frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

I have seen a few posts from people wanting to leave Lightroom and wanting to know if there is an alternative organizer/cataloger. Some say they are tired of paying the $10.00/month fee.


I just tried a few and have found only two worth considering (maybe, but not for me)

One is digiKam, https://www.digikam.org/

It is open source, and free. when it works, its good, but I can not get it to stop crashing. It is SUPER SLOW loading. but then is ok...it has a ton of great features. I do not know why, but it keeps crashing on me. It is not resources, I have plenty and have NO PROBLEM with Adobe products. Maybe for you it might work, if it is all you use and you have the time to trouble shoot, but not me.

The other one is iMatch by photools, https://www.photools.com/imatch/

It is a good one, but it cost $130.00 for a lifetime license (supposedly) there will be updates, weather they are free or know I do not know, but suspect there will be fees. It WORKS, does not crash, and is fairly easy to use. But it does not in any way compare to LightRoom!!

So in short I have not found anything close to doing what Lightroom does. It is by FAR the BEST and well worth the $10/month even if only for an organizer, not to mention all the other freebies you get, if you only need organization.

edit: this info is for those wanting to leave Adobe, not me.

I just saw another similar thread here in which Jerry gives some good links.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-672554-1.html

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Look at On1. It's a lifetime license but with some free updates during the year but yearly update is fee based.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

There are a number of (free) alternatives. You didn't specify what computer platform, so these are multi-platform free software:

darktable - (Opposite of "Lightroom," get it?)
RawTherapee
Polarr
LightZone

NOTE: I am not recommending any of these products. I have looked at them, and tried them, but I am a Lightroom user, and will remain one for now.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Oops, your right. I did not mention platform. I use windows.....

I too use Lightroom, and will never change. I was just thinking of a thread where all the available alternatives could listed. I only tried the two I listed and got frustrated real quick. Maybe someone who has not used Lightroom would not, and might be happy.

Jerry lists a few in another thread I had not noticed, and is in the edit of mine here.

Maybe between the two threads a combined list can be put together for for those that want a free program.

BTW the two I mention import data from Lightroom. ie directory structure, catalogue, key words etc.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

I agree that LR is the best organizer/cataloger currently available. There are some very good alternatives but none of them are as comprehensive and ultimately as powerful as LR.

Just one catch. I also need to process/edit my photos. And if I have to prioritize those two options then process/edit is first priority and organize/catalog is second priority.

For me, based on priority #1 LR is not best and I make my choice based on my first priority. That's why I made the switch from LR to Capture One back in 2011 and I haven't looked back with regret. I make my $$ teaching LR and have it on my home computers paid for by my employer. So I'm familiar with it and I can use it for free.

JIM H Loc: Broad Channel NY

I have been using Corel Paint Shop. Pay up front for the download, then you will keep getting offers to buy updates. I looked at Lightroom but do not use it enough to justify paying $20 a month

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Another very good point! Program used needs to be based on individual need and priority!

iMatch does allow external editing programs!

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Light room is only $10......how do you get to $20.

JIM H Loc: Broad Channel NY

You want the full program with all the features its $20

srt101fan

It's not clear if you are trying to identify other software with the full capabilities of Lightroom or only an alternative to Lightroom's organizing/cataloging function.

Referring to IMatch, you said, "But it does not in any way compare to LightRoom!!" I can understand that, if you mean that Lightroom has editing capabilities and IMatch doesn't. But in that case you are comparing apples and oranges. If you are comparing the organizing/cataloging functions only, could you please tell me where IMatch falls short of Lightroom?

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Lightroom Classic is the full program. You can get it for $9.99/month plus sales tax. It includes Photoshop. It also includes Bridge, but Bridge is free anyway.

As I understand it, the $20/month includes some extra cloud storage. Might be useful if you're using LR (the Mobile app), but I have no use for it on my desktop.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

I've spent thousands of dollars, about $30,000 actually, on all kinds of cameras and lenses and other equipment. I've spent thousands of dollars on photography trips all over the place. I've spent a lot of money on photography education, I did not keep track of this. I've spent 10 years working with LrC and PS and know LrC very well, what it can and cannot do, and know a bit about PS. I can use LrC, PS, get access to hundreds of very nice fonts, software that will allow me to make marketing tools for print or electronic use (Spark), web software (Portfolio) if I want or video software (Rush) if I want to do that, and if I did want to do more cloud-based photography I do have the option to do that all for $9.99 a month, less than the cost of a sandwich and chips for lunch these days. Why would I quit my Adobe plan? It would not make sense to me. I do use a lot of other software but the organizational abilities of LrC are tremendous as are the processing tools so I'll be staying with the plan. It would not make sense to me to spend all this money and then look for the cheapest alternative to processing.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

+1

I spent money on equipment that I considered quality tools. It makes sense to use quality tools to organize and adjust the images. It's a positive thing that using LR/PS provides those quality tools at a price that is less than what I spend on impulse items (even during lockdown when I'm stuck at home ordering things online). The value I get for LR/PS far exceeds the value I get from those impulse purchases.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

I dropped Lightroom years ago and switched to Capture One. I’m not interested in either catalog system since I am comfortable with my own which is based simply on Windows Explorer and carefully chosen directory names. I have used this system for decades with film.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Comfort with a system that works is always an incentive not to move.
I will readily admit that at my age inertia is a big factor in my decision to stick with LR after close to a couple decades. I'm still capable of learning new things but it's a lot more effort than it used to be. And I'm a big believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".