--- 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" --- # Adobe Lightroom Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on February 15, 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 327 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 98% Neutral 1% Negative 1% Pros & cons Time-saving customizable presets Enhanced social media visuals 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://digitalmarkets.gartner.com/get-listed/claim-bx?url=https://www.adobe.com/&name=Adobe Lightroom) ## 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 (327) VS. [4.6 (1,238)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174232/adobe-express/reviews/) Starting Price $9.99 Flat Rate, Per Month Starting Price Contact vendor Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.4 (327) Ease Of Use 4.5 (2,462) Value For Money 4.3 (268) Value For Money 4.4 (2,046) Customer Service 4.1 (213) Customer Service 4.4 (1,828) ## Adobe Lightroom alternatives Highest Rated [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) [4.8 (2,462)](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 (13,404)](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/) [Instagram](https://www.capterra.com/p/210721/Instagram/) [4.7 (5,206)](https://www.capterra.com/p/210721/Instagram/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 96% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/210721/Instagram/) [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 editing and messy image libraries by enabling batch RAW edits, reusable presets, fast culling, keyword search, and cloud syncing across devices. Photographers, social media managers, ecommerce teams, real estate marketers, and creative freelancers use it to standardize visual style, rescue underexposed shots, and publish faster. Answer based on 272 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Adobe Lightroom? Adobe Lightroom is most used by photographers, graphic designers, and creative editors who need fast photo organization, non-destructive editing, and consistent color correction. Owners, founders, and directors benefit from streamlined asset management for client work, while marketing teams, teachers, and students use it to produce polished visual content efficiently. Answer based on 327 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is Adobe Lightroom built for? Adobe Lightroom is built mainly for small businesses, which make up 88% of reviewers, and is used most in Photography at 25%. It also serves midsize businesses at 7% and enterprises at 5%, with additional use in Marketing and Advertising at 6% and Design at 5%, primarily for photo editing. Answer based on 327 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Adobe Lightroom? Adobe Lightroom includes core photo editing tools like RAW processing, color grading, masking, cropping, and non-destructive edits. Reviewers also focus on presets and batch editing for consistent edits across many images, plus photo import/export, file management with keyword tagging and catalogs, and cloud sync for editing across desktop and mobile. Answer based on 245 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does Adobe Lightroom integrate with? Adobe Lightroom integrates with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Creative Cloud, Instagram, Canva, Dropbox, and Gmail. Reviewer mentions also reference Adobe InDesign, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Premiere Rush, and Adobe Photoshop Elements, with Photoshop as the most commonly cited connection for moving images into deeper editing workflows. Answer based on 141 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on Adobe Lightroom? Adobe Lightroom is fairly quick to onboard for photographers and beginners handling basic edits, presets, and file organization, especially with its intuitive interface. Teams usually rely on documentation for formal training, while reviewers also mention in-app learning sections and online tutorials. New users tackling catalogs, imports, or advanced editing often need more time. 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. Users describe support as helpful and reliable when needed, with technical guidance that resolves issues and regular product updates that keep pace with new cameras and features. Answer based on 3 reviews Features and Usability ### How good is Adobe Lightroom for photo editing? Adobe Lightroom handles photo editing very well for photographers who want strong color, light, and retouching controls. It supports presets, RAW adjustments, object removal, and mobile editing, making it useful for hobbyists and client work, though some users find rendering slow and turn to Photoshop for deeper image manipulation. Answer based on 245 reviews Features and Usability ### Is Adobe Lightroom good for everyday photo editing? Adobe Lightroom works well for everyday photo editing, especially when speed, consistency, and non-destructive changes matter most. Photographers, beginners, and creative teams use it for batch edits, presets, RAW processing, and cloud syncing, though some users want layers, faster imports, and smoother switching between Lightroom and Photoshop. Answer based on 72 reviews ## Who uses Adobe Lightroom? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 4 years ## Pros and Cons Time-saving customizable presets 96% positive reviews out of 25 Most users report presets streamline editing, offer creative flexibility, and enable consistent, high-quality photo 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 describe pricing as expensive, limiting accessibility for non-professionals and small businesses seeking affordable options. 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." Enhanced social media visuals 100% positive reviews out of 25 Most reviewers describe social media photos as more engaging and professional, boosting online presence and audience interaction. Seamless adobe suite integration 96% positive reviews out of 23 Most reviewers indicate integrations with Adobe products simplify workflows and expand editing possibilities across platforms. ## Features AI summary Based on 7,154 Photo Editing reviews Capterra reviewers highlight these as the top features buyers look for in Photo Editing software: - **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 the platform efficiently. However, it does not include **Customizable Templates**. Instead, it offers **Real Time Editing** (**34%**), which gives users another way to make quick adjustments as they work, helping businesses maintain faster editing workflows and consistent image output. Image Editing 4.7 (17) 100.00% of 17 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Edit, touch up, and convert images for publishing Content Import/Export 4.7 (242) 69.83% of 242 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important With this capability, you can easily import images from various sources, including cameras, phones, and Adobe Creative Cloud, and export them in multiple formats and resolutions. Reviewers appreciate the drag-and-drop import, batch processing, and flexible export options, though some mention slow performance with large catalogs. Real Time Editing 4.7 (235) 68.09% of 235 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Adobe Lightroom offers real-time, non-destructive editing that lets you instantly preview changes and compare edits. Users think the editing process is fast, intuitive, and helpful for both beginners and professionals, but some report slower performance with large image collections. Content Sharing 4.4 (178) 51.12% of 178 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important It gives you seamless ways to share edited photos directly to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Flickr, or via shareable links. Reviewers appreciate the multiple sharing options, Adobe Cloud integration, and ease of sending content to clients or teams. File Management 4.6 (7) 85.71% of 7 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Create, save, and store files Collaboration Tools 4.0 (2) 100.00% of 2 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 images from various sources, including cameras, phones, and Adobe Creative Cloud, and export them in multiple formats and resolutions. Reviewers appreciate the drag-and-drop import, batch processing, and flexible export options, though some mention slow performance with large catalogs. - Content Sharing: It gives you seamless ways to share edited photos directly to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Flickr, or via shareable links. Reviewers appreciate the multiple sharing options, Adobe Cloud integration, and ease of sending content to clients or teams. - 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 that lets you instantly preview changes and compare edits. Users think the editing process is fast, intuitive, and helpful for both beginners and professionals, but some report slower performance with large image collections. --- Features 4.6 (327) 4.6 Based on 327 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.3 (268) Free Trial Basic $9.99 Flat Rate,Per Month Value for money 4.3 (268) 4.3 Based on 268 reviews ## Integrations [ Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.1 (213) 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 (213) 4.1 Based on 213 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.8 Based on 327 reviews Filter by rating 5(256) 4(65) 3(4) 2(1) 1(1) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent 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. JS Jesse S. Owner Photography ### "Lightroom is all you need to edit" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 2.0 2.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 15, 2025 I have enjoyed using it for several years, mostly using it on my phone and it has helped get several photos in magazines. Pros I love how user friendly, theyre constantly updating, super easy to use on phone, you can easily import to other adobe apps too Cons How slowly it syncs between multiple devices or how differently the pictures appear on my phone vs laptop when im editing 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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