Lightroom
by Adobe Inc. · Photo & Video · Photo Editing
Professional photo editing and organization app with powerful RAW processing and presets.
Quick Answer: Lightroom has a verified Real Score of 4.5/5 based on 78,000 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.8/5. Highly recommended by verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 78,000 verified reviews
Gap Alert: Lightroom's App Store rating is 0.3 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Professional-grade editing
- Excellent RAW support
- Cloud sync across devices
- Great presets ecosystem
Common Complaints
- Subscription required
- Cloud storage limits
- Can be resource-heavy
- Learning curve for beginners
Verified Reviews (20)
The gold standard for photo editing
Lightroom on mobile is genuinely professional-quality. RAW editing with full tone curve control, HSL sliders, and masking tools that rival the desktop version. For photographers, it's essential.
Presets make editing fast
Creating and applying presets across hundreds of photos saves enormous time. One-tap editing that maintains a consistent look across a gallery. My wedding photo editing time dropped by 60%.
Adobe subscription is worth it for photographers
The Photography Plan ($10/month) includes Lightroom, Photoshop, and 20GB cloud storage. For anyone serious about photography, this is the best value in creative software.
Cloud storage fills up fast
20GB of cloud storage sounds generous until you shoot RAW. My library hit the limit in 3 months. Upgrading to 1TB costs $20/month. The storage upsell is frustrating.
Masking tools are incredible
AI-powered subject and sky selection, linear and radial gradients, and brush masking. The local adjustment tools on mobile match what desktop Lightroom offers. Edit specific areas with precision.
Sharing presets creates community
Downloading presets from photographers I admire and learning from their editing choices is educational. The preset sharing community helps beginners develop their style faster.
Editing on iPad Pro is desktop-quality
With Apple Pencil and the iPad version, Lightroom editing is indistinguishable from desktop. Precise masking, full histogram, and a beautiful interface. My laptop stays home on photo trips.
AI denoise is magical
The AI-powered noise reduction transforms grainy high-ISO photos into clean images. Night photography that used to be unusable is now portfolio-worthy. Game-changing feature.
Requires subscription even for basic features
Unlike Snapseed (free), Lightroom requires a subscription for most editing features. The free tier is very limited. For casual users, free alternatives may be sufficient.
Color grading is unmatched
The color grading tools (color wheels, HSL, color mixer) provide cinematic color control. Achieving specific looks - moody, warm, vintage - is precise and intuitive.
Batch editing saves hours
Applying edits across multiple photos simultaneously maintains consistency and saves enormous time. For event photographers editing hundreds of photos, batch editing is essential.
Learning resources are excellent
Adobe's Lightroom tutorials and the community of YouTube educators make learning the tool straightforward. From beginner to advanced, there's content for every skill level.
HDR merge on mobile
Merging bracketed exposures into HDR images directly on mobile is impressive. The tone mapping is natural-looking, avoiding the overdone HDR look. Professional capability in your pocket.
Geometry correction for architecture
The perspective and geometry correction tools straighten tilted buildings and correct lens distortion. For architecture and real estate photography, these tools are indispensable.
Cross-device editing is seamless
Start editing on your phone, continue on your iPad, finish on your desktop. Cloud sync means your edits are everywhere instantly. The multi-device workflow is truly seamless.
Non-destructive editing gives confidence
Every edit is non-destructive. You can always go back, undo, or reset to the original. This freedom to experiment without fear of ruining a photo encourages creative exploration.
Lens profiles auto-correct distortion
Automatic lens profile correction for distortion, vignetting, and chromatic aberration. The app recognizes your camera and lens combo and applies corrections automatically.
Not great for heavy retouching
Lightroom excels at global and local adjustments but isn't designed for heavy retouching (removing objects, compositing). For that, you need Photoshop. Different tools for different jobs.
Before/after comparison is satisfying
Swiping between the original and edited photo to see the transformation is deeply satisfying. It also helps ensure your edits enhance rather than overprocess the image.
Community presets marketplace growing
The built-in preset marketplace and community sharing create an ecosystem of looks and styles. Finding presets that match your aesthetic is easier than ever.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026