Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom CC: Which One Fits Your Workflow?
In Adobe's photo world, Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC have many of the same tools but serve different needs.
Lightroom Classic is the old-school desktop version. It's great for storing and organizing lots of photos right on your computer. Lightroom CC is the newer cloud-based version. It focuses on simple editing and syncing your photos across all your devices.
So what really makes Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC different? Which one should you choose? Read on to find out.
In this article, you will learn:
- Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom CC: What's Different?
- Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom CC: User Experience Comparison
- Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom CC: Pricing & Plans
- Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom CC: Practical Advice
- Conclusion
Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom CC: What's Different?
Even though they both carry the Lightroom name, Classic and CC work in pretty different ways:
1. File Management
Lightroom Classic uses "Catalogs." You can spread photos across multiple hard drives and keep them all organized in one or more catalogs. Lightroom CC has just one global "Library." All your photos live in Adobe's cloud, no catalogs to manage.
In Classic, you have to import photos into a catalog before you can work on them. In CC, you just browse, organize, and edit right from your normal file folders—no import step needed.
2. Where Your Photos Live
In Classic, your photos stay on your own hard drive, so you're responsible for backing them up. In CC, photos are stored in the cloud by default. When you open the app, it downloads and syncs whatever you need.
CC also has an on-demand download option: keep low-res previews on your device and leave full-resolution originals in the cloud until you want them. You can even turn on a "local storage" option to download everything to a folder on your computer, but it still leans on cloud sync.
3. Organizing & Searching
Classic organizes by folders and catalogs. You tag photos yourself with keywords, star ratings, and color labels.
CC uses Adobe Sensei smart search. It automatically recognizes faces, objects, and scenes, then adds searchable keywords for you. Type "beach" or "cat," and CC will pull up the matching shots. You can also filter by location, device, rating, and more, all without adding tags by hand.
Classic can only search by the keywords you've added; it can't scan content on its own.
4. Editing Tools
At the core, both handle RAW edits the same way. You can tweak exposure, contrast, white balance, tone curves, clarity, dehaze, sharpening, and noise reduction. Both also offer masking with gradients and brushes.
Where Classic shines is in the extras: you can tag images with color labels, change the photo's capture time, batch-rename files, and export to a wide range of formats (RAW/DNG, TIF/PSD, JPEG, PNG). Lightroom CC only lets you export RAW, JPEG, and TIFF.
Classic also includes built-in print, book, and slideshow tools (like soft-proofing). CC keeps things more basic in these areas.
And if you use third-party plugins or filters, Classic has a huge plugin ecosystem and lets you send images to external editors. CC doesn't support third-party add-ons yet.
5. Preset Support
Both apps let you create and apply presets. Lightroom CC comes with lots of built-in and AI-recommended presets, and it can sync them to the cloud.
Classic can make, apply, and favorite presets too, but there's no cloud sync or AI suggestions.
In short, CC's preset workflow feels more modern: you see thumbnail previews as you edit, and your presets travel with you. Classic keeps everything on your hard drive.
6. Export Settings
Classic offers a richer export menu: you can add borders, set exact DPI (pixels per inch or cm), and choose from multiple color spaces (sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto, etc.).
CC's export is simpler. You can pick pixel dimensions, file names, and sharpening, but it lacks the advanced options like borders and color-space choices.
7. External Editing
Both can hand off photos to Photoshop. Classic goes further, letting you send images to Photoshop Elements or other external editors. In other words, Classic ties into more professional editing tools.
Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom CC: User Experience Comparison
Lightroom CC's design stays clean and simple. It feels more like a mobile app. Controls are easy to grab — big sliders and clear icons. New users will find it quick to learn.
Lightroom Classic feels like a pro camera dashboard. It has several modules (Library, Develop, Print, and more). The layout is busy, and the panels are packed with options. Beginners may find it impressive but a bit confusing at first.
When it comes to speed, each has its strong points. Classic works entirely from your local drive. It can open huge files and export photos as fast as your computer allows, without worrying about internet speed.
CC requires you to upload photos to the cloud. Every time you sync or download, you depend on your network. Slow internet can mean a delay when opening a new photo or syncing many RAW files at once.
Overall, Classic gives you steady offline performance and handles big files smoothly. CC shines with easy syncing and instant access on any device.
If you like editing on the go and don't mind cloud storage, CC is convenient. If you prefer editing offline with no hiccups, Classic will feel more reliable.
In terms of the learning curve, CC is easier to pick up. Its simple interface and built-in tutorials guide you through basic edits. Classic is more powerful, but has many tools to learn. It takes time to get comfortable with everything.
Our tip? If you've never used Lightroom before, start with CC. Its clean layout and basic tools make it a smooth introduction. Once you know the workflow, you can move to Classic to explore its advanced features.
Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom CC: Pricing & Plans
Adobe offers two main Lightroom subscriptions:
1. Lightroom Plan (1 TB Cloud Storage)
- Includes Lightroom CC (desktop, mobile, and web) and Lightroom Classic.
- Starting in 2025, the annual plan works out to $11.99 per month (up from $9.99/month).
- You get 1 TB of cloud storage.
2. Photography Plan
- Includes Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, Photoshop, plus cloud storage.
- Costs $239.88 per year (about $19.99/month).
- Comes with 1 TB of cloud storage.
- Good choice if you want both Lightroom apps and Photoshop.
3. Is There a One-Time Purchase Option?
There's no one-time purchase. Both plans require a subscription. Prices may vary by region and currency.
For many photographers, the subscription fee also covers ongoing updates and customer support. If you're not sure yet, you can try Adobe's 30-day free trial before you decide.
Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom CC: Practical Advice
For beginners new to photography, it helps to be clear about what you really need before choosing a Lightroom version:
1. Multiple Devices vs. Desktop Only
If you switch between your phone, camera, and tablet and want to view or share photos anywhere, Lightroom CC's cloud sync is super handy. If you spend most of your time at a computer and don't rely on an internet connection, Lightroom Classic is more reliable.
2. Photo Volume and Storage
Modern digital camera files are large. If you have thousands of photos, Lightroom Classic lets you spread them across different hard drives. Lightroom CC gives you limited free cloud storage and may require extra fees. If money is tight, Classic's local storage can save you both cash and hassle.
3. Feature Needs
If you want third-party filters like Topaz or DxO, or need to export for print, stitch panoramas/HDR, or manage color tags, only Classic can do it. If you just want to tweak exposure, color, and use presets, Lightroom CC is more than enough.
4. Ease of Learning
New photographers can start with Lightroom CC. Its simple layout and interactive tutorials help you learn fast. Once you've mastered the basics, you can move on to Lightroom Classic to explore deeper tools.
5. Backup and Sync Habits
No matter which version you choose, back up regularly. In Classic, back up your catalogs and photo folders. In CC, if your internet is unreliable, keep a local copy or export backups occasionally.
6. Our Suggestion?
Try both before you decide. Download Lightroom CC on your phone or laptop first. It feels just like a mobile editing app and is very intuitive. If you later need more robust management and plugin support, you can switch to Lightroom Classic.
In fact, many photographers use both versions together. If you subscribe to Adobe's Lightroom plan, you get access to Classic and CC at the same time.
That's why a lot of pros edit on Classic at their PC. They pick the shots they want to back up or review later, then sync those to CC. On the road, they open CC on their phone or tablet to fine-tune edits or share right away.
Adobe even lets you sync only Smart Previews from Classic to the cloud. That way, you can do a second round of edits in CC on your mobile device. You get all of Classic's power plus CC's multi-device syncing.
When you're editing in Lightroom, you often need to move sliders for exposure, color, and more. Dragging sliders with a mouse can be clumsy. Worst of all, you have to keep your eyes on the slider bar, which makes editing feel like a chore instead of an art.
That's why we recommend TourBox, a creative controller loved by many photographers. It's like a gamepad for photo editing. With one hand on TourBox, you can manage photos and tweak colors in Lightroom while watching your image change in real time, no more staring at tiny sliders.
If you're curious about TourBox, check out our photo editing page to see how it simplifies every step of your workflow.
Conclusion
Think of Lightroom CC as a lightweight "magic album" you can use anywhere. Lightroom Classic is like a full professional photo lab: it takes some learning but offers every tool a pro could ask for.
Pick the right tool, and your photo journey will be smoother and more fun!
