Photography · head to head
Adobe Lightroom vs ON1 Photo RAW
Adobe Lightroom
Photography
Photo editing and organization software for photographers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
ON1 Photo RAW
Photography
All-in-one RAW photo editor and organizer, an alternative to Lightroom and Photoshop
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Adobe Lightroom has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Adobe Lightroom no layer support for complex edits, requiring Photoshop for advanced manipulation; ON1 Photo RAW it is a Mac and Windows desktop application only, with no mobile app or web-based editing option.
- They diverge on capability: Adobe Lightroom covers RAW photo editing, ON1 Photo RAW covers RAW processing and organization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Adobe Lightroom and ON1 Photo RAW actually diverge.
| Attribute | Adobe Lightroom | ON1 Photo RAW |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | one-time |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Apple TV | mac, windows |
| Founded | 1982 | Unknown |
Identical on both: 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 ON1 Photo RAW
- RAW processing and organization
- Layers and masking
- NoNoise AI
- Resize AI
- Super Select AI
- Generative editing tools
- Presets, filters, and LUTs
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Adobe Lightroom
- Photo editingnot ON1 Photo RAW
- RAW processingnot ON1 Photo RAW
- Photo organizationnot ON1 Photo RAW
- Client galleriesnot ON1 Photo RAW
ON1 Photo RAW
- Editing and organizing RAW photos without a subscriptionnot Adobe Lightroom
- Replacing a Lightroom plus Photoshop workflow with one applicationnot Adobe Lightroom
- Applying AI noise reduction to high-ISO imagesnot Adobe Lightroom
- Upscaling images for large prints using AInot Adobe Lightroom
- Building composite edits with layers and masksnot 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
ON1 Photo RAW
- It is a Mac and Windows desktop application only, with no mobile app or web-based editing option.
- Pricing and available bundles are not clearly listed on the marketing pages, requiring users to reach checkout to see actual costs.
- Some advanced features and content bundles are locked behind the higher-priced MAX or Studio subscription tiers rather than the base one-time purchase.
- As a smaller ecosystem than Adobe's, it has fewer third-party plugin and tutorial resources built around it.
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$19.99/month
- Lightroom and Lightroom Classic
- Photoshop
- 1TB cloud storage
ON1 Photo RAW
On request- Photo RAW$undefined/one-time
- One-time payment, no subscription
- Install on two computers
- Full RAW editing and organization
- Photo RAW MAX$undefined/one-time
- One-time payment or subscription option
- Install on three computers
- Adds extra effects and content bundles
- Photo Studio$undefined/month
- Subscription plan
- Includes all individual ON1 plugin and standalone titles
- Cloud sync and ON1 Plus training content
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.
Choose ON1 Photo RAW if
- You need raw processing and organization.
- You work on mac, windows.
- You also want layers and masking.
Questions people ask
- Is Adobe Lightroom or ON1 Photo RAW better?
- Neither clearly leads. Adobe Lightroom starts at Free and ON1 Photo RAW at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Adobe Lightroom or ON1 Photo RAW?
- Adobe Lightroom has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Adobe Lightroom and On request for ON1 Photo RAW.
- Does Adobe Lightroom or ON1 Photo RAW run on more platforms?
- Adobe Lightroom runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Apple TV. ON1 Photo RAW runs on mac, windows.
- Can I use Adobe Lightroom for free?
- Yes. Adobe Lightroom has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ON1 Photo RAW starts at On request.
- 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 ON1 Photo RAW is typically brought in for.
- What can Adobe Lightroom do that ON1 Photo RAW cannot?
- Adobe Lightroom covers RAW photo editing, Non-destructive editing, Batch processing, Color correction. ON1 Photo RAW covers RAW processing and organization, Layers and masking, NoNoise AI, Resize AI.
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.
SourceON1 Photo RAW: Does ON1 Photo RAW require a subscription?
No. ON1 Photo RAW is sold with 'one price covers everything, no subscription' as the default purchase model, though a subscription-based Photo Studio bundle is also offered for users who want ongoing access to all ON1 apps.
SourceAdobe 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.
SourceON1 Photo RAW: What AI features does ON1 Photo RAW include?
It includes Resize AI for super-resolution enlargement, NoNoise AI for noise reduction, Super Select AI for one-click selections, and generative tools such as Sky Swap AI and Generative Erase.
SourceAdobe 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.
SourceON1 Photo RAW: How many computers can I install ON1 Photo RAW on?
The standard Photo RAW purchase allows installation on two computers, the MAX edition allows three, and the Photo Studio subscription allows installation on five computers.
SourceAdobe 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Adobe Lightroom
More on ON1 Photo RAW
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