Best Adobe Lightroom alternatives in 2022


Adorama recently published the article "Best Lightroom Alternatives in 2022" where they compare the different photo editing software - here is the recap:

Capture One Pro

Key Features:

  • Color accuracy and advanced color editing tools
  • High precision editing tools
  • Tethered photography

Pros:

  • Powerful RAW processing
  • Exquisite color editing tools
  • Tools for the entire editing workflow, from culling your images to preparing them for print
  • Established photo editor for photo studios and commercial photography

Cons:

  • Not very easy to learn
  • One may not use all its features
  • A lifetime license costs $299 (or $19 per month). However, if you only need to use it with a single camera brand like Nikon, Fuji, or Sony cameras, the price is $199 or $14 per month.

ON1 Photo RAW

Key Features:

  • AI-powered tools for image-based adjustments
  • Versatile effect library
  • RAW processing

Pros:

  • AI-based automatic functionalities
  • Cloud sync
  • Mobile version for capturing, editing, and organizing images

Cons:

  • Using presets and styles may overpower the manual tools
  • Not a very intuitive interface
  • It may be slow on some computers

Luminar

Key Features:

  • AI-powered tools targeting specific types of photography
  • Image management
  • Built-in presets

Pros:

  • Fast editing for specific purposes
  • A diverse library of presets
  • Easy to use and learn
  • It runs as a standalone program or a plugin for Adobe and Apple products

Cons:

  • Not too many options for fine-tune adjustments
  • It doesn’t have graphic design tools or selection tools
  • Requires powerful hardware and software resources, otherwise is slow

DxO PhotoLab

Key Features:

  • Noise reduction
  • Lens correction
  • The U Point technology for local adjustments

Pros:

  • AI algorithms for improving the quality of the image
  • Precise local adjustments
  • Customizable workspace

Cons:

  • Not very easy to learn; not an editor for beginners
  • Demanding system requirements
  • A lifetime license costs $219

ACDSee Photo Studio

Key Features:

  • Digital asset management
  • RAW processing
  • HDR editing and focus stacking

Pros:

  • All the tools one needs to organize and share images
  • Basic editing capabilities
  • Fast on the least performing computer systems

Cons:

  • It doesn’t have high-end photo adjustments
  • Not very intuitive interface

Exposure X7

Key Features:

  • Photo manager
  • Presets
  • Advanced photo editing functionalities

Pros:

  • Local adjustments and masks for subject selection
  • Over 500 built-in presets
  • Customizable workspace
  • It runs as a standalone program or a plugin for Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.

Cons:

  • Low noise reduction performance
  • No HDR editing or image stacking
  • Less RAW support than other editors

See also: Lightroom Classic vs Lightroom CC: What’s the Difference?

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