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Introduction

  • The complexity of Photoshop and Lightroom, and the fact that they are only available as a monthly subscription puts many people off using them. There are alternatives, listed below, which can be bought and owned, though they are not then updated until you upgrade to a newer version.
  • The market for editing software is becoming very competitive, with a whole range of price points suitable for all budgets.
  • New features are being introduced in photo editing software very quickly, such as Artificial Intelligence, which can produce amazing results without you doing much at all.

Reviews

RAW Editors

  • Lightroom is a RAW editor which non-destructively edits RAW images. It is not a complete photo editor as it does not have layers, which is what Photoshop is for. Lightroom will also organise and catalogue your photos and print them. 
  • Dark Table - Free RAW editor for Windows, Mac and Linux. Probably the nearest program to Lightroom, which has even more modules, so you may not need any other editing program with this, though it is not so intuitive and has a steeper learning curve than Lightroom. Good library feature. Ref, Ref.
  • RawTherapee - Free RAW editor for Windows, Mac and Linux. Steep learning curve but very comprehensive. Good library feature. Ref.
  • Adobe DNG Converter is a useful program for converting almost any RAW file into the universal DNG format. This is really useful for converting files which may not be supported in some software, such as that for new cameras. 

Editing Programs

  • Photoshop is a photo editor which uses layers for more complex editing than Lightroom is capable of. 
  • GIMP is a free, open source photo editor for both Windows and Mac. Ref, 
  • Affinity Photo. 
  • Luminar.
  • ON1 Photo RAW.
  • Topaz Studio.
  • Exposure (Used to be called Alien Skin)
  • Photoshop Elements is a consumer version of Adobe Photoshop which is designed to be easy to use.
  • Capture One - Advanced Lightroom replacement and photo editing program.
  • Foxit Photo is similar to Photoshop and can work with JPEG or RAW files.

Windows Only Programs

  • Microsoft Photos is included in Windows 10 and does a good basic job of editing.
  • Corel PaintShop Pro - 
  • ACDSee - Windows only image editor to buy outright or subscribe.

Mac Only Programs

  • Apple Photos is included with their devices and is good for basic editing.
  • Picktorial is a free Mac only editor.

Online Programs

  • Online photo editors such as Flickr and Google Photos are also OK for basic editing.

Resources

  • Top 5 Best Adobe Lightroom CC Alternatives - J Cristina Video from Life After Adobe. His findings are that - 
    • ON1 - Quick, snappy and professional. Catalogue function is good. Best AI masking of all software. Probably nearest to a Lightroom replacement. 
    • Alien Skin Exposure X4 - Intuitive and professional, however often slows down while rendering. Tethering in real time. Does well with catalogues.
    • Capture One - Very powerful, professional and snappy. It does everything, however there is a very steep learning curve and the interface is not very user friendly. It is probably better than Lightroom overall but is not for the casual user. Different pricing plans make it economical for Fuji and Sony users but expensive for everyone else. 
    • Luminar 3 - Sluggish, buggy and produces screen artefacts. Lacks refinement, though with many good points.
  • Which Photo Processing Software Should You Use? - Video by Anthony Morganti.

Photoshop Alternatives