Feature
Last updated on
Jun 19, 2025
|
Also applies to Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
Compare feature differences between Lightroom Classic and the Lightroom Ecosystem
Many thanks to Victoria Bampton, the Lightroom Queen, for her assistance in creating this feature comparison.
Storing photos
|
|
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 |
|
|
Work with multiple catalogs |
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 |
Yes |
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 (as a Smart album) |
|
|
Smart Collections (called Smart Albums in Lightroom) |
Yes |
Yes (desktop only) |
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 |
| Distraction Removal - Reflections | Yes | Yes |
| Distraction Removal - Background People | 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 |
| Masking - Select Landscape | 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) |
| Batch apply Presets | Yes | Yes |
| Favorite Presets | Yes | Yes |
| View presets list as thumbnails | No | Yes |
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 |
|
View and edit videos in HDR |
No |
Yes (Mac and iOS only) |
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 |
|
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 |
Yes | 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 |
Accessibility
|
Feature |
Lightroom Classic |
Lightroom Ecosystem |
|
Full keyboard navigation |
No |
Yes (desktop only) |
|
Screen reader support |
No |
Yes (desktop only) |
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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