Are you in search of a worthy Lightroom alternative for editing images and managing files? Get acquainted with the most popular and functional options that can help you process your pictures and organize them in libraries.
Although Lightroom takes a leading position on the market nowadays, the alternatives described below will not disappoint you. Of course, you can learn how to get Lightroom for free or pay for a subscription, but in some cases, it is better to use one of the affordable options for improving your photos.
TOP 10 LIGHTROOM ALTERNATIVES IN 2023
1. Luminar 4 – Offers AI Features
MAIN BENEFITS:
- Does not require a subscription, you need to pay only once
- Multiple layers
- Various filters
Skylum Luminar has tools for managing and editing pictures without affecting original RAW files. Many users appreciate this program for its high speed when it comes to importing and organizing pictures. Luminar also has culling tools, like flags, stars, and color labels. However, it doesn’t allow you to add keywords to each picture.
The strong side of Luminar 4 is its editing capabilities. With paid and free Lightroom presets you can edit material in one click. Its editing tools are fully AI-powered, which enables you to quickly enhance images without any previous experience in this field. By using functional masking tools, you can optimize your workflow.
Many photo editors appreciate Luminar’s sky replacement tool. It is especially handy for fixing flat skies. The portrait enhancement option allows improving skin, getting rid of various imperfections, brightening faces quickly and easily.
However, this software lacks the HDR option, focus stacking, and merging tools for creating a panorama. If these features are important for you, you had better select another alternative to Adobe Lightroom.
2. ON1 Photo RAW – Best for Photo Management
MAIN BENEFITS:
- Outstanding presets
- Portrait editing tools powered by AI
- HDR, Focus Stacking, and Panorama merging features
On1 Photo RAW is one of the most powerful Lightroom alternatives. It is a comprehensive image management solution for organizing files and searching for photos. Like Lightroom, this software offers a map view option that allows identifying the position of GPS tagged pictures on the map.
You can perform an advanced search by image size, keywords, metadata, and more. On1 Photo RAW provides users with basic photo editing and masking tools for quick image enhancement. You can also use a smart retouching option to delete unnecessary elements from a picture.
Multiple features in On1 Photo RAW are similar to or even better than the functions offered by Lightroom. For instance, it includes excellent editing options, allows incorporating text into images, has focus stacking and retouching options, and supports HDR and panorama stitching.
The program has a great number of filters and presets.
Besides, you can choose what edits to apply. With the handy resize tool, you can easily increase the dimensions of a picture for printing it at larger sizes.
3. Capture One Pro – For Studio Photographers
MAIN BENEFITS:
- A great variety of customizable features
- Excellent processing capabilities
- Superior color reproduction
Capture One Pro is one of the best Lightroom alternatives as it provides users with even greater control over image editing processes. Color correction capabilities make this program stand out from other similar tools.
However, its UI differs from the interface of Lightroom. The program also has a different photo editing approach, so you will need to get used to it. Besides, Capture One is fitted with an extensive set of photo editing and management features, the majority of which can be easily customized.
The great thing is that this software allows you to configure shortcuts. Capture One does not only offer basic tools for processing images, it enables you to work with various styles, presets, and layers. However, this program doesn’t support HDR effects and doesn’t have panorama tools.
Capture One has two considerable advantages over other similar programs, such as advanced color control and tethered capture options. The first tool allows you to achieve the optimal color scheme of an image. The second one is a handy option for studio photographers who can also use the Visme Social Media Graphics Tool to enhance their photos.
4. RAWTherapee – Best Free Lightroom Alternative
MAIN BENEFITS:
- Supports RAW files
- User-friendly
- Non-destructive editing
RawTherapee is probably one of the most popular Lightroom alternatives. It is absolutely free, supports batch processing, and has various features for enhancing workflow.
Besides, RawTherapee supports non-destructive editing, meaning that you can restore the original file no matter how many edits have been already applied. It has advanced photo processing features for customizing sharpness, adjusting the color scheme, removing noise fast and easily. If you have already some experience working with Lightroom, you will notice that RawTherapee has a very similar interface.
The software is one of the best solutions for working with RAW files and compressed pictures. Fitted with a 96-bit processing engine, RawTherapee has a great variety of color correction tools for adjusting white balance, saturation, etc.
With tonality and exposure tools, you can easily handle color toning to enhance your image. With tone and lab curves, shadow and tone mapping tools, you can achieve an HDR-like effect. RawTherapee is fitted with a multilingual user interface that is available in 25 languages.
5. DxO PhotoLab 4 – For Noise Reduction
MAIN BENEFITS:
- Lens correction
- Processes RAW files
- Speedy performance
DxO PhotoLab 4 has effective photo editing and management features. For better image organization, this software supports keywords and ratings. It also allows filtering files although this feature is not so powerful as in other Lightroom alternatives.
The program has both automatic and manual tools for successful photo enhancement. It allows improving the image in just several clicks and provides a user with full control over the editing process.
The main advantage of DxO PhotoLab 4 is its noise reduction algorithm, which is called Prime. This is an advanced feature that lets you get clean and high-quality photos. Besides, it has smart lighting tools for correcting the exposure and local adjustment tools for processing particular parts of the image.
By using various presets, you can edit a picture in just a few seconds. Although the program has multiple benefits, it doesn’t support HDR merge, focus stacking, panoramas and layers.
6. Darktable – Similar Interface
MAIN BENEFITS:
- Batch processing
- Local adjustments
- Tethered capture support
Darktable is a free alternative to Adobe Lightroom which allows you to enhance photos and organize them in libraries. You can add tags to pictures, use ratings, arrange files in folders, label them by color, etc. The program can also process RAW files and supports tethered shooting.
Although Darktable is free of charge, its functionality is impressive. Besides, it is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. It has a user-friendly UI, which makes it quite similar to Lightroom. This program comes with convenient photo management and image adjustment tools. It supports non-destructive editing, thus letting you restore the initial picture without problems.
Darktable offers great masking tools and can create HDR images. Besides, the developers provide users with free and detailed tutorials. Editors can receive help on forums, watch video tutorials, educational posts, etc.
You can customize its UI by choosing the photo enhancement tools that you actually need. By using automatic scripts, you can streamline your workflow to perform similar tasks faster and more effectively.
7. Сorel AfterShot Pro – For HDR Editing
MAIN BENEFITS:
- Supports layers
- Imports images quickly
- Convenient image editing in one window
Corel AfterShot Pro is a popular Lightroom alternative that offers both effective photo organization and editing options at an affordable cost. When categorizing images, you can use various features that allow sorting and filtering pictures easily. Like Lightroom, the program allows you to quickly find photos shot with a particular camera, lens, or some specific camera configurations.
The program comes with a handy watermarking tool that allows you to adjust watermarks when exporting your photos for printing or other purposes. Besides, it has a basic toolkit for processing files.
By using automatic features, you can improve an image in several clicks, whereas manual options allow editing each detail of a photo. The intuitive layers are perfect for selective image adjustments, but they are not effective when you need to edit several pictures.
The HDR module has multiple customization options. You can use it for HDR merging. The stitching tools are more powerful than similar options in other Lightroom alternatives.
8. Exposure X6 – For Artistic Editing
MAIN BENEFITS:
- A customizable workspace
- Swift and effective image masking
- Excellent presets
Although Exposure X6 is less popular than other Lightroom alternatives, its toolkit includes a great variety of photo management and editing tools. Its UI is similar to the Lightroom interface, so users won’t experience any difficulties.
This program is an optimal solution for experienced users. You can use various presets for emulating a classic film look, adding bokeh, blurring, and lights effects.
It supports layers and comes with portrait retouching tools. However, the program doesn’t support HDR, focus stacking, and panorama stitching.
9. Lightzone – For Black and White Processing
MAIN BENEFITS:
- Supports local adjustments
- Fixes lighting issues
- Limitless layers
Lightzone is probably one of the best Lightroom alternatives. It has advantages and disadvantages. For instance, this photo editor allows rating pictures, but cannot add keywords and categorize files.
This is an optimal solution for beginners as its toolkit lacks advanced options that can be found in Lightroom. The program can process RAW files and B&W photos. By using tonal adjustment tools, you can make black-and-white images look stunning.
Thanks to the Zone Mapping feature, you can adjust the parts of your images using a unique layer-based system. Lightzone can automatically identify the areas that should be improved. This option is quite handy when it comes to processing images with similar lighting issues.
You can move and stack an unlimited number of layers. Besides, Lightzone supports various blending modes, thus allowing photographers to implement original ideas.
10. Irfan View – Lightweight Alternative for Any Laptop
MAIN BENEFITS:
- Supports various formats
- Batch conversion and image resizing
- Convenient slideshow feature
IrfanView is an optimal Lightroom alternative for users who are looking for a functional photo editor for Windows OS. The program has a great variety of basic image adjustment tools, is capable of RAW image rendering, and allows applying filters and various effects easily.
IrfanView can process any image format; it can also handle music and video files. Besides, the program supports batch editing, which allows you to enhance a hundred images in about sixty minutes.
IrfanView stands out from the other similar products, as it does not take up much space on your PC. As it does not use many system resources, the program processes even large images quickly. Moreover, IrfanView supports batch editing and allows you to work with metadata.
The program supports plugins and slideshow creation. It and has customizable toolbars. You can discuss any issue with other members of a forum community. This software receives regular updates. By using a standard paint tool, you can draw or write on photos. However, IrfanView has an outdated user interface.
