Adobe Lightroom
Pixelmator Pro
No signals
Adobe Lightroom
Pixelmator Pro
Adobe Lightroom
Pixelmator Pro
Adobe Lightroom
Pixelmator Pro
Adobe Lightroom
Pixelmator Pro
Adobe Lightroom
Pixelmator Pro
No signals
Adobe Lightroom
Pixelmator Pro
Adobe Lightroom
No signals
Pixelmator Pro
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1TB cloud
Limits: No Photoshop included; cloud-dependent for full functionality
Users: 1 user
Storage: 20GB cloud
Limits: Very limited cloud storage; may not be available to new users
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1TB cloud
Limits: Still limited for large professional libraries
Users: 1 user
Storage: 100GB cloud
Limits: Overkill for photography-only users; less storage than dedicated photo plans
Users: 1 user
Storage: 2GB local
Limits: No cloud sync; missing key features; essentially a trial/demo
Users: Up to 6 Macs (same Apple ID/Family Sharing)
Storage: Local storage only
Limits: Mac-only (macOS 13.0+), iPad version sold separately or via Apple Creator Studio
Users: 1 user
Storage: iCloud integration
Limits: Subscription model - stops working if cancelled
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Device storage + iCloud
Limits: iPad only, some stability issues reported
| Feature | Adobe Lightroom | Pixelmator Pro |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Layer-based editing Requires Photoshop for layers | ||
| Video editing Basic color/exposure only, no timeline | ||
| Core Features | ||
| RAW editing Non-destructive | ||
| Panorama stitching Not available | ||
| Focus stacking Not available | ||
| HDR merge Not available | ||
| AI Features | ||
| ML-powered enhancements ML Enhance, Denoise, Super Resolution | ||
| Sync | ||
| Cloud sync across devices Lightroom cloud version; Classic requires setup | ||
| File Formats | ||
| Vector file editing Cannot edit EPS/AI | ||
| PSD compatibility Basic support | ||
| Mobile | ||
| Mobile app iOS and Android with most desktop features | ||
| Professional | ||
| Tethered capture Lightroom Classic only | ||
| Extensibility | ||
| Plugin support Very limited | ||
| Export | ||
| Print/Book modules Lightroom Classic only | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Windows version Mac-only | ||
| iPad version Has stability issues | ||
| Organization | ||
| Face recognition Works but accuracy issues reported | ||
| Usability | ||
| Offline editing Classic fully offline; cloud version limited | ||
| Performance | ||
| Apple Silicon optimization Excellent M-chip support | ||
| Pricing | ||
| Perpetual license option Subscription only since Lightroom 6 | ||
| Collaboration | ||
| Multi-user catalog Single-user catalogs only | ||
