaLucidLink
Always online?No, edits run from local SSD cacheYes, network mount required
Proxy or stream per fileYes, you pick the mode for each fileStream only, no offline proxy mode
Egress billingZero on R2Bandwidth based overage possible
Proxy generationServer side, 7 FFmpeg presetsNot included, bring your own
Smart RelinkParses XML, FCPXML, EDL, AAFN/A, not a proxy tool
Team size per projectSolo 1, Studio 3, Enterprise 25Per seat billing, no project scope
Role permissionsOwner, Editor, Viewer per projectFilesystem ACLs, less granular for video
Replace file workflowUpload a new version, every member sees it instantlyOverwrite in place, no version awareness
Pricing entry49 dollars per month for 2 TB and 1 editorStarts around 15 dollars per month per seat plus storage
Offline editingYes, once proxies are cachedLimited, local cache only

Pricing in 2026

For a 25 user post production studio, LucidLink Enterprise can climb to 3000 or 5000 dollars per month (per seat plus per TB plus egress). Sanbila Enterprise covers 25 users, 1000 projects and 25 TB at 449 dollars per month, flat. For solo editors, Sanbila Solo at 49 dollars per month covers 2 TB without any per seat math.

Choose Sanbila when

  • Your connection is not always at gigabit speed
  • You dislike per seat and per TB pricing math
  • You want proxies generated automatically without setting up a separate pipeline
  • You switch NLEs or work across Premiere, Resolve, FCP, and Avid
  • You run a studio of 3 to 25 editors, colorists and assistants, and you want permissions by role, not a raw shared drive
  • You want flexibility. Use the proxy mode for editing on the move, switch to streaming the original for review or full quality export, your call per file

Choose LucidLink when

  • Your post house runs on fibre with guaranteed uptime
  • You need a persistent cloud filesystem shared by many tools beyond NLEs
  • You already have dedicated IT to manage the mount

Migrating from LucidLink to Sanbila

  1. 1Mirror your LucidLink filespace to a local drive or directly ingest rushes
  2. 2Create a Sanbila project and import the files
  3. 3Generate proxies with the preset matching your NLE
  4. 4Open the Virtual Folder and relink timelines from LucidLink paths to Sanbila

Sanbila by the numbers

Real specs from the live Sanbila product, not marketing claims.

4
NLEs supported (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Avid)
7
Proxy presets — from 540p H.264 to 1080p DNxHR LB
22
File formats supported (MP4, MOV, MXF, R3D, BRAW, WAV…)
85%
Average disk savings vs editing on 4K originals
$0
Egress fees on Cloudflare R2 — stream originals at zero cost
8
Parallel R2 connections on macOS (4 on Windows / Linux), 4 MB block cache

Frequently asked

Does Sanbila work without internet?+

Yes. Once proxies are cached locally, the editing session is fully offline. Internet is only needed at ingest and at export.

Can Sanbila replace LucidLink for a team that needs shared access in real time?+

Yes. The Studio plan with 3 users and the Enterprise plan with 25 users give every member access to project files in real time. Members can upload, replace files and the change is visible to everyone instantly, with permissions assigned by role (Owner, Editor, Viewer). The difference is that Sanbila scopes this to projects with explicit roles, instead of exposing the whole filespace as a mounted drive. Stricter security, less risk of accidental overwrite.

Can multiple editors work on the same Sanbila project at the same time?+

Yes, up to 25 members at once on the Enterprise plan. An Editor uploads a new master cut, the Colorist sees it instantly, the Producer can stream the original through WebDAV. Owner, Editor and Viewer roles control who can upload, delete or only stream.

Is Sanbila only for freelance editors?+

No. The Free and Solo plans are for solo editors. Studio with 3 users is for small teams. Enterprise with 25 users, 25 TB and 1000 projects is for post production houses and agencies. The price scales without surprise per seat billing.

Does Sanbila stream original files like LucidLink, or only proxies?+

Both. Every file can be accessed two ways. As a local proxy cached on SSD for offline editing, or streamed at full resolution from R2 through WebDAV. The choice is made for each file, not for the whole account. Editors usually pick the proxy mode for cutting and the stream mode for color review or export.

Is LucidLink faster for 8K scrubbing?+

LucidLink can be fast on fibre but depends on live bandwidth. Cached proxies in Sanbila always read from local SSD, so scrub performance does not depend on the network.

Edit without a permanent mount

Free plan to test. No credit card. No egress fees.

Download Sanbila

Comparison verified on 2026-04-25. LucidLink and other product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Sanbila is not affiliated with LucidLink. This comparison reflects our product analysis; verify pricing and features on the competitor's official website.

Written by Lassana Toure, Founder of Sanbila.

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