Affinity PhotovsAdobe Lightroom
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Affinity Photo
- No generative AI or content-aware fill(8/10)
- No photo library or asset management(7/10)
- Confusing mask layering system(6/10)
- No Smart Objects like Photoshop(6/10)
- No Save for Web feature(5/10)
- Keyboard shortcuts differ from Photoshop(5/10)
- UI text too small on high-DPI displays(5/10)
- No video or animation timeline(4/10)
Adobe Lightroom
- Steep learning curve for beginners(6/10)
- Confusing Lightroom vs Classic distinction(5/10)
- Missing features compared to Classic(5/10)
Affinity Photo
- Slow RAW file processing(8/10)
- Limited AI noise reduction capabilities(5/10)
Adobe Lightroom
- Extreme slowness with large catalogs(9/10)
- AI features consume excessive resources(7/10)
- Denoise and AI edits bloat the catalog(6/10)
Affinity Photo
- Limited plugin ecosystem(7/10)
Adobe Lightroom
- Photoshop roundtrip breaks intermittently(6/10)
Affinity Photo
- Crashes during RAW import and export(8/10)
Adobe Lightroom
- Cloud sync issues between Classic and CC(7/10)
- Catalog corruption causes data loss(10/10)
- Frequent outages affect cloud users(6/10)
- Lightroom Classic updates keep breaking things(8/10)
Affinity Photo
- No iPhone or Android mobile app(5/10)
Adobe Lightroom
- Mobile app laggy on budget phones(6/10)
Affinity Photo
- Forum shutdown and Discord migration concerns(4/10)
Adobe Lightroom
- Photos used for AI training by default(6/10)
Affinity Photo
No signals
Adobe Lightroom
- Subscription model with no perpetual license(8/10)
- 50% cancellation fee for annual plans(8/10)
- Cheap 20GB plan gone, 1TB plans cost more(7/10)
- Lightroom price increase 2026: $11.99 to $14.99(7/10)
- AI tools now use up generative credits(6/10)
Pricing Comparison
Affinity Photo
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Local storage only
Limits: Must have Canva account, no AI-powered tools in free tier, V1/V2 licenses no longer updated
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1TB Canva cloud storage
Limits: AI features require Canva ecosystem integration
Users: 1 user per platform
Storage: Local storage only
Limits: No longer sold, existing licenses work but won't receive V3 features
Adobe Lightroom
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1TB cloud
Limits: No Photoshop; AI tools such as Generative Remove and Topaz upscaling draw on the monthly credit allowance
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1TB cloud
Limits: Now the cheapest way for new subscribers to get Lightroom plus Photoshop
Users: 1 user
Storage: 20GB cloud
Limits: Not available to new customers; 20GB fills up quickly with RAW files
Users: 1 user
Storage: 100GB cloud
Limits: Overkill for photo-only users; replaced the old All Apps plan
Users: 1 user
Storage: Local device storage
Limits: No cloud sync; essentially a trial of the paid app
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Affinity Photo | Adobe Lightroom |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Layer-based editing Full layer support | ||
| RAW development Non-destructive, but slow | ||
| HDR merge Built-in HDR tools | ||
| Panorama stitching Automatic stitching | ||
| Focus stacking Multi-focus merge | ||
| Editing | ||
| Non-destructive RAW editing Industry-standard XMP sidecar approach | ||
| AI-powered masking Select Subject, Sky, Background automatically | ||
| AI Denoise Excellent results but RAM-intensive | ||
| HDR panorama merge Lightroom Classic only, not mobile | ||
| Video editing Basic color/exposure only, no timeline | ||
| AI Features | ||
| AI Generative Fill Requires Canva Pro | ||
| Content-Aware Fill Traditional inpainting only | ||
| Sync | ||
| Cloud sync across devices Lightroom cloud version; Classic requires setup | ||
| Organization | ||
| Photo library/catalog No asset management | ||
| Face recognition Works but accuracy issues reported | ||
| Mobile | ||
| Mobile app iOS and Android with most desktop features | ||
| Professional | ||
| Tethered capture Lightroom Classic only | ||
| Export | ||
| Print/Book modules Lightroom Classic only | ||
| File Formats | ||
| PSD compatibility Good import/export | ||
| Extensibility | ||
| Plugin support Limited compared to PS | ||
| Usability | ||
| Offline editing Classic fully offline; cloud version limited | ||
| Platforms | ||
| iPad version Full-featured | ||
| iPhone/Android app Not available | ||
| Pricing | ||
| Perpetual license option Subscription only since Lightroom 6 | ||
| Collaboration | ||
| Multi-user catalog Single-user catalogs only | ||