# Adobe Lightroom Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > 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: https://www.capterra.com/p/233631/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom/reviews --- 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 March 13th, 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 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 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 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 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 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 ## 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 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 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 VR Verified Reviewer Photographer Photography Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Lightroom Classic user for years" March 14, 2026 5.0 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 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 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 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 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 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 GF Gabriela F. Nutritionist Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "It is great but not easy to use." February 27, 2025 5.0 Pros I can edit multiple photos at the same time. Cons It is much harder to learn to use than Adobe Photoshop Switched from [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) To be able to edit multiple images at the same time. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Freelancer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Lightroom for that Professional Graphic Edits!" December 10, 2022 5.0 When it comes to purely graphic editing, using Lightroom is much easier than using Photoshop, for the latter is most appropriate in graphic manipulation. Pros What makes me grow fond of Lightroom is that as I do freelancing photography, it allows me to edit the photos I've taken in batches, thus making the job easier and efficient. The presets also allows me to create a consistent mood and theme all throughout the photos for a certain events so it really appears professional looking. Cons Although it is a really good software, Lightroom, like any other Adobe products, needs a substantial dedication and time for you to learn it. Anyone who has no background in using Adobe products will probably be easily confuse with all the icons and tools therein so I don't think it is that beginner friendly. Switched from [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) I still occasionally use Photoshop but like I said, that is when I needed a thorough editing and manipulation in the images for Lightroom already allows me to work on my photos efficiently and that is what I need as a photographer. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Lead Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Starting out as a Photographer" April 9, 2025 4.0 I enjoy it a lot but it is not easily accessible for someone starting out. Pros It is simple and easy, with easy tutorials and user-generated content to teach everything. Cons It is expensive monthly for a small business. Review Source GD GAJENDRASINH D. Fashion consultant Retail Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Adobe Lightroom -The unlimited tool for photo editing " February 6, 2025 5.0 My overall experience was very positive about photo editing and also manage my photo Pros I like most about ending my photos to look liked naturel feel,the basic tool convert a rich looking photos Cons Adobe Lightroom feel like overwhelming at first for those new to photo editing. Review Source HA Hakob A. Solutions Engineer Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Every photographer's best tool" February 2, 2025 5.0 I was using Adobe Lightroom several years ago when I was learning professional photography as a new hobby, and needed a professional tool for color correction and editing of my photos. The software does its job flawlessly, without any issues. Pros It's a professional tool both for experienced photo editors and newbies, so I absolutely loved it. The interface is user-friendly, and even new users can pretty much apply their creative ideas for their photos. Cons 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. Review Source JB Johanna B. Dental Hygienist Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 2+ years ### "An easier option for an amateur" February 20, 2025 5.0 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. Pros I like that you can upload presets and then easily apply them. Cons Sometimes even when altering photos on the app, they can look a little different when saved in the gallery. Review Source RA Richard A. Photographer Internet Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Lightroom for IPad is the best version" August 7, 2024 5.0 Always great never had issue using it, the iPad version is amazing Pros For the iPad version I like how the ease of use is even faster than pc Cons Unclear export instructions had to YouTube and Google Review Source Mark Oliver R. Web Developer | Graphic Artist Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "LIghtroom at a Glimpse" November 12, 2021 5.0 I learned how to use photoshop first starting on and used it for the longest time (years), when asked a photographer friend of mine before what i can use other than photoshop that is easier to use for multiple images, he showed me lightroom lightroom, just like photoshop, have been my bestfriend since discovering then way before I even graduated college. its a part of my personal and professional life now. Pros Lighroom is much more than an image editor, it helps to organize your images by importing or exporting and managing your images easily making you able to keep track of your edits and images, in short it's an editing software and an image managing tool combined into one. you dont have to need to worry about ruining your image while editing as the edits only appy to an exported image not the original. Fast and easy photo books, slide shows, and web galleries this is much easier to learn than photoshop. Cons if you are switching to lightroom because photoshop is clunky when it comes to editing multiple images at once, you might be in for a surprise coz lightroom doesnt support layering like photoshop has. Lightroom is made for photo enhancement so its image manipulation tools are limited unlike photoshop. Review Source NM Nathália M. travel consultant Leisure, Travel & Tourism Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "the best image editor" August 1, 2022 5.0 It is a complex application, mainly due to its many functions, which also makes it a very complete application for editing. In addition to exporting everything with great quality. I highly recommend it, if you have difficulties at first, persist until you understand each feature, it's worth it Pros I wouldn't say that the application is easy to use, especially for those who are not familiar with image editing, myself, when I installed it, two years ago, I found it quite difficult and I looked for many videos on youtube that could help me. But once you get the hang of it, get more familiar with the tools, you won't want to edit anywhere else. I find the application very complete, with several functions, with the option of filters saved by the user, which make it very easy as well. One thing that might seem small, but I really like it and haven't seen it in similar apps, is the option to "zero" the edit I was doing quite easily. Cons it's been a while since, in the "mask" option you could select only the sky, or a "subject". I only managed to do this once! Every other time the app restarts and I lose everything I've edited. So, this function, which is not that new, doesn't work on my device, nor on my husband's device. 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 MA Mohammad A. Director cinematographer photographer Entertainment Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Adobe Lightroom review " March 15, 2023 5.0 I love everything Adobe. What's more, Lightroom is only one of those bits of programming projects that is an unquestionable requirement for any individual who is truly into computerized photography. I'm by and by bought into the Adobe Inventive Cloud membership where I get Lightroom and any remaining Adobe applications in a perfect, reasonable month to month bundle. Pros Classifying and document the board are awesome, which is at the center of keeping your photographs straight!Non-horrendous altering of photographs, we've all heard it and yes it's perfect for effortless adjustments to your picturesAdjusting photographs on the cloud works according to plan, including your cell phone obviouslyFurthermore, synchronized altering is a gift, exceptionally simple to utilizeI need to say that the Versatile Application for iOS and Android for Lightroom is astounding, you can see they've truly put into cell phone useThe inquiry devices are strong, making it more straightforward than any time in recent memory to find your photographsEndlessly heaps of presets and unending modules you can have so there's limitless space for extension and new revelationsCamera backing ought to be fantastic also so even new camera discharges are very much upheldFrom your photographs make books, slideshows, exhibitions, and so on. Cons As frequently is with Adobe items it utilizes a decent measure of assets, particularly the non-disastrous component requires a ton of circle spaceInstallment is membership based which not every person loves clearlyTransferring existing libraries to the framework is tedious Review Source Babu S. Quality Manger Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Adobe Lightroom review by a Self taught photographer" June 18, 2022 5.0 My overall experience with Lightroom has been really good and I am already prescribing it among my friends and collegues. Pros Adobe Lightroom has an user friendly interface and it allows any beginner to use the software without any prior knowledge or specific training. Importing a file is easier, sharing the file is even more easy. we can also use another person's design from the cloud without having to pay for it Cons Unable to load images with huge size. Version control can be a little messy Can't edit layer by layer like how we do it in Photoshop 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 Similar Products Featured ## Related categories [Photo Editing](https://www.capterra.com/photo-editing-software/)