Luminar
AI-assisted photo editor for macOS and Windows, sold as app and plug-in
- #7 of 10 in best photo editing software
- Paid
- macOSWindows
Ranked 7 of 10 in best photo editing software
AI photo editor sold as an app and plug-in for macOS and Windows, with Magic Light AI, HDR merge and panorama stitching. It shows no free tier, and Lightroom's cloud sync suits ongoing library work better.
Best for AI-assisted edits as an app or plug-in
About Luminar
Luminar edits photos with AI-assisted tools, which the vendor names in features such as Magic Light AI, and with HDR merging and panorama stitching. The app is available for macOS and Windows as a standalone application and as a plug-in. The vendor's site also has a Luminar on Mobile page, so the product line includes a phone version.
Compared with Adobe Lightroom, which is a subscription in this list, Luminar's page shows no free tier. Compared with Pixlr, which is free in a browser, it is a paid desktop product. It suits photographers who want AI-driven adjustments inside one application rather than browser-based editing.
Key features
- Magic Light AI
- HDR merge
- Panorama stitching
- Standalone app and plug-in
- Luminar on Mobile
Strengths
- Built-in AI tools such as Magic Light AI
- HDR merge and panorama stitching
- Runs as app and plug-in on macOS and Windows
Limits
- No free tier shown on the vendor page
- Pricing details sit on a separate page
Where Luminar ranks
How Luminar compares
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
#5 Photopea | 86.5 | Free | Web |
#6 Adobe Lightroom | 85.0 | Subscription | WindowsmacOSiOS, iPadOSAndroidWeb |
| #7Luminar | 83.5 | Paid | macOSWindows |
| #8darktable | 82.5 | Free and open source | WindowsmacOSLinux |
#9 Pixlr | 80.0 | Free plan, paid upgrades | Web |
The full comparison table for best photo editing software has all 10 products.
Alternatives to Luminar
All 9 alternatives
Related rankings
Questions about Luminar
- Is Luminar free?
- Luminar is a paid product (paid). Sold as an application and plug-in; no free tier shown.
- Is Luminar open source?
- No. Luminar is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does Luminar support?
- Luminar is available on: macOS, Windows.
- What is Luminar best for?
- AI-assisted edits as an app or plug-in. In our ranking of photo editing software it is number 7 of 10 with a score of 83.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Luminar?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Affinity, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Pixelmator Pro.
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