Whether you’ve used Lightroom for years or you’re just getting started, you’ve likely come across the fact that there are two completely different programs, both called Lightroom. If you’re a little confused, you’re not alone. So what’s the difference? Which one is right for you? Which will suit your lifestyle and photography workflow? Or can you use them together? Let’s find out…
Which is which?
Let’s start by identifying the current Lightroom versions and their main differences (click image to enlarge).
Lightroom Classic is the traditional version of Lightroom that’s been around for years, hence the name Classic. It runs on Windows and macOS and stores your photos in folders on your local hard drives. You’re in charge of managing the files, the organization, the backups, etc. This is ideal for photographers with TBs of images but requires reasonable computer literacy.
Since Lightroom Classic has been available for years, it has lots of features. This can be a benefit or a disadvantage. If you’re an advanced user, the power and control it offers is huge, but if you’re new to Lightroom, the learning curve may be a bit overwhelming. We’ve covered Lightroom Classic in detail in Adobe Lightroom Classic – The Missing FAQ.
Some photographers were concerned that the launch of the cloud-based Lightroom might mean the end of the road for Lightroom Classic, but 7 years on, it’s still being developed and improved.
The Lightroom Ecosystem (formerly called Lightroom CC, also known as Lightroom Cloud) is a family of apps that started out as a simple mobile app and has grown into a full ecosystem that now includes:
Lightroom Desktop – for Windows and macOS
Lightroom Mobile – from iOS, iPadOS, and Android
Lightroom Web – accessed using a web browser
The Lightroom Ecosystem apps are designed for modern living, so you can capture photos on your phone or load them from your camera, sort through them on your tablet when you have a few minutes to spare, edit them on your desktop, and then share them on the web.
It is primarily designed for your photos to be stored in the Lightroom Cloud, which means they’re available on all of your devices. This doesn’t mean you always need to be online, as you can also keep a local cached copy of some/all of the images for offline use. However, you do need reasonably fast internet access and plenty of bandwidth to get the photos to the cloud in the first place.
Most of the Lightroom Classic essential features are now available in the Lightroom Ecosystem apps in a simpler interface. While you can organize photos into albums, you don’t have to worry about file management, making it ideal for those with less computer experience. The Edit mode is powerful, but many of the sliders are hidden by default, so isn’t intimidating to newer photographers. The Adobe Sensei artificial intelligence search facilities make it easier to find photos, even without spending time manually adding keywords. Since much of its power is hidden, we’ve covered the Lightroom Ecosystem in detail in Adobe Lightroom – Edit on the Go.
Since the October 2023 release, Lightroom Desktop (the desktop client of the Lightroom Ecosystem) has also offered a Local mode, which is a simple file browser with access to the same editing tools. Local mode is NOT designed to be a replacement for Lightroom Classic, but it may be a good option for some Classic users who want to use Lightroom’s editing tools without cataloging their photos. Note that some of Lightroom Desktop’s features are only available for photos uploaded to the cloud, so Cloud and Local mode have separate feature columns below.
Why two different desktop apps?
But why couldn’t Adobe make one Lightroom app to do it all? Quite simply, while there are similarities, the concepts and foundations are very different. A boat and a car are both used for transportation, but they’re not interchangeable!
Likewise, Lightroom Classic and the Lightroom Ecosystem are both used for organizing and editing photos, but they don’t think the same way. Classic is designed to catalog photos stored on the hard drive with lots of user control, whereas Lightroom Ecosystem is designed to primarily manage the photos in the cloud for you. It’s possible that someday they might merge, but there’s a long way to go before they can bridge that gap.
Can’t you just sync them both?
Lightroom Classic can sync with the cloud, so can you use them together to have the best of both worlds? Yes, with some limitations.
Lightroom Classic is not a full member of the Lightroom Cloud Ecosystem… it’s more like a distant cousin. It has a basic understanding of Lightroom’s Cloud Sync language from the mobile app’s early days, but it doesn’t understand how to sync newer Cloud additions like keywords, album folders/collection sets, or versions/snapshots, and sync gets itself in a tangle from time to time. Lightroom Classic also doesn’t upload originals to the cloud, only smaller smart previews. (We’ll follow up with a separate post on Lightroom Classic’s sync limitations, so watch this space.)
If you want to sync Lightroom Classic with the Cloud Ecosystem, you’ll need to decide which one you consider your primary archive of photos and videos. For most Classic users, Classic is the best choice for the primary archive. Smart previews can be synced up to the cloud for viewing and editing in the Lightroom Ecosystem apps, and photos added to the Lightroom Ecosystem apps (e.g. mobile) automatically download into your Classic archive.
How do I decide which to use?
So the next question is, how do you decide which Lightroom version should be used for your primary photo archive? Is Lightroom Ecosystem right for you, or would you be better with Lightroom Classic?
Some decisions are fairly straightforward, for example:
If you’re a new photographer, your main camera is a mobile phone, and you have fast internet, Lightroom Ecosystem is a great choice.
If you’re a wedding or portrait photographer shooting thousands of photos every week, it’s a pretty easy decision, as cloud storage is still more expensive than local storage. Classic is probably the way to go. Alternatively, if you just need to edit the photos organized by folder, you could use the Local browser of Lightroom Desktop.
If you started with Lightroom 1 and you’re now an advanced user, you’re likely best sticking with Classic (at least for now), as you’ll probably find the more limited feature set frustrating.
If you enjoy photography but your computer seems to break every time you so much as look at it, Lightroom Ecosystem is the safer bet.
If you have slow internet or limited bandwidth, it’s a pretty easy decision to go with Classic, as syncing Lightroom Ecosystem would be painful.
If you’re trying to fit photography into a busy lifestyle, with a mix of phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops, having your photos available on every device is a massive advantage, which makes Lightroom Ecosystem an obvious choice.
If you frequently print to a local printer using Lightroom’s Print module or use third-party editors such as Nik or Topaz, then Classic may be a better choice.
But what if your situation is a little less clear-cut? In that case, it’s time to weigh up priorities:
Do you have fast unmetered internet, at least at home?
Do you do most of your organizing and editing on a single desktop/laptop computer? Or are you trying to move between multiple devices, whether a desktop and a laptop or mobile devices too?
How many photos do you have? Do you just need to be a bit more ruthless when deleting photos, or do you simply have too many photos to make cloud storage economically viable?
Which features are most important to you? Classic has many organizational tools and traditional output tools (print, book, slideshow) that aren’t yet available in the Lightroom Ecosystem apps, but the Lightroom Ecosystem apps are far better at multi-device workflows and web sharing. There’s a chart below highlighting the main similarities and differences to help get you started.
One warning: when weighing up your priorities, don’t decide solely based on features. While it may be nice to have access to every tool in the toolshed, think about whether you actually need them. If easy multi-device access is important to you, you may be surprised how little you miss some tools.
And finally, a suggestion. The decision you make today may not be the same decision you’d make in a year’s time, but it’s ok to change your mind. The Lightroom Ecosystem is still relatively young, so it’s continuing to mature. These are the changes made since its release. So if you’re on the fence, it’s worth revisiting the decision from time to time.
Classic
Desktop Cloud mode
Desktop Local mode
Mobile
Edit stored in
Catalog (XMP optional)
Cloud
XMP in file metadata
Cloud
Storing Photos
Originals stored locally
Yes
Optional
Yes
Optional
Split originals across multiple different hard drives
Yes
No
Yes
No
Originals uploaded to cloud
No
Yes
No
Yes
Originals downloaded on demand
N/A
Yes
No
Yes
Automatically manage hard drive space used
No
Yes
No
Yes
Split into multiple catalogs
Yes
No
No
No
Import
Import raw, JPEG, PSD, TIFF, DNG, HEIF, PNG and some video formats
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Add to collection/album
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Change sort order / filter photos in Import dialog
Yes
No
No
No
Add metadata during import
Yes
Copyright only
Copyright only
Copyright only
Apply camera defaults during import
Yes, per-camera
Yes, single default
Yes, single default
Yes, single default
Rename photos during import
Yes
No
No
No
Import from iPhoto/Aperture/Photos
iPhoto/Aperture only
Yes, from Photos (andiPhoto/Aperture by upgrading libraries to Photos format) on macOS
No
Photos but not organization
Import from Photoshop Elements
Yes
Yes
No
No
Tethered Shooting & Watched Folders
Yes
No
No
No
Viewing Photos
View Photos in Grid View
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
View Photos in Loupe/Detail View
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Zoom in on photos
6% – 1600%
6% – 1600%
6% – 1600%
Fit – 2:1
View Photos in Survey View
Yes
No
No
No
View Photos in Compare View
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Secondary Screen
Yes
No
No
No
Browse photos offline
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Organizing Photos
Organize using Folders on the Hard Drive
Yes
No
Yes
No
Organize using Collections / Albums
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Quick Collection / Target Collection
Yes
Yes
No
No
Stack photos
Yes
Yes
No
No
Rename photos
Yes
No
No
No
Delete photos
Yes, but no restore
Yes, with 60 days to undo
Yes, but no restore
Yes, with 60 days to undo
Viewing & Adding Metadata
View EXIF/IPTC metadata
Yes
Yes, limited
Yes, limited
Yes, limited
Star Ratings
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Flags
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Color Labels
Yes
No
No
No
Title, Caption
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Copyright
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Edit Capture Time
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Add other IPTC metadata
Yes
No
No
No
Keywords
Yes, incl. hierarchical
Yes, flat only
Yes, flat only
Yes, flat only
View GPS
Yes (full Module)
Yes
Yes
No
Add GPS
Yes, using Map or co-ordinates
Yes, using co-ordinates or zipcode
Yes, using co-ordinates or zipcode
No
Face recognition
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Batch update metadata
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes (Android only)
Write metadata to files
Yes
Only when saving a copy
Auomatically
Only when saving a copy
Finding & Filtering Photos
Change sort order
Yes (13 options)
Yes (6 options)
Yes (6 options)
Yes (6 options)
Set custom sort order
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
AI-based text search without tagging
No
Yes
No
Yes
Filter on rating, flag, file type, people, locations, keywords, edit status
Yes
Yes
Single Folder only
Yes
Filter on likes/comments
No
Yes
No
No
Filter on other metadata
Yes, using Metadata columns
Yes, using faceted search
Single Folder only
Yes, using faceted search
Save frequently used filter combinations
Yes
No
No
No
Smart Collections
Yes
No
No
No
Editing Photos & Videos
Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Tone Curves
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
HDR Editing
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes (on supported devices)
Clarity, Dehaze & Texture
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Color Adjustments (WB, HSL, Vibrance, Saturation)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Point Color
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Color Grading
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Sharpening, Noise Reduction, Grain
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Lens Corrections
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, limited controls
Lens Blur
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, limited controls
Chromatic Aberration/Defringe
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Geometric Corrections (Upright)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Calibration Sliders (Legacy)
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Local/Selective Editing Tools
Cropping & Straightening
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Healing—Remove, Clone & Heal Tools
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Red Eye & Pet Eye Correction Tools
Yes
Yes (Red Eye only)
Yes (Red Eye only)
No
Masking – Gradients & Brushes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Masking – Range Mask
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Masking – Sky, Subject
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Masking – Background, Object, People
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Local Adjustment Brush Presets
Yes
No
No
No
Post-Crop Vignette
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Photo Merge
Stitch a panorama
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Create an HDR file
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Editing Tools
Copy/paste settings to multiple photos
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Apply Profiles
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Create & Apply Presets
Yes
Yes (no Brush Presets)
Yes (no Brush Presets)
Yes (no Brush Presets)
Install downloaded Presets
Yes
Yes
Yes
No (DNG format only)
AI Recommended Presets
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Sync Profiles & Presets to the cloud
No
Yes
Yes if Cloud sync enabled
Yes
History
Yes
Partial (Auto Versions)
No
Partial (Auto Versions)
Before /After Preview
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Reference View
Yes
Yes, Compare View
Yes, Compare View
No
Snapshots
Yes
Yes, using Versions
No
Yes, using Versions
Create Copies
Yes, virtual
Yes, real
Yes, real
No
Histogram & RGB Values
Yes
Histogram only
Histogram only
Histogram only
Soft Proofing
Yes
No
No
No
Viewing/Editing Videos
Play video clips
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Clip beginning/end
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Make color/tonal adjustments
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Extensibility
Send to Photoshop
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Send to Photoshop Elements
Yes
No
No
No
Send to Other External Editors (e.g. Topaz)
Yes
No
No
Yes
Third-Party Plug-ins
Yes
No
No
No
SDK for Gadgets (like LoupeDeck)
Yes
No
No
No
Export
Export as new file name
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Export file formats
Original, JPG, AVIF, JXL, TIFF,DNG, PNG, PSD, DPX, H.264
Original, JPG, AVIF, JXL, TIFF,DNG, MP4
Original, JPG, AVIF, JXL, TIFF,DNG, MP4
Original, JPG, AVIF, JXL, TIFF,DNG, MP4
Export color space
Any RGB Color Profile
ProPhoto, Adobe RGB, sRGB ,Display P3 (if HDR sRGB, Display P3 & Rec.2020)
ProPhoto, Adobe RGB, sRGB ,Display P3 (if HDR sRGB, Display P3 & Rec.2020)
ProPhoto, Adobe RGB, sRGB ,Display P3 (if HDR sRGB, Display P3 & Rec.2020)
Export with resize
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Export with output sharpening
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Export with watermark
Yes, text or graphic
Yes, text or graphic
Yes, text or graphic
Yes, text or graphic
Export with specific metadata
Yes
Yes (limited)
Yes (limited)
Yes (limited)
Save Custom Export Presets
Yes
No
No
No
Email Photos direct from Lightroom
Yes
No
No
Yes
Publish Services
Yes
Yes (Connections similar)
No
No
Send to Facebook
No (removed in August 2018 dueto API change)
No
No
Yes
Send to Flickr
Yes, as Publish Services
No
No
No
Output Modules
Book
Yes (full Module)
Sync photos to Blurb Bookwright
No
No
Slideshow
Yes (full Module)
No
No
Yes (limited)
Print
Yes (full Module)
No
No
Yes
Web
Yes (full Module)
No
No
No
Multiple Computers/Devices
Use on secondary desktop
Using import/export catalogs
Yes, all Cloud photos
Yes if photos on separatepluggable HDD
Yes, all photos
Use on mobile device
Sync smart previews to LR Cloud,not all metadata syncs (e.g. keywords, people)
Yes, full size originalsavailable
No
Yes, full size originalsavailable
Access photos in a web browser
Sync smart previews to LR Cloudy
Yes
No
Yes
Share Lightroom Web galleries
Sync smart previews to LR Cloudy
Yes, with additional options
Only if copied to cloud
Yes, with additional options
Which plan should you buy?
If you don’t already have a subscription, here’s the link you need. There’s two main plans:
Lightroom 1TB includes access to the Lightroom Desktop apps on Windows & Mac (activated on 5 desktop/laptop computers at any one time), plus your various mobile devices, and 1TB of cloud space to store your photos.
Photography Plan 20GB or 1TB includes access to Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, and Lightroom Desktop (activated on 2 computers at any one time), plus Lightroom Mobile on your various mobile devices. It includes either 20GB or 1TB of cloud space, depending on which plan you choose.
But which plan will be best for you? Pick the combination of apps you want to use:
Classic only = Photography Plan 20GB
Lightroom Ecosystem only = Lightroom 1TB
Classic + Photoshop = Photography Plan 20GB
Lightroom Ecosystem + Photoshop = Photography Plan 1TB (or Lightroom 1TB plan plus Photography Plan 20GB for flexibility. It’s the same price and gives you 5 activated desktop/laptops for Cloud instead of 2.)
Classic + Lightroom Ecosystem (e.g. syncing Classic with the mobile apps) = Photography Plan with 20GB if you’ll mainly be syncing photos up from Classic, or 1TB if you often add photos on your phone/tablet.
Cloud Mobile only = Lightroom 1TB. (There’s also 100GB Premium in-app purchases available from the mobile app stores. They’re a bit cheaper but only have 100GB of Lightroom Cloud space and are limited to that specific operating system.)
For extensive information on Lightroom Classic, see Adobe Lightroom Classic – The Missing FAQ.
If you have the Photography Plan, then as well as Classic you have access to the Lightroom cloud ecosystem including the mobile apps and web interface. For more information on these apps, see Adobe Lightroom – Edit on the Go.
Note: purchase of these books includes the first year’s Classic or cloud-based Premium Membership (depending on the book purchased), giving access to download the latest eBook (each time Adobe updates the software), email assistance for the applicable Lightroom version if you hit a problem, and other bonuses.
We also have a special bundle offer for the two books. This includes Premium Membership for the first year as described above for the whole Lightroom family!
For extensive information on Lightroom Cloud Ecosystem, see Adobe Lightroom – Edit on the Go.
Note: purchase of this book includes the first year’s cloud-based Premium Membership, giving access to download the latest eBook (each time Adobe updates the software), email assistance for the cloud-based Lightroom apps if you hit a problem, and other bonuses.
Originally posted 18 October 2017, updated for all of the changes in February 2024. The features chart continues to be updated with new features as they’re released.
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