Free Photo Editing Software For Mac Like Lightroom

Darktableis free, open-source, and cross-platform, with versions for Linux, Mac, and Windows. Its interface looks strikingly similar to Lightroom Classic's, so you should feel quite at home if you're moving across. LightZoneis free, open-source, and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Photo Pos Pro is free photo editing software for those who want to both edit photos and build projects from scratch. It offers the ability to create collages, design business cards, and make other graphics. RAW, JPEG, GIF, and many other file types are supported. Adobe is one of the world's best-known brands when it comes to photo editing. With industry standard photo editing software like Photoshop and Lightroom, there isn't an effect you can't achieve with Adobe. Given that Adobe is so powerful, you might be wondering if there are free alternatives to Lightroom and Photoshop.

• Free Software Like Lightroom
• Adobe Free Photo Editing Software
• Professional Photo Editing Software Free

Photo editing programs allow both amateurs and professionals to make corrections to the raw footage captured by their digital camera, by removing the errors therein.

One can, with the help of these programs, remove background (green screen effect), remove noise from images, sharpen them, blur them, and lots of other options.

When thinking about such programs, Adobe Lightroom is the first that comes to mind. However, it does not run on versions of Windows lower than version 10 (1709 or later) and also demands the latest versions of the Macintosh operating system too.

In addition to the above is Adobe's hefty price. It then becomes clear to understand why a Lightroom alternative will be needed.

A quick online search reveals that there is no dearth of Adobe Lightroom competitors or an Adobe Lightroom replacement.

I would suggest that you purchase one of the best Adobe Lightroom alternatives, as they offer you value for money and provide you with the same editing power as that of Lightroom.

I am going to review apps like Lightroom, or apps similar to Lightroom, as this will help you determine what the best alternative to Adobe Lightroom is for your photo editing purpose.

I shall be reviewing five alternative Lightroom software that work on the Windows operating system and the Mac and review one good editing program that works on the Linux.

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The Perfect Alternatives to Lightroom (Mac, Windows & Linux)

These are perfect alternatives to Lightroom Mac, Windows or Linux. I leave it to you to determine which one of the six will be a good alternative to Lightroom for mac and the other operating systems and which will provide you with the best value for money after going through this comparison.

Skylum Luminar 4

(Mac & Windows)

Although I was quite impressed with the previous versions of this Lightroom 8 alternative, it did not have a DAM (Digital Assets Manager) in the form of an image library that allowed me to organize photographs in the same way that Adobe Lightroom does, or better.

Skylum has addressed this issue and the latest version of their Lightroom CC alternative now has an image library better than that offered by Adobe.

Luminar is a cutting-edge standalone photo editing program, packed with all the features you need to edit an image from beginning to end.

Like the offering from Adobe, it also boasts of a right-hand column, in which you can make adjustments with the help of sliders. This further shows how Luminar compares to Lightroom.

You also have the option to choose which adjustments you would like to appear in that column.

This similarity makes it easier for people looking for a photo editor like Lightroom (and people who may already have been used to Lightroom) to quickly get acquainted with Luminar.

The DAM included in the latest version helps you keep your image organized along with options for batch processing and quick editing.

By the way, this program, which I consider to be an excellent Windows Lightroom alternative (and Mac), also includes layer masking, Photoshop-like layers, numerous filters, blend modes, as well as advanced stuff such as LUT mapping, which Lightroom does not have.

For your information, EISA voted Luminar 3 as the best photo editing software of 2019-2020.

You can simply move a single slider or even do complex stuff like masks and multiple layers, or experiment with 3rd party plugins.

Luminar also boasts of unique filters such as bottom and top lighting, sunrays, AI sky enhancer, and the standard editing tools such as black & white, highlights/shadows, curves, raw develop and some others.

These, together, offer you endless opportunities for artistic and creative editing and straight-up batch processing work. This is why I consider it to be the best Lightroom alternative Windows 10 as well.

How Best to Use Luminar As A Plugin?

In order to, efficiently, use this program as a plugin, Skylum has provided Luminar Flex for this purpose.

I loved the Accent AI in this new version as it has undergone a massive update. This can speed up the processing speed quite a lot.

Luminar has also improved the way the library works. When you apply the same look to numerous photographs, the software understands that it should not transfer selective adjustments such as cropping, erasing all of the photographs, as well as cloning.

You now have the ability to copy and paste your adjustments over individual photographs or synchronize them across multiple images.

Do you want to compare your edited images with the way your camera edits? Here's some good news for Fuji fans. You can view both of them simultaneously and use the JPEG for referencing while editing the RAW version.

Luminar 4 costs $89. However, if you purchase it now, the vendor will include `Inspiration Looks,' which includes plugins such as Dramatic Landscapes, Neon Tokyo, and Analogue Film. The vendor offers a 60 days money-back guarantee.

Aurora HDR

(Mac & Windows)

I shall now check Aurora HDR in this review of best Lightroom alternative Mac to see how the former stands against the latter.

Although this program works excellently on the Windows operating system, it is the perfect Mac alternative to Lightroom.

Best for HDR Imaging

HDR is a highly specialized type of photography coded to expose details in both shadows and highlights of a specific scene by mixing multiple versions of an identical image, clicked at different exposures.

It is tough to do this right without overdoing it. The camera sensor cannot capture what your eyes see and this HDR technique compensates by creating the exact image you saw through your eyes.

The 2020 version of this software boasts of a new Quantum HDR Engine with AI (artificial intelligence) based tone-mapping technology. This helps produce natural results through more efficient photo merging.

A New Smart HDR Structure feature offers more realistic sharpness and precise details sans halos, noise or artifacts.

Can Be Used As A Plugin or Standalone

You can run this software as an Adobe Photoshop plugin or as a standalone app. It works as a plugin for Lightroom too (does this not put it ahead of Lightroom?) and even as an Apple Photos extension.

Aurora HDR supports plug-ins of Photoshop such as the Nik Collection and Imagenomic and you also have the option to combine Aurora with Luminar as a bundle.

Classical HDR photography mixes multiple images; however, Aurora, via its AI-based neural network, permits you to transform one RAW image to HDR as well.

It prevents ghosting and unnatural lighting, reduces noise, boosts contrast, as well as corrects colors.

The batch processing feature of this photo editor allows you to import multiple image folders for export as single or bracketed images. It can accurately identify which images stand alone and which are bracketed. It allows you to work with different image formats, including RAW.

If you are in need of software like Lightroom, Aurora HDR boasts of a friendly interface and is extremely easy to use. The 2020 version introduces a new Looks feature, which was previously known as presets, with additional refined toning and aesthetic choices.

As a good Lightroom substitute for Mac and Windows, this photo editing software has sliders and controls that give you total visual power over your picture. This software ships with some Looks collections: Artistic, Dramatic, Architecture, Landscape, and Essential.

Applying one-click Looks is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg as you can build in additional edits with the masking and layer features.

Like most Photoshop Lightroom alternatives, Aurora, too, is non-destructive. It allows you to undo any adjustments. If required, you can revert to the original image and start from scratch.

The new Lookup Table (LUT) mapping feature allows you to simply put your mouse pointer over the 11 built-in LUTs to look at dynamic previews of the various color grading styles that you are able to apply to your photos.

Additional Textures, LUTs, and Looks are available either for free or for a reasonable price from the Aurora HDR Marketplace.

If you are in need of a software similar to Lightroom (and cheaper), the Aurora HDR makes for a good option. For a limited time, it can be purchased at a cost of $99. Existing users can always upgrade to the new version by supplying their names and emails or serial numbers for verification.

In my opinion, this is among the best in the OSX Lightroom alternative.

Capture One Pro

(Mac & Windows)

Another powerful photo editing software that can be a good replacement for Lightroom is Capture One Pro. From import to export, it gets the job done (and quickly too).

Its interface is similar to that of Lightroom. Hence, you should find it familiar if you have been using Lightroom before or migrating.

For those familiar with Lightroom, it makes use of catalogs for photo organization and storage while Capture One makes use of both catalogs and sessions for the same function.

Because Lightroom works with one database file, it can get pretty slow when you have several thousands of photographs in its catalog whereas Capture One gives you the option of also using ‘sessions'.

‘Sessions' in Capture One, creates folders for your photos that are carefully organized into subjects (or whatever the session folder is about). They are portable and so you can just move those folders from one place to the other. This can be handy if you do a lot of traveling.

Capture One supports many camera types and brands, so you should not face any problems with camera compatibility.

Some camera brands supported include:

• Fujifilm
• Sony
• Leica
• Samsung
• Ricoh
• Pentax
• Panasonic
• Nikon
• Konica Minolta
• Canon
• Mamiyaleaf
• Olympus
• and others

Tools in the toolbar and user interface can be re-organized and customized as you deem fit. You may remove tools that you do not need or add those that you need. Some are also collapsible and expandable.

Capture One has ‘Levels' and ‘Curve' adjustments, which are standard for all you need for professional photo editing.

In addition to a wide array of toolbar options to choose from, it also contains keyboard shortcuts that can be customized to speed up your workflow.

You can stack up photos in layers with Capture One and adjust the opacity. You can also toggle between a layer and the background. This will help you see the ‘before' and ‘after' of any image.

There are ‘Process Recipes' available for a perfect output of your files into whatever format you need. You can also create your own ‘Process Recipes' for output. You can also select many images for batch processing.

Free Software Like Lightroom

Franzis

(Mac & Windows)

Franzis has, virtually, all you need to churn out great-looking photos in very little time. Just give it an ordinary picture, and the result will amaze you.

To achieve all these, it has a wide variety of tools that you can use. Some of these tools include HDR, Denoise, Black & White, Neat, Analogue, Sketch, Focus, Sharpen, cutout, color effects, and many more.

Compared to other similar software, it is one of the best lightroom competitors worthy of mention.

Whether you want to take perfect pictures at night (when the light is poor) or you want to turn any image or photo into a beautiful work of art, Franzis has got you covered.

There is also an array of presets to use for your editing projects.

The tools can function as a standalone or as a plugin.

Exposure X5 (Alien Skin Software)

(Mac & Windows)

‘Exposure Software' is the new company name of ‘Alien Skin'. This is a non-destructive RAW editing software developed to serve all creative photographers.

The latest of this is the ‘Exposure X5' which comes with some new improved functionality to enhance editing and make for an efficient workflow.

Some of the new functionalities in Exposure X5 include:

• 3D color masking preview
• Ability to correct lens distortion, chromatic aberration and vignetting
• Ability to target specific problem areas in an image by setting mask parameters
• Ability to take the luminosity and color range that is used to define the layer mask on an image and re-use them on other images with similar characteristics
• Remove unwanted areas from the mask with a brush thereby saving you time

There are, basically, 3 tools that you can get in the Exposure bundle. They are:

As already mentioned above, it lets you edit in a non-destructive manner.

You can:

• Organize
• Customize and reproduce looks with creative styles to make the looks unique
• Use it as a plug-in with Adobe

With this, you can turn your photos into works of art.

There are pencil, watercolor, crayon, sketch and oil painting presets that you can choose from to achieve beautiful artistic photos that look real that you can hang on the wall or frame.

Do you need to enlarge your photograph and still retain the high quality of those photos? If so, ‘Blow Up' will let you achieve this.

‘Blow Up' images are sharp and will enlarge low-resolution JPG images with ease even if you can no longer find the original RAW files.

‘Eye Candy' includes effects such as lightning, chrome, smoke, fire and many more that you can use to add real-looking effects to your photos.

Remember, you can get all of the above 3 tools when you get the Exposure Bundle.

Corel Aftershot Pro

(Mac, Windows & Linux)

Finally here is some good news for Linux users. Corel Aftershot Pro is the best Lightroom alternative (Linux). In fact, it is the only software among the six programs like Lightroom I am reviewing here that supports Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Let us check this Adobe Lightroom alternative (Linux) in detail.

This program has all you need for a seamless RAW editing workflow on Linux, Mac, and Windows. It lets you edit, develop, and export your RAW images. Although it is primarily meant for professionals, it is struggling to overcome Adobe Lightroom as the most commonly-used RAW editor.

Adobe Free Photo Editing Software

I downloaded the 30-day free trial version and installed it on my Linux PC. I was impressed by the speed of the program. However, it lacked some of the advanced editing tools that the above-reviewed programs have. I had no worries about that as I needed a Linux based photo editor at the time.

Unlike Adobe's offering, which comes at a monthly subscription, you only need to pay a one-off charge for AfterShot.

The program takes far less storage space than competitors. While Lightroom CC takes up a whopping 1.3GB, this offering from Corel takes just 142MB.

A Word About Installation and Settings

Once the installation is complete, you will view a dialog box with lots of text with the choice to adjust some settings like user data, cache, and so on. I suggest that you leave these settings to default unless you know what you are doing.

Next, you have the option to register this Linux, Windows and Mac Lightroom alternative 2020 software using an email address.

The interface was, however, not as impressive as those of the other programs earlier mentioned in this review.

Coming from the house of Corel, I had expected much more. However, Linux users need not complain as they just do not have many choices.

Once you get yourself familiarized with the program, you'll find the program easy to use. I had to spend some time trying to figure out how to import an image.

However, once I found out the process, I was pleasantly surprised by the speed at which this Lightroom alternative for Windows, Mac, and Linux imported and built previews when I tried to import several images in one go.

The importing speed of this Lightroom alternative for Linux is the best of the five programs compared here.

The list price of this program is $79.99 but is generally discounted. Existing users can update to the latest version at any time, which is fair enough for this Adobe Lightroom equivalent for Linux and the other operating systems.

Cyberlink PhotoDirector

(Windows & Mac)

This is the last in the list of programs similar to Lightroom that I shall be reviewing today.

Unlike two of the programs reviewed here, you can download a free version of this software for trial purposes. Remember, the free version does not have all the features of the paid version.

The vendor has introduced professional-quality features like soft proofing and tethered shooting together with a new artificial intelligence style engine as well as additional style packages to modernize the creative process.

As a good Lightroom alternative software, PhotoDirector 10 offers a number of enhancements, which includes improvements to its layering system.

This allows greater creative flexibility to experienced editors without losing its simple touch, ensuring that less experienced users will also be able to use the tool and learn to edit photographs with it.

The introduction of layer grouping, cropping masks, as well as the capability to add new empty layers to projects collectively presents an excellent range of options for users interested in experimenting with their Lightroom alternative raw images.

Users looking for quick and creative solutions can purchase a wide range of stylish express layer templates, available for sale from the website of the vendor.

In addition to the existing collection that ships with this online Lightroom alternative, the vendor will be offering four additional packs during launch, which includes Comic, Teenage, Galaxy, and Shapes.

These packs will make your life simpler when adding special effects to images. For example, the Comic pack allows you to create professional-looking comic strips in a flash. You no longer have to waste time creating speech bubbles.

On numerous occasions, first-time entrants in the world of photo editing feel intimidated by the number of tools available on the same bar. It is due to this that PhotoDirector, yet another Lightroom alternative for Mac and Windows, offers a navigation system with clearly labeled tools, divided into tabs.

On rare occasions in which the program uses icons, they are always explained with practical tips. There is a large variety of options available; however, the tabbed design implies that there are never too many options on the screen simultaneously.

This prevents new editors from getting confused. They might have to spend some time to find a specific function, but it is always clear where to look.

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The 'Ultra' version of this Lightroom alternative online retails for $99.99, but the vendor is currently offering it at only $69.99.

Which Will Be A Better Alternative to Lightroom (Mac, Windows or Linux)?

I leave it to you to determine which is the best Lightroom alternative for Windows, Mac, and Linux in 2020.

I loved the Accent AI in this new version as it has undergone a massive update. This can speed up the processing speed quite a lot.

Luminar has also improved the way the library works. When you apply the same look to numerous photographs, the software understands that it should not transfer selective adjustments such as cropping, erasing all of the photographs, as well as cloning.

You now have the ability to copy and paste your adjustments over individual photographs or synchronize them across multiple images.

Do you want to compare your edited images with the way your camera edits? Here's some good news for Fuji fans. You can view both of them simultaneously and use the JPEG for referencing while editing the RAW version.

Luminar 4 costs $89. However, if you purchase it now, the vendor will include `Inspiration Looks,' which includes plugins such as Dramatic Landscapes, Neon Tokyo, and Analogue Film. The vendor offers a 60 days money-back guarantee.

Aurora HDR

(Mac & Windows)

I shall now check Aurora HDR in this review of best Lightroom alternative Mac to see how the former stands against the latter.

Although this program works excellently on the Windows operating system, it is the perfect Mac alternative to Lightroom.

Best for HDR Imaging

HDR is a highly specialized type of photography coded to expose details in both shadows and highlights of a specific scene by mixing multiple versions of an identical image, clicked at different exposures.

It is tough to do this right without overdoing it. The camera sensor cannot capture what your eyes see and this HDR technique compensates by creating the exact image you saw through your eyes.

The 2020 version of this software boasts of a new Quantum HDR Engine with AI (artificial intelligence) based tone-mapping technology. This helps produce natural results through more efficient photo merging.

A New Smart HDR Structure feature offers more realistic sharpness and precise details sans halos, noise or artifacts.

Can Be Used As A Plugin or Standalone

You can run this software as an Adobe Photoshop plugin or as a standalone app. It works as a plugin for Lightroom too (does this not put it ahead of Lightroom?) and even as an Apple Photos extension.

Aurora HDR supports plug-ins of Photoshop such as the Nik Collection and Imagenomic and you also have the option to combine Aurora with Luminar as a bundle.

Classical HDR photography mixes multiple images; however, Aurora, via its AI-based neural network, permits you to transform one RAW image to HDR as well.

It prevents ghosting and unnatural lighting, reduces noise, boosts contrast, as well as corrects colors.

The batch processing feature of this photo editor allows you to import multiple image folders for export as single or bracketed images. It can accurately identify which images stand alone and which are bracketed. It allows you to work with different image formats, including RAW.

If you are in need of software like Lightroom, Aurora HDR boasts of a friendly interface and is extremely easy to use. The 2020 version introduces a new Looks feature, which was previously known as presets, with additional refined toning and aesthetic choices.

As a good Lightroom substitute for Mac and Windows, this photo editing software has sliders and controls that give you total visual power over your picture. This software ships with some Looks collections: Artistic, Dramatic, Architecture, Landscape, and Essential.

Applying one-click Looks is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg as you can build in additional edits with the masking and layer features.

Like most Photoshop Lightroom alternatives, Aurora, too, is non-destructive. It allows you to undo any adjustments. If required, you can revert to the original image and start from scratch.

The new Lookup Table (LUT) mapping feature allows you to simply put your mouse pointer over the 11 built-in LUTs to look at dynamic previews of the various color grading styles that you are able to apply to your photos.

Additional Textures, LUTs, and Looks are available either for free or for a reasonable price from the Aurora HDR Marketplace.

If you are in need of a software similar to Lightroom (and cheaper), the Aurora HDR makes for a good option. For a limited time, it can be purchased at a cost of $99. Existing users can always upgrade to the new version by supplying their names and emails or serial numbers for verification.

In my opinion, this is among the best in the OSX Lightroom alternative.

Capture One Pro

(Mac & Windows)

Another powerful photo editing software that can be a good replacement for Lightroom is Capture One Pro. From import to export, it gets the job done (and quickly too).

Its interface is similar to that of Lightroom. Hence, you should find it familiar if you have been using Lightroom before or migrating.

For those familiar with Lightroom, it makes use of catalogs for photo organization and storage while Capture One makes use of both catalogs and sessions for the same function.

Because Lightroom works with one database file, it can get pretty slow when you have several thousands of photographs in its catalog whereas Capture One gives you the option of also using ‘sessions'.

‘Sessions' in Capture One, creates folders for your photos that are carefully organized into subjects (or whatever the session folder is about). They are portable and so you can just move those folders from one place to the other. This can be handy if you do a lot of traveling.

Capture One supports many camera types and brands, so you should not face any problems with camera compatibility.

Some camera brands supported include:

• Fujifilm
• Sony
• Leica
• Samsung
• Ricoh
• Pentax
• Panasonic
• Nikon
• Konica Minolta
• Canon
• Mamiyaleaf
• Olympus
• and others

Tools in the toolbar and user interface can be re-organized and customized as you deem fit. You may remove tools that you do not need or add those that you need. Some are also collapsible and expandable.

Capture One has ‘Levels' and ‘Curve' adjustments, which are standard for all you need for professional photo editing.

In addition to a wide array of toolbar options to choose from, it also contains keyboard shortcuts that can be customized to speed up your workflow.

You can stack up photos in layers with Capture One and adjust the opacity. You can also toggle between a layer and the background. This will help you see the ‘before' and ‘after' of any image.

There are ‘Process Recipes' available for a perfect output of your files into whatever format you need. You can also create your own ‘Process Recipes' for output. You can also select many images for batch processing.

Free Software Like Lightroom

Franzis

(Mac & Windows)

Franzis has, virtually, all you need to churn out great-looking photos in very little time. Just give it an ordinary picture, and the result will amaze you.

To achieve all these, it has a wide variety of tools that you can use. Some of these tools include HDR, Denoise, Black & White, Neat, Analogue, Sketch, Focus, Sharpen, cutout, color effects, and many more.

Compared to other similar software, it is one of the best lightroom competitors worthy of mention.

Whether you want to take perfect pictures at night (when the light is poor) or you want to turn any image or photo into a beautiful work of art, Franzis has got you covered.

There is also an array of presets to use for your editing projects.

The tools can function as a standalone or as a plugin.

Exposure X5 (Alien Skin Software)

(Mac & Windows)

‘Exposure Software' is the new company name of ‘Alien Skin'. This is a non-destructive RAW editing software developed to serve all creative photographers.

The latest of this is the ‘Exposure X5' which comes with some new improved functionality to enhance editing and make for an efficient workflow.

Some of the new functionalities in Exposure X5 include:

• 3D color masking preview
• Ability to correct lens distortion, chromatic aberration and vignetting
• Ability to target specific problem areas in an image by setting mask parameters
• Ability to take the luminosity and color range that is used to define the layer mask on an image and re-use them on other images with similar characteristics
• Remove unwanted areas from the mask with a brush thereby saving you time

There are, basically, 3 tools that you can get in the Exposure bundle. They are:

As already mentioned above, it lets you edit in a non-destructive manner.

You can:

• Organize
• Customize and reproduce looks with creative styles to make the looks unique
• Use it as a plug-in with Adobe

With this, you can turn your photos into works of art.

There are pencil, watercolor, crayon, sketch and oil painting presets that you can choose from to achieve beautiful artistic photos that look real that you can hang on the wall or frame.

Do you need to enlarge your photograph and still retain the high quality of those photos? If so, ‘Blow Up' will let you achieve this.

‘Blow Up' images are sharp and will enlarge low-resolution JPG images with ease even if you can no longer find the original RAW files.

‘Eye Candy' includes effects such as lightning, chrome, smoke, fire and many more that you can use to add real-looking effects to your photos.

Remember, you can get all of the above 3 tools when you get the Exposure Bundle.

Corel Aftershot Pro

(Mac, Windows & Linux)

Finally here is some good news for Linux users. Corel Aftershot Pro is the best Lightroom alternative (Linux). In fact, it is the only software among the six programs like Lightroom I am reviewing here that supports Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Let us check this Adobe Lightroom alternative (Linux) in detail.

This program has all you need for a seamless RAW editing workflow on Linux, Mac, and Windows. It lets you edit, develop, and export your RAW images. Although it is primarily meant for professionals, it is struggling to overcome Adobe Lightroom as the most commonly-used RAW editor.

Adobe Free Photo Editing Software

I downloaded the 30-day free trial version and installed it on my Linux PC. I was impressed by the speed of the program. However, it lacked some of the advanced editing tools that the above-reviewed programs have. I had no worries about that as I needed a Linux based photo editor at the time.

Unlike Adobe's offering, which comes at a monthly subscription, you only need to pay a one-off charge for AfterShot.

The program takes far less storage space than competitors. While Lightroom CC takes up a whopping 1.3GB, this offering from Corel takes just 142MB.

A Word About Installation and Settings

Once the installation is complete, you will view a dialog box with lots of text with the choice to adjust some settings like user data, cache, and so on. I suggest that you leave these settings to default unless you know what you are doing.

Next, you have the option to register this Linux, Windows and Mac Lightroom alternative 2020 software using an email address.

The interface was, however, not as impressive as those of the other programs earlier mentioned in this review.

Coming from the house of Corel, I had expected much more. However, Linux users need not complain as they just do not have many choices.

Once you get yourself familiarized with the program, you'll find the program easy to use. I had to spend some time trying to figure out how to import an image.

However, once I found out the process, I was pleasantly surprised by the speed at which this Lightroom alternative for Windows, Mac, and Linux imported and built previews when I tried to import several images in one go.

The importing speed of this Lightroom alternative for Linux is the best of the five programs compared here.

The list price of this program is $79.99 but is generally discounted. Existing users can update to the latest version at any time, which is fair enough for this Adobe Lightroom equivalent for Linux and the other operating systems.

Cyberlink PhotoDirector

(Windows & Mac)

This is the last in the list of programs similar to Lightroom that I shall be reviewing today.

Unlike two of the programs reviewed here, you can download a free version of this software for trial purposes. Remember, the free version does not have all the features of the paid version.

The vendor has introduced professional-quality features like soft proofing and tethered shooting together with a new artificial intelligence style engine as well as additional style packages to modernize the creative process.

As a good Lightroom alternative software, PhotoDirector 10 offers a number of enhancements, which includes improvements to its layering system.

This allows greater creative flexibility to experienced editors without losing its simple touch, ensuring that less experienced users will also be able to use the tool and learn to edit photographs with it.

The introduction of layer grouping, cropping masks, as well as the capability to add new empty layers to projects collectively presents an excellent range of options for users interested in experimenting with their Lightroom alternative raw images.

Users looking for quick and creative solutions can purchase a wide range of stylish express layer templates, available for sale from the website of the vendor.

In addition to the existing collection that ships with this online Lightroom alternative, the vendor will be offering four additional packs during launch, which includes Comic, Teenage, Galaxy, and Shapes.

These packs will make your life simpler when adding special effects to images. For example, the Comic pack allows you to create professional-looking comic strips in a flash. You no longer have to waste time creating speech bubbles.

On numerous occasions, first-time entrants in the world of photo editing feel intimidated by the number of tools available on the same bar. It is due to this that PhotoDirector, yet another Lightroom alternative for Mac and Windows, offers a navigation system with clearly labeled tools, divided into tabs.

On rare occasions in which the program uses icons, they are always explained with practical tips. There is a large variety of options available; however, the tabbed design implies that there are never too many options on the screen simultaneously.

This prevents new editors from getting confused. They might have to spend some time to find a specific function, but it is always clear where to look.

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The 'Ultra' version of this Lightroom alternative online retails for $99.99, but the vendor is currently offering it at only $69.99.

Which Will Be A Better Alternative to Lightroom (Mac, Windows or Linux)?

I leave it to you to determine which is the best Lightroom alternative for Windows, Mac, and Linux in 2020.

After going through this basic review, you should not face any problem making a choice between the above alternatives to Lightroom for PC, Mac or Linux.

Even though I use a Linux PC, I believe that any of the above-mentioned programs will make for a good alternative to Lightroom.

Adobe Lightroom is a top editing program. In this article, we look at the best free Lightroom alternatives. First and foremost, we look at the features Lightroom offers so a fair comparison can be made. This software offers both editing and photo management capabilities. Some of the main features are listed below:

Photo Manipulation

• Edit basic image parameters such as color and detail
• Local adjustments and graduated filters
• Lightroom presets for quick editing
• Export direct to social media

Photo Management

Create detailed folder hierarchies

• Add keywords and metadata to photos
• Assign star and color ratings to photos
• Search photos using keywords and ratings

As you can see, Lightroom is quite extensive – it gives users a high level of control and flexibility over the editing process. There is a plethora of free Lightroom alternatives however that offer just as much. Programs such as GIMP, Darktable and RawTherapee can serve as a viable alternative without the associated cost.
If you require photo editing and management features but can't afford the price tag, why not try out these Lightroom alternatives? We have reviewed the following products:

• RawTherapee
• GIMP
• Paint.net
• Darktable
• Pixlr
• Photo Pos Pro
• LightZone
• InPixio
• Apple Photos
• Pixelmator
• Polarr
• Photoscape X
• Microsoft Windows 10 Photos
• Photopea

1. Raw Therapee

Price – Free
Available Platforms – Windows
RawTherapee is one of the leading free Lightroom alternatives. Download adobe acrobat for mac. This program receives regular updates and is available on Windows platforms. The current version is 5.6 which features bug fixes and minor improvements.
The layout of this fantastic program is not too dissimilar to Lightroom – toolbars are located on the left and right-hand sides, whilst the viewing pane is in the centre. The tools are easy to find and straightforward to use. General features include support for a myriad of camera models, keyboard shortcuts to improve efficiency, and support for RAW files.
In addition to this, RawTherapee also has an advanced selection of adjustment tools. Adjust parameters like color, tone, balance and curves. Moreover, use a myriad of transformation tools to align and crop images. RawTherapee has a great deal to offer and is a top free Lightroom alternative.

2. Luminar (free trial)

Price – $79 (free trial)
Available Platforms – Windows/MAC

On the one hand, the software is different from Lightroom in terms of design, usability, and automatic features while on the other hand, it's very similar to Lightroom in the tools and capabilities it possesses.

Couple that with a free trial and a low price tag for the full program, and you've got a winner. Luminar will let you do most of the things you can do in Lightroom, and then some. It brings innovative features and highly advanced presets that make it much easier for photographers to start editing their photos.

Luminar is also constantly improving and the last version added a feature that was perhaps the sole reason why it became almost a no-brainer as a Lightroom alternative; Libraries. So not only can you use Luminar to edit your photos in a very intuitive and powerful way, but you can also use it to manage your photos on your computer, something that was almost exclusive to Lightroom in a professional capacity for years.

3. GIMP

Price – Free
Available Platforms – Windows / Linux / MAC

GIMP is both a raster graphics editing tool, but also a photo editor. This is one of the most widely used free Lightroom alternatives available. GIMP uses open source technology and the source code can be freely edited. Moreover, there is a host of information available from the community about using this product.
Photo editing features include basic parameter manipulation like contrast, core temperature and white balance. In addition to this, there is a plethora of automatic correction tools – the program has support for many camera models and can eliminate imperfections such as lens flare and barrel distortion. GIMP also has a choice of transformation tools like crop, rotate, and flip.

4. Photolemur

Price – free with watermark
Available Platforms – Windows/MAC

Professional Photo Editing Software Free

Having a million and one tools at your fingertips in something like Lightroom is obviously a great thing for professional photographers but sometimes all you want is a simple program that would do all the work for you or at least give you a solid base to start off from.

That's where Photolemur shines. It's an advanced photo editor that aims to automatically adjust various common issues with your photos, without needing much work from your side. This makes the program highly suitable for all kinds of photographers from beginners who want their photos slightly adjusted before uploading them to their favorite sharing platform to professionals who wish to do away with all the technical work and want to focus on their creative input.

5. Aurora HDR (free trial)

Price – $99 (free trial)
Available Platforms – Windows/MAC

Aurora HDR is a cheap alternative to Lightroom if you are interested in creating HDR photos that look natural and highly detailed. The software comes with a friendly interface and a whole lot of tools for those who want to get into detailed editing. Aurora HDR also gives you various presets that each gives your photos a different look and feel. The software is also powered by strong AI technologies that make it much quicker than other HDR editors. Issues like ghosting and haze are controlled very well, and the final images produced are quite excellent in terms of detail and their visual aesthetic.

6. Paint.net

Price – Free
Available Platforms – Windows
Paint.net is a long-standing photo editor available exclusively for Windows platforms. This program offers a simple interface and a user-friendly set of tools. Moreover, it performs superbly and doesn't require hefty processing power to edit images smoothly.
Create brilliant graphics using the raster graphics tools – use gradients, line tools, text and more. In addition to this, Paint.net has a myriad of photo editing tools. Change basic parameters such as contrast, brightness and exposure. All changes can be layered to provide additional control and creative license.
Paint.net also features an unlimited editing history – if mistakes are made, simply click back on previous items to revert changes made. The combination of basic layout and simple tools are great for novice photographers and graphic designers.

7. Darktable

Price – Free
Available Platforms – Windows / MAC / Linux / Ubuntu
If you compared Lightroom and Darktable side by side, you could mistake them for the same program. Darktable has an extremely similar layout to Lightroom. Furthermore, it features many of the same tools. As you would expect, the interface is fantastic – the main editing toolbar is on the right-hand side and uses sliders. Moreover, the left hand column contains image organization settings and filters.
Users requiring photo management can take advantage of the rating system and keywords. Photos can be given a star rating, color, and assigned keywords and metadata. These items can be searched for using the advanced search functionality.
Editing tools include a plethora of basic parameters. Have full control over your image makeup including adjustments for color, balance and tones. Moreover, Dartktable has auto-correction tools and support for hundreds of camera models.

8. Pixlr

Price – Free
Available Platforms – Web browser / Smartphone application
Users who require a simple, no-hassle editor can use Pixlr. This is a free Lightroom alternative available for use in web browsers. The only pre-requisite is that Adobe Flash player must be enabled. The browser version doesn't require heavy processor requirements. It runs smoothly and we experienced no lag when testing the editing features.
Pixlr is both a raster graphics editor and a photo manipulation tool. The raster graphics tools are similar to Adobe Photoshop. Photo manipulation tools include different adjustments such as – brightness, contrast, color balance, vibrancy, levels, curves and exposure. In addition to this, apply different stylish effects like sepia, solarize, desaturate and old photo.
This free web browser editor may not be the most sophisticated program, but it is a great tool for basic manipulation and retouching.

9. Photo Pos Pro

Price – Free
Available Platforms – Windows / MAC / Web browser
Photo Pos Pro is a highly rated free Lightroom alternative available as both a web browser application and full downloadable software. A premium version is also available, but the free program has a host of useful features.
Basic RAW editing support is available. Edit image parameters including colors, brightness, temperature and contrast. Image layers are also available and local adjustments can be applied to these layers. In addition to the image manipulation tools there is basic raster graphics tools too.
Photo retouching tools are also possible – remove unwanted red-eye from portraits and correct lens distortion and other imperfections. These tools combine together to create a superb editing program that is easy to use.

10. LightZone

Price – Free
Available Platforms – Windows / MAC / Linux
LightZone can be compared to both Darktable and Lightroom. It is a marvellous free Lightroom alternative that concentrates on photo manipulation. The basic layout is easy to grasp – users can find tools on the right-hand side and a live preview of the image in the centre.
Main editing categories include sharpening, white balance, hue, saturation, and lighting. Furthermore, detailed RAW editing is possible for tonal curves and other adjustments. It is possible to customize the workspace for your own editing needs. Adjustments toolbars can be arranged in different orders to improve the process.
All editing is non-destructive and any changes made can be reverted. Moreover, the product is open source and has a plethora of regular updates.

11. Fotor

Price – Free/ $3.33 per month for Pro version
Available Platforms – Windows/Mac/iOS/Android/browser

Like Lightroom, Fotor is a versatile photo editor, able to run as a desktop or mobile app and in a browser. Also similar to Lightroom, Fotor offers cloud storage and workflow designed to be used on the go. Although it doesn't include digital asset management, this free photo editor should be considered. It provides hundreds of photo effects and filters and aims to deliver fast editing and high-quality images. In addition, it includes a large collection of frames, stickers, templates, and design elements.

Fotor allows you to make basic adjustments such as exposure, brightness, and contrast, retouch colors and tone, add vignettes, and fix geometry errors. Moreover, it includes tools for retouching portraits and helps you remove blemishes, wrinkles, and red-eye, enhance eyebrows, and add make-up. The list of photo effects is extremely long and many of them are included in the free version. You can preview each change before applying it and redo it afterward. It doesn't work with layers but neither does Lightroom.

You can use Fotor as a free alternative for Lightroom when you want quick fixes and special effects even if it isn't a match for its functionality.

12. InPixio

Price – Free
Available Platforms – Windows / MAC
InPixio has a myriad of awesome editing tools. The InPixio free photo editor is a basic, but well-made tool with a wealth of features. First and foremost, users who require quick editing can use one of the 100+ pre-made filters. These filters are high quality and mimic many different styles. Textures and other brush overlays are also available to add detail to your photos.
Basic tone curve tools allow colors and balance to be adjusted. Moreover, post-processing effects like vignette and grain are available. In terms of processing, InPixio has excellent power and efficiency. A batch processing tool allows multiple photos to be editing concurrently with a single click.
Users can also benefit from the InPixio Photo Clip tool. This program automatically removes unwanted objects from images.

13. Apple Photos

Price – Free
Available Platforms – MAC / iOS
Apple Photos is installed as standard on MAC and iOS devices. Furthermore, the program is linked to iCloud accounts and thus, photos are automatically uploaded and saved. Apple Photos acts as an editing tools and has excellent organizational tools too. Quickly catalogue and organize photos using the folder view. Moreover, images can be searched for and even inserted into instant message conversations. Collections can be made from photos with taglines and personalized thumbnails – this is great for organizing holiday's snaps or special occasions.
Editing features include the ability to change full RAW file format images. Basic parameters can be changed like brightness, temperature and exposure. Furthermore, use a plethora of pre-set filters and styles to transform images into stylish works of art. If you have a MAC device or iPhone, Apple Photos is a great starter program to use and is completely free.

14. PiZap

Price – Free
Available Platforms –iOS/Android/browser

PiZap is a free online photo editor that matches Lightroom in terms of photo editing for the general public. It doesn't offer cloud storage and digital asset management, but it provides all the basic edits you need to enhance your photos and create artistic compositions. PiZap allows you to add text, stickers, and frames to your photos and provides painting tools for extreme creativity.

You can use PiZap for basic photo editing such as adjust contrast, brightness, and saturation, apply geometric transformations, remove or add noise. For portrait retouching, the editor provides tools for removing blemishes and wrinkles, whitening teeth, adding make-up, and enhancing eyes. It doesn't work with layers so all changes are applied to the original image. Still, you can redo a certain number of actions.

Among PiZap's photo effects you'll find Autofix that takes care of the basic adjustments in your place, a wide range of textures, and other stylish and creative effects.

15. Pixelmator

Price – Free (Trial)
Available Platforms – MAC
Pixelmator is an amazing free Lightroom alternative available for MAC/iOS devices. This program can be used for both graphic design, raster graphics creation, and RAW photo manipulation. Graphic creation tools include text, lines, shapes and gradients. Moreover, users can combine different elements together to create fantastic designs.
This program also has fantastic brush tools and painting swatches. Users can add brush strokes and textures to images with ease and a high level of control.
Each image can also be fully edited. Different parameters such as brightness, contrast, exposure and highlights can be altered. It is also possible to save presets for batch editing. Finally, Pixelmator also has a plethora of artistic effects such as Gaussian, Motion Blur, Shine and Sharpen. The combination of retouching, graphics creation, and brushes give users fantastic creativity.

16. Polarr

Price – Free
Available Platforms – Windows / MAC / Web Browser
Polarr is an extremely straightforward editor – it is available as a standalone program, or a downloadable web browser app. The web browser version is easy to use – it has a minimalistic layout with clear and concise toolbars. Moreover, the tools are categorized for easy location.
A great feature of Polarr is the excellent range of overlays. Users can add gradients, backdrops, clouds, weather, light leaks, and flares. These overlays are superb – the lens flares for example look realistic and are high quality.
In addition to the overlays, Polarr has a selection of basic editing tools. Edit parameters such as highlights, shadows, whites, blacks, and exposure. Color and tones can also be manipulated – edit the saturation, hue, vibrancy and temperature. Each parameter has it's own slider – simply adjust the slider to alter the value. The combination of superb overlays together with detailed editing tools make Polarr a great free Lightroom alternative.

17. PhotoScape X

Price – Free
Available Platforms – Windows / MAC
Photoscape X combines different editing elements such as raster graphics creation and full RAW editing. The program is available for both Windows and MAC devices. Furthermore, there is a host of useful tutorial videos relating to the operation of the program.
Photo management capabilities include the option to share photos to social media. Share photos to Facebook, Twitter and other platforms with a few clicks. Moreover, browse through photos using the detailed viewer mode, and add ratings such as stars and flags. This makes organizing and locating images simple.
We found a host of gorgeous filters too such as sepia and retro styles. Users can apply hundreds of different filters and overlays to add creative flare to their images.

18. Microsoft Windows 10 Photos

Price – Free
Available Platforms – Windows
Microsoft Windows 10 Photos is available for Windows desktop computers, tablets and surface book laptops. This program is primarily a photo organizer with video editing capabilities too. It does have photo editing capabilities. Users can manipulate basic parameters such as sharpness, saturation, contrast and hue. Moreover, basic transformations are available such as crop and rotate.
Windows 10 Photos also has excellent image organization options. Users can organize their photos effectively. Furthermore, all photos are backed-up to One Drive if the user has a registered account. This serves as an extra failsafe.

19. Photopea

Price – Free
Available Platforms –Web Browser
To conclude our list of free Lightroom alternatives, we have Photopea. This is another web browser-based application similar to Pixlr. Photopea has a wealth of amazing tools. First and foremost, editing tools can transform images including RAW files and GIFs. The RAW editing facilities are detailed and include vibrancy, saturation, black & white and color balance. Aside from the editing tools, images can easily be exported to social media Facebook and Twitter.

Don't think that Lightroom is the only editing program available. Whilst this software is certainly one of the best, as you can see from the list above, there is a wave of free Lightroom alternatives available. Many of these programs have a free trial that you can test before committing to the full program too – give them a try today and broaden your photo editing horizons!