The best Adobe Lightroom alternatives in 2026
Adobe Lightroom scores 8.9 and ranks #3 in Photo & Video. It's not for everyone: skip it if you want a one-time purchase with no account or cloud sync. Here's every alternative we rank, and exactly where each one is stronger or weaker.
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- More private +2.4
- Better value +1.4
- Weaker design -0.7
Best for: YouTubers, filmmakers and colorists who want pro tools without a subscription
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- More private +2.3
- Better value +1.4
- Weaker design -1.1
- Fewer features -0.5
Best for: Filmmakers who want cinema-style manual control on a phone, for free
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- More private +2.3
- Worse value -0.8
- Fewer features -0.7
Best for: iPhone photographers who want manual control and natural-looking RAW files
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- More private +2.0
- Fewer features -0.8
- Slower -0.4
Best for: Apple users who want quick, high-quality edits straight from the Photos app
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- Better value +1.4
- Fewer features -0.8
- More private +0.6
- Weaker design -0.5
Best for: Photographers who want capable, ad-free editing on a phone at no cost
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- More private +2.8
- Fewer features -1.1
- Weaker design -0.9
- Slower -0.9
Best for: Privacy-minded families moving off Google Photos or iCloud
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- More private +2.2
- Weaker design -1.3
- Fewer features -0.6
- Slower -0.5
Best for: Video creators who want a desktop-class timeline on an iPad, Mac or Android tablet
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- Less private -1.8
- Worse value -1.2
- Weaker design -0.6
- Slower -0.6
Best for: Creators making TikToks, Reels and Shorts who want speed over fine control
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- Fewer features -1.5
- Worse value -1.4
- Slower -1.0
- Weaker design -0.7
Best for: Photographers who want a consistent film look and a place to share it
Still deciding on Adobe Lightroom?Read our full review, pros and cons.