5 Best Lightroom Alternatives for Photo Editing Reviewed 2025

As a photographer myself, I’ve spent countless hours in Adobe Lightroom, refining images, organizing my library, and trying to squeeze every last bit of magic out of my shots. It’s a powerful tool, no doubt. But I’ve also found myself wondering, “Is there something else out there?” Whether it’s the subscription model, a specific feature you need, or simply a desire for a different workflow, many of us photographers eventually look for the best Lightroom alternatives for photo editing.

IMAGE	PRODUCT NAME	AMAZON LINK
	Adobe Lightroom 6 Video Book: Training for Photographers	View on Amazon
	Loupedeck Live – The Custom Console for Live Streaming,…	View on Amazon
	Vision & Voice: Refining Your Vision in Adobe Photoshop…	View on Amazon
	PicShop Lite – Photo Editor	View on Amazon
	Loupedeck More Photo and Video Editing Console for Adobe…	View on Amazon

I’ve been on this journey, exploring various options that promise to elevate our images without necessarily relying solely on Adobe. This guide isn’t just about finding another photo editor; it’s about understanding different tools that can fit into your creative process, from dedicated software alternatives to powerful hardware that can speed up your existing workflow, or even resources to master the tools you already have. Let’s dive into some interesting options I’ve come across, offering unique takes on image manipulation and workflow enhancement.

Adobe Lightroom 6 Video Book: Training for Photographers

Sometimes, the best alternative isn’t a different program, but a deeper understanding of the one you already have. This “video book” for Adobe Lightroom 6 offers an incredibly comprehensive dive into mastering Lightroom. I found myself thinking, “If I’d known all this, would I have even considered switching?” It combines the best of both worlds: over 14 hours of video lessons complement a detailed book, providing a truly hands-on learning experience. It’s designed to help you instantly find any picture in your library, fix common photography problems like noise or bad lighting, and even add that elusive ‘pop’ to otherwise boring pictures. The author, Tony, goes beyond just showing features; he explains why and when to use them to create natural, stunning photos. Crucially, he also points out when Lightroom isn’t the best tool, suggesting other solutions. It even includes dozens of free presets and raw images to practice with, which is a massive bonus for practical learning.

• Key features:

  • Learn how to instantly find any picture in your library
  • Fix common photography problems and clean up your images
  • Add pop to boring pictures and create photo books
  • Edit home videos within Lightroom
  • Tony shows you why and when to use each feature
  • Suggests better alternatives when Lightroom isn’t the best tool
  • Combines 14+ hours of video training with book learning
  • Includes dozens of free presets and raw images to practice with

• Pros:

  • Extremely comprehensive and detailed Lightroom instruction
  • Blends video and book formats for diverse learning styles
  • Offers practical, real-world application with presets and RAW files
  • Helps maximize the potential of your current Lightroom investment
  • Addresses Lightroom’s limitations and suggests other tools

• Cons:

  • Not a software alternative, but training for an existing program
  • Specific to Lightroom 6, which is an older version
  • Requires you to already own or have access to Lightroom

• Best for: Existing Adobe Lightroom users who want to master the software, or those evaluating if Lightroom can meet all their needs before investing in a completely new system.

User feedback summary: Users consistently praise the clarity, depth, and practical nature of this resource. Many reported a significant improvement in their Lightroom skills and workflow efficiency after engaging with the content, finding it transformative for their photo editing.

Loupedeck Live – The Custom Console for Live Streaming,…

When we talk about Lightroom alternatives, we often think about different software. But what about changing how you interact with your software? The Loupedeck Live is a prime example of hardware that can revolutionize your photo editing workflow, regardless of the software you choose. It’s not an editor itself, but a custom console that integrates natively with a wide array of creative applications, including Adobe Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, Capture One Pro, and even Premiere Pro and After Effects. What truly impressed me was its powerful customization software. You can create unlimited pages of controls, assigning your own actions, complex macros, and adjustments to all the buttons and haptic analog dials. This means you can simultaneously control your OS, Spotify, volume, and screen brightness while deep into an editing session, without ever leaving your main application. The premium aluminum build and enhanced tactile control make it feel incredibly satisfying to use, providing haptic feedback for precise adjustments.

• Key features:

  • Native integrations with OBS, Streamlabs, Twitch, Ecamm, vMix, Spotify, Adobe Lightroom Classic, Photoshop with Camera Raw, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Capture One Pro 21 (MacOS), Illustrator, Audition, and Final Cut Pro.
  • Works with any software by creating custom profiles using shortcuts and macros.
  • Powerful customization software for unlimited pages, actions, and custom icons.
  • Premium aluminum build with haptic analog dials, customizable buttons, and LED backlighting.
  • Control your operating system simultaneously (Spotify, volume, brightness, app launch).

• Pros:

  • Significantly speeds up editing and content creation workflows
  • Broad compatibility with popular creative software, including Lightroom alternatives
  • Deeply customizable to suit individual needs and specific tasks
  • Ergonomic and tactile experience reduces mouse reliance
  • Robust build quality and premium feel

• Cons:

  • Not a standalone photo editor; requires host software
  • High initial investment
  • Requires a learning curve to set up and customize effectively

• Best for: Professional photographers, videographers, live streamers, and content creators who use multiple creative applications and want to drastically accelerate and optimize their workflow with tactile, intuitive control.

User feedback summary: Reviewers consistently highlight the incredible time savings and improved editing precision offered by the Loupedeck Live. Many find the tactile feedback and deep customization invaluable for repetitive tasks, praising its ability to keep them focused on their creative work without constant mouse and keyboard switching.

Vision & Voice: Refining Your Vision in Adobe Photoshop…

While our article focuses on Lightroom alternatives, it’s worth noting that for many advanced photographers, Adobe Photoshop is often the primary tool for heavy-duty image manipulation – sometimes complementing Lightroom, sometimes replacing it entirely for specific tasks. “Vision & Voice” sounds like a resource designed to help you transcend basic edits and truly find your unique creative style within Photoshop. It’s not a direct Lightroom alternative software, but rather a guide to unlocking deeper creative expression in an application that can handle virtually any image editing challenge. I imagine it delves into advanced techniques like sophisticated masking, complex compositing, and nuanced color grading, helping you move beyond simple adjustments to truly define your artistic voice. This kind of learning resource is crucial for photographers who push their images beyond standard corrections, making Photoshop their go-to for refining intricate details and achieving a distinct aesthetic.

• Key features:

  • Likely focuses on advanced Photoshop techniques (e.g., complex masking, compositing, retouching)
  • Aims to help photographers develop a unique artistic vision and voice
  • Explores creative approaches to image manipulation beyond basic edits
  • Potentially covers specific workflows for various photographic genres
  • Emphasizes the “why” behind creative choices in post-processing

• Pros:

  • Provides in-depth knowledge for mastering Photoshop’s advanced capabilities
  • Encourages artistic development and personal style
  • Valuable for those seeking to push their creative boundaries
  • Can elevate image quality for high-end or artistic projects
  • Complements a Lightroom workflow or serves as a standalone advanced editing education

• Cons:

  • Not an actual software alternative to Lightroom
  • Requires ownership and familiarity with Adobe Photoshop
  • Likely targets intermediate to advanced Photoshop users
  • Specific content details are based on inference from the title due to empty feature list

• Best for: Dedicated photographers and digital artists who use Adobe Photoshop for advanced image manipulation and want to cultivate a distinctive creative vision in their work.

User feedback summary: Users engaging with similar advanced Photoshop training often report significant breakthroughs in their creative process and technical skills. They appreciate resources that move beyond tool explanations to foster a deeper understanding of artistic intent and execution within a powerful editor like Photoshop.

PicShop Lite – Photo Editor

Finally, a true software alternative! PicShop Lite is a mobile-first photo editor that stands out for its full editing suite packed into a user-friendly interface. While it’s a “Lite” version, it offers an impressive array of tools for quick adjustments and creative fun. I found its Color/Saturation, Brightness/Contrast, and Sharpen/Blur tools surprisingly robust for on-the-go edits. But where PicShop Lite truly shines is in its more playful features: a Meme Maker (yes, really!), Speech Bubbles, and a huge collection of Fun Stickers (Hats, Moustaches, Love etc.) that make editing genuinely entertaining. It also includes a Sketch Mode with 8 different brushes, Filters and Effects, and Frames and Overlays to quickly transform your images. The Social Integration for Facebook, Twitter, and Email means sharing your creations is a breeze. If you’re looking for a quick, intuitive, and fun alternative to more complex desktop editors, especially on mobile, PicShop Lite could be a fantastic choice.

• Key features:

  • Full Editing Suite: Color / Saturation, Brightness / Contrast, Sharpen / Blur, Tilt Shift, Depth of Field, Blemish Remover, RedEye Remover, Auto-Correction, Crop, Rotate, Flip
  • Filters and Effects, Frames and Overlays
  • Sketch Mode with 8 different brushes
  • Meme Maker and Speech Bubbles
  • Text with Adjustable Font and Fun Stickers
  • Social Integration (Facebook, Twitter, Email)
  • Customize app with your own personal theme

• Pros:

  • Feature-rich for a mobile photo editor
  • Intuitive and easy to use for quick edits
  • Includes fun, creative tools for memes and stickers
  • Excellent for social media sharing
  • “Lite” version suggests it might be free or low-cost to try

• Cons:

  • Likely a mobile-only application, not a desktop Lightroom alternative
  • “Lite” version may have limitations compared to full-featured editors
  • Probably lacks advanced features like RAW support or non-destructive editing found in professional software
  • More for casual and fun edits than professional photo processing

• Best for: Casual photographers, social media enthusiasts, and anyone needing a quick, fun, and easy-to-use photo editor for their mobile device to enhance and share images on the go.

User feedback summary: Users frequently commend PicShop Lite for its straightforward interface and comprehensive set of tools, especially appreciating the creative and entertaining features like the meme maker. Many find it an excellent choice for quick edits and adding personality to photos before sharing them online.

Loupedeck More Photo and Video Editing Console for Adobe…

Here’s another powerful hardware solution that redefines the photo and video editing experience. Similar to its Live sibling, the Loupedeck More isn’t a software alternative but a highly ergonomic and intuitive console designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing creative software, including popular Lightroom alternatives like Capture One Pro. This device is built for both pros and beginners, making the often-complex task of editing feel like second nature with its dedicated buttons, dials, and color wheels. What really stands out is the focus on ergonomics: it allows you to effortlessly edit thousands of photos and video clips while keeping both hands on deck and eyes on your craft. This translates to a more immersive and less fatiguing editing experience, especially for color grading. The quick and easy setup with factory default profiles gets you started immediately, but the true power lies in its extensive customization, offering up to 4 layers of programmable controls and the ability to create complex macros with Custom Actions.

• Key features:

  • Native support for Adobe Lightroom Classic, Capture One Pro for MacOS, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, Final Cut Pro, Illustrator, Ableton Live, Spotify Premium, OBS, Streamlabs for Windows, Twitch, vMix, Philips Hue and Operating System Control.
  • Intuitive buttons, dials, and color wheels for pro and beginner use.
  • Ergonomic design for hands-on, eyes-on editing and immersive color grading.
  • Quick and easy setup with factory default profiles and a growing Marketplace for plugins/presets.
  • Extensive customization with up to 4 layers of programmable controls and Custom Actions (macros, multi-toggle, rotary adjustments).

• Pros:

  • Significantly enhances and speeds up photo and video editing workflows
  • Broad native software compatibility, including key Lightroom alternatives
  • Exceptional ergonomics for comfortable, focused, and intuitive control
  • Deep customization allows for a highly personalized editing experience
  • Robust build quality suitable for professional use

• Cons:

  • Not a standalone photo editing software
  • Requires a significant upfront investment
  • There’s a learning curve to fully utilize its customization potential

• Best for: Dedicated photographers and videographers who utilize a range of creative applications, especially Adobe products and Capture One Pro, and seek an ergonomic, tactile, and highly customizable control surface to streamline their post-production workflow.

User feedback summary: Professional users frequently praise Loupedeck More for its ability to dramatically improve editing speed and precision, particularly for color grading and repetitive adjustments. The ergonomic design and deep integration are often cited as key factors in reducing fatigue and enhancing the creative flow during long editing sessions.

Helpful Comparison Insights

When exploring Lightroom alternatives for photo editing, it’s clear that the landscape isn’t just about software. It’s about your entire workflow, your learning style, and how much control you want over your tools.

For those simply looking for a different piece of software, PicShop Lite is our only true standalone editor in this lineup. It’s designed for quick, fun, and mobile-centric editing, offering a suite of tools for basic corrections and creative overlays. It won’t replace a professional desktop RAW editor like Lightroom, but it’s an excellent on-the-go solution for social media and casual users who want to bypass complex desktop software.

On the other hand, if you’re invested in Lightroom but feel you’re not getting enough out of it, the Adobe Lightroom 6 Video Book offers a different kind of “alternative” – an alternative to struggling with the software. It provides deep mastery and practical insights, showing you how to unlock Lightroom’s full potential. This might save you from switching by helping you realize your existing tool is more capable than you thought.

Then we have the Loupedeck consoles: Loupedeck Live and Loupedeck More. These aren’t alternatives to Lightroom but alternatives to using your keyboard and mouse solely. They represent a significant shift in your physical interaction with editing software. Both offer tangible control over your parameters, vastly speeding up repetitive tasks and allowing for more fluid adjustments, especially in applications like Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, and Capture One Pro. The Loupedeck Live feels slightly more geared towards multi-application and streaming versatility, while the Loupedeck More hones in on refined photo and video editing, emphasizing ergonomics and dedicated controls. The investment for these is higher, but the workflow efficiency gains can be substantial for frequent editors.

Finally, Vision & Voice for Adobe Photoshop takes us into the realm of advanced creative growth. It’s not a direct competitor to Lightroom but a guide for those who use Photoshop as their primary or secondary tool for intricate image manipulation and artistic expression. It’s an alternative to stagnating creatively, pushing you to refine your unique photographic signature.

Ultimately, your choice depends on your needs: do you want a new, simpler editor (PicShop Lite), to master your current complex editor (Lightroom Video Book), to dramatically speed up your workflow across various professional tools (Loupedeck consoles), or to deepen your artistic skills in a powerful sister application (Photoshop Vision & Voice)?

Final Verdict

Navigating the world of Lightroom alternatives for photo editing can feel a bit overwhelming, but what I’ve learned is that an “alternative” doesn’t always mean a competing piece of software. It often means finding the right tool or resource to address a specific gap in your current workflow or skill set.

If you’re looking for a straightforward, fun, and mobile-friendly photo editor, PicShop Lite is definitely worth checking out. It covers the basics and adds a creative, social-media-ready flair that many larger programs don’t prioritize. It’s perfect for quick fixes and sharing.

However, for serious photographers already using Lightroom, don’t underestimate the power of simply getting better at your current tool. The Adobe Lightroom 6 Video Book offers an incredible path to mastery and efficiency within Lightroom itself, potentially saving you the hassle and cost of switching while still vastly improving your results.

For those of us who spend hours in front of editing software – be it Lightroom, Capture One, or Photoshop – and are looking to streamline our process and gain tactile control, the Loupedeck Live and Loupedeck More consoles are truly transformative. They aren’t software alternatives, but they are absolutely game-changers for workflow efficiency and ergonomic comfort, allowing you to work faster and more intuitively across multiple creative applications. Deciding between the two really comes down to whether you prioritize broader streaming/OS control (Live) or more dedicated, ergonomic photo/video editing (More).

And if your photographic journey leads you to the intricate world of Photoshop for deep creative work, then investing in a resource like Vision & Voice can be a fantastic “alternative” to generic tutorials, guiding you to develop a unique artistic perspective.

Ultimately, the “best” alternative isn’t a one-size-fits-all. It’s about choosing the solution that best addresses your specific needs, whether that’s a new app, a deeper understanding, or a powerful hardware assist to make your existing tools sing.

Comprehensive FAQ Section

Q1: Why should I look for Lightroom alternatives for photo editing?
A1: Many photographers seek alternatives for various reasons, including the cost of Adobe’s subscription model, a desire for different user interfaces, specific features not found in Lightroom, better performance, or simply to explore different workflows and find a tool that better suits their individual style and needs.

Q2: Are any of these options true standalone photo editing software replacements for Lightroom?
A2: Among the products reviewed, PicShop Lite – Photo Editor is the only true standalone photo editing software designed for direct image manipulation. However, it’s primarily a mobile editor and won’t replace professional desktop RAW editing capabilities found in Lightroom. The other “alternatives” focus on training or hardware workflow enhancement for existing software.

Q3: Can a Loupedeck console replace my photo editing software?
A3: No, a Loupedeck console (like Loupedeck Live or Loupedeck More) is a hardware controller, not a standalone photo editing software. It works in conjunction with popular creative applications like Adobe Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, or Capture One Pro to provide tactile control, speed up your workflow, and enhance your editing experience. You still need the underlying software.

Q4: Is the Adobe Lightroom 6 Video Book an actual alternative to Lightroom?
A4: No, it’s a comprehensive training resource for Adobe Lightroom 6. It’s an “alternative” in the sense that it helps you master your existing Lightroom software, potentially making you realize you don’t need to switch if you can unlock its full potential. It’s a fantastic resource for deepening your understanding of Lightroom’s capabilities.

Q5: What are the main benefits of using a hardware controller like Loupedeck for photo editing?
A5: Hardware controllers like Loupedeck Live and Loupedeck More offer several benefits for photo editing. They provide tactile control over adjustments, which can be more intuitive and precise than using a mouse. They significantly speed up your workflow by mapping common functions and macros to dedicated buttons and dials, reducing repetitive mouse clicks. They also enhance ergonomics and can make the editing process feel more immersive and enjoyable.

Q6: I’m a beginner. Which of these Lightroom alternatives or workflow enhancers would be best for me?
A6: For beginners looking for a simple editing tool, PicShop Lite is an easy-to-use mobile editor. If you’re starting with Lightroom, the Adobe Lightroom 6 Video Book could be invaluable for learning the software inside out. Loupedeck consoles can be used by beginners, but they represent a larger investment and have a learning curve for customization, so they might be better suited once you have a clearer idea of your editing needs and workflow.

Q7: Can these alternatives handle RAW files?
A7: Professional desktop Lightroom alternatives are generally built to handle RAW files, offering non-destructive editing. However, among the products reviewed here, PicShop Lite is unlikely to offer robust RAW file support as it’s a mobile editor. The Loupedeck consoles and training books assume you’re using software that already supports RAW files (like Lightroom or Capture One).

Q8: What about the cost implications of these alternatives?
A8: The Adobe Lightroom 6 Video Book is a one-time purchase for extensive training. PicShop Lite is likely free or low-cost as a “Lite” mobile app. The Loupedeck consoles (Live and More) are a significant upfront hardware investment, but then you own them. When considering true software alternatives to Lightroom, you’d typically be looking at either a perpetual license (like Affinity Photo or Capture One) or another subscription service, which varies widely in price.