Lightroom/Photoshop Alternatives

[Roller]

It's been awhile since this topic was discussed, so I'd like to hear what y'all think in 2026.

I've been an Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber for years, using it almost exclusively for Acrobat, Lightroom, and Photoshop, in that order. (I migrated to Lightroom when Apple abandoned Aperture.) Since I don't use most of the ACC apps, I don't want to continue paying $33/month. I can get Lightroom alone for $12/month or add Photoshop for $20/month, but I don't use Photoshop often – Lightroom would probably be adequate for my needs. Regardless, I'd like to move away from Adobe subscriptions.

Have any of you switched from Lightroom and, if so, to what? I've read good things about ON1 Photo RAW, which looks like it combines Lightroom and Photoshop. It's available as a one-time license for $50 (sale ends today!) or an $80/year subscription, which would still be less expensive than either Adobe plan.

 

[Citysnaps]

It's been awhile since this topic was discussed, so I'd like to hear what y'all think in 2026.

I've been an Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber for years, using it almost exclusively for Acrobat, Lightroom, and Photoshop, in that order. (I migrated to Lightroom when Apple abandoned Aperture.) Since I don't use most of the ACC apps, I don't want to continue paying $33/month. I can get Lightroom alone for $12/month or add Photoshop for $20/month, but I don't use Photoshop often – Lightroom would probably be adequate for my needs. Regardless, I'd like to move away from Adobe subscriptions.

Have any of you switched from Lightroom and, if so, to what? I've read good things about ON1 Photo RAW, which looks like it combines Lightroom and Photoshop. It's available as a one-time license for $50 (sale ends today!) or an $80/year subscription, which would still be less expensive than either Adobe plan.

Do you know if ON1 will open previously processed files in Lightroom (say from 20 years ago) and faithfully reproduce them, before applying any new edits in ON1? And then after applying edits in ON1, can save that file such that it can still be opened in the future with Lightroom should you change your mind and want to go back to Lightroom?

I think it would be hard for me to change from Lightroom as I've been using it since it was released. And that when I use it, it's all muscle memory. I don't know how many processed image files I have, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was more than 100K. What I would worry about is somehow being in a position where those processed image files somehow became damaged through new edits or not accessible any more. I'm going on faith that Adobe won't let me down in the future.

 

[Roller]

Do you know if ON1 will open previously processed files in Lightroom (say from 20 years ago) and faithfully reproduce them, before applying any hew edits in ON1? And then after applying edits in ON1, can save that file such that it can still be opened in the future with Lightroom should you change your mind and want to go back to Lightroom?

I think it would be hard for me to change from Lightroom as I've been using it since it was released. And that when I use it, it's all muscle memory. I don't know how many processed image files I have, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was more than 100K. What I would worry about is somehow being in a position where those processed image files somehow became damaged through new edits or not accessible any more. I'm going on faith that Adobe won't let me down in the future.

Great questions – I don't know the answers, though I can ask the company. But I get what you're saying about muscle memory and trusting that Adobe will continue to support it. I've also become accustomed to Lightroom's workflow, though I have far fewer images than you, only around 8K. I may just stick with it and get along without Photoshop and Acrobat. Thanks!

 

[Citysnaps]

Great questions – I don't know the answers, though I can ask the company. But I get what you're saying about muscle memory and trusting that Adobe will continue to support it. I've also become accustomed to Lightroom's workflow, though I have far fewer images than you, only around 8K. I may just stick with it and get along without Photoshop and Acrobat. Thanks!

Yeah, I'm not pleased with LR's yearly cost. But then I look at my monthly PG&E gas and electric bill - whoa!

 

[Eric]

Yeah, I'm not pleased with LR's yearly cost. But then I look at my monthly PG&E gas and electric bill - whoa!

I am bundled on the monthly plan and it's not cheap but I also write it off as part of the business. I really only need 2 or 3 of the apps but they force a bunch of crap into the bundle that I have no use for.

 

[Roller]

I am bundled on the monthly plan and it's not cheap but I also write it off as part of the business. I really only need 2 or 3 of the apps but they force a bunch of crap into the bundle that I have no use for.

I'm on the annual plan, paid monthly. I also don't have need for most of the bundled apps. But apparently, I can't cancel without paying an early termination fee that's equal to 50% of the remaining payments. The only way to do this is to cancel when the plan renews, although my account profile doesn't even show when that is. No wonder Adobe just was just ordered to pay $150 million because their subscription practices violated the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act. Half of that is supposed to go to customers for "free services," though I don't expect to see a penny of that.

Still, I'm planning to call Adobe tomorrow and tell them that the last auto-renewal email I received was in November 2024. All it said was "Your subscription will automatically renew monthly until you cancel (price subject to change). You may cancel at any time..." No mention of ETFs. I'll remind them that the lack of clarity was what prompted the DOJ to take action against Adobe. And, to be clear, all I want is to switch to a one-app plan. Or maybe I can say that their CEO is in the Epstein files.