Adobe Lightroom vs GIMP

Adobe Lightroom9.2Visit GIMP8.7Visit

Higher score Adobe Lightroom #2 in Photo Editing Software 9.2/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 6 features Try Adobe Lightroom

vs

GIMP #5 in Photo Editing Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 6 features Visit GIMP

• Adobe Lightroom fits best

  RAW workflows and cross-device photo editing

• GIMP fits best

  Free layered editing and extensibility

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Side by side

Feature	Adobe Lightroom 9.2/10 Visit ↗	GIMP 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.7
Ranking	#2 in Photo Editing Software	#5 in Photo Editing Software
Best for	RAW workflows and cross-device photo editing	Free layered editing and extensibility
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	—	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	7 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Desktop
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Community, Docs	Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Adobe Lightroom 5/6 · GIMP 3/6
RAW photo support	✓ (best)	—
Layer editing	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Masking tools	✓	✓
Batch editing	✓	✓
Cloud sync	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
AI retouching	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Platform	Multi-platform	Multi-platform
Our review
Pros	Comprehensive RAW processing, masking, and selective adjustments AI tools cover culling, retouching, Lens Blur, and distraction removal Syncs photos and edits across web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android	Free and open-source across Windows, macOS, and Linux Layers, masks, high-bit-depth processing, and broad format support Extensible through plug-ins, scripting, and command-line batch processing
Cons	Advanced features and expanded synchronization require a subscription The broad feature set may exceed the needs of occasional editors Lightroom Classic is oriented toward desktop-focused workflows	RAW workflows require darktable or RawTherapee plug-ins Desktop-focused rather than a cloud-based editing workflow Volunteer-community maintenance may not suit buyers seeking a commercial vendor
Our verdict	Adobe Lightroom combines photo organization with editing tools for photographers, creators, and anyone managing digital image libraries. It supports exposure, color, effects, cropping, presets, selective adjustments, masking, RAW import… Read the review →	GIMP is a free, open-source desktop application for creating, editing, retouching, and composing images. It is aimed at photographers, artists, designers, and other image creators who need layered editing without a paid license. Its core… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Adobe Lightroom — where it wins

  • Comprehensive RAW processing, masking, and selective adjustments
  • AI tools cover culling, retouching, Lens Blur, and distraction removal
  • Syncs photos and edits across web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android

  Where it doesn't

  • Advanced features and expanded synchronization require a subscription
  • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of occasional editors
  • Lightroom Classic is oriented toward desktop-focused workflows

• GIMP — where it wins

  • Free and open-source across Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Layers, masks, high-bit-depth processing, and broad format support
  • Extensible through plug-ins, scripting, and command-line batch processing

  Where it doesn't

  • RAW workflows require darktable or RawTherapee plug-ins
  • Desktop-focused rather than a cloud-based editing workflow
  • Volunteer-community maintenance may not suit buyers seeking a commercial vendor

• Adobe Lightroom9.2/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

  A broad Lightroom workflow for RAW editing, masking, organization, and synchronized access.

  Try Adobe LightroomFull verdict →
• GIMP8.7/10 · Free plan

  A capable free editor for layered work, masking, scripting, and plug-in-based RAW workflows.

  Visit GIMPFull verdict →