The hopper

I was looking at subscribing to Adobe Lightroom. The Adobe website says
"Lightroom plan - Photo editing and organisation on desktop and mobile;
Lightroom Classic - Desktop-focused photo editing"

Can you please explain the difference between Lightroom and Lightroom Classic??
Why are they providing both, or is it just that they are trying to accommodate laptop and mobile platforms??
On the same topic, I run both Windows (on my laptop) and Android (phone) so are they saying that Lightroom will work on both devices?

Thanks in advance

rmcgarry331

The major difference between Lightroom and Lightroom Classic is where you store your raw files. Lightroom stores them in the cloud, Lightroom Classic stores them on your own computer. Also Lightroom Classic has been around longer, and has more robust features. It does have the capability to upload smart previews to the cloud, for editing on your Android/iOS phone or tablet, as well as being able to download raw files directly from your phone. Suggest if going to get Lightroom you sign up for the Photography plan rather than the Lightroom plan. I find the 20gb plan sufficient for my needs, using Lightroom Classic on my desktop as my photo library, and Lightroom on my laptop and iPhone to work with photos there. I also use Photoshop CC included with the photograph plan, for more intense editing on both computers.

drsdayton Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Yeah, they do a pretty good job of confusing people on the differentiation of these products...

I primarily use Lightroom Classic because it will store full resolution photos locally and has more complete functionality and integration with other programs. It might also be that I am just slow in adapting...

"Lightroom" is cloud based. I believe (I may be wrong) that if you start in Lightroom that your full resolution photos go to the cloud, and what you by default pull down to the desktop is less than full resolution. I have been uncomfortable with that.

But I like to use both because by putting photos in Collections in Lightroom Classic, they are then accessible (and editable) on your phone and/or iPad.

Bottom line, I use Lightroom Classic as an editor and full, safe repository; and Lightroom as a reader.

bleirer

The $10 a month plan includes both and more importantly Photoshop. Use Classic with Photoshop on the desktop computer for the heavy lifting, CC on a tablet or phone for sharing or light editing.

rmcgarry331

It appears that Adobe for some reason has dropped the $15/month Lightroom plan down to $10/month. They now have 2 Photography plans which include Photoshop CC, a $10/month plan with 20 gigabytes and a $20/month plan with 1TB.

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic come in the same plan as you noted. CC is the cloud based one, Classic is the one that resides on your computer or laptop. There is actually 3 total Lightroom versions that you get when you add in Lightroom.com which is the browser based version. All 3 can sync with each other which gives you the ability to use your Lightroom from anywhere on just about any device. Classic needs to be loaded on a computer. CC can be loaded on any device. While it does not have all of the features of Classic it has most. The browser based Lightroom.com has everything CC has with a couple of additional add ons like sharing and client proofing. The three give you the ability to upload (and down load images) no matter where you are and no matter what device you may be using. In addition Lightroom mobile gives you CC on your mobile device. It’s really CC with a mobile interface and one additional thing that is pretty cool. It allows you to control your devices camera like a dslr. You can shoot raw on your phone as well as control the devices shutter speed aperture and iso. The other thing it allows you to do is transfer images from your dslr or point and shoot to lightroom and sync it will all versions via the cloud. Yes you can use it on your iPhone and Droid not sure if you can be signed in to both devices at the same time however.
I would also look at the lightroom/photoshop subscription. The only difference is with the lightroom alone version you get 100 g of cloud storage free with the lightroom/photoshop version you get the full lightroom bundle that you get in the lightroom alone version plus you get PS but you only get 20 g of cloud storage free 20 g dosent sound like a lot of cloud storage but any images you sync from classic to the cloud are uploaded as smart previews and do not count against your 20 g. Smart previews are very small files that you can edit in Lightroom across the board. Take up very little space and look great they are just not full resolution when downloaded.
Confused yet? I have been a subscriber for more than 5 years now and I am still learning new things lightroom , both cc and classic can do.
Let me give you an example of how you might use all of them. Let’s say you have LR classic on your main desktop or laptop that is where your catalog resides. But you also have a laptop smart phone and tablet. When you are out shooting you can upload your images to your laptop or mobile device and sync them with your desktop via the cloud no need to wait till you get home to download then. Any edits you do on any device are synced between all of them. Conversely, let’s say you are away from your main computer with CC mobile or the web version you have access to your images and can edit them from “the road”.
Bottom line is the subscription plan allows you to use lightroom any where any time on any device as well as transfer images from anywhere in the world that there is an internet connection.

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

I think you have that reversed. If you start in Lightroom CC yes full res gets uploaded to the cloud (Counts against 20 g storage) and what gets pulled down to classic is full res. It’s when you go the other way. When you start in classic smart previews get uploaded to the cloud which does not count against your 20 gig storage. What you pull down from there is less than full res. However I believe there is a way to send full res from classic to the cloud also. How this becomes really powerful is for sharing. I don’t think most people realize this. Let’s say you have some images you want to share with friends and family you can sync them to CC from classic give them a link and they can view them. That takes up zero of your 20 g. Works great for client proofing too.
I like the way you put that Lightroom is a “reader”. I think that is a pretty good way to explain it simply!

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

I second the suggestion of going with the Photography plan to get Photoshop rather than the extra cloud storage with your $10/month. If you need more cloud storage you can buy it from someone else.

Yes, the Lightroom Classic vs Lightroom is a very confusing stupid move by Adobe marketing. When folks on this sight say Lightroom they usually are referring to Lightroom Classic. Myself included.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Classic is the way to go!!!

ggenova64

That $10 per month plan is for Students and Teachers!

bleirer

Check it out, $9.99 for mere mortals, https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/compare-plans.html?promoid=9DJJ4N49&mv=other

Free trial https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html?promoid=2NVQCBZ1&mv=other#mini-plans-web-cta-photoshop-lightroom-card

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

I have used both but much prefer Lightroom Classic (for desktop) over Lightroom because I am so familiar with the old stand-alone Lightroom 5. I tried Lightroom but found it too confusing. I wish Adobe had decided on a different name for the cloud-based version.

ggenova64

I don't understand! What plan are you talking about?

Photography plan (20GB) $9.99
Photography plan (1TB) $19.99
Lightroom plan (1TB) $9.99

ggenova64

I don't understand! What plan are you talking about?

Photography plan (20GB) $9.99
Photography plan (1TB) $19.99
Lightroom plan (1TB) $9.99

SdoggPhoto Loc: Harrisburg PA

So I use LR infrequently and fairly lightly for the amount of post process I have the patience to do. Lots of presets from multiple sources. Problem I ran into is getting tangled with the subscription. Adobe shut me down unless I subscribe after an update. So I uninstalled & reinstalled LR5(the original level I bought way back when), but I need to be at 6.14 for my Sony cameras ARW files to be recognized. Is there a way to get there w/o going back into the subscription fiasco. Alternatively I could go Capture 1 Express for Sony and/or Luminar 4.2?