Lightroom vs Photoshop: which is better in 2025?
Lightroom VS Photoshop are famous photo editing applications. Adobe, a big software company, makes both of these products. Both tools are used for editing work. Many users are unaware of the differences between the Lightroom and Photoshop apps. All users use various photo and video editor applications for editing. Selecting the best photo editor is always difficult for all editors. In this article, we will explain the pros, cons, and features of Lightroom and Photoshop in detail and which application is best in 2025.
What is Lightroom App?
The Lightroom app is official Adobe software that is used to edit photos from digital cameras using the latest editing features. You can edit your photos and videos without losing the original image files. Lightroom is one of the most famous photo editors, providing advanced editing features to improve the quality of photos. This is understood as one of the best photo editors at this time. Now, all photographers want a perfect editing tool, and Lightroom always fulfills the requirement. When it comes to editing a maximum number of photos, Lightroom is the first choice for users.
Features of Lightroom App
Presets & Select Profiles
Lightroom contains a variety of presets and profiles. Users use these presets and profile templates to get the best progress in their editing work. Using a few clicks, you can easily create an attractive look for your projects. These pre-designed Lightroom presets consist of different designs. You can save this and use it later. Moreover, it contains a profile option for changing raw files into tones and colors.
Image Processing Capabilities
Lightroom is mostly used for precise image processing capabilities, which range from basic to advanced editing. Its user-friendly connection with Adobe Photoshop enhances its functionality. Darkroom’s modular approach offers different types of tools for photo editing, with a focus on non-destructive editing experimentation without affecting the original image.
Library & Develop Module
Lightroom offers the library module free of cost. You can use it to save time on editing, and you can organize and improve your editing work more effectively. The Develop module is mostly used for editing purposes. It is one of the best editing features, where you can manage multiple editing tasks.
Batch Selection Editing
Lightroom allows users to select and edit multiple photos simultaneously. Photoshop has all of the editing tools for photos, but the main feature is batch selection editing, which is only available in the Lightroom app. A single preset can be applied to multiple photographs simultaneously, and editing takes very little time.
Non-destructive editing
Lightroom has a specific feature called Non-Destructive Editing. When a user selects a photo and starts editing it, all changes or adjustments are saved in the catalog. Lightroom records a user experience before the photo editing task. Using this Lightroom option, you to have a more reliable work experience.
What is Photoshop App?
Photoshop was generated for basic photo editing, like cropping, clipping, and enhancing image quality, but it now includes all aspects of graphic design, including 3D artists and animators. It is one of the famous editing apps started by Adobe in 1990. Photoshop does not work like Lightroom. It is designed for basic photo editing, and its best features include advanced-level editing. Its basic features consist of complicated editing tools, which offer more features for your projects. Its basic features consist of complicated editing tools, which offer more features for your projects. If you want to enjoy professional editing on a bigger screen? You can find all the features in our complete guide on Lightroom for PC.
Features of Photoshop App
History panels
Photoshop has a history panel option that records track of all the changes you make while editing a photo or video. If the changes do not match your requirements, you can undo them using the history panel. The main function of this change storage is to undo any modifications you do not want to add to your photographs by pressing Ctrl + Z. If you love editing photos on your phone, don’t miss our detailed guide on Lightroom for iOS.
Layers
To compete with Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop has a specific feature known as Layers. Layer-based editing allows users to work on different layers of an original image. These layers allow for making changes without impacting the original image pixels, giving users the best deal of flexibility. Generating layers in Photoshop to change various aspects such as brightness, contrast, and exposure is interesting.
Filters & Effects
In selecting the tools and editing options, there are many filters and effects to enhance image quality. Using these filters perfectly can be beneficial. Photoshop filters and effects may help you create amazing and unique photographs. There are many types of these filters. These effects make attrective of your photos. You can make amazing photos by using Photoshop filters and effects.
Cropping tool with a healing brush
One of the most famous tools used in Photoshop to improve the beauty of pictures is the healing brush and cropping tool, which detects dark circles, wrinkles, blemishes, and many other spots or defects on the face or object in the image, making the images smoother and clearer. The cropping tool is another helpful feature for removing unnecessary portions/backgrounds/sides of photographs, as well as adjusting the image to a specific ratio. This is a basic editing technique that everyone should be aware of.
3D image correction and editing
Adobe Photoshop is a powerful photo editing tool. It allows you to edit some kinds of 3D photos and graphics. There is a best option for development in 3D editing, but it’s best for beginners.
Photoshop contains a 3D editing feature that improves the shape of your photos by allowing you to apply 3D effects. It helps you improve your image.
Comparison of Lightroom VS Photoshop App
| Feature | Photoshop | Lightroom |
| Supports Custom Brushes | Yes | No |
| Beginner-Friendly | No | Yes |
| Supports RAW Files | No | Yes |
| Cloud Syncing | Yes | No |
| 3D Editing | Yes | No |
| Advanced Retouching | Yes | Yes |
| Preset Support | No | Yes |
| Photo Organization | No | Yes |
| Layer Support | Yes | No |
User Interface and Workflow
Lightroom
Lightroom contains a clean and user-friendly interface with optimization tools. It gives a free hand to the user to optimize the toolbar easily. Switching between tools might need awareness of the apps. Your editing skills and knowledge will be improved once you start understanding the tools and their usage.
Photoshop
Photoshop is easier to use with the toolbar. It offers a user-friendly interface for beginners to fulfill their requirements. In Photoshop, you can use limited-feature technology, which improves editing knowledge.
Performance and Speed
Lightroom
Lightroom gives to editors advanced features and reliability. It helps users to perform bulk editing and use more memory without facing any issues. It adjusts things like contrast, exposure, and color more easily and quickly.
Photoshop
Photoshop is a strong editing app, but it’s not more reliable than Lightroom. You may face issues with slow performance and time while working on high-quality projects. It takes more memory and crashes the app on low-end devices. Working on low-end devices could face issues like slowness, lag, and hanging.
Lightroom vs Photoshop—Pros and Cons
Each editing app has its own pros and cons. Lightroom has unlimited features that make cons acceptable. While Photoshop might be decided against before using because of its fewer features and many cons. Here, we have discussed the pros and cons that are faced by the editors of Lightroom vs. Photoshop.
Lightroom
Pros
Cons
Photoshop
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
The differentiation between Lightroom VS Photoshop is always confusing for all users. You should select whom you can understand easily. If you are a designer, you should be using Photoshop. If you are a beginner and want to save your time, you can use Lightroom, which allows you to edit photoes and videos with only a few click. If you want to use easy image-editing tools, Lightroom is best choices for you. Start with basic image quality-enhance techniques before using to Photoshop for more complex image editing.
