Adobe Lightroom review

Lightroom is the most complete everyday editor for people who shoot a lot and want to keep everything in one place. Adobe's Mac App Store listing describes AI Denoise, Super Resolution, one-click subject selection, masking, adaptive presets and an AI Remove tool, plus video editing with the same tools. The main draw for hobbyists is sync: edit a full-resolution photo on the desktop and the change appears on your phone and on the web. The phone app is free, which makes it easy to try the editing model before paying. On the desktop, the subscription is $11.99 a month or $118.99 a year in the US App Store after a 7-day trial, and cloud storage and generative credits are sold as separate tiers. People who dislike subscriptions or want to store everything offline may prefer an app they can buy once, but for most enthusiasts Lightroom is the editor with the fewest gaps.

Who it is for

Hobbyists who shoot on a camera and a phone and want one library and one set of edits everywhere.

Price

Free mobile app; desktop subscription $11.99 per month or $118.99 per year on the Mac App Store, with a 7-day trial.

Lightroom Monthly Subscription $11.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• AI Denoise, Super Resolution and one-click subject selection
• Masking and adaptive presets for selective edits
• AI-powered Remove tool for distractions
• Edits sync across desktop, mobile and web
• Photo and video editing with the same presets and tools

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Same library and edits on computer, phone and web
• Strength: Free mobile app to start with
• Strength: Large preset community and wide raw support
• Weakness: Desktop use requires a subscription
• Weakness: Cloud storage tiers add to the cost
• Weakness: Generative AI features use a credit system

Key facts

• Mac App Store price: $11.99 per month or $118.99 per year
• Free trial: 7 days on desktop
• Platforms: Desktop, mobile and web
• Mobile app: Free, with paid Premium tiers

Where it ranks

Adobe Lightroom is No. 1 in our Best Photo Editing Apps verdict.