--- title: "Adobe Lightroom Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about Adobe Lightroom Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Photo Editing products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/233631/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom/" page_type: "product" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-09-29" --- # Adobe Lightroom Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on September 29, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Users](#users)[Pros and Cons](#pros-cons)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Adobe Lightroom ## What is Adobe Lightroom? Photo editing solution designed to help with photo editing, storage and management, and sharing. Features of the platform include customizable presets, mobile access, level adjustment, cropping and rotating, focus shifting, import/export, intelligent image search, image labels, custom categorization, and collaboration tools. ## What is Adobe Lightroom used for? [Photo Editing](https://www.capterra.com/photo-editing-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 328 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 98% Neutral 1% Negative 1% Pros & cons Time-saving preset options Enhances social media imagery High ongoing subscription cost Starting price $9.99 Flat Rate, Per Month Free trial available Free version not included Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Adobe Lightroom?[Manage this product listing](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-photoshop-lightroom/claim_requests/new?auto=true) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Adobe Lightroom 4.8 (328) VS. [4.7 (7,346)](https://www.capterra.com/p/48969/Adobe-Creative-Cloud/reviews/) Starting Price $9.99 Flat Rate, Per Month Starting Price $52.99 Flat Rate, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.4 (328) Ease Of Use 4.2 (2,472) Value For Money 4.2 (269) Value For Money 4.2 (2,054) Customer Service 4.1 (214) Customer Service 4.2 (1,836) ## Adobe Lightroom alternatives [4.6 (1,244)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174232/adobe-express/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 94% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars Highest Rated [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) [4.8 (2,472)](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/reviews/) Starting price $22.99 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 98% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) [Canva](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/) [4.7 (13,459)](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/reviews/) Starting price $15.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 97% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/) [Fotor](https://www.capterra.com/p/181589/Fotor/) [4.5 (1,096)](https://www.capterra.com/p/181589/Fotor/reviews/) Starting price $8.99 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 92% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/181589/Fotor/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/233631/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom/alternatives/) ## FAQs about Adobe Lightroom Overview ### What problems does Adobe Lightroom solve? Adobe Lightroom solves slow, inconsistent photo post-production by combining RAW adjustments, color grading, cropping, retouching, presets, and batch edits in one workspace. Photographers, studio teams, e-commerce editors, and marketing teams use it to organize large image libraries, apply consistent looks across shoots, protect originals with non-destructive edits, and continue work across desktop and mobile devices. Answer based on 282 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Adobe Lightroom? Adobe Lightroom is most used by photographers, graphic designers, and photo editors who organize image libraries, adjust color and exposure, and prepare visual assets for delivery. Creative business owners, founders, and marketing teams use it to maintain consistent brand imagery, manage campaign photos, and produce polished content for client and social channels. Answer based on 328 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is Adobe Lightroom built for? Adobe Lightroom is built primarily for small photography businesses, which account for 88% of reviewers. It also serves midsize companies (7%) and enterprises (5%). Photography represents 25% of users, followed by marketing and advertising (6%) and design (5%). Its most common use case is photo editing, reported by 100% of reviewers. Answer based on 328 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Adobe Lightroom? Adobe Lightroom includes core image editing and real-time editing tools, with preset filters and professional adjustment settings for quick photo changes. It supports content import/export from camera rolls and cameras, including high-resolution exports. Content sharing lets users send edited images to social media, photo reels, or others for feedback. Answer based on 135 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does Adobe Lightroom integrate with? Adobe Lightroom integrates with Adobe Photoshop for transferring images into detailed editing workflows. It also connects with Adobe Creative Cloud for access and file handling across Adobe applications, while reviewers reference Instagram as a platform for sharing photography. The documented integration set centers on Adobe’s creative ecosystem. Answer based on 139 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on Adobe Lightroom? Adobe Lightroom is straightforward for beginners handling basic edits, presets, and imports, while photographers familiar with Adobe tools often onboard quickly. Reviewers report that advanced adjustments, catalog organization, and Lightroom Classic require more time, especially for nontechnical users. Documentation supports training, though teams may need supplementary tutorials for deeper workflows. Answer based on 48 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does Adobe Lightroom offer? Adobe Lightroom provides email/help desk support and a knowledge base. Reviewers describe customer service as helpful and responsive when needed, and the self-service articles support users who want quick answers while learning the app. Some also value Adobe’s technical support alongside regular product updates. Answer based on 3 reviews Features and Usability ### What photo editing tools does Adobe Lightroom offer? Adobe Lightroom gives photographers detailed, non-destructive control over color, light, cropping, presets, and object removal. Professionals, hobbyists, and social media creators value RAW adjustments, batch editing, and mobile access for consistent images. It suits retouching and tonal work well, although complex compositing, layers, and some advanced manipulation still require Photoshop. Answer based on 245 reviews Features and Usability ### Is Adobe Lightroom good for everyday photo editing? Adobe Lightroom speeds up everyday photo editing with presets, batch processing, AI-assisted selections, and reversible adjustments. Photography businesses and beginners use it to create consistent looks while protecting originals and organizing versions. Its workflow can slow during imports, exports, or syncing, and projects needing layers or detailed retouching generally move to Photoshop. Answer based on 72 reviews ## Who uses Adobe Lightroom? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 4 years ## Pros and Cons Time-saving preset options 96% positive reviews out of 25 Most reviewers find presets significantly speed up editing, offering reusable, customizable, and high-quality results. Johanna B. Dental Hygienist, 11 - 50 employees. "I like that you can upload presets and then easily apply them." High ongoing subscription cost 69% negative reviews out of 35 Some reviewers feel pricing is too expensive, limiting accessibility for non-professionals and small businesses. Hakob A. Solutions Engineer, 5,001 - 10,000 employees. "Unfortunately, the Adobe pricing was a bit high for me, and I couldn't afford a two licenses for Photoshop and Lightroom, so I replaced my Lightroom with Camera Raw application from Adobe, which has the necessary functionality and is free with Photoshop license." Enhances social media imagery 100% positive reviews out of 25 Most reviewers describe social media photos as more engaging, professional, and visually appealing after editing. Seamless adobe suite integration 96% positive reviews out of 23 Most reviewers indicate integrations with Adobe tools streamline workflows and simplify advanced editing processes. ## Features AI summary Based on 7,202 Photo Editing reviews Capterra data shows that buyers of Photo Editing software rank the following features as their top priorities: - **Image Editing** (**43%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Content Import/Export** (**39%**) - **Customizable Templates** (**34%**) Adobe Lightroom supports **Image Editing** and **Content Import/Export**, giving teams the tools to refine visuals and move files in and out of their workflow efficiently. However, it does not include **Customizable Templates**. Instead, it offers **Real Time Editing** (**34%**), which can still help teams make quick adjustments as work happens, providing businesses with faster review cycles and more consistent image production. Image Editing 4.7 (18) 100.00% of 18 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Edit, touch up, and convert images for publishing Content Import/Export 4.7 (243) 69.96% of 243 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important With this capability, you can easily import photos from various sources, including cameras, phones, and Adobe Creative Cloud, and export them in multiple formats and resolutions. Reviewers appreciate the intuitive drag-and-drop, batch processing, and robust export options for efficient workflow. Real Time Editing 4.7 (236) 68.22% of 236 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Adobe Lightroom offers real-time, non-destructive editing, letting you instantly see adjustments and compare before-and-after versions. Users think the editing process is smooth, fast, and beginner-friendly, with instant previews, helpful presets, and support for bulk edits. Content Sharing 4.4 (179) 50.84% of 179 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important It gives you the ability to share edited photos directly to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Flickr, or via shareable links and cloud sync. Reviewers appreciate the seamless sharing options, multi-device support, and integration with Adobe Cloud and third-party plugins. File Management 4.6 (8) 87.50% of 8 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Create, save, and store files Collaboration Tools 4.3 (3) 100.00% of 3 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Provides a channel for team members to share AI models, media files, communicate, and work together Adobe Lightroom 6 features ### All Features - Collaboration Tools: Provides a channel for team members to share AI models, media files, communicate, and work together - Content Import/Export: With this capability, you can easily import photos from various sources, including cameras, phones, and Adobe Creative Cloud, and export them in multiple formats and resolutions. Reviewers appreciate the intuitive drag-and-drop, batch processing, and robust export options for efficient workflow. - Content Sharing: It gives you the ability to share edited photos directly to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Flickr, or via shareable links and cloud sync. Reviewers appreciate the seamless sharing options, multi-device support, and integration with Adobe Cloud and third-party plugins. - File Management: Create, save, and store files - Image Editing: Edit, touch up, and convert images for publishing - Real Time Editing: Adobe Lightroom offers real-time, non-destructive editing, letting you instantly see adjustments and compare before-and-after versions. Users think the editing process is smooth, fast, and beginner-friendly, with instant previews, helpful presets, and support for bulk edits. --- Features 4.6 (328) 4.6 Based on 328 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.2 (269) Free Trial Basic $9.99 Flat Rate,Per Month Value for money 4.2 (269) 4.2 Based on 269 reviews ## Integrations [ Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.1 (214) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.1 (214) 4.1 Based on 214 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.8 Based on 328 reviews Filter by rating 5(256) 4(66) 3(4) 2(1) 1(1) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent AN Anonymous User UI UX designer Information Technology and Services ### "Good on phone but over priced." 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 3/10 September 24, 2026 Good on phone still overprices and need to add few more common features, that other competition had. Pros If you are into color grading and i mean just for color grading its a wonderful app. It has i think all of the majority options you need for a great. Color grading. And since its from adobe export quality is great. Cons Thr paid feature or should i say over priced for sure. That is probably the most irritating part of it. Most of it is free just few features which you might need sometime is blocked behind paywall. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. DR Devan R. Sales and Marketing Representative Automotive ### "Lightroom is a must" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 April 8, 2026 Overall I have had a very positive experience with adobe Lightroom. It takes my photography to the next level. Pros The ability to transform photos with light and colour settings. Ease of use across mobile devices and web browsers. Cons Sometimes I find that in Apple photos, the edits performed make the image look better than Lightroom. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AN Anonymous User Photographer Photography ### "Lightroom Classic user for years" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 March 14, 2026 It works and works well. Delivers what it promises and what I need to get photos culled, edited, and exported to spec. Pros Simple yet powerful, intuitive interface. Handles photo library well. Excellent and powerful suite of tools. Cons There is not a great deal to complain about for me and my photography workflow as it pertains to using Lightroom Classic. I will say that some of the tools that are available in both Photoshop and Lightroom are vastly superior in Photoshop. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Farnaz K. ML Engineer Computer Software ### "Great Editing Tools, but Too Expensive" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 December 10, 2025 I love working with Lightroom, especially because I can use it on my phone and everything syncs so easily. Sometimes not all the features are available on the mobile app, but it still works really well overall. Pros I like that Lightroom lets me save my presets so I can use them again later. The preset suggestions are helpful when I’m not sure what changes to make. I also love the object removal tool because it quickly removes things I don’t want in my photos. Cons I don’t like the pricing. Lightroom is expensive, and the subscription can be hard to manage. It’s also annoying that sometimes you have to log in through a browser for that. Even though these things are frustrating, there aren’t many other apps that offer the same features. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. ML Melissa L. Founder and Creater Arts and Crafts ### "Great image editing app!" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 October 1, 2025 I live using the app, it’s very convenient. The simple tools needed to quickly edit images are all there. Pros I really love the convenience of this app. The features it offers make good value for your money. Image editing tools have helped elevate my content a lot. Cons Most of the advanced tools require a specific monthly subscription in order to be unlocked. In order to get into presets, there are a series of steps to click into before getting to it. It would be much better if it were a few clicks less for more convenience. Switched from [Image Tools](https://www.capterra.com/p/10015191/Quicktools/) It was too expensive and only offered the most basic tools Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. MB Meherunnesha B. Content creator Education Management ### "Is Adobe lightroom good for edit ?" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 1/10 July 17, 2025 It's great and I use this only for colour grading. Otherwise they are very costly features and heavy app. Pros Lightroom is best for color grading. It's easy to use and best features.I also like their filters for changing color. Cons On budget friendly phones, lightroom became laggy and slow and their cloud storage are limited. Beginners might feel lost without tutorial. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Crystal C. Owner Health, Wellness and Fitness ### "Great for photographers" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 May 29, 2025 Overall, I'm a huge fan of the software and would recommend it for any photographer, but the costs and the learning curve can take some persuasion to want to jump in Pros It is a very in depth software for editing photos. It can make adjustments from the most miniscule changes to the most extreme and everything in between. If you can learn the software, it will be a gamechanger for your photography Cons It has a semi-steep learning curve, the subscription costs can be hard to justify for those just starting out, and my least favorite thing, is the black lettering on a dark gray background for 99% of the menu options making it extremely difficult at times to pick out what you are looking for Alternatives considered [GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/p/168960/GIMP/) Reasons for choosing Adobe Lightroom More training available for the software. It's also more intuitive Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. LA Lya A. Product Designer Design ### "LIGHTROOM AVIS" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 May 7, 2025 TRÈS PRATIQUE POUR CLASSER ET RETOUCHER LES PHOTOS. FLUIDE ET EFFICACE, MAIS CERTAINES FONCTIONS SONT UNIQUEMENT SUR ORDI. Pros INTERFACE SIMPLE, RETOUCHES NON DESTRUCTIVES, SYNCHRO CLOUD TOP. PARFAIT MÊME POUR LES PHOTOGRAPHES DÉBUTANTS. Cons L’ABONNEMENT PEUT REVENIR CHER À LA LONGUE. VERSION MOBILE MOINS COMPLÈTE, FAUT PARFOIS PASSER PAR L’ORDI POUR TOUT AVOIR. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. TA Tabarak A. Graphic Designer Design ### "Pocket photo powerhouse" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 May 6, 2025 Pros I can raise exposure, lower contrast, and test different colour profiles on my phone without long waits. Overall, that feels quite powerful for a mobile app. Cons For the desktop version, even on my strong PC, Lightroom Classic sometimes slows down when I change modules or start a large export. The face‑recognition tool is not always accurate; it often marks my cat as a person. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. LB Leighann B. Director Education Management ### "Simple and a HUGE time saver" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 May 2, 2025 Very satisfied. I am able to edit my photos quickly and easily to make them more presentable on social media. Pros Preset filters are the best! I don't have a lot of time for photo editing. It's something I've had to learn to do in order to maintain a decent social media presence for my school, but I'm not great at it. Preset filters in Lightroom make all my photos look better. Cons I just wish I knew how to better use all the features! I know I'm not using it to its fullest potential, but it works for my purposes. Alternatives considered [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) Reasons for choosing Adobe Lightroom Adobe Lightroom was much simpler and easier to learn that Photoshop Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. 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