How to Buy Lightroom
at the Best Price

There are basically three ways to buy Lightroom without a subscription: you can receive it as part of the Creative Cloud All Apps plan, go for the Single App plan, or opt for the Photography plan.

If you're into photography or retouching, the Photography plan is the best variant. But, if you're looking for a bundle of 20+ creative apps to create icons, social posts, videos, graphics, etc, then you’d better choose the Creative Cloud All Apps plan.

Recently, Adobe rolled out impressive Lightroom updates, so the program has become even more powerful and “intelligent”:

• The standout feature is Generative Remove. An AI tool will erase anything from your photo with a single tap. It runs on Firefly technology and gives pro-level cleanups without manual input.

The tool rebuilds backgrounds flawlessly, even around complex textures like patterned shirts or waves. You won’t see uneven edges or traces of the removed elements. Now, you can spend less time removing objects. The AI-based selection is precise. You always get pro-level results.

• Lens BlurPro lets you create a mesmerizing blur effect in your images promptly. You don’t have to invest in a special lens or a high-end phone to achieve this result. Just use this tool and blur any part of a picture.

There are also 7 new Lens Blur presets. With them, you can automatically apply blur to any photo, be it a portrait, a landscape, etc. What’s more, it is possible to make presets of a Lens blur effect and use them for your photos later.

• AI Masking and Adaptive Presets expedite a creative workflow a lot.

Best for: Users interested in Lightroom’s cloud ecosystem and prefer not to use Photoshop
What’s included: Lightroom (Desktop and Mobile), 1TB of Cloud Storage

You can try Adobe Lightroom for free by downloading the trial. After that, you can choose to have Lightroom and 1 TB of storage on its own. This is the CC version. This way, you will also be able to keep your photos in one place online.

Best for: Professionals or creatives who need multiple Adobe apps for various creative tasks
What’s included: Lightroom (Desktop, Mobile, and Classic), Photoshop, over 20 Adobe apps, including Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and After Effects, 100GB of cloud storage (upgradable)

If you buy Lightroom as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud Pro Plan, you get access to a big bundle of all Adobe Creative software. This is a wonderful deal for both pros and amateurs. Having Lightroom, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and other free Adobe software at hand, you can create different types of visual content.

Thanks to regular updates, all users, including those who opted for Adobe Lightroom without a subscription, can take advantage of the newest tools and features. Thus, you can make projects that look modern and captivating.

Another advantage of this plan is that you can use these apps on both Windows and macOS and sync your work across devices. Thus, your workflow will become smoother and streamlined.

Best for: Photographers who need the combined power of Lightroom and Photoshop

What’s included: Lightroom (Desktop and Mobile), Photoshop, Lightroom Classic

If you're engaged in photography and want to use Adobe's photography-focused software, the Photography Plan Subscription is an awesome choice. With this plan, you can access 2 major programs - Lightroom and Photoshop. So, those who focus on photo editing and retouching will surely appreciate this offer.

People who buy Lightroom Classic say the program has great tools for editing and organizing images. Photoshop is unmatched when it comes to advanced photo retouching and design creation. Since you get 2 powerful programs in one package, you can greatly improve your photo processing workflow.

Using presets in Lightroom, you can get beautiful, professional edits faster. If you're ready to speed up your workflow, here’s how to buy Adobe Lightroom presets:

• Official Adobe store. Adobe offers presets right in the Creative Cloud app. You can purchase them and sync directly with your Lightroom software.
• Third-party sites. You can also check reputable websites like Creative Market, Etsy, and photography-centric stores for premium Lightroom presets. Bundles can cost anywhere from $10 to $100, depending on what you need. You’ll also find free ones out there that work just fine for both personal and commercial projects.

If you use the Lightroom Mobile app, it is possible to buy presets directly in the app.

Here's how:

1. Launch the Lightroom Mobile app
2. Open the "Presets" section in the editing panel
3. Navigate the in-app store and buy the presets you like

Once purchased, you can immediately add presets to Lightroom and apply them to your photos

Adobe has special, lucrative discounts for students and teachers. Besides, you can take advantage of special promotions to buy Lightroom for a reduced price.

Being part of an accredited school has its perks. Adobe gives students and educators up to 70% off. It is the most advantageous way to buy Adobe Lightroom without breaking the bank.

To be eligible for Lightroom discount, you need to be:

• Enrolled in a college or university offering 2+ year degrees
• A full-time student in grade school or high school
• Homeschooled under state-recognized laws
• Also, make sure you’re at least 13

How to apply:

1. Fill out Adobe’s form with your role (student, teacher, etc.) and school info.
2. Use your school email. It helps fast-track the process.
3. Upload proof of enrollment. It can be anything official with your name, your school, and a recent date.
4. Get approved. Adobe usually sends a confirmation email within 24 hours.

Discount applies to the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan for Students & Teachers, which includes Lightroom, Photoshop, and 20+ apps.

Even if you’re not in school, there are Adobe discounts that pop up throughout the year.

• Adobe Black Friday /Cyber Monday. During the holidays, Adobe drops its biggest deals, sometimes up to 40% off Creative Cloud plans
• Seasonal promos. Keep tabs on Adobe’s New Year and mid-year sales
• 10 Free Adobe Stock images. If it’s your first time using Adobe Stock, you get 10 images free.

Sadly, you can no longer buy Lightroom Classic as a one-time purchase. Adobe only offers it through a subscription now. But you do get a 7-day free trial to see if it fits your workflow.

You can greatly expedite your image editing routine with these bonus tools. The package includes professional presets suitable for editing RAW and JPG photos. All presets are free. They are compatible with different Lightroom versions, including Lightroom 4-6, Lightroom CC, Lightroom Classic, and Lightroom Mobile.

• What is Adobe Lightroom, and why should I purchase it?

Adobe Lightroom is an advanced photo editing and organization program favored by photographers and creatives.

When you buy it, you can take advantage of top-notch image editing tools, cloud storage, and smooth integration with Adobe Creative Cloud – something many Lightroom alternatives may lack.

• Can I get Lightroom with a single purchase instead of a subscription?

In 2011-12, Adobe chose to switch from offering Lightroom one-time purchase to a subscription approach. As a result, customers can no longer buy the software suite once and have it for a lifetime.

• Can I try Lightroom for free before buying it?

Adobe provides a trial version of Lightroom that you can download and use for seven days. Thus, it is possible to explore its features and see if it meets your needs before making a purchase.

• Can I cancel my Lightroom subscription whenever I want?

Yes. You can cancel your Lightroom subscription at any time. Just make sure to review Adobe's cancellation policy and terms for specific instructions on how to terminate your subscription.

• Can I use Lightroom on more than one device with just one subscription?

Absolutely! You can use Lightroom on various devices like computers, tablets, and smartphones with just a single subscription. Plus, any edits you make will sync across all your devices.

• Are there any free apps like Lightroom?

Yes, there are many free Lightroom alternatives. If you’re not ready to pay for Lightroom, check out Darktable, RawTherapee, LightZone, or PhotoScape X. These apps cover most of the same features, and they’re totally free.