Adobe Lightroom for iPad vs Canon DPP Express
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Adobe Lightroom for iPad
This app offers powerful AI-driven tools to enhance and edit photos and videos, making moments look their best. Easily adjust colors, remove distractions, blur backgrounds, and apply creative presets. It's designed for both quick fixes and more advanced edits, helping users create shareable content.
- AI-powered photo enhancement
- One-tap Quick Actions
- Generative Remove object eraser
- Background blur and bokeh effects
- Customizable presets and filters
- Batch editing for consistency
- Community-shared presets
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Ever wish your photos could really show what makes a moment special? Adobe Lightroom is a free photo and video editor that helps you do just that. From your dog’s goofy grin to that sunset that took your breath away, Adobe Lightroom makes it simple to bring those moments to life, just the way you see them. Whether you’re snapping pics on the go or curating your social feed, Lightroom puts powerful AI photo editor tools in your pocket to make quick edits easy and fun. Adobe Lightroom is here to help you create photos you’re proud to share. PICTURE EDITOR THAT EASILY MAKES YOUR PHOTOS LOOK AMAZING Want brighter colors? Softer, blurry backgrounds? A quick touch-up to crop and resize a photo? Adobe Lightroom’s one-tap features like Quick Actions and Adaptive Presets let you enhance photo quality in seconds. These AI photo editor tools suggest the best edits for your images. Perfect for quick fixes or adding a unique vibe, no experience required. Use it as your go-to photo editor. REMOVE DISTRACTIONS AND BLUR BACKGROUND Adobe Lightroom gives you access to tools that feel professional but stay approachable. Blur the photo background for a polished look, adjust the finer details, or use Generative Remove as an object eraser in photos with a few taps. POWERFUL EDITS WITH ZERO HASSLE Take control of light with tools to tweak exposure, highlights, and shadows. Fix photos with presets, photo effects, color grading, hue, saturation, or add a blurry bokeh effect to nail the perfect vibe. It’s all about giving you creative control while keeping it simple. GET INSPIRATION FROM THE COMMUNITY Not sure where to start? Browse photo filters and presets shared by creators around the world. From vintage photo effects to applying a retro photo filter, Adobe Lightroom has the presets to match your aesthetic. Whether you’re looking to make bold edits with AI photo editor tools or subtle tweaks for polished portrait edits, find a look that matches your style — or create your own. Save your favorites and make every photo feel like you. EDIT ONCE, APPLY EVERYWHERE Snapped a whole concert, travel day, or family gathering? Instead of editing each shot one by one, use Lightroom’s AI photo editor tools. Fix photos in batches to keep your photo edits looking consistent — fast, easy, done. WHY ADOBE LIGHTROOM? • It’s for every moment: whether editing photos for fun, capturing memories, gaining confidence, or sharing on social media. • It’s flexible: start with simple photo editing and grow into a better photographer along the way. Fix photos, crop and resize images, blur background elements, or remove distractions with our object eraser — the editing options are endless with Adobe Lightroom. • It’s an AI photo editor designed to help build confidence, spark creativity, and showcase your authentic style. PICTURE EDITOR TOOLS YOU'LL LOVE • Quick Actions: Fix photos with suggested edits tailored to your pics. • Preset Edits: Discover filters or make your own signature look. • Background Blur: Create depth with a blurry background effortlessly. • Generative Remove Edits: Take out the things you didn’t want with this AI photo eraser. • Video Editing: Bring the same creative energy to your clips with tools for light, color, and presets. FOR EVERY KIND OF PHOTOGRAPHER Photo editing has never been easier. Lightroom is here to empower you - to capture sunsets, family moments, or your latest foodie find. With tools to fix pictures, enhance photo quality, and edit videos, Adobe Lightroom gives you the right balance of ease and control. Download Adobe Lightroom today. Terms & Conditions: Your use of this application is governed by the Adobe General Terms of Use http://www.adobe.com/go/terms_linkfree_en and the Adobe Privacy Policy http://www.adobe.com/go/privacy_policy_linkfree_en Do not sell or share my personal information www.adobe.com/go/ca-rights-linkfree
Canon DPP Express
Edit RAW photos on your iPad or iPhone with intuitive touch controls. Adjust colors, save multiple versions, and export without watermarks after subscribing. Supports various Canon RAW and JPEG formats.
- Color edit RAW images
- Intuitive touch operation
- Save multiple adjustment patterns
- Change history function
- Export images without watermarks
- Supports CR3/CR2, JPEG, HEIF (10 bit)
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Canon Digital Photo Professional Express (Canon DPP Express) is an iPad/iPhone application to color edit RAW images with intuitive touch operation to be converted to JPEG file afterwards. To continue using all Digital Photo Professional Express features, you must complete the (paid) subscription process. When you purchase the subscription, - Your image adjustments will be recorded. - You will be able to export images without watermarks. [Key Features] - Adjust RAW images freely. - Quickly and easily adjust RAW images anywhere, any time. - Save multiple adjustment patterns and compare the results on a single RAW image. - Use the change history function to readjust images until you achieve the perfect result. - Save adjusted images to your Camera Roll in JPEG format. " [Compatible Formats] RAW(CR3/CR2 ), JPEG, HEIF (10 bit) * Not compatible with .CRW or video file formats. CR3/HEIF (10bit) images can now be displayed and saved in HDR PQ. The supported displays are as follows: - iPad - Ultra Retina XDR - Liquid Retina XDR - iPhone - Super Retina XDR - Super Retina HD Note that the actual displayed image depends on the display performance. [Image Input] Via Camera Connect : RAW(CR3/CR2), JPEG, HEIF (10 bit) Import from Camera Roll: [RAW (CR3/CR2), JPEG], [HEIF (10 bit) *excluding EOS 5D Mark IV/EOS R] * Image data is saved in the app. In addtion, devices with iOS 12.1 and later can import CR3 files from the Camera Roll. *HEIF (10-bit) files and RAW images shot with [HDR PQ settings] enabled can be imported using linked mode with the Canon camera app Canon Camera Connect . *RAW burst files cannot be imported to smart devices. Extract the CR3 images from the RAW burst file in advance on the camera side, and then import them to the smart device. [Compatible Camera Models] For compatible models and features, please refer to the following website. https://ssw.imaging-saas.canon/app/app.html?app=dppex [System requirement] iOS 18 / 26 iPadOS 18 / 26 [Important Notes] Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the time of purchase confirmation. If you do not cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, the subscription will automatically renew, and charges will continue. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. - If you uninstall the app, all image data imported from your camera will be erased. - If application does not operate properly, try again after shutting down the application. - Visit your local Canon Web pages for more details. https://ssw.imaging-saas.canon/app/app.html?app=dppex Terms and conditions https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Adobe Lightroom for iPad at free with in-app purchases against Canon DPP Express's subscription. Adobe Lightroom for iPad also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (37% vs 17%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Adobe Lightroom for iPad sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Canon DPP Express sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Adobe Lightroom for iPad holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Adobe Lightroom for iPad has 51K ratings behind it against 2.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of Adobe Lightroom for iPad's written reviews are positive against 17% of Canon DPP Express's.
Adobe Lightroom for iPad ships an update every 2 weeks, Canon DPP Express every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.
| Parameter | Adobe Lightroom for iPad | Canon DPP Express |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (51K ratings) — better | 4.6 (2.9K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 37.1% of reviews — better | 17.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 51K — better | 2.9K |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 354 MB | 112 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Adobe Inc. | Canon Inc. |
Customer experience
Adobe Lightroom for iPad
Canon DPP Express
User reviews
Adobe Lightroom for iPad
From 51K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast and efficient editing
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💡 Powerful editing tools on the go
- 🔒 Seamless cloud sync across devices
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and performance issues
- 🔒 Restrictive subscription model
- 💰 Expensive monthly fees
- 🔍 Missing key features compared to desktop version
Canon DPP Express
From 2.9K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great app for on-the-go RAW processing
- 👍 Fantastic app with lots of features
- 💡 Useful for quick edits in the field
Room to improve
- 🐛 Lacks support for CR2 RAW files
- 🔒 Requires subscription for full functionality
- 🔋 Slow performance on older iPads
- 👎 Limited compatibility with older Canon models
Bugs and requests
Adobe Lightroom for iPad
Reported bugs
4 issues- Syncing issues causing data loss
- Selective editing tools lagging and freezing
- Export limitations (max 15 photos at a time)
- Inconsistent performance across devices
Requested features
5 requests- Batch editing and renaming options
- HDR and panorama merging
- Expanded export options (raw, TIFF, etc.)
- Customizable color profiles and presets
- Improved organization and metadata management
Canon DPP Express
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes when trying to import photos
- Unable to open RAW files from camera roll
- Exporting photos results in quality loss
- Incompatible with some iPad models
Requested features
6 requests- Add support for CR2 RAW files
- Improve file management with folder support
- Allow direct import from SD card or external drive
- Implement batch processing and editing tools
- Add color profile creation using color checker
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Enable RAW file export to other apps
In-app purchases
Adobe Lightroom for iPad
- Premium Monthly 40GB$1.991 Month
- Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Premium Monthly 100GB7 Days trial$6.991 Month
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Premium Monthly 100GB$6.991 Month
- Premium Weekly 100GB$7.997 Days
- Premium Monthly 100GB$7.991 Month
- Lightroom plan 1TB$9.991 Month
- Premium Yearly 40GB7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Premium Yearly 100GB7 Days trial2 variants$49.991 Year
Canon DPP Express
- DPP Express Full Functions1 Month trial$0.991 Month
Questions
Is Adobe Lightroom for iPad free?
Is Canon DPP Express free?
Which has better reviews, Adobe Lightroom for iPad or Canon DPP Express?
Do Adobe Lightroom for iPad or Canon DPP Express have ads?
Which is updated more often, Adobe Lightroom for iPad or Canon DPP Express?
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