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Software · head to head

Adobe Lightroom vs QuarkXPress

Adobe Lightroom logo

Adobe Lightroom

Software

Photo editing and organization software for photographers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
QuarkXPress logo

QuarkXPress

Software

The original desktop publishing software for print and digital design

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; QuarkXPress quarky AI assistant and AI font pairing require a subscription license or a perpetual license with an active maintenance and support contract from v21.1 onward

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe Lightroom and QuarkXPress differ
AttributeAdobe LightroomQuarkXPress
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Apple TVWeb
Founded1982Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 QuarkXPress

Nothing recorded that Adobe Lightroom does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Adobe Lightroom

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

QuarkXPress

No use cases recorded yet. See the QuarkXPress review.

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

QuarkXPress

  • Quarky AI assistant and AI font pairing require a subscription license or a perpetual license with an active maintenance and support contract from v21.1 onward

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

QuarkXPress

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the QuarkXPress review.

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 QuarkXPress if

Nothing in the data separates QuarkXPress from Adobe Lightroom on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

QuarkXPress review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe Lightroom or QuarkXPress better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe Lightroom starts at Free and QuarkXPress at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe Lightroom or QuarkXPress?
Adobe Lightroom has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Adobe Lightroom and On request for QuarkXPress.
Does Adobe Lightroom or QuarkXPress run on more platforms?
Adobe Lightroom runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Apple TV. QuarkXPress runs on Web.
Can I use Adobe Lightroom for free?
Yes. Adobe Lightroom has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. QuarkXPress 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 QuarkXPress is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe Lightroom do that QuarkXPress cannot?
Adobe Lightroom covers RAW photo editing, Non-destructive editing, Batch processing, Color correction.

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
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
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
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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Related pages

More on Adobe Lightroom

More on QuarkXPress

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