Is Adobe Photoshop better than Adobe Lightroom?

Adobe Photoshop ranks higher in our list of photo editing software (#2 against #6, score 90.5 against 85.0). Adobe Lightroom is best for: photographers who edit raw files on several devices. Adobe Photoshop is best for: professional retouching, compositing and PSD workflows.

Which is cheaper, Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop?

Adobe Lightroom: Creative Cloud subscription with cloud storage; a free trial is offered. Adobe Photoshop: Creative Cloud subscription; a free trial is offered.

Do Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop run on the same platforms?

Adobe Lightroom supports Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android, Web. Adobe Photoshop supports Windows, macOS, iPadOS.

Adobe Lightroom vs Adobe Photoshop: Which Is Better? (2026)

85.0
Editorial score
90.5
6
Platforms
3
No
Free to use
No
No
Open source
No

Which should you choose?

Choose Adobe Lightroom if you want

Photographers who edit raw files on several devices.

A polished raw workflow with edits that sync between desktop, phone and browser. It is a subscription and cloud-centered, unlike darktable or RawTherapee, which are free and local.

Choose Adobe Photoshop if you want

Professional retouching, compositing and PSD workflows.

The deepest layer, mask and retouching tools, and the PSD files other people send you. It is subscription-only, so it costs more over time than Affinity, GIMP or Pixelmator Pro.

The main differences

Only Adobe Lightroom runs on iOS.
Only Adobe Lightroom runs on Android.
Only Adobe Lightroom runs on Web.

Side by side

	Adobe Lightroom	Adobe Photoshop
Score	85.0	90.5
Rank in list	#6 of 10	#2 of 10
Price	SubscriptionCreative Cloud subscription with cloud storage; a free trial is offered	SubscriptionCreative Cloud subscription; a free trial is offered
Free to use	No	No
Open source	No	No
Platforms	WindowsmacOSiOS, iPadOSAndroidWebWindows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android, Web	WindowsmacOSiPadOSWindows, macOS, iPadOS
Made by	Adobe	Adobe
Best for	Photographers who edit raw files on several devices	Professional retouching, compositing and PSD workflows
Strengths	Edits sync across desktop, mobile and web Polished non-destructive raw workflow Cloud storage included with plans	Deepest layer, mask and retouching toolset Opens and saves PSD files used across the industry Integrates with other Adobe apps and cloud libraries
Limits	Subscription only Raw originals depend on cloud storage unless you use Lightroom Classic	Subscription only, with no one-time purchase Heavier and more complex than simple editors
Links	Visit site	Visit site

Questions about Adobe Lightroom vs Adobe Photoshop

Is Adobe Photoshop better than Adobe Lightroom?: Adobe Photoshop ranks higher in our list of photo editing software (#2 against #6, score 90.5 against 85.0). Adobe Lightroom is best for: photographers who edit raw files on several devices. Adobe Photoshop is best for: professional retouching, compositing and PSD workflows.
Which is cheaper, Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop?: Adobe Lightroom: Creative Cloud subscription with cloud storage; a free trial is offered. Adobe Photoshop: Creative Cloud subscription; a free trial is offered.
Do Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop run on the same platforms?: Adobe Lightroom supports Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android, Web. Adobe Photoshop supports Windows, macOS, iPadOS.