Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Ecosystem | Feature Comparison

Compare feature differences between Lightroom Classic and the Lightroom Ecosystem

Lightroom interface
Lightroom interface

Lightroom Classic Interface
Lightroom Classic interface

Many thanks to Victoria Bampton, the Lightroom Queen, for her assistance in creating this feature comparison.

Storing photos

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

Original files (photos and videos) stored locally

Yes

Optional

Store original files across multiple different hard drives

Yes

Yes (in the Local section)

Original files can be uploaded to cloud

No

Yes

Original files downloadable on-demand

N/A

Yes

Automatically manage local storage

No

Yes

Work with multiple catalogs

Yes

No

Import

Feature Lightroom Classic Lightroom Ecosystem
Browse, organize, and edit photos in the file system without needing to import
No Yes
Import raw, JPEG, PSD, PSB, TIF, DNG, HEIF, PNG, and some video formats
Yes Yes
Add to collection/album Yes Yes
Change sort order/filter photos in Import dialog Yes No
Add metadata during import Yes Copyright only
Apply camera defaults during import Yes Yes
Apply develop presets during import Yes Yes (Raw only)
Rename photos during import Yes No
Import from iPhoto/Photos iPhoto/Aperture only Photos only
Import from Photoshop Elements Yes Yes
Tethered Shooting & Watched Folders Yes No

Viewing photos

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

View photos in Grid view

Yes

Yes

View photos in Loupe/Detail view 

Yes

Yes

Zoom in on photos

Yes

Yes

View photos in Survey view

Yes

No

View photos in Compare view

Yes

Yes

Secondary screen

Yes

No

Organizing photos

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

Organize using folders on the hard drive

Yes

Yes

Organize using Collections/Albums

Yes

Yes

Quick Collection/Target Collection

Yes

Yes (Target Collection only)

Stack photos

Yes

Yes (desktop only)

Rename photos

Yes

No

Delete photos

Yes

Yes

Restore deleted photos

No

Yes, within 60 days

Viewing and adding metadata

Feature Lightroom Classic Lightroom Ecosystem
View EXIF/IPTC metadata Yes Yes
Star ratings Yes Yes
Flags Yes Yes
Color labels Yes No
Title, Caption Yes Yes
Copyright Yes Yes
Edit capture time Yes Yes
Add other IPTC metadata Yes No
Keywords Yes Yes
View GPS Yes Yes (desktop only)
Add GPS Yes No
Face recognition Yes Yes
Write metadata to files Yes Yes, only when saving a copy

Finding and filtering photos

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

Change sort order

Yes

Yes

Set custom sort order

Yes

Yes

AI-based text search without tagging

No

Yes

Filter based on metadata (keywords, camera, etc)

Yes

Yes

Save filter criteria as a Filter Preset

Yes

No

Smart Collections

Yes

No

Editing photos

Feature Lightroom Classic Lightroom Ecosystem
Lens Blur
Yes Yes
HDR Edit and Output
Yes Yes
Point Color
Yes Yes (desktop & web only)
AI-powered Denoise Yes Yes
Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks Yes Yes
Tone Curves Yes Yes
Clarity, Dehaze, and Texture Yes Yes
Color Adjustments Yes Yes
Color Grading Yes Yes
Sharpening, Noise Reduction, Grain Yes Yes
Lens Corrections Yes Yes
Chromatic Aberration/Defringe Yes Yes
Geometric Corrections Yes Yes
Camera Calibration Sliders Yes Yes
Cropping and Straightening Yes Yes
Remove Tool, including Generative Remove powered by Firefly
Yes Yes
Red-Eye Correction tools Yes (manual only) Yes (automatic and manual)
Pet Eye Correction tools
Yes No
Masking - Gradients and Brushes Yes Yes
Masking - Range Mask Yes Yes
Masking - Select Subject Yes Yes
Masking - Select Sky Yes Yes
Masking - Select Objects Yes Yes
Masking - Select People Yes Yes
Masking - Select Background
Yes Yes
Post-crop Vignette Yes Yes

Photo Merge

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

Stich a panorama

Yes

Yes (desktop only)

Create an HDR file

Yes

Yes (desktop only)

Editing tools

Feature Lightroom Classic Lightroom Ecosystem
Copy/paste settings to multiple photos Yes Yes
Apply Profiles Yes Yes
Apply Presets Yes Yes
Create Presets Yes Yes
Premium Presets Yes Yes
Adaptive Presets Yes Yes
Recommended Presets (Powered by AI) No Yes
Sync Profiles and Presets to the cloud No Yes
History Yes Versions
Before/After preview Yes Yes
Reference view Yes Yes
Snapshots Yes Versions
Create copies Virtual Duplicate
Masking Brush presets Yes Yes (pre-installed only)

Viewing and editing videos

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

Play video clips

Yes

Yes

Clip beginning/end

Yes

Yes

Make color/tonal adjustments

Yes (limited to the Quick Develop panel)

Yes

External editors and plug-ins

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

Send to Photoshop

Yes

Yes

Send to Photoshop Elements

Yes

No

Send to other external editors

Yes

Yes (mobile only)

Third-party plug-ins

Yes

No

Export

Feature Lightroom Classic Lightroom Ecosystem
Export as new file name Yes Yes
Export file formats Original/DNG, TIF/PSD,  JPEG, PNG Original/DNG, TIF,  JPEG
Export color space ProPhoto, Adobe RGB, sRGB, Display P3 ProPhoto, Adobe RGB, sRGB, Display P3
Export with resize Yes Yes
Export with Content Credentials
No Yes
Export photos with a border
No Yes (mobile only)
Specify pixels per inch/cm Yes Yes
Export with output sharpening Yes Yes
Export with watermark Yes Yes
Export with specific metadata Yes Yes (mobile only)
Publish Services Yes Connections
Send to Facebook No Yes (mobile only)
Send to Flickr Yes No

Share an Album

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

Link access - Anyone can view

Yes

Yes

Link access - Invitation only

No

Yes

Invite others to contribute photos to the shared album

No

Yes

Invite others to edit photos in the shared album

No

Yes

View comments and likes within the app

Yes

Yes

Recieve centralized notifications for all activities

No

Yes

Allow others to download full-size JPEGs

No

Yes

Learn

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

Get hands-on experience with interactive tutorials

No

Yes

Browse interactive tutorials

No

Yes

Search for tutorials and learning content

No

Yes

Get a personalised feed for tutorials

No

Yes

Follow your favorite photographers

No

Yes

Discover

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

Discover inspirational photos

No

Yes

Discover edits from the community

No

Yes

Edit photos for other photographers and allow them to edit yours

No

Yes

Get a personalised feed

No

Yes

Follow your favorite photographers

No

Yes

Block or unblock photographers

No

Yes

Search for discover content

No

Yes

Download free presets from the community

No

Yes

Contextual Help

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

Find help for a tool or feature within the app 

No

Yes

Access guided tutorials within the app

No

Yes

Search resources using keywords

No

Yes

Books, Slideshows and Prints

Feature

Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Ecosystem

Create books

Yes

Sync photos to Blurb BookWright

Create slideshows

Yes

Yes (basic)

Print to a local printer

Yes

No

Order prints

No

Yes (WHCC or Printique)

Web

Soft Proofing

Yes

No

Multiple Computers/Devices

Feature Lightroom Classic* Lightroom Ecosystem
Use on secondary desktop No Yes
Access photos on mobile device Yes, with synced Collections Yes
Access photos in a web browser Yes, with synced Collections
Yes
Share Lightroom Web galleries Yes, with Web module or synced Collections with Lightroom Web

Yes
*Lightroom Classic syncs Smart Previews when uploading images to the Lightroom Ecosystem.

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The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

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The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online