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Photography · head to head

Adobe Lightroom vs Facetune

Adobe Lightroom logo

Adobe Lightroom

Photography

Photo editing and organization software for photographers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Facetune logo

Facetune

Photography

Selfie and portrait retouching app from Lightricks, sold on a subscription with a short free trial

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Adobe Lightroom no layer support for complex edits, requiring Photoshop for advanced manipulation; Facetune the free trial is short, commonly around 3 days, and automatically converts into a paid annual subscription unless the user proactively cancels beforehand, a pattern that has generated a consistent volume of complaints about unexpected charges.
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe Lightroom covers RAW photo editing, Facetune covers Skin and blemish retouching.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe Lightroom and Facetune actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe Lightroom and Facetune differ
AttributeAdobe LightroomFacetune
Pricing modelUnknownFree download with a short free trial, most tools require a Facetune Pro subscription that auto-renews annually
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Apple TViOS, Android
Founded1982Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Photography).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Adobe Lightroom

  • RAW photo editing
  • Non-destructive editing
  • Batch processing
  • Color correction
  • Lens corrections
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Adobe Stock
  • Adobe Portfolio

Only in Facetune

  • Skin and blemish retouching
  • Facial reshaping
  • Body contouring
  • Teeth whitening and eye enhancement
  • Background blur and replacement
  • One-tap auto-enhance

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Adobe Lightroom

  • Photo editingnot Facetune
  • RAW processingnot Facetune
  • Photo organizationnot Facetune
  • Client galleriesnot Facetune

Facetune

  • Someone wanting quick, targeted retouching of a single selfie or portrait before posting to social medianot Adobe Lightroom
  • A user comfortable cancelling a free trial through their phone app store settings before it converts to a paid annual chargenot Adobe Lightroom
  • Someone who has decided to pay for the annual subscription and wants a broad set of face and body retouching tools in one appnot Adobe Lightroom
  • A user who has used Photoleap or Videoleap from the same publisher and wants a consistent editing tool stylenot Adobe Lightroom

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Adobe Lightroom

  • No layer support for complex edits, requiring Photoshop for advanced manipulation
  • Generative credits limited and require monthly replenishment, restricting AI features usage
  • Cloud storage required for full functionality and syncing
  • No dual monitor support within the application

Facetune

  • The free trial is short, commonly around 3 days, and automatically converts into a paid annual subscription unless the user proactively cancels beforehand, a pattern that has generated a consistent volume of complaints about unexpected charges.
  • Cancellation must be done through the phone Apple App Store or Google Play subscription management screens rather than a clear button inside the app itself, adding friction specifically at the point users most want to stop paying.
  • Nearly all meaningful retouching functionality is locked behind the paid tier, so the free download is not a genuinely usable product on its own, only a gateway to the trial.
  • Heavy reliance on face and body reshaping tools has drawn broader criticism, common to this whole app category, over promoting unrealistic beauty standards, particularly among younger users.
  • Published subscription pricing has varied by region and promotional period, so the price a new user is quoted is not necessarily stable or consistent across markets.

Pricing, plan by plan

Adobe Lightroom

Free
  • Lightroom Plan (1TB)$11.99/month
    • Lightroom cloud storage with 1TB
    • 100 generative credits per month
  • Photography Plan$19.99/month
    • Lightroom and Lightroom Classic
    • Photoshop
    • 1TB cloud storage

Facetune

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Very limited basic editing tools
    • Most retouching features locked
    • Trial access to Pro tools for a short period, commonly around 3 days
  • Facetune Pro$47.99/year
    • Full access to retouching, reshaping and enhancement tools
    • Auto-renews annually unless cancelled before trial or renewal date
    • Cancellation handled through Apple App Store or Google Play subscription settings, not inside the app

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe Lightroom if

  • You need raw photo editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Apple TV.
  • You also want non-destructive editing.
Adobe Lightroom review

Choose Facetune if

  • You need skin and blemish retouching.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want facial reshaping.
Facetune review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe Lightroom or Facetune better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe Lightroom starts at Free and Facetune at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe Lightroom or Facetune?
Adobe Lightroom starts at Free and Facetune at Free.
Does Adobe Lightroom or Facetune run on more platforms?
Adobe Lightroom runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Apple TV. Facetune runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Adobe Lightroom for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Adobe Lightroom best used for?
Adobe Lightroom is most often used for photo editing, raw processing, photo organization, client galleries. Of those, photo editing and raw processing are not what Facetune is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe Lightroom do that Facetune cannot?
Adobe Lightroom covers RAW photo editing, Non-destructive editing, Batch processing, Color correction. Facetune covers Skin and blemish retouching, Facial reshaping, Body contouring, Teeth whitening and eye enhancement.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Adobe Lightroom: Can I edit photos offline in Lightroom?

Yes, you can edit locally stored photos without syncing to the cloud. Lightroom lets you access photos from your device through the Local tab and edit them independently of cloud connectivity.

Source
Facetune: Does Facetune have a free trial?

Yes, typically around 3 days, after which it automatically converts to a paid annual subscription unless cancelled beforehand.

Adobe Lightroom: What are generative credits and how many do I get?

Generative credits limit AI-powered edits like Generative Fill and Expand. Plans joined before June 17, 2025 receive 100 credits monthly; newer plans get 25 credits. The Photography Plan with 1TB includes 500 credits.

Source
Facetune: How do I cancel a Facetune subscription?

Cancellation is done through the Apple App Store or Google Play subscription settings on your phone, not through a button inside the Facetune app itself.

Adobe Lightroom: Can I use Lightroom and Photoshop together?

Yes, you can open photos from Lightroom in Photoshop by right-clicking and selecting Edit in Photoshop. When saved from Photoshop, the edited image reappears in Lightroom automatically.

Source
Facetune: Can I use Facetune without paying?

The free download offers very limited functionality; nearly all retouching tools require the paid Facetune Pro subscription after the trial ends.

Adobe Lightroom: What platforms does Lightroom support?

Lightroom is available on desktop (macOS and Windows), mobile (iOS and Android), web browser, and Apple TV, allowing access across devices.

Source
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