Lightroom Yearly Cost: Which Option is Best for You?

(Last updated on October 6th, 2023)

Short Summary

• Lightroom is a popular photo editing software from Adobe that can help you organize, edit, and share your photos.
• There are different ways to buy Lightroom: standalone version, Creative Cloud Photography plan, or other Creative Cloud plans.
• The standalone version of Lightroom (Lightroom 6) is no longer available for purchase from Adobe and has many drawbacks compared to the subscription plans.
• The Creative Cloud Photography plan is the most popular and affordable way to buy Lightroom and Photoshop. It costs $9.99/month or $119.88/year for 20GB of cloud storage or $19.99/month or $239.88/year for 1TB of cloud storage.
• The Creative Cloud All Apps plan include more Adobe apps and services, but it is more expensive than the Creative Cloud Photography plan. It costs $54.99/month or $599.88/year.
• Adobe has announced a price increase for some of its Creative Cloud plans starting from November 1, 2023 in select countries.

In this article, we will compare the different ways to buy Lightroom in detail and help you decide which one suits your needs, preferences, and budget.

Introduction

If you are a photographer, you probably have heard of Lightroom, the powerful and popular photo editing software from Adobe. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, Lightroom can help you organize, edit, and share your photos with ease and efficiency. But how much does Lightroom cost? And which option is best for you?

In this article, we will compare the different ways to buy Lightroom: standalone version, Creative Cloud Photography plan, or other Creative Cloud plans. We will look at the costs and benefits of each option and help you decide which one suits your needs, preferences, and budget.

Lightroom Standalone Version

Lightroom 6 was the last standalone version of Lightroom that was released in 2015 and is no longer available for purchase from Adobe. This means that you cannot buy Lightroom as a separate software anymore. You can only buy it as part of a subscription plan.

However, if you already own Lightroom 6 or an earlier version, you can still use it on your computer. But there are some drawbacks to using an outdated version of Lightroom:

• You will not get any updates or bug fixes from Adobe. This means that you may encounter some errors or glitches while using the software.
• You will not get any new features or improvements that Adobe adds to Lightroom. For example, you will miss out on the new editing tools, presets, profiles, and performance enhancements that Adobe has introduced in recent years.
• You will not get any cloud storage or sync options from Adobe. This means that you cannot access your photos from different devices or share them online easily.
• You will not get any access to Photoshop or other Adobe apps that are included in some subscription plans. This means that you cannot use Photoshop to edit your photos further or use other apps to create different types of content.
• You may face some compatibility issues with newer cameras and operating systems. This means that Lightroom may not recognize your camera’s raw files or work properly on your computer.

The cost of Lightroom 6 when it was available was $149 for the full version and $79 for the upgrade from Lightroom 5. If you bought Lightroom 6 outright, you only had to pay once and use it forever. However, considering the disadvantages of using an outdated version of Lightroom, you may want to look for some alternatives.

Some alternatives to Lightroom 6 for those who want a standalone photo editor are:

• Capture One Pro: a professional photo editing software that offers advanced color grading, tethered shooting, and layer-based editing. It costs $349 for a perpetual license or $20 per month for a subscription.
• Luminar AI: a smart photo editing software that uses artificial intelligence to enhance your photos automatically. It costs $99 for a perpetual license or $59 per year for a subscription.
• ON1 Photo RAW: a versatile photo editing software that combines raw processing, layer editing, and photo effects. It costs $99.99 for a perpetual license or $7.99 per month for a subscription.

Creative Cloud Photography Plan

The Creative Cloud Photography plan is the most popular and affordable way to buy Lightroom in 2023. It is a subscription plan that gives you access to the latest versions of Lightroom and Photoshop on desktop and mobile devices.

The Creative Cloud Photography plan has many advantages over the standalone version of Lightroom:

• You will get regular updates and bug fixes from Adobe. This means that you can enjoy a smooth and stable experience while using the software.
• You will get new features and improvements that Adobe adds to Lightroom and Photoshop. For example, you can use the new Super Resolution feature to increase the resolution of your photos without losing quality.
• You will get cloud storage and sync options from Adobe. This means that you can store your photos online and access them from different devices or share them online easily.
• You will get access to Photoshop and other Adobe apps that are included in the plan. This means that you can use Photoshop to edit your photos further or use other apps to create different types of content.
• You will get in-app tutorials, Adobe Spark, and Portfolio from Adobe. This means that you can learn new skills, create stunning graphics and web pages, and showcase your work online.

The Creative Cloud Photography plan has two options: 20GB or 1TB of cloud storage space. The cost of the plan depends on the option you choose and the country you live in.

Creative Cloud Photography plan costs $9.99/month or $119.88/year for 20GB; $19.99/month or $239.88/year for 1TB

To buy the Creative Cloud Photography plan, you can visit Adobe’s website or buy it from authorized resellers.

Other Creative Cloud Plans

There are other Creative Cloud plans that include Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as other Adobe apps and services. These plans are more expensive than the Creative Cloud Photography plan, but they offer more value and options for creative professionals and enthusiasts.

Some of the other Creative Cloud plans are:

• All Apps Plan: this plan gives you access to all Adobe apps and services, such as Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and more. You also get more cloud storage space (up to 10TB), more collaboration and integration options, and Adobe Stock credits.
• All Apps Plan for Students/Teachers: this plan is the same as the All Apps Plan, but with a 70% discount for students and teachers who are eligible.
• All Apps Plan for Teams: this plan is the same as the All Apps Plan, but with more collaboration and management features for teams and businesses.
• All Apps Plan for Schools/Universities: this plan is the same as the All Apps Plan, but with more sharing and licensing options for schools and universities.

The cost of the other Creative Cloud plans depends on the plan you choose and the country you live in.

Here are the prices of the other Creative Cloud plans:

• All Apps Plan: $54.99/month or $599.88/year
• All Apps Plan for Students/Teachers: $19.99/month or $239.88/year
• All Apps Plan for Teams: $84.99/month or $1019.88/year
• All Apps Plan for Schools/Universities: $34.99/month or $419.88/year

To buy the other Creative Cloud plans, you can visit Adobe’s website or buy it from authorized resellers.

Adobe’s Announcement of Price Increase

Adobe has announced a price increase for some of its Creative Cloud plans starting from November 1, 2023 in select countries. The reason for the price increase is to add more value to Creative Cloud, introduce new features and services, and adjust to foreign exchange rates.

The new prices for the Creative Cloud single apps and All Apps plans are:

• Single App Plan: $22.99/month or $263.88 per year
• All Apps Plan: $59.99/month or $659.88/year.

If you are already a subscriber to one of these plans, you will not be affected by the price increase until your next renewal date after November 1, 202

Conclusion

We have compared the different ways to buy Lightroom: standalone version, Creative Cloud Photography plan, or other Creative Cloud plans.

We have looked at the costs and benefits of each option and helped you decide which one suits your needs, preferences, and budget.

Here are some tips and recommendations on how to choose the best option for you:

• If you want a one-time payment, no subscription fees, no internet connection required, full ownership of the software and outdated features, you may want to buy Lightroom 6 or an alternative standalone photo editor. However, you may miss out on the latest updates, features, and compatibility that Adobe offers.
• If you want access to the latest versions of Lightroom and Photoshop, cloud storage and sync, in-app tutorials, Adobe Spark and Portfolio, regular updates and new features, customer support, you may want to subscribe to the Creative Cloud Photography plan. However, you will have to pay monthly or annual fees, require an internet connection for some functions, have limited storage space (20GB or 1TB), and no access to other Adobe apps (except Photoshop).
• If you want access to a wider range of Adobe apps and services, more cloud storage space (up to 10TB), more collaboration and integration options, Adobe Stock credits, you may want to subscribe to one of the other Creative Cloud plans. However, you will have to pay higher monthly or annual fees, require an internet connection for most functions, and deal with more complex and advanced features that may not be needed by most photographers.

We hope this article has helped you understand the different options and costs of buying Lightroom in 2023. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below or contact us for more information.

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