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Updated 13 Nov 2026 · prices read on vendor pages

11 best Adobe Lightroom alternatives in 2027

Mehmet ElmicenniReviewed by Mehmet Elmicenni, founder of Zekai•Prices checked •How we check

The short answer

The best Adobe Lightroom alternatives in 2027 are Capture One Pro (best overall, $18/mo billed yearly), Polarr Next (best free plan) and darktable (best open source, GPL-3.0). Adobe Lightroom itself starts at $11.99/mo. Zekai checked these prices on vendor pages on 13 Nov 2026; 8 more are compared below, including 1 with a free plan and 3 open source.

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Best overallSee in table →
Capture One Pro logo

Capture One Pro

$18/mo billed yearly

9.0
Best free planSee in table →
Polarr Next logo

Polarr Next

Free plan; paid price not published · free plan

7.4
Best open sourceSee in table →
darktable logo

darktable

Free to self-host · GPL-3.0

8.0
11alternatives compared
2with a free plan
4open source
$7.50/mo billed yearlycheapest paid · ON1 Photo RAW
$11.99/moAdobe Lightroom starts at
01 · Zekai Price Ledger

Which Adobe Lightroom alternatives are worth it in 2027?

The Lightroom alternatives worth weighing in 2027 are Capture One Pro for tethered studio work, ON1 Photo RAW for buy-once licences, DxO PhotoLab for noise reduction, Luminar Neo for lifetime generative tools, Aftershoot and Imagen AI for AI editing at volume, and darktable, RawTherapee and RapidRAW for free. Lightroom costs $11.99 a month.

ToolTypeStarting priceFree plan limitBest forCost for your teamChecked
Adobe LightroomThe tool you are replacing
 You are here
$11.99/moLightroom plan, 1 TB storage and 250 generative credits a month, annual plan billed monthly (the page FAQ lists $119.88 a year); Photography plan $19.99/mo adds Photoshop and 1,000 credits; Creative Cloud Pro $69.99/mo
 Free mobile app; desktop and web need a plan Cloud-synced raw editing and photo library — 13 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
Capture One Pro logo
Capture One Pro Zekai score 9.0Best overall
$18/mo billed yearlyPro subscription, annual toggle shows $18.00 a month (saving $120 a year); All in One $24.67, Studio $48.50 a month; Pro perpetual licence $349; monthly-billed price not shown
 No free plan Tethered studio shooting and colour work — 13 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
ON1 Photo RAW Not yet reviewed by ZekaiCheapest paid
$7.50/mo billed yearlyPhoto RAW MAX yearly subscription, $89.99 list (sale price $79.99 until Nov 27); one-time Photo RAW 2027 $99.99 list ($59.99 in the sale); MAX one-time $169.99 list
 No free plan Buy-once raw editing with plug-ins — 13 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
DxO PhotoLab Not yet reviewed by Zekai
Not checkedPerpetual licence for Windows and macOS; price not shown on the product page
 No free plan High-ISO raw denoising with a one-off licence — 13 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
Luminar Neo logo
Luminar Neo Zekai score 8.7
Not checkedLifetime desktop plans; the page shows only sale prices ($99 Desktop Only, $139 All Platforms, $159 Max against $417, $477, $546 struck-through list prices), so no price is used
 No free plan Lifetime desktop licence with generative tools — 13 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
Aftershoot logo
Aftershoot Zekai score 8.8
$30/mo billed yearlyEdit plan, $35 billed monthly or $30/mo billed yearly (list; $22.50 in the 25% Black Friday annual sale); Complete (cull, edit, retouch) $55 monthly or $45/mo yearly list
 No free plan AI culling and editing for event shooters — 13 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
Imagen AI Zekai score 8.6
 Free plan + paid
$129/mo billed yearlyLimitless, $165 billed monthly or $129/mo billed yearly; pay-as-you-go from about $0.05 per photo plus a $7 monthly base fee
 1,000 free edits at sign-up, no card required Per-photo or unlimited AI editing for volume — 13 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
Polarr Next logo
Polarr Next Zekai score 7.4Best free plan
 Free
Free plan; paid price not publishedPlan prices not listed on the page
 2,000 free exports on sign-up; pay-as-you-go exports never expire Pay-per-export editing for occasional shooters $0 13 Nov 2026 Pricing ↗
darktable logo
darktable Zekai score 8.0Best open source
 Open source
Free (self-hosted)
 No limit, self-hosted (GPL-3.0) Free non-destructive raw development with a library $0 14 Nov 2026 Code ↗
RawTherapee logo
RawTherapee Zekai score 7.8
 Open source
Free (self-hosted)
 No limit, self-hosted (GPL-3.0) Fine control over raw demosaicing $0 14 Nov 2026 Code ↗
RapidRAW logo
RapidRAW Zekai score 8.5
 Open source
Free (self-hosted)
 No limit, self-hosted (AGPL-3.0) Local AI masks in a GPU-accelerated raw editor $0 14 Nov 2026 Code ↗
digiKam logo
digiKam Not yet reviewed by Zekai
 Open source
Free (self-hosted)
 No limit, self-hosted (GPL-2.0 (some files under LGPL-2.1)) Managing large photo libraries with metadata search $0 14 Nov 2026 Code ↗

Every price was read on the vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. The Cost Finder assumes one entry plan per person, so it multiplies by your team size; yearly prices are shown per month, and team or business plans can cost more per seat. "Not checked" means we could not confirm a public price.

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02 · Free plan

Is there a free version of Adobe Lightroom?

Lightroom has a free mobile app for iOS and Android, but editing on desktop and web needs a paid plan: Lightroom is $11.99 a month on an annual plan billed monthly with 1 TB of storage, and Adobe's page offers a free trial without stating its length. Open-source alternatives are free.

Source: Adobe Lightroom pricing page, read 13 Nov 2026.

Free$0

Free mobile app; desktop and web need a plan

Paid from$11.99/mo

Lightroom plan, 1 TB storage and 250 generative credits a month, annual plan billed monthly (the page FAQ lists $119.88 a year); Photography plan $19.99/mo adds Photoshop and 1,000 credits; Creative Cloud Pro $69.99/mo

03 · Free alternatives

What are the best free Adobe Lightroom alternatives?

Free Lightroom alternatives include darktable, RawTherapee and RapidRAW, which are open source, and Polarr Next, which gives 2,000 free exports at sign-up. Imagen AI offers 1,000 free edits. Lightroom itself has a free mobile app for iOS and Android, but its desktop and web editors need a paid plan.

Imagen AI

Free plan + paid
1,000 free edits at sign-up, no card required
Paid from $129/mo billed yearly
vs Adobe Lightroom →Zekai review
Polarr Next logo

Polarr Next

Best free planFree
2,000 free exports on sign-up; pay-as-you-go exports never expire
vs Adobe Lightroom →Zekai review
04 · Open source

What are the best open-source Adobe Lightroom alternatives?

The open-source Lightroom alternatives are darktable (GPL-3.0, with a library and darkroom), RawTherapee (GPL-3.0, advanced demosaicing, no asset management), RapidRAW (AGPL-3.0, local AI masks, GPU recommended) and digiKam (GPL-2.0, photo management first). All install from prebuilt downloads; none include Adobe's cloud sync.

darktable logo

darktable

GPL-3.0★ 13.4k GitHub stars · 13 Nov 2026
To self-host: Install a prebuilt package: Windows 10+ (x64 or Arm), Apple Silicon Macs on macOS 15+, Linux AppImage or Flatpak; a Linux machine is the project's recommended platform.
Commercial use
Yes (GPL-3.0); share source if you distribute a modified build.
Runs on
4 GB RAM minimum, 8 GB advised; OpenCL GPU optional but recommended.
Setup
Easy · Prebuilt packages for Windows, Apple Silicon macOS, AppImage and Flatpak.
Last commit
13 Nov 2026
Last release 4 Oct 2026
Zekai open-source pageSource code ↗Managed hosting slot
RawTherapee logo

RawTherapee

GPL-3.0★ 4.3k GitHub stars · 13 Nov 2026
To self-host: Download a release for Linux, Windows or macOS from rawtherapee.com, or compile the source tarball following the RawPedia guide; no server or account is needed.
Commercial use
Yes (GPL-3.0); share source if you distribute a modified build.
Runs on
Linux, Windows or macOS desktop; requirements not listed in the README.
Setup
Easy · Download a release from rawtherapee.com; building from source is optional.
Last commit
9 Nov 2026
Last release 26 Jul 2026
Zekai open-source pageSource code ↗Managed hosting slot
RapidRAW logo

RapidRAW

AGPL-3.0★ 11.1k GitHub stars · 13 Nov 2026
To self-host: Download an installer or Flatpak for Windows 10+, macOS 13+ or Ubuntu 22.04+; local AI masking uses your GPU (DirectML or CoreML) with a CPU fallback.
Commercial use
Yes; AGPL-3.0 means sharing changes if you run a modified version as a service.
Runs on
16 GB RAM advised, dedicated GPU recommended; Windows 10+, macOS 13+, Ubuntu 22.04+.
Setup
Easy · Installers, Flatpak, .deb or AUR package; Android APK.
Last commit
13 Nov 2026
Last release 7 Nov 2026
Zekai open-source pageSource code ↗Managed hosting slot
digiKam logo

digiKam

GPL-2.0 (some files under LGPL-2.1)
To self-host: Download from digikam.org: Linux Intel AppImage (glibc 2.31+), Windows 10+ 64-bit, macOS Silicon 11.3+ or Intel 10.15+; libraries such as LibRaw and Lensfun are bundled.
Commercial use
Yes (GPL-2.0); share source if you distribute a modified build.
Runs on
Windows 10+, macOS 10.15+ or 11.3+, or Linux AppImage; no GPU requirement stated.
Setup
Easy · AppImage, Windows and macOS installers from digikam.org.
Last release 7 Jun 2026
Source code ↗Managed hosting slot
05 · Side by side

How does Adobe Lightroom compare with each alternative?

Lightroom is $11.99 a month with 1 TB of storage, or $19.99 a month with Photoshop. Capture One Pro is $18 a month billed yearly or $349 once, ON1 Photo RAW MAX is $89.99 a year at list price, Aftershoot Edit is $30 a month yearly, and Imagen AI Limitless is $129 a month yearly.

01
Capture One Pro logo

Adobe Lightroom vs Capture One Pro

Best overall$18/mo billed yearly · checked 13 Nov 20269.0
The differenceBesides subscriptions it sells a $349 one-time Pro licence, lists 550+ cameras for tethering, and its All in One plan adds an iPad and iPhone app and online collaboration.
Switch to Capture One Pro ifyou shoot tethered in a studio and prefer a one-time licence to a monthly plan
Stay with Adobe Lightroom ifyou want 1 TB of cloud storage and cross-device sync included for $11.99 a month
Pros
  • Unmatched color accuracy and rendering
  • Most reliable and fastest tethered capture available
Cons
  • Steeper learning curve compared to more mainstream editors
  • Subscription cost can be a significant investment

Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Capture One Pro · Verdict: Pro-grade RAW editing.

Visit Capture One ProRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
02

Adobe Lightroom vs ON1 Photo RAW

Cheapest paid$7.50/mo billed yearly · checked 13 Nov 2026
The differenceA one-time Photo RAW 2027 licence covers 2 computers with free 2027 updates, and the MAX subscription adds 200 GB Cloud Sync plus Photoshop and Lightroom plug-ins.
Switch to ON1 Photo RAW ifyou want to buy a licence once and run plug-ins inside Photoshop or Lightroom
Stay with Adobe Lightroom ifyou want 1 TB of cloud sync and mobile editing in a single subscription
Visit ON1 Photo RAWPrice alert
03

Adobe Lightroom vs DxO PhotoLab

Not checked
The differenceSold as a perpetual licence with DeepPRIME and DeepPRIME XD noise reduction, AI masks and U Point local adjustments; version 10.3 adds Affinity integration.
Switch to DxO PhotoLab ifyou shoot high-ISO raw files and want strong denoising from a one-off purchase
Stay with Adobe Lightroom ifyou need cloud sync and phone editing included in the same plan
Visit DxO PhotoLabPrice alert
04
Luminar Neo logo

Adobe Lightroom vs Luminar Neo

Not checked8.7
The differenceDesktop Only covers 2 devices with one year of AI tools such as GenErase, GenSwap and GenExpand, which renew after 365 days; the All Platforms plan adds mobile on 3 devices.
Switch to Luminar Neo ifyou want a lifetime desktop licence with generative erase, swap and expand tools
Stay with Adobe Lightroom ifyou rely on Lightroom's 1 TB cloud library syncing across desktop, mobile and web
Pros
  • One-time purchase option avoids monthly subscriptions.
  • Extensive suite of over 30 AI-powered tools for fast, impressive results.
Cons
  • Cataloging and library management features are less advanced than competitors like Lightroom.
  • Generative AI tools are limited to one year of use, even with a perpetual license.

Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Luminar Neo · Verdict: Fast AI photo editing

Visit Luminar NeoRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
05
Aftershoot logo

Adobe Lightroom vs Aftershoot

$30/mo billed yearly · checked 13 Nov 20268.8
The differenceFlat-fee plans split into Select (culling), Edit and Retouch, with a personal AI profile trained on your own edits and export to Lightroom, Capture One and Bridge.
Switch to Aftershoot ifyou shoot weddings or events and want AI culling and editing in your own style
Stay with Adobe Lightroom ifyou want one plan with 1 TB of storage that also edits on a phone
Pros
  • Reclaims significant time by automating culling, editing, and retouching
  • Learns and applies your unique editing style, not just generic presets
Cons
  • Requires at least 8GB RAM and a modern CPU; may struggle on older systems
  • Retouching features may not be reliable on systems with less than 2GB VRAM

Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Aftershoot · Verdict: Post-Shoot Autopilot

Visit AftershootRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
06

Adobe Lightroom vs Imagen AI

Free plan + paid$129/mo billed yearly · checked 13 Nov 20268.6
The differencePrices by the photo (about $0.05 on pay-as-you-go) or as a flat $165 monthly or $129 yearly for unlimited editing, with 1,000 free edits and no credit card at sign-up.
Switch to Imagen AI ifyou deliver high volumes of event photos and want per-photo or unlimited AI editing
Stay with Adobe Lightroom ifyou edit a few hundred photos a month and want a library for $11.99
Pros
  • Dramatically reduces post-production time on high-volume shoots
  • Learns and replicates your unique, personal editing style
Cons
  • Requires a catalog of at least 500-3,000 edited photos for effective training
  • Pay-per-edit or subscription model represents an ongoing business cost

Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Imagen AI · Verdict: Personalized AI Photo Editing

Visit Imagen AIRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
07
Polarr Next logo

Adobe Lightroom vs Polarr Next

Best free planFreeFree plan; paid price not published7.4
The differenceAll users get 2,000 free exports on sign-up and pay-as-you-go exports never expire; the page lists no subscription prices and says subscription plans are not refundable.
Switch to Polarr Next ifyou edit occasionally and want to pay per export instead of a monthly plan
Stay with Adobe Lightroom ifyou export constantly and want a flat monthly fee with cloud storage
Pros
  • Reduces editing workflow by a claimed 80%, saving hours per shoot.
  • AI learns your unique style, not just applying generic presets.
Cons
  • Service will be discontinued after October 13, 2026, as it merges into Pixieset.
  • Web app requires Google Chrome browser.

Pros and cons from the Zekai review of Polarr Next · Verdict: Powerful, short-term time-saver.

Visit Polarr NextRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
08
darktable logo

Adobe Lightroom vs darktable

Best open sourceOpen sourceFree (self-hosted)8.0
The differenceDatabase-backed lighttable plus darkroom for raw files, with Lua scripting for exports and panorama merging; optional AI masks, denoise and upscale are off by default, and the README says it is not a Lightroom replacement.
Switch to darktable ifyou want a free non-destructive raw workflow with a library on Windows, Linux or Apple Silicon
Stay with Adobe Lightroom ifyou rely on Lightroom's cloud sync, mobile editing and Adobe presets
Visit darktableRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
09
RawTherapee logo

Adobe Lightroom vs RawTherapee

Open sourceFree (self-hosted)7.8
The differenceRaw developer with advanced control over demosaicing that reads HDR DNG, JPEG, TIFF and PNG too, and deliberately leaves out digital asset management, printing and uploading.
Switch to RawTherapee ifyou want fine control over raw demosaicing and manage your library in another tool
Stay with Adobe Lightroom ifyou want a catalogue with keywords and collections inside the editor
Visit RawTherapeeRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
10
RapidRAW logo

Adobe Lightroom vs RapidRAW

Open sourceFree (self-hosted)8.5
The differenceRuns subject, sky, depth and text-prompt masks and AI or BM3D denoise on your own machine, keeps edits in .rrdata sidecar files, and lists optional cloud AI at $14 a month.
Switch to RapidRAW ifyou want Lightroom-style masks and denoise running locally without a subscription
Stay with Adobe Lightroom ifyou need Lightroom's cloud library syncing across phone, web and desktop
Visit RapidRAWRead the Zekai reviewPrice alert
11
digiKam logo

Adobe Lightroom vs digiKam

Open sourceFree (self-hosted)
The differencePhoto manager first: albums, tags, ratings and searches across EXIF, IPTC and XMP, RAW decoding through LibRaw, plus curves, sharpening, panorama stitching and Lensfun lens correction.
Switch to digiKam ifyou manage tens of thousands of photos with tags and metadata searches and edit lightly
Stay with Adobe Lightroom ifyou want a develop module with presets and masks as the core of the app
Visit digiKamPrice alert
06 · What changed

Why do people leave Adobe Lightroom?

  • Adobe's Lightroom plan includes 250 generative credits a month and the Photography 1 TB plan 1,000, and credits reset monthly without rolling over; partner models use credits by model, output and file size. (source)

  • Creative Cloud All Apps was renamed Creative Cloud Pro and repriced from June 17, 2025 in North America, with Pro at $69.99 a month on an annual plan billed monthly. (source)

  • Photoshop is not part of the $11.99 Lightroom plan; adding it means the $19.99 Photography plan, which includes Lightroom Classic, Lightroom and Photoshop on desktop and iPad. (source)

08 · FAQ

Questions people ask about Adobe Lightroom alternatives

What is the best alternative to Adobe Lightroom in 2027?

Capture One Pro is the best overall Adobe Lightroom alternative on this page ($18/mo billed yearly). For no cost, Polarr Next has a free plan (2,000 free exports on sign-up; pay-as-you-go exports never expire). To self-host, darktable is open source (GPL-3.0).

Is there a free version of Adobe Lightroom?

Yes. Adobe Lightroom has a free plan: Free mobile app; desktop and web need a plan. Paid plans start at $11.99/mo, checked on 13 Nov 2026.

Is there a 100% free alternative to Adobe Lightroom?

Yes. darktable, RawTherapee, RapidRAW, digiKam are open source and free to self-host. Imagen AI, Polarr Next have a free plan with limits, shown in the table.

What is cheaper than Adobe Lightroom?

ON1 Photo RAW starts at $7.50/mo billed yearly, against $11.99/mo for Adobe Lightroom, as listed on each vendor's pricing page on 13 Nov 2026.

How much do Adobe Lightroom alternatives cost for a team of 5?

If each of 5 people buys the entry paid plan, at the prices Zekai checked on 13 Nov 2026, the monthly cost is ON1 Photo RAW $37.50/mo, Capture One Pro $90/mo, Aftershoot $150/mo, against Adobe Lightroom $59.95/mo for Adobe Lightroom. Team and business plans can cost more per seat. The Zekai Cost Finder on this page recalculates for any team size.

Which is better, Capture One Pro or Adobe Lightroom?

Besides subscriptions it sells a $349 one-time Pro licence, lists 550+ cameras for tethering, and its All in One plan adds an iPad and iPhone app and online collaboration. Choose Capture One Pro if you shoot tethered in a studio and prefer a one-time licence to a monthly plan. Stay with Adobe Lightroom if you want 1 TB of cloud storage and cross-device sync included for $11.99 a month.

Why are people leaving Adobe Lightroom?

The documented reasons are: Adobe's Lightroom plan includes 250 generative credits a month and the Photography 1 TB plan 1,000, and credits reset monthly without rolling over; partner models use credits by model, output and file size (10 Nov 2026); Creative Cloud All Apps was renamed Creative Cloud Pro and repriced from June 17, 2025 in North America, with Pro at $69.99 a month on an annual plan billed monthly (12 Feb 2026). Each is sourced in the section above.

What is the difference between Lightroom and Lightroom Classic?

Adobe's Lightroom plan covers Lightroom for desktop, mobile and web and also includes Lightroom Classic, so both come with the same plan. Check which one your workflow needs before subscribing.

09 · Method

How did Zekai check this page?

Zekai independently reviews AI tools. For this page we read each vendor's own pricing and product pages and recorded the starting price, the free-plan limit and the date of the check. Only tools that do the same job as Adobe Lightroom are listed, and sponsors never change the order or the scores.

Mehmet Elmicenni, founder of Zekai
Mehmet Elmicenni

Founder of Zekai. Reviews the alternatives pages and the price checks behind them.

About the founder · How Zekai scores tools

JSON copyMarkdown copy
1 · Same job onlyEvery alternative does the same task as Adobe Lightroom; tools for other jobs are left out.
2 · Vendor pages onlyPrices and free limits come from each vendor's own pricing page, never from blogs.
Zekai score0–10, from four published weights: ease 25%, output quality 30%, value 20%, time saved 25%. How we score
3 · Re-checkedA price older than 35 days is re-read or the page falls back to an older version.
Change log

  • Page rebuilt on v6; all prices re-read on vendor pages.

  • Open-source options expanded and each one given licence, commercial-use, hardware and setup details.

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