Systems10 of 12
Editing tools17 of 34
AI tools13 of 13
Workflow9 of 11
Price and licence3 of 30
photo editor · Adobe
Adobe Lightroom
Photo editor and library sold by subscription, with desktop, mobile and web apps and AI masking and removal.
In short
- The Lightroom plan costs US$11.99 a month on an annual plan billed monthly, with 1TB of cloud storage and Lightroom Classic included1.
- The 7-day free trial works on Windows, macOS and iPadOS, and starts at checkout4.
- Lightroom for mobile is a free app for iOS and Android2.
- Adobe lists AI Generative Remove, AI Denoise, and one-click selection of a person, animal or sky3.
- Panorama merge, HDR editing and a searchable library are listed2,3.
Lightroom suits photographers who want a library, selective adjustments and AI retouching for US$11.99 a month, with Lightroom Classic included1,3. It runs on Windows, macOS, mobile and the web2,4. The catch: it is subscription only, and the plan gives 250 generative credits a month1.
Best for: Photographers who want a library and editing tools in one subscription.
Where the points come from
Systems 10 of 12 points
Editing tools 17 of 34 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Camera raw editing | YesAdobe says that to open a RAW file you need image editing software such as Photoshop or Lightroom7. | 10 / 10 |
| Layers and masks | Not publishedNot published on the vendor's pages2,3. | 0 / 8 |
| Non-destructive editing | Not publishedNot published on the vendor's pages2,3. | 0 / 6 |
| Local adjustments | YesAdobe lists AI masking for Select Subject, Sky and Background as selective adjustment tools on the web2; Lightroom Classic lists masking tools5. | 5 / 5 |
| Opens and saves PSD | Not publishedNot published on the vendor's pages2,3. | 0 / 3 |
| HDR and panorama merge | YesPanorama merge in a single step is listed, with a preview; HDR photo editing is also listed3. | 2 / 2 |
AI tools 13 of 13 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| AI subject and sky selection | YesSelects a person, animal or sky in one click; AI masking for Select Subject, Sky and Background2,3. | 5 / 5 |
| AI object removal | YesGenerative Remove, powered by Adobe Firefly, removes distractions3. | 5 / 5 |
| AI noise reduction or upscaling | YesAI-powered Denoise is listed for desktop3. | 3 / 3 |
Workflow 9 of 11 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in photo library | YesAdobe says Lightroom keeps a growing library organised and searchable, with intelligent image search2,3. | 5 / 5 |
| Batch editing and export | YesAdobe says presets apply across all your photos, and edits can be copied and pasted to multiple images2,3. | 4 / 4 |
| Soft proofing | Not publishedNot published on the vendor's pages2,3,5. | 0 / 2 |
Price and licence 3 of 30 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Not publishedNot published on the vendor's pages1,2. | 0 / 3 |
| Free trial | Not publishedSeven-day trial starts at checkout; the page does not say whether payment details are needed4. | 0 / 2 |
| Free version | Not publishedLightroom for mobile is called a free app for editing and sharing; whether exporting is free is not stated2. | 0 / 8 |
| No subscription needed | NoThe individual plans listed are annual plans billed monthly; no one-time licence is shown1. | 0 / 5 |
| Price per month | $11.99/moLightroom plan, US$11.99 a month, annual plan billed monthly; includes desktop Lightroom and Lightroom Classic1. | 3 / 12 |
The rule behind each line: how we score photo editors.
Plans and prices
As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.
| Plan | Price as listed | Per month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightroom1 person | US$11.99/month, annual plan billed monthly1 | $11.99 | Lightroom on mobile, desktop and web, plus Lightroom Classic; 1TB storage |
| Photography1 person | US$19.99/month, annual plan billed monthly1 | $19.99 | Adds Photoshop on desktop and mobile; 1TB storage |
Both plans are annual plans billed monthly1. Student and team plans are not counted.
Strengths
- One US$11.99 plan covers Lightroom on mobile, desktop and web, plus Lightroom Classic and 1TB of storage1.
- AI features listed include Generative Remove, Denoise and one-click person, animal and sky selection3.
- A library that Adobe describes as organised and searchable, with AI-assisted culling2,3.
- A free mobile app exists for iOS and Android2.
Concerns on record
- In March 2026 Adobe agreed to pay US$75 million to the US Justice Department and give US$75 million in free services to settle a complaint filed in June 2024 over how an early termination fee and cancellation were presented; Adobe's statement says it denies wrongdoing6.
What Adobe says
Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.
- Adobe says Assisted Culling scores photos for sharpness, focus and open eyes2.
Other photo editors
- 1
ON1 Photo RAWPhotographers who want raw development, layers and AI tools in one app76/100$7.50/moprice per month - 2
Luminar NeoPhotographers who want AI tools and a licence with no monthly fee for the editor71/100$12.02/moprice per month - 3
PhotopeaPeople who want a layered, Photoshop-style editor in a browser without paying66/100$4.66/moprice per month - 4
ACDSee Photo Studio UltimateWindows users who want an editor and a photo library in one app60/100$15/moprice per month
Sources
- Lightroom plans, Adobe. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Adobe Lightroom, Adobe. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Lightroom features, Adobe. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Lightroom free trial, Adobe. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Adobe ends federal subscription lawsuit with $150 million settlement package, PYMNTS. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- What is a RAW file and how do you open it?, Adobe. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
Website: www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Adobe.