kitio.aiAdobe Lightroom vs Adobe Photoshop
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Adobe Lightroom has the lower starting price: about $12 a month, against $20 for Adobe Photoshop.
Industry-standard photo editor with Firefly-powered generative fill
Free trial · $19.99/moAt a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- AI masking
- Denoise
- Generative Remove
- Adaptive presets
- Cloud sync
- Generative Fill
- Generative Expand
- Remove tool
- Neural Filters
- Select Subject
| Feature | Adobe Lightroom | Adobe Photoshop |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Photo editing and organizing app with AI masking and denoise | Industry-standard photo editor with Firefly-powered generative fill |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Starting price | $11.99/mo | $19.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No, 7-day trial |
| Made by | Adobe | Adobe |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Adobe Lightroom has the lower starting price: about $12 a month, against $20 for Adobe Photoshop.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Free
Free
- Lightroom mobile app
- Basic editing tools
Lightroom
$11.99/mo
- Annual plan, billed monthly
- Lightroom on all devices
- 1TB cloud storage
Photography
$19.99/mo
- Annual plan, billed monthly
- Lightroom, Lightroom Classic and Photoshop
- 1TB cloud storage
3 plans
Photography
$19.99/mo
- Annual plan, billed monthly
- Photoshop and Lightroom
- 1TB cloud storage
Photoshop
$22.99/mo
- Annual plan, billed monthly
- Photoshop desktop, web and iPad
- Generative credits included
Creative Cloud Pro
$69.99/mo
- Annual plan, billed monthly
- 20+ Creative Cloud apps
- Premium Firefly features
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Adobe Lightroom
- Excellent RAW editing
- One-click AI masks
- Syncs across devices
- Subscription only for full features
- Cloud storage limits
- Two desktop versions confuse users
Adobe Photoshop
- Most complete editing toolset
- AI tools blend into real edits
- Works on desktop, iPad and web
- Expensive subscription
- Steep learning curve
- Generative credits are capped
Which one should you choose?
Choose Adobe Lightroom if you want:
- Excellent RAW editing
- One-click AI masks
- Syncs across devices
Watch out: subscription only for full features.
Choose Adobe Photoshop if you want:
- Most complete editing toolset
- AI tools blend into real edits
- Works on desktop, iPad and web
Watch out: expensive subscription.
Adobe Lightroom vs Adobe Photoshop FAQ
What is the difference between Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop?
Adobe Lightroom: Photo editing and organizing app with AI masking and denoise. Adobe Photoshop: Industry-standard photo editor with Firefly-powered generative fill. Both are image tools.
Is Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop cheaper?
Adobe Lightroom has the lower starting price: about $12 a month, against $20 for Adobe Photoshop.
Do Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop have free plans?
Adobe Lightroom: Yes. Adobe Photoshop: No, 7-day trial.
Who makes Adobe Lightroom?
Adobe Lightroom is made by Adobe, based in United States.
Who makes Adobe Photoshop?
Adobe Photoshop is made by Adobe, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop?
Choose Adobe Lightroom if you value excellent raw editing and one-click ai masks. Choose Adobe Photoshop if you value most complete editing toolset and ai tools blend into real edits.