If you are looking for LightRoom alternatives then you are at the right place. Lightroom by Adobe is one of the prominent photo management and photo editing software among users. It is quite popular among the crowd because it offers both photo management as well as photo editing features. The software lets you import, save, view, organize, tag, edit, create and share your images. But from some time we have noticed that people are looking for LightRoom Alternatives and this is because of several reasons. One of the foremost reasons is that LightRoom has changed its pricing policy from one-time payment to monthly subscriptions. This is the reason why many people don’t like LightRoom anymore and looking for its alternatives.
This article is specially created for those people who want to have software like LightRoom but don’t charge a monthly subscription and satisfy their requirements. Here is the list of best LightRoom alternatives, let’s get started.
Best Free Lightroom Alternatives in 2021. Chasys Draw IES. Capture One Express. This guide features our summarised recommendations of the best photo editing software in 2021, which can be bought for a one-time fee. Any photographer engaged in photo editing needs a special software for color correction and raw image editing. You can buy Lightroom CC, use other legal ways to receive it for free, do editing in alternative programs or you can use the services of professional photo editing services and forget about image enhancement problems at all. With the best photo editing software free application, any newbie can easily covert their simple images into Instagram styled stills. Resizing, cropping, filter application and reconstructing the images are some of the features that a photo editing tool holds, but you can expect more from the following best 17 free photo editing software for Windows & Mac. Best Free Open Source Photo Editing Apps for Mac. GIMP is Adobe Photoshop for people who like open-source software. GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program is packed with features and allows you to make pro-level editing of your photos. Since it is an open-source app, it is completely free of charge. RawTherapee does not create a library catalog like Lightroom. Rather, it saves metadata, editing info, etc., in separate files (mainly config, temp, and cache folders like many other software). In order to locate your photos, you use its file explorer. This leads us to importing images.
Contents
- 1 Best Adobe Lightroom Alternatives
Best Adobe Lightroom Alternatives
Given below is the list of some best alternatives to Lightroom.
1. Luminar
- Latest Version: NA
- Compatibility: Support Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP and MacOS
- Free Version: Free Trial Available
Luminar is one of the best alternatives to Lightroom. It provides a lot of photo filters and editing tools than Adobe Lightroom. This tool promptly imports a large number of images and organizes them. It is a low subscription rate than Lightroom, and that is why it is one of the best and cheap lightroom alternatives.
Luminar editing tools are quite similar to Lightroom, but Luminar has more tools than Lightroom. It also consists of some special effects like sun rays; if it is positioned rightly, it will give a realistic image.
Luminar has various photo enhancer effects such as details enhancer and sky enhancer. Luminar is somewhere better than Lightroom as it provides some unique editors and tools.
Features of Luminar:
- Up to 50 image improvement filters that clarify your photos.
- 60+ powerful one-click predetermined which quickly enhances photos
- Non-calamitous photo editor
- Supports files like JPEG, TIFF, and others for the Greatest flexibility
- Provides features like add keywords which suddenly finds the edited photo
2. Apple Photos
- Latest Version: NA
- Compatibility: Support MacOS
- Free Version: Free Trial Available
Apple Photos is also is one of the best alternatives of Lightroom that is spontaneously installed on Mac computers and can configure to coincide with other Apple devices through iCloud. It is one of the best software for people using Apple products.
Apple photos provide you with the most straightforward way to arrange and edit a photo without switching different programs.
Features of Apple Photos:
- Graceful editing feature
- Editing live photos
- Provides you with the facility to select and change color
3. Raw Therapee
- Latest Version: 5.8
- Compatibility: Support Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP and MacOS (64 bit Only)
- Free Version: Free Trial Available
If you are looking for a free LightRoom Alternative then RawTherapee is the best choice for you. It has a user-friendly interface and is easy to use the software. This is a free and open-source RAW image-processing app that is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. It is highly recommended photo editing software to create unique and artistic photos.
RAW Therapee is the best software for experts and beginners that work with a broad range of digital cameras. It has a non-destructive, 32-bit processing engine that lets you high-quality photos. RAW Therapee offers several options like dark frame subtraction, automatic ghost masking, multiple-frame support, etc. for editing raw images. Like Lightroom, RAW Therapee doesn’t change your original image, and the edited photo is saved in a PP3 sidecar file.
Features of Raw Therapee:
- Non-destructive editing
- Robust CIE color Appearance model 2002 (CIECAM02) module
- It uses demosaicing algorithms
- It is a cross-platform
- Available in 25 languages
4. Darktable
- Latest Version: NA
- Compatibility: Support Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP and MacOS (64 bit Only)
- Free Version: Free Trial Available
DarkTable is one of the best LightRoom Alternative that offers you advanced experience in photo editing. It is free and open-source photography application software and RAW developer. This software supports several platforms like FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Solaris, and Windows. It offers various similar features like LightRoom that make it the best replacement for it.
DarkTable has detailed asset management and editing options. The RAW processing supports about 400 cameras. You will also get the features like split toning and curves adjustments that are removed by Lightroom CC. The best thing about DarkTable is that it doesn’t change your main photo when you edit.
Features of Darktable:
- Organize images and search by parameters
- It supports RAW, JPG, RGBE, PFM, HDR, CR2 and many more formats
- This software lets you find similar photos
- It allows export to Flickr and Facebook
- Non-destructive editing with the XMP change description entry
5. Pixlr
- Latest Version: NA
- Compatibility: Online tool
- Free Version: Free Trial Available
Pixler is a free photo editing program that runs online. Its library is not as good as Lightroom’s but provides massive space for users to store large numbers of images. Pixel is another free Lightroom alternative with a lot of specifications.
It consists of several amazing filters that enhance the beauty of your photo. Filters like glamour glow, HDR, and vignetting provide you with the effect to make your image more beautiful. It also consists of some advanced tools like layers and brushes.
Features of Pixlr:
Best Photo Editing Software Lightroom
- Advanced filters
- Great Effects
- Create photo collage
- Digital painting and inking
- The incredible variation of texts and fonts
6. Photo Pos Pro
- Latest Version: v 1.90
- Compatibility: Support Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP and MacOS (64 bit Only)
- Free Version: Free Trial Available
Photo Pos Pro is a Free alternative to Lightroom, it is the best photo editing software to create collage, make graphics, and draw business card designs. It supported files like RAW, JPEG, GIF, and many more.
It offers all the tools for free for the fundamental adjustments for simple interface but To get the benefits of other tools, it will require an amount of $30 to unlock the Pro-version.
Features of Photo Pos Pro:
- Consists of advanced photo effects
- Support all the formats of file
- Different frames and collages
- Create your background
- Create projects from scratch
7. ON1 Photo RAW 2019.5
- Latest Version: 2019.5
- Compatibility: Support Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP and MacOS (64 bit Only)
- Free Version: Free Trial Available
It is one of the best photo editor software which is also a cheap alternative to Lightroom considering the price of the subscription. This software has various amazing effects that enhance the beauty of your photograph.
It has the unique feature of Keywords which makes it easy and quick to search photos, add and delete images. It provides all the file formats RAW, JPEG, and so on…
Features of ON1 RAW 2019.5:
- Export images JPG to JPG
- Export images RAW to JPG
- Ranking keywords
8. Capture One Pro
- Latest Version: NA
- Compatibility: Support Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP and MacOS (64 bit Only)
- Free Version: Free Trial Available
One Pro is a substitution for Lightroom. It is the utmost photo editor software that gives your image a beautiful effect and is liked by all professional photographers and studios.
Capture One Pro has similar software like Lightroom both share the same functions and features. The original image is in the center of both the software. Both the software supports file formats like DNG, PSD, RAW, JPEG, and so on…
Both the software permits its users to arrange photos by tagging images with keywords or color tag. Capture One Pro and Lightgreen both have various similarities.
Features of Capture One Pro:
- Edit skin tone
- Basic and advanced color tool
- Provides layers and masks
- Live reviews
9. Modula
Modula is one of the popular WordPress gallery plugins used by several people. It helps you to create a photo and video gallery promptly. It is one of the best lightroom alternatives for WordPress.
Modula comes in both versions free and paid you to have to decide which is suitable for you so that you can edit and upload galleries on your websites.
Features of Modula:
- Limitless Gallary
- Effects of slide
- Hover effects
- Different types of lightbox gallery
10. Lightzone
Talking about the best LightRoom Alternative, Lightzone has occupied its special space. It is free and open-source photo editing software that offers a great set of photo editing tools like LightRoom. This software works in a non-destructive mode and edits raw images. It allows you to create and edit several images at a time. In Lightzone you can choose the pixels based on their color and brightness ranges while editing the photos.
Lightzone is the photo editing software that is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac platforms that include RAW processing and editing. The software consists of several amazing features for tonal control like brightness, contrast, shadows, highlights, etc. It has an intuitive GUI that makes it the best alternative LightRoom alternative.
Features
- Proposal management
- Output formats
- Bitmap to vector conversion
- Client management
- Hardware support
11. IrfanView
IrfanView is a LightRoom alternative that offers a great experience of photo editing and organizing. It is free and specially designed for non-commercial use. The software also comes in a paid version for commercial purposes. It supports Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 in both 32 and 64-bit versions. It is user-friendly as it offers a simple user interface which makes it the best photo editing software for beginners.
IrfanView has several robust features that enable you to create high profile and professional-looking images. The software allows you to share the slideshow with other people. With IrfanView, you can add several amazing filters and effects to edit the photo.
Features
- It supports 32 and 64-bit version
- This tool supports multi-language
- It offers toolbar skins option
- Unicode support
- It has a thumbnail and preview option
12. Chasys Draw IES
Another LightRoom Alternative is Chasys Draw IES that has various tools for image editing. It allows you to create your own illustrations from scratch, scan and edit the photos and create GIFs. It supports several file formats including PSD, XCF, ORA, PDN and many more. The main aim of the photo editing software is to offer high usability and versatile graphic processing features.
Chasys Draw IES offers a Super-resolution feature to create high-resolution images. It also offers several tutorials so that you can learn how to create an illusion of movement in animation or enhance your layer-based design skills.
Features
- Edit images with layers, animation, and image stacking
- Vista-style icon support
- Super-resolution
- Images modes
- Layer attachments
13. Exposure X6
Exposure X6 is an alternative to LightRoom that supports RAW format and lets you create high-quality images. It has a powerful set of photo organizational and editing tools. It has an amazing photo library that offers you a great photo editing experience. With the Exposure X6 you will get a powerful color editor through which you can do color adjustments, creative lens focus, tilt-shift effects, add light effects, textures, and borders.
The Exposure X6 GPU-optimized processing engine performs its work faster and enables you to focus on creative editing without getting any disturbance.
Features
- Stack effects
- Adjust opacity
- Adjust warmth, clarity, and contrast
- Portrait touchups
- Lighten or darken part of an image
Conclusion – Lightroom Alternatives
Above are some of the best alternatives to Lightroom that can be used by several people in place of Lightroom. It also provides some relevant or extraordinary features and functions like Lightroom. People can go through this photo editor software to experience their photo editing.
FAQs
What is the best alternative to Lightroom?
RawTherapee is the best alternatives to LightRoom that is free and has a user-friendly interface. The app is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms.
What is similar to Lightroom but free?
Polarr is a similar image editing software like LightRoom that is available in both free as well as paid versions. It also comes in an app for iOS and Android devices.
Are there any free versions of Lightroom?
Yes, the Adobe LightRoom app is available for free on Android and iOS devices. You can easily download the Adobe LightRoom app on your device through App Store and Google Play Store. You need not purchase any Adobe Creative Cloud subscription to edit, capture, sort or share photos on your mobile.
Is darkroom better than Lightroom?
LightRoom offers both photo management and photo editing features and it is one of the best software in the photo editing field. But when it comes to the best photo editing software for iPhone, Darkroom offers more robust features than LightRoom.
How much is Lightroom monthly?
LightRoom has started its Adobe Creative Cloud subscription that charges $9.99/month that comes with a 30-day trial.
Also Read:
What is the best free photo editing software like Lightroom?
Adobe Lightroom is the industry standard to convert your raw file and organizing them smartly.
As a bonus, you can edit raw files to make your photo stand out with easy to use tools.
But what about your budget if you don’t have enough buck to pay Adobe every month?
Is there any alternative to Lightroom apps that let you edit raw files as well as organizing them?
Fortunately, Yes.
In this guide, I am going to introduce you to those apps that have better editing and photo organizing capabilities.
And of course, all of them are free to use.
So, let’s dive into this guide.
Contents
- 2 9 Best Free Photo Editing Software like Lightroom in 2020
Lightroom Overview
Lightroom is the best photography app for photographers for its advanced raw converting system.
With it, you can see your raw files from your camera and let you organize them.
The best benefit of Lightroom is you can preview your raw files which is almost impossible on your desktop.
Not only it lets you organize and convert raw files but also helps you to edit and develop raw photos.
Adobe Lightroom has packed with a lot of adjustment tools like exposure, highlight, and contrast.
Using those tools, you can easily make your photos pop up.
If you prefer curves than those tools, then Lightroom has also packed with curves.
Something I love most about Lightroom is it has slider-based tools. That means you can easily use LR and change the image just moving the slider from right to left.
Preset is another useful feature I love.
With presets, you can easily change the look of a photo with a single click. It saves a lot of time and quicken your image editing workflows.
HDR photo editing, Panorama, Lens distortion, and a lot of things you can do with Lightroom.
The only downside of Lightroom is it’s a subscription-based photo editing software for pc and mac.
Besides that, Lightroom is an excellent photo editing software for photographers.
Related Article: How to Get Lightroom for Free?
9 Best Free Photo Editing Software like Lightroom in 2020
- Darktable
- Raw Therapee
- Lightzone
- IrfanView
- Chasys Draw IES
- Apple Photos
- Microsoft Windows 10 Photos
- PhotoScape X
- Pixlr X
01. Darktable Vs. Lightroom
Darktable is an open-source image editing software that can be used as a Lightroom alternative.
If you use Lightroom ever, then you can’t find any difference with its interface with Darktable.
The interface of Darktable divides into three main modules. They are:
- Lighttable
- Darkroom
- Other
LightTable has packed with primary editing tools and lets you organize photos.
From this module, you can open a photo in Lightroom.
Besides, you can preview your raw files here in this module.
Therefore, you can sort and organize photos like Lightroom using geotags, stars, folder, date, and so on.
On the other hand, the Darkroom module lets you develop raw files.
In this module, you can find all the raw file developing tools like curves, exposure, and much more.
Like Lightroom, the tools of Darktable are also slider-based. It means you can adjust your photos just moving the slider.
On top of that, Darktable offers non-destructive editing workflows. As a result, you can keep your original file intact.
Nonetheless, Darktable is a free photo editing software.
If you want to try this software as your next Lightroom, then download it from here.
02. Raw Therapee Vs. Lightroom
Raw Therapee is another open-source photo editing software on this list.
This free image editing software is solely designed to develop and process raw files.
Like Lightroom, it is also a non-destructive photo editor that allows you to keep the original image untouched.
The only lack of Raw Therapee compared to Lightroom is you can’t organize your photos by folders.
All you need to do is- organize the photos manually which is a time-taking process.
However, Raw Therapee is an excellent software for developing raw files.
For enhancing the raw files, it has packed with advanced editing and color details tool.
Though the interface of Raw Therapee is similar to Lightroom, it has a steep learning curve.
Once you learn it, you can get benefit from this software.
The downside of Raw Therapee is it doesn’t have any sorting and organizing system.
It means you can’t organize photos using Raw Therapee for efficient editing.
03. LightZone
LightZone is also a cross photo editing software that compatible with Linux, Windows, and Mac.
As it is an open-source image editor, you don’t need to spend a single buck to use it.
For quick and efficient editing, it has a separate module called Edit.
You can find Styles, History, and a lot of editing tools on the right.
The styles of this software works similar to Lightroom preset.
Using them, you can create different photo effects to make your image stunning.
Most importantly, LightZone also offers non-destructive editing workflow. It means it doesn’t affect your original photos and keep the file untouched.
However, I recommend you use this software for developing your raw files.
But when it comes to organizing photos, then it’s worth looking for an alternative.
04. IrfanView
IrfanView is another free photo editing app for viewing, organizing, and sorting raw files or others.
Using this free image editor, you can organize photos by using tags, icons, folders, and names.
Though it is an image viewer and photo organization app, it comes with editing tools to edit images.
With IrfanView, you can convert raw files, create slideshows, and perform batch editing workflows.
Keep in mind; I recommend you Irfanview for organizing and sorting images.
If you are looking for hardcore or advanced raw photo editor, then it is not the app you seek.
In this case, you can use Darktable or Raw Therappe.
Another downside of Irfanview is its interface seems a bit old.
Overall, it is an excellent software for image viewing and organizing photos.
05. Chasys Draw IES
Chasys Draw IES is a versatile photo editing software for Windows.
The free image editor has packed with every tool you need to give a stunning look to your photo.
This free photo editor app comes with three different photo editor suits:
- Chasys Draw IES Artist
- Chasys Draw IES Converter
- Chasys Draw IES Viewer
Chasys Draw IES Artist has packed with advanced editing tools like layers, adjustment layers, and so on.
With it, you can do the trickiest photo editing workflow like cut out image background from complex photo.
Chasys Draw IES Converter helps you to convert raw files in a lightening way.
On the other hand, Chasys Draw IES Viewer helps you to organize and develop raw files.
For photographers, Chasys Draw IES Artist may be a good selection.
The downside of this app is it has a steep learning curve.
So, if you are looking for an easy to use app for organizing and doing basic editing tasks, then it’s better to try a new one.
06.Apple Photos
Apple Photos is a built-in app for organizing, sorting, and editing photos for Mac users.
Right off the bat, Photos helps you to organize and view raw files as well as other formats in a smart way.
You can sort images using date, name, rating, ISO, and a lot.
The built-in software of Apple is faster and performs better than any other free photo organizing software on this list.
Even it works better than LIghtroom.
Apple Photos doesn’t only let you organize photo but also come with editing capabilities.
With it, you can make adjustments like correcting brightness, adjust clarity, and so on.
Moreover, you can crop & resize photos with the built-in software of Apple.
However, Apple Photos is not recommended for those who are looking for software that has advanced editing capabilities.
But for photo organization and basic editing workflows, Apple Photos is what you look for.
07.Microsoft Windows 10 Photos
Like Apple Photos, Microsoft Windows 10 Photos is also a built-in app for viewing and sorting images.
The performance and workflow of this Microsoft built-in app is similar to Apple Photos.
With it, you can view images and organize photos.
Also, you can do basic editing tasks like cropping and resizing with Microsoft Photos. Even it lets you remove unwanted objects from an image.
Therefore, Microsoft Photos lets you adjust brightness, exposure, and clarity of a photo.
Indeed, you can’t find any difference between Apple Photos and Microsoft Photos.
However, the downside of Microsoft Photos is it takes time to view large files. Even I trouble to open jpg and png formats.
At the same time, you can’t perform advanced editing workflows like retouching and color correction with it.
08. Photoscape X
Photoscape X is a free raw converter app that you can use to convert your raw files to jpg.
Using Photoscape X, you can also view images both individually and slideshows.
Comparing with Lightroom, you can find every editing tool to make your photos enticing.
Photo Editing Software For Mac
The free photo editor lets you crop & resize photos, adjust brightness, contrast, and much more.
In this app, you can also find over 20+ adjustments, effects, and frames to bring back life to your images. Therefore, other editing tools like filters and collage templates are also available on this software.
Something Lightroom has but Photoscape X lack is the non-destructive editing workflows. It means you can’t keep your original files intact.
Therefore, Photoscape X doesn’t come with any organizing system. You can’t organize photos and sort them by folder and name.
Photo organizing and viewing raw file are something you are looking for, then Photoscape X might not for you.
But for developing the raw files, you can definitely consider this free image editor.
09. Pixlr X
Pixlr X is an online-based photo editing software that you can use as a Lightroom alternative.
The interface of this online photo editor is intuitive and easy to understand. It divides its interface into three different modules:
- Edit
- Graphic Designer
- Collage Maker
Pixlr Edit module is the backbone of this software. You can find all the editing tools in this module.
Basic editing tools like cropping & resizing, cut out, adjustment tools are available on Pixlr.
Beauty retouching tools like blemish remover, wrinkle remove, and eye enhancer let you make our portrait enticing removing the imperfections.
Therefore, a lot of filters and effects are available in Pixlr X to make quick adjustments.
On top of that, Pixlr X has packed with free collage templates to create amazing collages. Even you can make graphic elements like business cards with Pixlr X.
The flaw of Pixlr X is you can’t organize photos and develop the raw files completely.
But for doing basic adjustment and beautify retouching workflows, Pixlr X can be your next go-to software.
Verdict
All the free photo editing software I have included are free and you can use them as Lightroom alternative.
Among them, Darktable and Raw Therappe are on my priority list.
Both of the two apps offer non-destructive editing workflows, developing raw files, and organize them smartly.
Keep in mind; offering the same features don’t mean they are equivalent to Lightroom.
Adobe Lightroom is the industry standard and offer the best experience ever.
So, finding the best software similar to Lightroom is impossible.
But you can do your job with the free photo editing software I listed.
Another thing- the app you already use is the best for you as you are introduced to it.
Free Photo Editing Software For Mac Like Lightroom Free
So, you can get the most out of the app easily.
Free Photo Editing Software For Mac Like Lightroom Download
For recommendation, I suggest you to use Darktable or Raw Therapee as the Lightroom alternative.
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