Being a pioneer, Adobe established standards for the photo editing software market. With its splendid premium features, Adobe Lightroom is still outshining its competitors. It is the top choice for photographers due to its user-friendly layout, extensive tools, presets, and filters. However, users will be keen to explore the best Lightroom alternatives for photo editing.
With the rising cost of Lightroom app subscription plans, users will look for cost-effective and subscription-free apps. Some users aim to compare app features with other apps to enhance their best photo editing experience. Users also search for other alternatives that can better align with their preferences.
Various Lightroom alternative applications are available in the market that offer unique features to its users. Our team has assessed these alternatives based on interface design, accessibility, compatibility, and overall user experience. Let’s review our final list of best Lightroom alternatives to identify which can fulfill the diverse user requirements.
1. Skylum Luminar
(Challenger: Most Popular Lightroom Alternative)
Specifications | OS versionProcessor RAM Disk space | Windows 10 version or higher (only 64-bit OS) Intel Core i5 (8th gen) or above, AMD Ryzen or better8 GB or more 10 GB free space |
Reason To Buy | Unique AI-powered tools for photo fixing.Numerous filters, adjustment tools, and pleasing effects.Versatile and effective one-click built-in Presets.Photoshop-like layers.Effective tools for color correction and retouching.Simple and pleasing Interface, friendly for beginners.Impressive portrait enhancers feature.Fast import of Raw images.Provide options to create a photo catalog.Reasonable one-time price.It offers money back guarantee for 30 days.Various subscription options are available to meet user needs. | |
Reasons to Avoid | Keywords are not included in image organization.Its masking tool is less efficient as compared to the Lightroom.The photo Management feature is limited.No keyword tagging and face recognition.Slow operations of some features.Limited export and print options.The mobile app is disappointing. | |
Initially, the Skylum Luminar app remained popular as the best Raw photo editor. Its raw image import is faster than that of any other app. In 2018, the added feature of asset management capability further enhanced the app’s proficiency. The addition of AI-powered editing tools has made it the best Lightroom alternative for ordinary photographers and professionals.
Luminar allows users to complete complex editing with one click. Its large focus on presets to create excellent images has made it the top choice for newbies. It also offers advanced editing features for high-end users and professionals. Its non-destructive Raw photo editor has AI-based photo editing features, primarily suitable for those who find Lightroom complex.
Luminar is a better choice than any other top Lightroom alternative. Its impressive editing features, interface, simplicity, AI-powered one-click features, and comparatively affordable pricing place it on top of the list. The app runs on Windows and Mac users and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Capture One
(Best Lightroom Alternative for Professionals Photography)
| Specifications | OS versionProcessor RAM Disk space | Windows 10 version or higher (only 64-bit OS) Intel Core i3 1st gen or above, AMD Jaguar or better8 GB or more 10 GB free space |
Reason To Buy | Enhanced features are provided for the studio photographers.Provided extended customization options.Choice for both outright purchase and monthly subscription.Excellent conversion of Raw files.Secured and unmatched workflow.Potent adjustment tools.The app interface can be customized as per user choice.Allows Layer-based editing options.Provide effective tools for color adjustment.Annotation feature for better collaboration among project teams.Offer generous discounts for students.The iPad app is available for Apple users. | |
| Reasons to Avoid | No panorama or HDR merging options.Expensive License.Complex for learners.3rd party plugins are missing. | |
Capture-One is a popular high-end photo editing software primarily designed for professional photographers. Its efficient workflow, steep learning curve, advanced color grading, and wide range of tools have made it the best Lightroom alternative for users. Its capabilities of large image organization, powerful Raw image processing, and image cataloging are impressive.
Capture offers various options to manipulate color, including color adjustment, mid-tone, highlights, shadow, sharpness, brightness, skin tone, etc. Color balancing allows users to choose from a wide color range for the image to adjust its saturation, hue, and lightness. It provides numerous adjustment tools and autocorrect features to its users.
3. ON1 Photo RAW
(RAW Photo Editor, Best All-in-One Lightroom Alternative)
Specifications | OS versionProcessor RAM Disk space | Windows 10 or above, macOS 11 or above4 Core Intel, AMD t support or better8 GB or more 6 GB free space |
Reason To Buy | Only a one-time purchase, no extra payment is required.Free trial for 14 days.Offers a 90-day money-back guarantee.Combined features of Lightroom and Photoshop. Provides layer-based workflow.Efficient file organization and management.Provide multiple cameras and lens support.Convenient snapshots feature.Potent AI-based support features.Impressive presets. | |
| Reasons to Avoid | Catalog backup is difficult as compared to Lightroom.The interface is slightly confusing.Provides a steep learning curve for trainees.Infrequent loading delay issues.It requires a powerful processor for smooth operations. | |
ON1 Photo Raw is a versatile app that allows users to experience a powerful combination of Photoshop and Lightroom in one app. It offers the best photo editing solutions for professional businesses. As a Lightroom alternative, it provides all-in-one solutions for quick Raw file processing, image organization, layered editing, effects, and focus stacking.
The user interface of ON1 is complex as compared to Lightroom and Luminar. However, it offers advanced features, including Buit-in presets, over 100 effects, asset management capabilities, and an X-Rite camera profiler. Its latest version included AI-powered editing tools like Sky Swap AI, ON1 Resize AI, NoNoise AI, and AI Match for Raw conversions.
4. Dxo Photo Labs
(Great for RAW Processing, Best Lightroom Alternative on budget)
| Specifications | OS versionProcessor RAM Disk space | Windows 10 or above, macOS 12.6.8 (Monterey)4 Core Intel, AMD Ryzen with 4 cores8 GB or more 4 GB free space |
Reason To Buy | One-time purchase with a 30-day free trial.Give the user buying outright option, including 2-3 activations.Auto adjustments for the best photo editing.Offer users to enjoy extended features via Nik Collection tools.Outstanding Raw photo processing.Offer best-in-class advanced noise reduction technology.It provide support with its excellent lens adjustment tool. | |
| Reasons to Avoid | Limited image organization features.Lack of a panorama or HDR merging option.Expensive Elite Edition.Basic features for image organization. | |
DxO PhotoLab is popular among photographers due to its efficient Raw processing capabilities. Initially, it was only an image editing app. Later on, it added image management capabilities with photo libraries, making it a contender for the best Lightroom alternative. Its interface also resembles Lightroom, with basic editing features and advanced tools.
Through Dxo you can easily identify lens correction profiles and missing cameras. Its image editor can convert your Raw images and auto-correct optical flaws. The dynamic range can be extended, and digital noise can be removed. Its smart lighting will adjust your image highlights, lighting, and shadows to convert Raw files to a balanced image.
Like Lightroom, DxO adjustment tools allow users to edit images with graduated filter tools, manual brushes, control points, and line tools. The Elite version is expensive and offers additional features. It has the same image organizing and editing features as in Lightroom. However, it is lacking in organizing and managing bulk photos.
5. RAW Therapee
(Best Open-Source, Free Adobe Lightroom Alternative)
Specifications | OS versionProcessor RAM Disk space | Windows 7 and above, macOS 10.11 and above 1.5 GHz or faster processor4 GB or more 1 GB free space |
Reasons To Buy | Completely free and open-source editing app.A wide range of tools are provided for photo processing.Familiar Interface.Fast import option.Provide support for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Impressive color modification option. | |
Reasons to Avoid | Insufficient feature. Not provided image collection options to organize photos.Lack of advanced photo editing tools.Lack of digital asset management (DAM).Printing options are not available.Does not have a user-friendly interface.Intensive RAM.It’s not as powerful as Lightroom Mod APK. | |
Raw Therapee is the best open-source and free Lightroom alternative for Raw image processing. Its numerous formats and advanced color adjustment tools attract beginners and professionals. It offers effective editing features, lens control, noise reduction, image organization, and batch processing. These features are making it popular among users.
What distinguishes it as one of the best Lightroom alternatives is its non-destructive editing for processing Raw images. Hence, it allows users to customize interfaces for different workflows while its proficient algorithms ensure the creation of quality images. However, it lacks image organizing and file management capabilities and does not provide a printing option.
Its latest version has improved and optimized speed and batch processing to save user time. You’ll find many other features in the app that are available in Lightroom like color correction, adjusting exposure, sharpening, and curves. Despite a few limitations, lack of tutorials, and documentation, Raw Therapee is still among the best Lightroom alternatives for free.
6. Darktable
(Best free Adobe Lightroom Alternative for desktop users)
Specifications | OS versionProcessor RAM Disk space | Windows 10 and above, macOS 10.11 and above, Linux Intel Core i5 (11 Gen) with 2GB GC4 GB or more 8 GB free space |
Reason To Buy | Complete free and open-source appOffer a user-friendly interfaceProvide basic file organization featuresSupport for multiple languagesPowerful image export optionMetadata editing and applying tags functions are available | |
| Reasons to Avoid | Lacks options for keywords.Not refined Raw processing.No mobile version is available.Provide a limited export option as compared to Lightroom. | |
Darktable is a popular free Lightroom alternative with comprehensive tools for image adjustment and library management features. It is the most advanced open-source app with exceptional file management capabilities and consistent updates. Darktable is accessible across platforms, including Windows, Linux, MacOS X, Solaris11/GNOME, and BSD.
Due to its remarkable features professional photographers may experience Dartable similar to Lightroom. Its open-source feature allows users to customize the interface and efficient workflow through auto-script setup. It supports over 400 cameras for Raw processing and can import various image formats. It ensures quick editing with GPU-accelerated processing.
Darktable allows users reversible editing while the original image remains unaffected. It offers numerous features, color adjustment tools, and powerful organizational capabilities for managing large files. It allows the creation of a wide range of presets for different output codecs with its flexible support system.
7. ACDSee Photo Studio
(Adobe Lightroom alternative with versatile editing and full photo workflow)
Specifications | OS versionProcessor RAM Disk space | Windows 7-10 and above, macOS10 Intel Core i5 and above (AMD equiv)4 GB or more 2 GB free space |
Reason To Buy | Excellent organizing features.Great tutorial for beginners.Geotagging and face recognition features.Non-destructive AI masking features.Offer digital asset management option.AI-powered file management.Quick processing time.Effective control of color and tones.Supportive keyword system. | |
| Reasons to Avoid | More expensive than its competitors.The interface remains busy and a bit confusing.Chromatic aberration tools and weak noise.Generative AI missing | |
ACDSee Photo Studio is a versatile Lightroom alternative with the best non-destructive batch processing and image organizing capabilities. It offers layer-based editing comparable to Photoshop and its organizational equipment resembles Lightroom. The app is particularly designed for professionals, who are looking for advanced and best photo editing features.
The most powerful feature of ACDSee is speed and efficiency in managing libraries for large images. It allows fast import, image tagging, and categorization for users for easy photo searching. Moreover, the app has a strong search engine that enables filtering images based on keywords, metadata, or visual content of that picture.
ACDSee offers inclusive modifying features that enable editing with distinctive adjustments and innovative enhancement capabilities. The app can work through third-party plug-ins that expand app usability, especially for user who love to work through their favorite plugins. It allows synchronization across devices using mobile apps to access files on various devices.
8. Cyberlink PhotoDirector
(Adobe Lightroom alternative with low price, good for all creatives)
Specifications | OS versionProcessor RAM Disk space | Windows 7-10 and above, macOS 10.8 and above Intel Core i-series (AMD equiv)2 GB or more 1 GB free space |
Reason To Buy | One-time fee option.Easy subscription plan.Excellent AI-powered tools for image generation.Easy to use and learn for beginners.Provide Raw editing support.Wide range of effective and unique editing features.Help users through guided editing to use complex effects. | |
| Reasons to Avoid | Lack of advanced effects.Basic tools are provided for editing.Major new, effective features require subscriptions.Some guided edits are complex and time-consuming. | |
Cyberlink PhotoDirector is popular among users due to its AI use in photography and image generation. It is a distinct kind of Lightroom alternative that has a different program trail and hardly lacks any features. It is perfect for those who enjoy creating digital collages and give more preference to image creation capabilities over typical photo editing tools.
The app supports users to stitch any photo sequence. It lets users convert videos to panoramas and make them GIFs. It allows one even on own sample images, to pick AI editing tools through AI masking for creative effects. The app is ideal for content creatives who look for quick image changes, however advanced level professionals may find it limiting.
Cyberlink could function better to be picked as the best Lightroom alternative. Its tonal adjustment is not accurate and is a bit harsh. However, the app is trying to achieve something different. In contrast to Lightroom, it provides a platform for creatives who want to mess around and do various experiments on their images.
9. Affinity Photo
(All-in-One Adobe Lightroom alternative for desktop users)
| Specifications | OS versionProcessor RAM Disk space | Windows 10 and above, macOS10 Intel Core i3 and above, GPU 2GB or more 4 GB or more 1 GB or more free space |
Reason To Buy | Affordable pricing.Quick image processing time.Panorama and HDR merging options are available.Simple and User-friendly interface.Strong Customization and Brush Selection.Extensive range of powerful and efficient editing tools.Support editing of Raw and unprocessed files. | |
| Reasons to Avoid | Designed with unreadable small text.Not providing support for smart objects.Lack of image organization.Photo adjustment tools are inferior.No browning and catalog features.Complex Learning curve for new beginners.Required one-time purchase, no option for free use.No mobile version | |
Affinity is a high-end editing software that offers both Photoshop and Lightroom features for users to manipulate images. It provides numerous editing tools containing layers, masks, advanced retouching, smart objects, color enhancement, and Raw editing capabilities. Its advanced level editing capabilities make it the best Lightroom alternative for professionals.
Affinity also offers digital painting, panorama HDR merging, and focus stacking capabilities. It provides users control over unprocessed camera files through Raw editing tools. However, its difficult learning curve, complex user interface, and lack of tutorials are significant barriers for the new users.
Affinity Photo can be used on Windows, and MacOS after the one-time mandatory purchase option. Although it has a few limitations, it still offers everything to professional photographers that they require for high-quality editing. This software can be considered a robust and best alternative to Lightroom / Photoshop.
10. Snapseed
(Adobe Lightroom alternative for Android)
Specifications | VersionDevices File Type supported | 2.17 Android, iOSDNG (on Android), 140 Raw formats (on iOS), JPEG |
| Reason To Buy | Available for free.The Interface is simple and user-friendly.Basic to advanced tools are available.Available for Android and iOS users. | |
| Reasons to Avoid | Not provided any recent updates.Advanced tools not provided.It can be used on Mobile only.The app is not suitable for professional photography.It has not provided Raw file compatibility like Lightroom. | |
Snapseed application is a free editing software that was developed by Google for Android and iOS users with over a 100 million downloads on the Google Play store. It offers a comprehensive set of editing capabilities with 29 tools and filters that can enhance the image quality without any paid versions and without ads. The app has a user-friendly interface and is popular among new users.
Snapseed is a reliable and feature-rich editing app that allows Raw file editing. It also provides a healing brush, structure, HDR, and perspective for better image quality. However, it needs more control and effectiveness to get close to Lightroom. Similarly, It needs to provide essential advanced masking and layering features for complex editing work.
Final Thought: Best Lightroom Alternative
Adobe Lightroom is the world’s best photo editing software with its matchless photo editing capabilities. However, users sometimes look for the best Lightroom alternatives for better comparison and new experiences. Recognizing the users’ needs, we have tried our best to list the top alternatives among the photo editing software frequently used by photographers.
All these alternatives of Lightroom Mod APK have unique photo editing features. Each app has something special to offer and allows photo editing in various ways. These apps have different target users from beginners to professionals, based on their features, learning curves, and subscriptions. Users can select one as per their choice and preferences.
Our top-of-the-list Luminar is best for beginners as the best-paid app. For professionals, Capture One can be the best option. ON1 Photo Raw is a mix of both. Darktable and Raw Therapee are there, as a free alternative. From Luminar to Snapseed each one has distinguishing features that make them the best contender as the best Lightroom alternative.
Choosing the right alternatives largely depends upon your requirements, preferences, and budget. We hope that our list of the best photo editing software will help you in choosing the suitable option. The details specifications along with reasons to buy and avoid will assist you in selecting the right alternative. Do check each one and compare it with lightroom features.
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Top 10 Best Adobe Lightroom Alternatives Apps in 2024
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Explore the top 10 best Lightroom Alternatives apps in 2024, which will enhance your photo editing capabilities with their advanced features and the quality of your images.