The Best Adobe Lightroom AlternativesTop Photo Managers & Raw Photo Editors like Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom is described as 'Powerful photo editing and organizing with cloud backup, available on multiple devices including mobile, web, and desktop' and is a very popular Photo Manager in the photos & graphics category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Adobe Lightroom for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android apps. The best Adobe Lightroom alternative is darktable, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Adobe Lightroom are RawTherapee, digiKam, Capture One and Sly.

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Adobe Lightroom alternatives are mainly Photo Editors, but if you're looking for Raw Photo Editorss or Photo Managers you can filter on that. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Adobe Lightroom.
Adobe Lightroom iconAdobe Lightroom
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Powerful photo editing and organizing with cloud backup, available on multiple devices including mobile, web, and desktop.

More about Adobe Lightroom
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Adobe Lightroom alternatives page was last updated Mar 23, 2025
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  1. darktable icon

    darktable

     315 likes
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    Open source non-destructive RAW editor and virtual darkroom with zoomable lighttable, database-driven organization, HDR and EXR support, floating-point workflow, batch exporting, and advanced editing for photography and scientific imaging across platforms.

    65 darktable alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Darktable’s lighttable mode showing a collection

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  RAW Photo Editors
    2.  Advanced retouching
    3.  No Coding Required
    4.  Non Destructive Editing
    5.  Multiple languages
    6.  Watermark images
    7.  Hardware Accelerated
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Built-in viewer
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  No registration required

    darktable VS Adobe Lightroom

     
    Comments about darktable as an Alternative to Adobe Lightroom
    Comment summary: Darktable is praised for being faster and potentially more powerful than Lightroom, offering similar features including improved denoise capabilities. However, some users note a significant drawback in its lack of robust photo organization functions, a key feature of Lightroom. Despite this, as a free open-source solution, darktable remains a strong contender as a Lightroom alternative, especially for those prioritizing cost and development features.
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    Oct 2, 2016
    14

    Complete Raw processing suite. Best free open source solution

    Most Recent Comment
    Roman
    Positive Mar 23, 2025
    0

    The general approach, workflow and selection of tools for RAW development is a close match to Lightroom, but it's free and works on Linux

    bolude
    Positive Oct 6, 2024
    0

    FOSS and does everything Lightroom does

    Show more comments
    3 of 14 comments
    Adobe Lightroom Icon
    darktable icon

    • Almost everyone thinks darktable is a great Adobe Lightroom alternative.

    • darktable is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Adobe Lightroom.

    • darktable is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Adobe Lightroom.

    • darktable is Free and Open SourceAdobe Lightroom is Paid and Proprietary
  2. RawTherapee icon

    RawTherapee

     225 likes
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    Raw photo processing software with advanced control over demosaicing. Ideal for newcomers, semi-professionals, and professionals. Supports HDR DNGs, JPGs, and TIFFs, with in-house enhancements for some camera models. Open-source, lacks digital asset management.

    55 RawTherapee alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    RawTherapee screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  RAW Photo Editors
    2.  Image Optimizer
    3.  Non Destructive Editing
    4.  Raw converter
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Batch Rename Files
    10.  File Tagging
    11.  WYSIWYG Support
    12.  Drawing Tablet Support

    RawTherapee VS Adobe Lightroom

     
    Comments about RawTherapee as an Alternative to Adobe Lightroom
    MercuryHero
    Positive Sep 5, 2018
    3

    Fairly advanced control over RAW processing including demosaicing algorithm, gamma curves, etc. Supports its own profiles and presets.

    Adobe Lightroom Icon
    RawTherapee icon

    • Almost everyone thinks RawTherapee is a great Adobe Lightroom alternative.

    • RawTherapee is Free and Open SourceAdobe Lightroom is Paid and Proprietary
    • RawTherapee is Privacy focusedAdobe Lightroom is not according to our users
  4. digiKam icon

    digiKam

     337 likes
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    digiKam is an advanced digital photo management tool that simplifies importing and organizing photos into albums. It supports various formats including RAW, features tagging, metadata management, duplicate finder, photo editing, sharing, GPS data handling, and has cross-platform compatibility.

    97 digiKam alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Qt
    Image editor

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Tag based
    2.  Geotagged Photos
    3.  Facial Recognition
    4.  Tagging
    5.  Raw editing
    6.  File Tagging
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  RAW Photo Editors
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  No registration required
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Photo Recovery

    digiKam VS Adobe Lightroom

     
    Comments about digiKam as an Alternative to Adobe Lightroom
    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive Oct 27, 2017
    6

    Database functionality - Lots of other pieces of software mentioned are good at RAW processing but few, if any, have a good, structured back-end to organise photos.

    Guest
    Negative Oct 15, 2019
    0

    digiKam is good at organizing photos but has nothing to edit or adjust photos and RAW files. It only covers half of the features of Lightroom

    Guest
    Negative Sep 2, 2017
    -35

    digiKam is a photo management while lightroom is a raw photo editor, they have nothing in common

    Adobe Lightroom Icon
    digiKam icon

    • Most users think digiKam is a great Adobe Lightroom alternative.

    • digiKam is Free and Open SourceAdobe Lightroom is Paid and Proprietary
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  6. Capture One icon

    Capture One

     35 likes
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    Capture One is a leading raw converter and workflow software which enables photographers to reduce the time and effort required to deliver astounding ready-to-use images with excellent color and detail.

    53 Capture One alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DK flagDenmark
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Capture One screenshot 1

    Top Capture One Features

    1.  RAW Photo Editors
    2.  Raw editing
    3.  Non Destructive Editing
    4.  Batch Editing
    5.  Raw converter
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Batch Rename Files
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Support for Layers
    11.  Catalogue local images

    Capture One VS Adobe Lightroom

     
    Comments about Capture One as an Alternative to Adobe Lightroom
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    Oct 21, 2017
    3

    Same professional RAW editing results. Perpetual license option.

    Most Recent Comment
    DalsPhotography
    Positive Aug 25, 2023
    0

    Quite pricey, but very capable. Excellent for tethering in studio photography. Heavy on mac older machines, and builds catalogs as LR does which overtime can become a huge file catalog. NOT an easy importing option. To my personal opinion that is what really bothers most compared to other available programs. It's easy to work with but different in many aspects to LR. Many tutorials online and a good post sale service, much better than Adobe's in general.

    Gev X
    Positive Aug 3, 2023
    0

    Speed edit feature

    Uncrop ability (some wide-angle lens has hidden crop)

    Overexposing areas (e.g. bright color LED-lights) looks nicer in C1

    More customizable interface

    Show more comments
    3 of 6 comments
    Adobe Lightroom Icon
    Capture One icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Capture One is a great Adobe Lightroom alternative.

    • Capture One is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Adobe Lightroom.

    • Capture One is the most popular commercial alternative to Adobe Lightroom.

    • Capture One is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Lightroom is also Paid and Proprietary
  7. Sly icon

    Sly

     31 likes
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    Sly is a user-friendly, offline image editor requiring no expertise; adjust brightness, contrast, apply effects, and export in JPEG or PNG formats with control over metadata.

    33 Sly alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Online
    Sly screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  RAW Photo Editors
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Export to PNG
    8.  Export to JPEG
    9.  Vignetting correction
    10.  Exposure correction
    11.  Color correction

    Sly VS Adobe Lightroom

     

    • Sly is the most popular Web-based & Android alternative to Adobe Lightroom.

    • Sly is Free and Open SourceAdobe Lightroom is Paid and Proprietary
    • Sly is Privacy focusedAdobe Lightroom is not according to our users
  8. Polarr icon

    Polarr

     115 likes
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    From advanced image filters to professional local adjustments, Polarr Photo Editor is the most versatile and powerful online photo editor in the web.

    136 Polarr alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Polarr screenshot 1

    Polarr Features

    1.  RAW Photo Editors
    2.  Hidden Photo Album
    3.  Photographic filters
    4.  Retouch photos
    5.  Watermark images

    Polarr VS Adobe Lightroom

     
    Comments about Polarr as an Alternative to Adobe Lightroom
    Guest
    Positive Oct 5, 2019
    1

    Very flexible and can handle bulk applications of filters, fixes and adjustments. Cross-platform, even on the web when you can't install it on a local machine.

    Adobe Lightroom Icon
    Polarr icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Polarr is a great Adobe Lightroom alternative.

    • Polarr is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to Adobe Lightroom.

    • Polarr is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Lightroom is Paid and Proprietary
  10. Luminar Neo icon

    Luminar Neo

     52 likes
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    Advanced RAW photo editing software equipped with AI-driven features like GenErase, GenExpand, and GenSwap. Enhances portraits and landscapes using Sky AI and Atmosphere AI. Compatible with Adobe and Apple products, supports multiple formats, and offers panorama stitching, noise reduction, and more.

    75 Luminar Neo alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Apple Photos
    • Adobe Photoshop
    • visionOS
    • Adobe Lightroom
    Luminar Neo screenshot 1

    Top Luminar Neo Features

    1.  RAW Photo Editors
    2.  AI-Powered
    3.  Photographic filters
    4.  Non Destructive Editing
    5.  Remove Image Background
    6.  Retouch photos
    7.  Batch Editing
    8.  Raw converter
    9.  Image Filters
    10.  Image Upscaling
    11.  Remove Unwanted Objects
    12.  Raw editing

    Luminar Neo VS Adobe Lightroom

     
    Comments about Luminar Neo as an Alternative to Adobe Lightroom
    BJ
    Positive Feb 9, 2022
    0

    Skylum's business model is to overpromise and under-deliver. Learned that the hard way. Maybe they'll actually enable GPU processing before the next decade.

    Guest
    Positive Jul 18, 2020
    1

    It's slow on my old Mac, but it's «easy to understand»!

    Adobe Lightroom Icon
    Luminar Neo icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Luminar Neo is a great Adobe Lightroom alternative.

    • Luminar Neo is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Lightroom is also Paid and Proprietary
7 of 119 Adobe Lightroom alternatives