Adobe Lightroom vs VSCO
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Adobe Lightroom is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 7.8. Adobe Lightroom wins on 5 of the 5 scores, VSCO on 0.
Photographers who shoot RAW and edit across phone, tablet and computer
Photographers who want a consistent film look and a place to share it
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Adobe Lightroom | VSCO |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Photo & Video | Photo & Video |
| Category rank | #3 of 10 | #10 of 10 |
| Developer | Adobe | VSCO |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Adobe Lightroom better than VSCO?
Adobe Lightroom is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 7.8. Adobe Lightroom wins on 5 of the 5 scores, VSCO on 0.
Which is cheaper, Adobe Lightroom or VSCO?
Adobe Lightroom: Free mobile app; Lightroom plan with 1TB is $11.99/month, billed yearly. VSCO: Free Starter plan; Plus $39.99/year, Pro $14.99/month on the App Store. On value for money, Adobe Lightroom scores higher.
Do Adobe Lightroom and VSCO work on the same devices?
Only Adobe Lightroom runs on Mac, Windows.
Which is more private, Adobe Lightroom or VSCO?
Adobe Lightroom scores higher on privacy (7.0/10). App Store label says identifiers may be used to track you, and links location, contact info, your content, usage and sensitive info to you. Google Play declares no data shared with third parties.
Strengths and weaknesses
Adobe Lightroom
- Masking tools are precise and fast to apply
- Same edits and presets on phone, tablet and desktop
- Free mobile version covers core adjustments
- Best AI tools and cloud storage require a paid plan
- Cloud-first library can feel heavy for quick edits
- Privacy label declares tracking
Lightroom is the most complete photo editor you can carry between phone, tablet and desktop. AI masks select skies, subjects and people in a tap, Generative Remove and Expand clean up or extend a shot, and edits sync across devices through Adobe's cloud. The catch is the subscription: the best AI tools, cloud storage and the desktop apps sit behind it. Get it if you shoot RAW or edit on several devices.
Full Adobe Lightroom review
VSCO
- Presets give a consistent, film-like look
- Clean, simple editing interface
- Batch editing keeps a whole set consistent
- Free Starter plan has only 15 presets
- Editing depth trails dedicated editors
- Privacy label declares tracking
VSCO is known for its film-inspired presets, and they still look great. The editor now handles batch edits of up to 100 photos, video, and AI cleanup in the Pro tier, and the app doubles as a community and portfolio for sharing work. The catch is value: most presets and tools sit behind a paid membership, editing depth trails Lightroom and Darkroom, and the privacy label declares tracking.
Full VSCO review
