--- title: Adobe Lightroom canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/adobe-lightroom/ category: Photo Editing Software points: 52 rank: 8 of 9 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # Adobe Lightroom Photo editor and library sold by subscription, with desktop, mobile and web apps and AI masking and removal. 52 points out of 100. #8 of 9 photo editors. Vendor: Adobe. Website: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html - The Lightroom plan costs US$11.99 a month on an annual plan billed monthly, with 1TB of cloud storage and Lightroom Classic included [1]. - The 7-day free trial works on Windows, macOS and iPadOS, and starts at checkout [4]. - Lightroom for mobile is a free app for iOS and Android [2]. - Adobe lists AI Generative Remove, AI Denoise, and one-click selection of a person, animal or sky [3]. - Panorama merge, HDR editing and a searchable library are listed [2][3]. Verdict: Lightroom suits photographers who want a library, selective adjustments and AI retouching for US$11.99 a month, with Lightroom Classic included [1][3]. It runs on Windows, macOS, mobile and the web [2][4]. The catch: it is subscription only, and the plan gives 250 generative credits a month [1]. Best for: Photographers who want a library and editing tools in one subscription. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Systems | Windows, macOS, iPhone/iPad, Android, Web | 10/12 | Trial works on Windows, macOS and iPadOS [4]; iOS and Android apps and a web version are listed [2]. | | Editing tools | Camera raw editing | Yes | 10/10 | Adobe says that to open a RAW file you need image editing software such as Photoshop or Lightroom [7]. | | Editing tools | Layers and masks | Not published | 0/8 | Not published on the vendor's pages [2][3]. | | Editing tools | Non-destructive editing | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's pages [2][3]. | | Editing tools | Local adjustments | Yes | 5/5 | Adobe lists AI masking for Select Subject, Sky and Background as selective adjustment tools on the web [2]; Lightroom Classic lists masking tools [5]. | | Editing tools | Opens and saves PSD | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's pages [2][3]. | | Editing tools | HDR and panorama merge | Yes | 2/2 | Panorama merge in a single step is listed, with a preview; HDR photo editing is also listed [3]. | | AI tools | AI subject and sky selection | Yes | 5/5 | Selects a person, animal or sky in one click; AI masking for Select Subject, Sky and Background [2][3]. | | AI tools | AI object removal | Yes | 5/5 | Generative Remove, powered by Adobe Firefly, removes distractions [3]. | | AI tools | AI noise reduction or upscaling | Yes | 3/3 | AI-powered Denoise is listed for desktop [3]. | | Workflow | Built-in photo library | Yes | 5/5 | Adobe says Lightroom keeps a growing library organised and searchable, with intelligent image search [2][3]. | | Workflow | Batch editing and export | Yes | 4/4 | Adobe says presets apply across all your photos, and edits can be copied and pasted to multiple images [2][3]. | | Workflow | Soft proofing | Not published | 0/2 | Not published on the vendor's pages [2][3][5]. | | Price and licence | Open source | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's pages [1][2]. | | Price and licence | Free trial | Not published | 0/2 | Seven-day trial starts at checkout; the page does not say whether payment details are needed [4]. | | Price and licence | Free version | Not published | 0/8 | Lightroom for mobile is called a free app for editing and sharing; whether exporting is free is not stated [2]. | | Price and licence | No subscription needed | No | 0/5 | The individual plans listed are annual plans billed monthly; no one-time licence is shown [1]. | | Price and licence | Price per month | $11.99/mo | 3/12 | Lightroom plan, US$11.99 a month, annual plan billed monthly; includes desktop Lightroom and Lightroom Classic [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Lightroom | US$11.99/month, annual plan billed monthly [1] | $11.99 | | Photography | US$19.99/month, annual plan billed monthly [1] | $19.99 | Both plans are annual plans billed monthly [1]. 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 storage [1]. - AI features listed include Generative Remove, Denoise and one-click person, animal and sky selection [3]. - A library that Adobe describes as organised and searchable, with AI-assisted culling [2][3]. - A free mobile app exists for iOS and Android [2]. ## Limits - Adobe lists only subscription plans; no one-time licence is shown [1]. - The Lightroom plan includes 250 generative credits a month; the Photography plan includes 1,000 [1]. - The free trial is available for desktop and iPad, not for phones [4]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Adobe says Assisted Culling scores photos for sharpness, focus and open eyes [2]. ## Concerns - 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 wrongdoing [6]. ## Sources 1. [Lightroom plans](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom/plans.html), Adobe, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Adobe Lightroom](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html), Adobe, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Lightroom features](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom/features.html), Adobe, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Lightroom free trial](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom/free-trial-download.html), Adobe, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Adobe Lightroom Classic](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom-classic.html), Adobe, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Adobe ends federal subscription lawsuit with $150 million settlement package](https://www.pymnts.com/legal/2026/adobe-ends-federal-subscription-lawsuit-with-150-million-settlement-package), PYMNTS, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [What is a RAW file and how do you open it?](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/file-types/image/raw.html), Adobe, accessed 2026-10-09