While Luminar has a handful of unique tools - particularly ones developed with A.I. to automatically swap out the sky and turns the usually complex task of editing portraits into a set of sliders. Luminar also has an artificially intelligent digital polarizing filter, sky enhancer, and details enhancer. When we last took Luminar for a test drive - which was before the cataloging feature was added - one of our favorite tools was an option to add sun rays, and when done right, the effect was realistic. In some ways, Luminar has more tools than Lightroom. Despite the push for presets, the advanced editing tools remain intact if you prefer a hands-on approach. While Luminar has many of the same editing tools as Lightroom, the program starts off with a bigger focus on presets and one-click edits, which can help newbies get acquainted with the software. The organization tool that’s missing most is the option to add keywords, which makes photos easier to search for later if you take the time to tag them initially. Luminar is quick to import images and organize them and includes culling tools like flags, stars, and color labels.

And thanks to a focus on artificial intelligence, it even has some options that Lightroom doesn’t. Now, the program includes both tools for organizing images and editing them, leaving the original RAW files untouched. While Skylum Luminar has long been a popular RAW photo editor, the program didn’t really become a Lightroom alternative until it added digital asset management in 2018.

More organizing tools, including keywords.

Best Lightroom and Photoshop bundle alternative: Corel AfterShot Proīest Lightroom Alternative: Skylum Luminar Skylum.

Best Lightroom alternative for local edits: DxO Photo Lab.

Best professional all-in-one Lightroom alternative: Capture One Pro.

Best all-in-one Lightroom alternative: On1 Photo RAW.

Best free Lightroom alternative: RAWTherapee.

Best Lightroom alternative: Skylum Luminar.

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