With the release of macOS 10.13 High Sierra, Apple updated the Photos application to version 3. Some of us would still not be happy with Apple for ditching iPhotos and Aperture in earlier operating systems, but the editing tools offered by Photos are so well thought for beginners and hobbyists.

-Syncing of people albums across iCloud.

-Third party photo editor support such as Luminar and Pixelmator Pro.

-AI-powered search.

Coming to Adobe Lightroom CC, this application is the cloud-based version and minimal version of the desktop software Lightroom Classic. It basically stores every raw photo from your DSLR in the cloud and they can be accessed across multiple devices such as iPad, laptop and smartphone. Some of the exciting features of Adobe Lightroom CC:

-Dehaze.

-Separate RGB curves.

-Split Toning

-Full-screen view

-Adobe Sensei (Artifical Intelligence similar to what Apple and Google has implemented).

Those who are using the full Lightroom Classic desktop app find this application quite limited in feature sets. Few missing things:

-No way to add GPS data.

-No history in Develop module.

-No lens correction





Apple photos vs Lightroom CC









Pricing and Storage :

Apple's cloud data pricing is extremely generous as compared to Adobe's. $9.99 for 2TB of iCloud storage vs 9.99 for 1TB with Adobe Lightroom CC subscription(not to be confused with Adobe 9.99 photography plan). For users who are already paying for iCloud, it is not an easy task to convince them to use another cloud-based photo service. These premium users already have the ability to view/edit photos across any of their devices with iCloud photos.

Summary :

If you don't need substantial editing capabilities for your photos and syncing edits with Classic version, by all means, I will highly suggest the convenience and better speed of Apple photos. In case you already have the Adobe photography plan, there is no harm or disadvantage in trying the Adobe Lightroom CC by yourself as it comes as a part of the same plan but with limited cloud storage.



