Feature comparison
A side-by-side look at what each tool offers today.
| Feature | Raw Photo Editor | Lightroom |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | From $11.99/mo |
| Installation | None (browser) | Desktop app, plus web and mobile |
| RAW decoding | 24 formats + phone DNGs | Very broad camera support |
| White balance | Yes + eyedropper | Yes + eyedropper |
| Tone curves | Master + RGB | Master + RGB |
| HSL controls | 7 bands | 8 bands |
| Split toning | Yes | Yes (Color Grading) |
| Texture / Clarity / Dehaze | All three | All three |
| Gradient masks | Linear + Radial | Linear + Radial |
| Brush masking | Yes (pressure, feather) | Yes |
| Spot removal | Heal + clone | Heal, clone, AI remove |
| Range masks | Luminosity + Color | Luminosity + Color |
| AI masking (subject/sky) | No | Yes |
| Film grain | Yes | Yes |
| Presets | Built-in + custom | Built-in + custom |
| Noise reduction | Basic (luminance + color) | Advanced + AI Denoise |
| Lens corrections | No | Auto profiles |
| Catalog / library | No | Yes |
| Batch processing | No | Yes |
| Cloud sync | No | Yes |
| Privacy | Never uploaded | Cloud sync by default |
| Export resize | Long-edge + percentage | Multiple options |
| Export formats | JPEG, PNG, 8-bit TIFF | JPEG, PNG, TIFF, DNG, PSD, and more |
When Raw Photo Editor makes sense
- Quick corrections with selective editing. Fix white balance, add a gradient mask to darken the sky, adjust highlights, and export. Two minutes, no app launch.
- Any computer, nothing to install. A borrowed laptop or a shared computer works as well as your own — open the page and edit.
- Privacy-sensitive work. Every pixel stays on your device. No uploads, no cloud processing, no account. Edit client photos on any network with confidence.
- No subscription. Curves, HSL, masking, healing, presets, and grain — without monthly payments.
- Underwater cleanup. Heal dust and backscatter by clicking or dragging, or let the experimental backscatter finder propose specks for you to review.
When Lightroom makes sense
- Professional workflow at scale. Batch-processing hundreds of files, syncing settings across a shoot, and delivering to clients with consistent profiles.
- AI tools. Automatic subject and sky masking, AI Denoise, and generative remove — none of which Raw Photo Editor offers.
- Lens corrections. Automatic distortion, vignetting, and chromatic aberration correction using manufacturer lens profiles.
- Large catalogs. Organizing, rating, and searching thousands of images is a core Lightroom strength.
The honest take
Raw Photo Editor covers most of the editing tools photographers reach for daily: curves, HSL, masking (linear, radial, luminosity, color, brush), healing, presets, grain, texture, clarity, dehaze, crop, and full-resolution export.
Where Lightroom still leads is in AI tools, lens corrections, cataloging, batch processing, and cloud sync. Those are real advantages if your work depends on them.
What Raw Photo Editor offers is the core of the single-image edit — free and private. No install, no subscription, no upload. Just the edit.
Common questions
Is Raw Photo Editor a free alternative to Adobe Lightroom?
Raw Photo Editor is a free, browser-based RAW photo editor with masking, healing, tone curves, HSL, presets, and film grain. It covers the core editing workflow including selective adjustments, but does not replace Lightroom for cataloging, lens corrections, or batch processing.
What can Raw Photo Editor do that Lightroom cannot?
Raw Photo Editor runs entirely in the browser with no installation, no account, and no subscription. All processing happens on your own computer — your photos are never uploaded. It costs nothing.
Does Raw Photo Editor support masking like Lightroom?
Yes. Raw Photo Editor includes 5 mask types: linear gradient, radial gradient, luminosity range, color range, and brush. Each mask has 12 adjustments and can be inverted. Lightroom additionally offers AI-powered subject/sky masking which Raw Photo Editor does not have.
Should I use Raw Photo Editor or Lightroom for professional work?
For professional workflows involving large catalogs, client delivery, lens corrections, and AI masking, Lightroom is the stronger choice. Raw Photo Editor is ideal for quick single-image edits, privacy-sensitive work, and photographers who want capable tools without a subscription.