--- title: "Adobe Lightroom Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra" description: "Is Adobe Lightroom the right Photo Editing solution for you? Explore 327 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/233631/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" --- Adobe Lightroom 4.8 (327) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/233631/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated February 15th, 2026 # Reviews of Adobe Lightroom Ease of use 4.4 Customer Service 4.1 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews RV Renato V socioComputer Software, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “I consider it to be a complete image editing app due to its wide variety of tools in the field of color, lighting, cropping and more.“ February 4, 2025 HA Hakob A Solutions EngineerElectrical/Electronic Manufacturing, 5,001 - 10,000 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “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.“ February 2, 2025 JG Joe G CEOPhotography, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “It gives you the ability to edit a photo a little more effortlessly while keeping the quality and maintaining low grain visibility.“ February 1, 2025 VM Victor M EDITOR PROFISSIONAL DE IMAGENSMarketing and Advertising, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “Limited editing compared to Photoshop, as it does not allow for layers or deeper manipulations.“ April 2, 2025 JB Johanna B Dental HygienistHospital & Health Care, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Lightroom is a great tool for people who want to get started with photo editing while having more options than a smartphone, but easier than photoshop.“ February 20, 2025 Maximilian P Managing PartnerPhotography, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Unfortunately, it sometimes is painfully slow and unresponsive and Adobe does not really seem to do anything about it nor implement feedback - even if there are thousands of votes for it.“ January 27, 2025 LL Lise-Mari Anne L PhotographerPhotography, Self-employedUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I like that it offers a simple user interface and allows for more than adequate photograph editing for an affordable price.“ January 31, 2025 MB Meherunnesha B Content creatorEducation Management, Self-employedUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “On budget friendly phones, lightroom became laggy and slow and their cloud storage are limited.“ July 17, 2025 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 327 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Crystal C. Owner Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great for photographers" May 29, 2025 4.0 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/) Reason for choosing Adobe Lightroom More training available for the software. It's also more intuitive Review Source LB Leighann B. Director Education Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Simple and a HUGE time saver" May 2, 2025 5.0 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/) Reason for choosing Adobe Lightroom Adobe Lightroom was much simpler and easier to learn that Photoshop Review Source LL Léandre L. Photographer Photography Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great software, horrible business plan" February 12, 2025 3.0 Everything is great, but the subscription model is abhorrent. The minute I find something similar without a subscription, I'll switch Pros Access between tablet, pc and cellphone. Cons The subscription model is horrible. I would love to buy once and would put 5 stars if that was the case Review Source DR Devan R. Sales and Marketing Representative Automotive Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Lightroom is a must" April 8, 2026 5.0 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 ML Melissa L. Founder and Creater Arts and Crafts Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Great image editing app!" October 1, 2025 4.0 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 VR Verified Reviewer Managing Partner Photography Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best software for photographers" January 27, 2025 5.0 I am using lightroom for almost 15 years now and still stick to it. There is no other software that is capable of Lightrooms cataloging features combined with development tools. Unfortunately, it sometimes is painfully slow and unresponsive and Adobe does not really seem to do anything about it nor implement feedback - even if there are thousands of votes for it. Pros \- Best cataloging software on the market - Easy to use - Many options for development and editing Cons \- Sometimes painfully slow, especially with large catalogues - Only subscription model available, if newest version is needed Alternatives considered [Affinity Photo](https://www.capterra.com/p/228748/Affinity-Photo/) Reason for choosing Adobe Lightroom There is no better software that combines both cataloging and developing images. Review Source JS Jason S. Photography assistant Apparel & Fashion Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best overall photo editing software " April 7, 2025 5.0 I love Lightroom, and use it as my main editing software. Pros Best platform to not just edit your images, but also organize and categorize your work. New features are constantly being added to further the experience. Cons Work requiring more detailed editing work or layers will have to be used along side of Photoshop. Switched from [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) I started using Photoshop, but switched to Lightroom as my main editor for its file organization, and ease of use. Review Source PE Pete E. Head of IT Services Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Vvery powerful image catalogue and editing tool" March 26, 2025 5.0 Lightroom has been effective in improving my photography workflow. I like how it has evolved into the product it now is, and has many features to help transform dull images into vivid snapshots. Pros It is an incredibly powerful tool for managing and edit photos. Cons It could be more efficient with PC CPU and RAM. Sometimes it can be slow to work with. It is also quite pricey with a subscription model. Switched from [Capture One](https://www.capterra.com/p/200094/Capture-One-Enterprise/) Lightroom has better features and is easier to use with the sliders etc. Review Source RA Rachel A. Director Education Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Photo Editing made easy" December 10, 2024 4.0 Overall, I enjoy using Lightroom. Outside of managing my preschool, I handle all social media and Lightroom is great for editing the photos I take of activities within our program. Pros I like how many features users can explore while working in Lightroom. I also like that users can connect to the community and use filters created by others. Cons I find that this program can be easily "overloaded" and will crash- especially if the device you are using it on is not completely up to date. If you are ensuring that your device and Lightroom are both running on the latest software, it works fine 99% of the time. Switched from [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) I like the features and functions of Lightroom better than Photoshop. This platform feels a little easier to use as well for strictly image editing. Review Source Farnaz K. ML Engineer Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great Editing Tools, but Too Expensive" December 10, 2025 5.0 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 BS Becca S. Owner Photographer Photography Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Excellent tool for new photographer" March 31, 2025 5.0 Pros The pop up tutorials are very helpful for new editors. Cons Sometimes the application is slower than I'd like. Switched from [Movavi Video Editor Plus](https://www.capterra.com/p/228422/Movavi-Video-Editor-Plus/) Movavi didn't have a lot of the tools I needed. Review Source BL Bruno L. Photographer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Lightroom Features and Usability" June 15, 2022 5.0 In general, I see a friendly program that I can import my photos, edit them, put them in collections and export them in a very fast and dynamic. I managed to solve the delay in my daily workflow with photography. TODAY is essential for my workflow and I do not intend to exchange for similar programs on the market. Pros The amazing and time-saving features are the import and export menu. In import you can easily import and analyze all photos and put them in collections, and quick export to generate the final file type. Very easy to use of course, dedicated to learning. Later we understand that the program is very easy and intuitive. It integrated with my current programs and especially photoshop. It is even possible from within the Lightroom interface to export to photoshop with just one click. Cons I miss a feature that works with videos more thoroughly. I know that little by little this can be implemented. I find it a little difficult to customize tabs and menus on the desktop. Regarding the integration requirement, I liked the way it integrates with Photoshop and when it comes to exporting to the cloud, it's easy. It was a very powerful feature that Adobe put in. Alternatives considered [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) Reason for choosing Adobe Lightroom Because it has powerfully adapted to my flow, with importing, editing, cataloging and exporting very dynamic. The others are programs that lack resources and end up delaying processing time much longer, even losing money. Review Source LD Lea D. Photographer Photography Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The one-stop solution for smaller shoots" May 17, 2022 5.0 I am happy with the software and can't imagine life without it. I have created so many custom presets for myself, it became really easy to use. If you take some time with it, you will learn it in and out and you will be able to speed up your workflow a lot. Pros I love how with all the new features it is so easy to edit an entire shoot in Lightroom. Now I can even do smaller skin edits and background edits with it, many times for smaller shoots I don't open Photoshop next to it, only maybe for a handful of selected images at the end. I like that it's fast. And super easy to create and upload presets, easy to customize them, very smart tools, I overall love how easy it makes photo editing. With a little work you can change the image quality SOOO much! Cons I'm not sure if it's only on my Mac but sometimes I do have little technical issues, mainly with the selection tools, sometimes it has a hard time showing me the parts that I selected to edit them separately. But overall it might just be some bug that will disappear with an update. Switched from [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) Photoshop is just more complicated and I was happy to see another Adobe software which makes color manipulation and simple edits easier and faster. Review Source MR Maya R. Central Photographer Entertainment Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Perfect for Quick Photo Editing" March 19, 2025 4.0 Pros The ease and simplicity of having all the tools right there which is easy to access when you're in a rush. Cons The export time and the denoise time for multiple photos although, that's something you can't control especially depending on the file size. Review Source JB Jatin B. Fashion Consultant Retail Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Cons of lightroom" January 9, 2025 5.0 It's very good overall but just focus on reducing rendering Pros Lightroom can make a very good photo album for wedding photography and videography Cons Lightroom take more time in photo rendering and video rendering i have i5 11th gen pc still it load a lot Review Source NO Nick O. Photographer Photography Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Great for a beginner" February 21, 2025 5.0 I've used it on and off in the past (the mobile version is fantastic). I might look at using Photoshop or something a little more technical at some point in the future, but for now, I really enjoy it. Pros Lightroom has been an easy start into editing photos for my new photography business. Cons It's quite intense on my hardware and slows everything down while using it. Review Source JW Jenna W. Owner Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great for photo editing " December 30, 2024 5.0 Have used for years for photo editing and is easy to use with other adobe programs Pros Can easily edit photos like a professional Cons Have to relearn some of the functions when they make updates Review Source Adham H. Senior Social Media Specialist, Senior Graphic Designer Broadcast Media Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The fully fledged photo editing software for every photographer outhere" January 2, 2024 5.0 i've been using lightroom for almost 7 years now, and never ever has it failed me, they update it on regular basis, it's always easy to handle, it gives me the freedom to edit every single aspect of my photos, i always recommend it for every photographer out there. Pros You can control every single aspect of colors on your photos, create presets or even import ready made ones, you can adjust every single light and shadow on your photos as well as the color wheel of the shadows & highlights, you can also batch import and edit, create your own settings and save them to a catalog, edit on the go from your mobile, it's always synced and backed up to the cloud, so you can access your photos anywhere and anytime. Cons Nothing to dislike except the prices, it's a bit expensive when it comes to single software use if you're only using lightroom, however you can get an offer bundle if you get it with photoshop, or with photoshop and illustrator Review Source CP Craig P. Photographer Photography Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Adobe Lightroom Rocks" August 15, 2024 5.0 I absolutely enjoy using Lightroom with a majority of my images being edited with this software. Pros I use Lightroom and Lightroom classic on a daily basis as a professional photographer. There is a small learning curve to Lightroom but once you get the hang of it, you won’t want to use anything else. I love their software. Cons I can honestly say the only thing I don’t like about Lightroom is the learning curve. Review Source Ankur B. Photographer Media Production Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Holy Grail of Photoediting" January 27, 2023 5.0 Adobe Lightroom has been my first priority software since day 1. Hands down one of the best software. Pros If you're a content creator from a beginner level to having your own Media Agency, Adobe Lightroom is hands down one of the most perfect and most powerful tools. Especially with the integration of AI for masking, and other basic changes, it has been even more fun, quick, and easy to edit. Especially if you're someone who makes while traveling, and most of the time you're editing, you're in an Airplane, or car, or something where Laptop won't be feasible, you can edit directly on your iPad and then see them on your mobile for easy export & upload, on your Laptop for further work or with your team in some other country via cloud-based service. Cons The subscription model even thou affordable, isn't for everyone. They should allow free runs on Mobile for RAW editing while keeping the subscription model for iPad & Desktop versions. The lack of Fujifilm Film Simulation is a big red flag for Fujifilm users while their tether when compared to Capture One is quickly outdated. Review Source Brian G. Videographer/photographer/editor Online Media Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Edit all your social media photos with Lightroom!" December 24, 2021 5.0 I use lightroom and photoshop sometimes interchangeably but I prefer using Lightroom for quick edits since it is perhaps the easiest and fastest program adobe offers Pros Adobe Lightroom is deeply versatile but perhaps most importantly it takes so many steps out of the process to get photos onto social media that it becomes a necessary tool to master for every single creator who has any social media platform. The beauty is it’s easy to master and will have you feeling like a professional in no time even if you are one already ;) Cons Like all adobe products it comes with a moderate monthly price tag but like all Adobe products every bug is fixed and every update is applied as soon as you’re ready for it! Review Source Matthias H. CEO Photography Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The only software I use as a professional photographer" November 17, 2022 5.0 Adobe Lightroom is my all-in-one solution for my work as a professional photographer. It offers many options (Import-Editing-Export), and it's way easier to use than Adobe Photoshop. Batch processing is a key feature when it comes down to editing a lot of photos at the same time. Pros Adobe Lightroom is easy-to-use, importing hundreds of RAW photos is fast, and the editing process is much more intuitive than Adobe Photoshop (especially batch processing). Sliders are used to edit the photos, which makes it a breeze to experiment and develop a fast workflow. Exporting the photos into smaller Jpegs for web usage works great too. Cons I have the impression that Adobe Lightroom is the reason that slows down my iMac. It takes quite a long time to start the software. Once you add a lot of photos to a catalog, it even gets worse. Therefore make sure you have enough RAM/storage space on your computer. Review Source Cameron N. Photographer Photography Used the software for: 2+ years ### "One stop shop!" October 23, 2022 5.0 Overall, the good far outweighs the negative and Lightroom has become an irreplaceable part of my workflow. Pros Lightroom has really grown over the years to become a nearly one stop shop for photo editing needs. Unless you are making drastic alterations to a photo where Photoshop is required, Lightroom can handle a majority of the workflow and also integrates well with organization and has features that allow for the upload to your website via plugins. Cons Over the years adobe has moved away from single license pricing to a cloud based subscription model and updates occasionally have bugs that take a bit of time to resolve, especially for Mac products. Reason for choosing Adobe Lightroom Better integration, workflows, etc. Review Source AR Ansh R. Operations specialist Automotive Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Fabulous editing software in the market." September 30, 2022 5.0 My overall experience with adobe lightroom was amazing as I like image editing a lot. I have produced some of the premium-level edited photos just by working a few minutes on the software. All thanks to adobe for making my editing experience great and giving me results which directly helped my business social media pages to grow with better content. Pros The best thing about the software is that it works on Android devices which makes it more handy and efficient. The editing tools which lightroom has are extremely powerful and are capable of giving you the best results. There are real-time editing tools like masking and animations. The best thing I liked about the app was inbuilt presets recommendations which will give you premium results even without much efforts. Cons The premium of the app is a little costly which can be difficult to afford for newbies and it has a huge variety of editing tools so they will also need to take a professional course to understand working on this app. Some time app crashes by itself and shuts down without any reason. I think this is something in which adobe should work on by removing these small bugs for a better user experience. Review Source JM Joyce M. Photographer Media Production Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Why you need Lightroom if you are in the Media industry." July 15, 2022 5.0 Lightroom has improved my media business threefold. It allows me to be efficient with my time, therefore, providing my business with a better profit margin. Pros This software besides being affordable is reliable, user-friendly, and efficient. I prefer Lightroom over other editing software because it is easy to understand, learn and use all the different tools it offers. It has cut my post-processing time in half and allows me to do all the post-processing steps like importing, selecting, editing, exporting into many customizable formats and sharing through my other devices all in one place. I cannot live without this software. Cons The only feature I dont like it is: With one of the recent updates, the importing process now also makes a 2nd copy of the master file on your computer/hard drive therefore now having the original, a copy, plus the exported image for a total of 3 files for the same image taking up storage space. Switched from [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) Based on user friendliness. Review Source Similar Products Featured