How to Get Lightroom for Free: Lightroom vs Lightroom Classic
Lightroom or Lightroom Classic - Which to Choose?
Adobe offers two versions of its popular photo editing software:
- Lightroom
- Lightroom Classic
Although both are used for photo editing, they differ in several key aspects.
Lightroom is a newer, more versatile version, available on a variety of platforms from computers to mobile devices to web browsers. Original images are stored in the cloud for automatic backups.
With an intuitive interface and features such as auto-tagging and smart search, Lightroom is user-friendly for all levels of experience.
Lightroom Classic, on the other hand, is a tool dedicated to professional product photographers and others and works exclusively on desktop computers. Files are stored locally on the hard drive, requiring the user to back them up themselves. Classic offers more advanced options for organising images, based on manually entered keywords.
The choice between these versions depends on the individual needs and preferences of the photographer. Lightroom will work well for those who value mobility and automation, while Lightroom Classic remains indispensable for professionals who require full control over their workflow.
Lightroom for Free From Adobe? What Is Adobe Offering?
Adobe's Free 7-Day Lightroom Trial
Adobe offers a free trial period for Lightroom that allows users to fully test the capabilities of the software. The trial lasts 7 days and runs on desktop and iPad, not on phones. It requires a payment card: if you do not cancel, it turns into a paid plan, and Adobe then gives you 14 days to cancel for a full refund.
Download the trial version: adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom/free-trial-download
Educational and Student Discounts and Versions
Students and teachers can get a discount on Creative Cloud Pro, the plan with all Adobe apps including Lightroom: in the US it costs US$19.99 a month in the first year and US$39.99 from the second year, against a regular US$69.99 (before tax; in the UK £16.94, then £35.04, against £68.35 incl. VAT; prices checked on 22 October 2026, Adobe student offer). Single-app plans, including Lightroom (1TB) and Photography (1TB), do not get the education discount.
Creative Cloud as a Place to Test Lightroom
Adobe Creative Cloud offers the opportunity to test Lightroom as part of a subscription, which includes access to many other Adobe tools. Users can thus see how Lightroom works with other applications in the Adobe ecosystem.
Free and Paid Adobe Photo Plans
Adobe currently sells two photography plans to new customers: Lightroom (1TB) at US$11.99 a month before tax (£12.70 incl. VAT in the UK) and Photography (1TB), which adds Photoshop, at US$19.99 (£20.84), both on an annual plan billed monthly (prices checked on 22 October 2026, Adobe plan comparison). According to Adobe's comparison table, both plans include Lightroom Classic. The only free option is the basic version of the mobile app.
The old Photography plan with 20GB of storage has not been sold to new customers since 15 January 2025 (existing subscribers can keep it). Both current plans come with 1TB of cloud storage, which is useful for large product shoots.
Free Lightroom Alternatives: Darktable and RawTherapee for Free Photo Editing
For those looking for free alternatives to Adobe Lightroom, there are a number of open source applications available. Darktable and RawTherapee are some of the most popular choices for photographers, offering extensive editing capabilities.
Darktable
Darktable offers features such as exposure correction, white balance and local editing, making it a strong rival to Lightroom. Darktable is particularly praised for its flexibility and ability to work on a variety of platforms, including Linux.
RawTherapee
RawTherapee stands out for its advanced colour manipulation tools and support for RAW files. RawTherapee offers advanced colour editing tools, which attracts professional photographers.
Both applications are regularly updated by the community, which guarantees support and development of new features. Thanks to the open source code, users can customise the software to suit their needs.
It is worth checking whether the free apps offer features that are crucial to you in your daily work.
One of the main advantages of free apps is the lack of subscription costs, which is important for many users. However, some of these apps may have a more complicated interface, which can be a challenge for beginners.
Check also:
Free Lightroom Mobile
Lightroom free on mobile offers a wide range of editing features on mobile devices. Users can use basic tools such as exposure correction and white balance without the need for a subscription.
Differences Between Mobile and Desktop Version
The free mobile version differs from the paid one mainly in its advanced tools: masking, the healing brush, geometry tools, batch editing, RAW editing and Generative Remove all require a premium subscription (Adobe's Lightroom mobile FAQ). However, it still offers enough tools for amateur photographers.
Photo Editing Capabilities on Mobile Devices
Lightroom Mobile allows quick and intuitive editing of photos directly on smartphones and tablets. As a result, photographers can edit photos on the go, which is extremely convenient.
RAW files can be edited only with a premium subscription or an Adobe plan; the free version handles JPEGs and basic adjustments. With a plan, Lightroom Mobile becomes a full RAW tool for editing on the go.
Mobile App Integration With Adobe Cloud
Lightroom Mobile integrates with Adobe's cloud, allowing photos and edits to be synchronised between devices. Thus, users can start editing on their phone and continue on their computer.
Syncing to the cloud also allows photos to be stored securely and accessed from anywhere. This solution is ideal for those who value mobility and flexibility.
Adobe Lightroom Feature Overview
Adobe Lightroom is one of the most popular photo editing tools, offering a wide range of features for photographers. Basic tools include exposure correction, white balance, contrast and saturation, which allow you to make quick adjustments to your photos.
Advanced Features
Lightroom also offers advanced features such as masking, local editing and colour manipulation, making it an ideal tool for professionals. The ability to work with RAW files allows you to maintain the highest quality of your photos when editing.
Library Organisation and Management
One of the key aspects of Lightroom is its photo organisation system, which allows for easy management of large libraries. Users can use folders, collections and tags, making it much easier to search and sort photos.
Integration With Other Tools
Lightroom integrates seamlessly with other Adobe products, such as Photoshop, for more advanced photo editing. Additionally, integration with cloud platforms allows you to sync photos between different devices.
Adobe Lightroom is also compatible with a number of plug-ins and add-ons, further extending its functionality. The ability to export photos directly to social media is another benefit for those involved in commercial photography.
The 7-day Adobe trial is the only way to use the full desktop Lightroom for free - cancel before it ends if you do not want to pay.
For permanent free RAW editing on a computer, Darktable and RawTherapee are the strongest alternatives.
The free mobile app covers basic edits on the phone, but RAW editing and masking there also require a subscription.
Compare these options with the way you work, and you will find the tools that best suit your creative and professional needs.
Prices, trial terms and plan details checked against Adobe's website on 22 October 2026.
