Lightroom VS Photoshop: Which App Is Better in 2025?

Lightroom and Photoshop are excellent photo editing applications. Adobe, a major software company, develops both of these products. Both of these tools are commonly used for photo editing purposes. Many of us don’t know the difference between Lightroom and Photoshop apps. In this article, we will look at the differences, pros, and cons and compare the features of Lightroom and Photoshop from Basic to Advanced levels before deciding which app is best to use in 2025.

Nowadays, people use various photo and video editors to complete their projects. Choosing the best photo editor was always difficult for photographers and graphic designers. If you are one of them, you may face this situation. Ultimately, you have two choices: Lightroom or Photoshop.

Lightroom is for large-scale photo editing, whereas Photoshop is for little but significant changes. We simply need to know when and how to use these tools. However, there are significant differences between these two photo editors. Each photo editor has its own set of features, but the main purpose is the same: to improve the quality and appearance of photos.

Here, we will thoroughly discuss these photo editors in detail so you can make a better decision.

What is Lightroom App?

Regarding the most user-friendly and powerful editing tools, the Lightroom app is an official Adobe software that organizes and edits photos from digital cameras using advanced editing features. Lightroom is a catalog-based software. You can edit your photos without changing the original image files, so there’s always a backup.

In this comparison between Lightroom and Photoshop, Lightroom is one of the most popular photo editors, offering both non-destructive and advanced editing features to improve the quality of photos. Lightroom is still considered as one of the best photo editors. Most photographs are edited in the Lightroom app without using any other apps. Lightroom is known as a non-destructive app since you can undo changes after adding effects.

Today’s photography demands a perfect editing tool, and Lightroom always fulfills the expectations. There is no mess while using this handy tool. When it comes to editing a large number of photos, Lightroom is the first choice among users. This software has not only made its place in the market but has two to three variants: Lightroom Classic and Lightroom, formerly known as Lightroom CC. Lightroom CC, specially developed for PC, and Lightroom Classic, the latest version of this software designed for mobile devices including iOS, and MacBook are currently available in the market, and various photographers mostly utilize them.

It is simpler to have an easy interface. Its features are enough to make a wonderful and impressive photo. However, its features are limited when compared to Lightroom CC. It is commonly used for more complicated editing tasks.

Read More: Adobe Lightroom tutorial.

Features Comparison: Lightroom vs Photoshop

There are many differences and similarities between Lightroom and Photoshop. Both of these apps are highly effective in their respective fields. We must determine which program will meet our needs. However, we will discuss the most important of them. These features will help you to make better use of these photo editors.

Here we begin with Lightroom’s features.

Features of Lightroom App

Non-destructive editing: 

Lightroom has a unique feature called NON-Destructive Editing. When a user imports a photo and begins editing it, all changes or adjustments are saved in the catalog and can be backed up. All photos are organized without changing the originals. Lightroom creates a wonderful user experience before the photo editing process. Using this amazing Lightroom option will allow you to have a more enjoyable work experience.

Batch Selection Editing: 

Lightroom allows users to select and edit multiple photos at once rather than just one at a time. Photoshop has all of the basic tools for editing photos, but the main feature missing from Photoshop is Batch Selection editing, which is only available in the Lightroom app, making it unique. A single preset can be applied to hundreds of photographs at once and editing takes only a few seconds.

All of these features work perfectly in older versions of Lightroom.

Library & Develop Module:

 Lightroom offers the library module for free. You can use it to save your work. Where you can import, organize, and manage your work more effectively. You can effortlessly sort through your photographs. Tools for sorting, keywording, tagging, and rating can be used.

The Develop module is where you do the majority of your editing tools. It is one of the fantastic editing places where you can perform many editing tasks such as color difference, contrast, and so on.

Image Processing Capabilities:

Lightroom is known for its precise image processing capabilities, which range from basic to advanced editing. Its seamless interaction with Adobe Photoshop improves its functionality. Darkroom’s modular approach provides various tools for photo editing, with a focus on non-destructive editing to allow experimentation without affecting original image quality.

Presets & Select Profiles:

Lightroom features a variety of presets and profiles. Users can also use Presets and Profiles templates to improve their workflow. With a few clicks, you can simply create a beautiful look for your projects. To save time, the Lightroom preset has this option.

These pre-designed Lightroom presets offer a variety of designs while improving the quality of your photos. You can also create and save your own presets for later usage. So, download the most recent version and enjoy. Additionally, there is a profile option for transforming raw files into tones and colors.

Premium Features of Adobe Lightroom

• HDR & Panorama Merge
• Asset Store
• Video Editor & Reels Maker
• Lightroom RAW Camera
• Mobile and PC usability
• Export & Sharing

What is Photoshop App?

Photoshop was originally designed for basic photo editing tasks such as cropping, clipping, and improving image quality, but it has now expanded to include practically all aspects of graphic design, including 3D artists and animators. It is one of the most advanced editing apps, released by Adobe in 1990.

Keep in mind that Photoshop does not organize photos like the Lightroom program. Photoshop is designed for basic photo editing, and its best features include advanced-level image modification and local editing.

One of the main benefits of utilizing Photoshop is the ease with which you can perform basic photo editing. Its basic features and tools lead to more complicated editing tools, which provide more features to your projects. They use Lightroom Photoshop to improve the illustrations, resolutions, and photo quality.

Compared to Lightroom, it has several features. It can also help to improve your work capability, especially image quality. Photoshop is compatible with both Windows and MacOS. This software’s major functions are creating, improving, and editing graphics and photos.

Features of Photoshop App

3D image correction and editing:

Adobe Photoshop appears to be a simple photo editor, but it works well. It allows you to edit some types of 3D photos and graphics. There is a lot of space for development in 3D editing, but it’s great for beginners.

Photoshop also has several 3D basic editing features. These 3D edits improve the appearance of your photos by allowing you to apply 3D effects and lighten them. It helps you improve your image viewpoint.

It contains image levels, correction, cropping, trimming, and the suitable resolution setting. In this way, you can enhance your image by simply implementing these few factors. Without a doubt, image correcting is quite important.

Cropping tool with a healing brush:

One of the most common tools used in Photoshop to enhance the beauty of pictures is the healing brush and cropping tool, which removes dark circles, wrinkles, blemishes, and any other spots or defects from the face or object inside the image, making the images smoother and clearer. The cropping tool is another useful tool for removing or cutting undesirable portions/backgrounds/sides of photographs, as well as changing the image to a specified ratio, which everyone should be aware of when using it in basic editing.

Filters & Effects:

In addition to the tools and editing choices, there are many filters and effects to improve image quality. Using these filters properly can be beneficial. Photoshop filters and effects may help you produce attractive and unique photographs. There are several types of these filters. These effects allow you to improve the look of your photos. You can make wonderful and just extraordinary photos by using Photoshop filters and effects.

Layers: 

To compete with Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop has a special feature called Layers. Layer-based editing allows users to work on various layers of an original image. These layers enable users to make changes without impacting the original image pixels, giving users a great deal of flexibility. You can change individual layers by creating, hiding, and adjusting them.  Creating layers in Photoshop to modify various aspects such as brightness, contrast, and exposure is exciting.

History panels:

Photoshop has a history panel that keeps track of all the modifications you make while editing a photo or video. If the changes do not meet your expectations, you can undo them in the history panel. The primary function of this change storage is to undo any modifications you do not want to make to your photographs by pressing ctrl + z.

Comparison of Lightroom app and Photoshop App

Now it’s Lightroom vs Photoshop. The above features are enough to choose between Lightroom and Photoshop App. However, the next five will tell you who really the winner is. Let us start with pricing.

Lightroom VS Photoshop (Pricing)

Adobe offers many plans and packages to its users. It covers photography, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Photoshop plans. The comparison between Lightroom and Photoshop is incomplete without mentioning the difference in the price range of plans, the more features you want, the more you need to spend. Adobe offers various plans; you can buy them every month, you do not need to buy these plans yearly, you can try them by buying the monthly plans. However, to be honest, Lightroom plans are less expensive and more value for money than Photoshop apps.

But you can enjoy the premium features of the Lightroom app by just downloading the Lightroom MOD APK.

Lightroom VS Photoshop (interface)

Lightroom is more user-friendly than Photoshop. Lightroom’s basic and clean user interface is properly positioned, making the app easy to use and distinguishing it from competing editing apps such as Photoshop. Most of the changes need only one or two clicks. You can also edit by just adjusting the settings.

Photoshop is a little more challenging due to its complex interface; each tool in Photoshop has a variety of options, and it includes advanced tools that are difficult for a beginner to understand but simple for advanced users. So, Lightroom features a much more user-friendly interface that any user can easily use.

Lightroom VS Photoshop (Learning Curve)

Learning a simple tool is always easier. Lightroom is a simple-to-use application. There are several options to customize a photo to make it perfect. It takes less time to learn and improve Lightroom editing techniques. Photoshop is an advanced editing app. This app contains options, followed by sub-options. It will take more time to become an expert in Photoshop. If we talk about the Photoshop app which is a little bit Tough to use for beginners, due to its complex interface, photoshop is also a powerful photo editing tool, that is idle for experts.

Lightroom VS Photoshop (Editing Capabilities)

Photoshop is for graphic designers. It is so advanced that you can edit even a minute of information in a photo. If Photoshop performs all of the basic to advanced level editing, the answer is clear. Lightroom has a simple layout that is easy to use and accessible to both newbies and experts, but Photoshop has more editing options. On the other hand, Lightroom’s basic and user-friendly interface does not allow users to edit photo details.

Photoshop is not built for both video and photo editing, but the Lightroom app can edit both photos and videos, which is why photographers choose to use the Lightroom app, also known as non-destructive software. Photoshop is an essential app for all professional graphic designers and photo editors. However, if you are a beginner, start with Lightroom. Developing lightroom skills is also an important success in photography.

Lightroom VS Photoshop (Action and Presets)

Photoshop has actions, and Lightroom has presets. Actions are similar to orders that instruct you to act. You can adjust the act as needed. let’s suppose when we click an action let’s say Vibrant Pop, it will do several operations such as brightness, saturation, and Vignette to complete the activity. Actions are a set of commands recorded by the user.

The Presets are slightly different. Some expert photographers offer presets for Lightroom that you can use as a template while editing your photos. On the other side, we have Presets (pre-made settings) created by photographers with amazing color combinations that you can easily apply to a large number of photos with a single click, making Lightroom more user-friendly for beginners. you can enjoy the 15+presets by importing these presets in Lightroom app.

Pros and Cons of Lightroom App

Pros and Cons of Photoshop App

Update About Lightroom and Photoshop

Google’s newly announced series now supports RAW photos shot on Pixel 8. Users can now edit and fine-tune their photos in Lightroom and Photoshop. You now understand the value of Lightroom and Photoshop.

Note: Capture in RAW format to get a more detailed image. This format collects more data, allowing for the creation of high-quality photos.

Both tools are among the best photo editing apps available in 2025.

FAQ’s

Ending Thoughts

We hope this article helps you differentiate between Lightroom and Photoshop. If you are a graphic artist, I recommend using Photoshop, the best program for your needs. If you are a newbie and want to save time and effort, you can use the Lightroom program, which allows you to edit photographs and videos with a few clicks. If you want to use some simple image-editing tools, Lightroom and its presets are excellent choices. Begin with basic image quality-improving techniques before moving on to Photoshop for more complex image retouching.