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When it comes to finding alternatives to Adobe Lightroom, the focus lies on robust photo organization, management, and editing capabilities, without the need for a Creative Cloud subscription. Professional photographers like Adobe Lightroom for its wide range of editing tools, cataloging system, and RAW picture processing. Also, the experience of changing photos is made better by the way it works with Adobe Photoshop.
But it’s important to know that you often have to pay for a contract to get access to all of the features. Capture One Pro is a popular choice among the most expensive options. It has advanced features and lets you load catalogs and presets from Lightroom, making the switch easy for Lightroom users. Also, there are free alternatives that will be talked about later in the study and could be a good choice for people who want to save money.
Best Adobe Lightroom Alternatives Comparison Table
| Software | RAW Editing | Layer-based Editing | AI-powered Features | Photo Organization | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skylum Luminar | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Download Now |
| ON1 Photo RAW | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Download Now |
| Mylio Photos | No | No | No | Yes | Download Now |
| DxO PhotoLab | Yes | No | Yes | No | Not available on Google Play Store |
| Exposure X7 | No | No | No | No | Not available on Google Play Store |
Skylum Luminar
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| AI-powered editing | Intelligent editing tools powered by artificial intelligence. |
| Advanced filters | Wide range of customizable filters for creative photo editing. |
| Library management | Efficient organization and management of photo libraries. |
| Customizable workspaces | Ability to personalize the user interface for a tailored workflow. |
| One-click presets | Quick and easy application of pre-designed presets for instant edits. |
Skylum Luminar has been used for years as a popular RAW picture editor. In 2018, it added digital asset management features, making it one of the best alternatives to Lightroom. Since then, more AI-powered picture enhancement filters have been added to Skylum Luminar, making it a real competitor to Lightroom. For instance, Accent AI will look at a photo and figure out automatically the best changes to make.
These kinds of tools are great for beginners who want to find a good substitute for Lightroom. A lot of attention is also paid to presets and one-click changes, which will help you get used to the program. Those with more experience don’t have to miss out, though, because there are advanced editing tools for those who want more power.
The Good
- With AI-powered edits, improvements are made automatically and intelligently.
- Filters and editing tools that let you be artistic.
- Workspaces that can be changed to fit your needs.
- Library management that works well for organizing pictures.
- With settings, you can make changes with just one click.
The Bad
- There may be a learning curve for some advanced tools.
- Limited in terms of being able to work together or in the cloud.
ON1 Photo RAW
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| RAW editing | Comprehensive RAW photo editing capabilities. |
| Layer-based editing | Non-destructive layering for advanced editing and compositing. |
| AI-powered masking | Automated masking tools for precise adjustments and selections. |
| Advanced photo effects | Extensive collection of customizable filters and effects. |
| Photo organization | Efficient organization and tagging of photos for easy management. |
As a Best Adobe Lightroom Alternatives to Lightroom and Photoshop, it is a strong combination of both apps. ON1 has a lot of the digital asset management features of Lightroom to keep media libraries in order, as well as the image editing features of Photoshop, which are sometimes necessary. It also has levels and focus stacking, so if you’re used to Adobe products, it’s easy to learn.
The RAW photo editor and organizer started out by making plugins for changing images. Many of these plugins are now built into Photo RAW. That gives it a big advantage over some of the best options to Lightroom. You don’t have to import images when you use the tool because the program will instantly find images on your computer’s hard drive. Its library backup is not as good as Lightroom’s because it is not as easy to use.
The Good
- Powerful editing tools for RAW files.
- Advanced changes can be made using non-destructive layer-based editing.
- AI-powered masking lets you make exact changes and selections.
- There are a lot of filters and effects that you can change.
- Features for organizing and tagging photos that work well.
The Bad
- For new users, the user interface may seem complicated.
- Some users with big photo libraries have reported problems with how their computers run.
Mylio Photos
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Cross-device synchronization | Syncing and access to photos across multiple devices. |
| Facial recognition | Automatic tagging and organization of photos based on faces. |
| Metadata management | Efficient management of photo metadata and tags. |
| Customizable sharing | Options to customize sharing and collaboration of photos. |
| Editing capabilities | Basic photo editing tools for enhancing and adjusting images. |
Mylio Photos is the Best Adobe Lightroom Alternatives for you if you want to replace Lightroom with picture editing software that doesn’t require a subscription. It’s not quite the same thing as Lightroom. But if you want the best app for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android to handle your photos, keep reading.
Mylio Photos uses local media storage and device-to-device syncing to let you connect multiple image libraries and view them from one place, without using the Internet or the Cloud. This makes it completely private, which is a big plus for photographers who don’t feel comfortable storing and sharing personal photos online.
The Good
- Syncing between devices makes it easy to get to your pictures.
- Face recognition helps organize things automatically based on faces.
- Organizing things well requires good metadata control.
- Sharing choices that can be changed to work together.
- There are simple editing tools built in.
The Bad
- Compared to specialized editing software, it doesn’t have as many advanced editing options.
- Professional shooters with complicated workflow needs might not be able to use it.
DxO PhotoLab
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| RAW editing | Advanced RAW editing capabilities with precise controls. |
| DxO Smart Lighting | AI-powered feature for intelligent exposure optimization. |
| Optical corrections | Lens corrections and adjustments for various optical flaws. |
| Selective adjustments | Localized adjustments for precise control over specific areas. |
| Advanced noise reduction | Powerful noise reduction algorithms for clean images. |
Some shooters prefer DxO PhotoLab over Lightroom because it has a powerful RAW processing engine. There are two different picture editing programs: “Essentials” and “Elite.” If you’re a professional photographer, you’ll want the Elite version to take advantage of all the great new features in version 5.
DxO is best known for its powerful RAW processing tools. When you open a folder of RAW files and start looking through them, all the lens corrections and default processing adjustments are made immediately. DxO can instantly look up any missing camera and lens correction profiles that are needed for the best RAW processing. This is a useful feature. Most of these, though, are already built into the program.
The Good
- There are precise tools for advanced RAW editing.
- DxO Smart Lighting lets you optimize your lighting in a smart way.
- Optical tweaks for lens changes.
- Only certain changes are made for regional edits.
- Images that are free of noise use techniques that work well.
The Bad
- Interface might not be as easy to use as some other apps.
- Few ways to organize photos and handle a photo library.
Exposure X7
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Film emulation | Authentic film looks and presets for creative editing. |
| Advanced masking | Precise masking tools for selective adjustments and retouching. |
| Non-destructive editing | Non-destructive workflow for maintaining image quality. |
| Adjustable overlays | Overlays and textures for adding creative elements to photos. |
| Customizable workspace | Personalized interface with customizable tools and panels. |
Exposure X7 is Best Adobe Lightroom Alternatives for editing photos. It’s great for people who want an alternative to Adobe Lightroom. This software has professional-level picture editing tools and an easy-to-use layout. It has a simple layout that makes it easy to use all of the editing tools. You can get better results by making your work run better.
Exposure X7 comes with a number of artistic film settings, overlays, and focus effects. It is one of the best ways to make pictures that look artistic. With this program, it’s easy to bring images in and send them out. You can import files from your computer’s hard drive or from a drive connected to your computer.
The Good
- Film simulation is a way to get creative and real-looking looks.
- With advanced masking tools, you can make accurate changes.
- Editing that doesn’t change the quality of the picture.
- Overlays and textures that can be changed to make artistic improvements.
- Workspaces that can be changed to fit specific processes.
The Bad
- Compared to dedicated picture organizers, it may not have as many ways to manage your library.
- The software’s unique layout has a learning curve for new users.
FAQs
A: Yes, some alternatives to Lightroom offer online storage and synchronization like Adobe Creative online. ON1 Photo RAW and Capture One Pro are two alternatives that offer cloud-based storage. This means that users can access their pictures and edits on multiple devices.
A: There are alternatives to Lightroom for Windows, macOS, and Linux, among other working systems. But it’s important to check the alternative software’s system needs to make sure it works with your operating system.
A: Yes, there are options to Lightroom that are made for editing on mobile devices. Applications like Snapseed, VSCO, and Affinity Photo have strong editing tools and features that are designed to work well on mobile devices. This makes it easy to edit photos on smartphones and tablets.