Comparison

Adobe Lightroom for iPad vs Capture One

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Adobe Lightroom for iPad

This app is a free photo and video editor that uses AI to enhance images. It offers tools for retouching, blurring backgrounds, removing distractions, and applying creative filters. Easily edit photos for social media or personal memories.

Highlights
  • AI-powered photo enhancement
  • Retouching and object removal
  • Background blur and bokeh effect
  • One-tap Quick Actions
  • Community-shared presets
  • Batch editing for consistency
Features
Read full description

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

About

Capture One

Edit and organize RAW photos on your mobile device, tethering directly to your camera. Collaborate with clients in real-time, apply edits instantly, and maintain incredible color quality. Seamlessly transfer your work to desktop for final touches.

Highlights
  • Retouch Faces
  • Sessions Support
  • External Storage backup
  • Tether camera to mobile
  • Real-time image review
  • Instant sharing and collaboration
  • Apply edits as you shoot
  • RAW conversion and color editing
Features
Read full description

GREAT IMPROVEMENTS TO MOBILE * With Retouch Faces, you can complete your post-work on the fly and deliver your images on location. * Sessions Support enables you to stay organized with nested folders and track your selections. * Work and backup as you please with External Storage, so you’re not limited by your mobile storage. SHOOT INTO MOBILE & SHOWCASE YOUR STYLE Forget the heavy laptop. Tether your camera directly to your iPhone or iPad, wired or wirelessly. Shoot, review, and showcase your images in real time. Impress clients and make sure you get the perfect shot on the spot. SHARE, RATE, COLLABORATE Share shots instantly with teams and clients, get comments, star ratings, and color tags, and keep all feedback in one place, no matter where everyone is. APPLY EDITS AS YOU SHOOT Turn RAWs into near-final images instantly. Make quick edits and auto-apply the same look as you shoot for faster, clearer client feedback during the session. INCREDIBLE COLOR QUALITY Get our renowned RAW conversion and hand-calibrated colors right on your mobile screen, for true-to-life tones and perfect skin every time. STYLE & EDIT ON THE FLY AirDrop your favorite presets and Styles, or create your own. Apply them in a tap, auto-create complex masks, correct perspective, straighten shots, and edit freely on the go. DELIVER ANYWHERE Export to an external SSD, or send your work to Capture One Pro with all edits and ratings intact, so you can start on mobile and finish on desktop seamlessly. WORK WITH ANY CAMERA Supports 550+ cameras from Canon, Sony, Nikon, FUJIFILM, Leica, and more. Control your camera, fire the shutter, and adjust settings right from your device. PRICING & PLANS Start with a 7-day free trial of Capture One Mobile. Continue with a mobile subscription, or go All in One to get: * Capture One Pro (desktop) * Capture One Mobile * Capture One Live Unlimited * Priority support Upgrade to All in One and get the complete photo workflow, from capture to delivery.

Screenshots

Capture One4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Adobe Lightroom for iPad at 4.8 against Capture One's 3.5. Adobe Lightroom for iPad also leads on ratings volume (51K vs 331) and review sentiment (37% vs 18%). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Adobe Lightroom for iPad sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Capture One sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Adobe Lightroom for iPad holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Adobe Lightroom for iPad has 51K ratings behind it against 331, 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 18% of Capture One's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Adobe Lightroom for iPad versus Capture One: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAdobe Lightroom for iPadCapture One
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (51K ratings) — better3.5 (331 ratings)
Positive reviews37.1% of reviews — better17.9% of reviews
Number of ratings51K — better331
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size351 MB1.2 GB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperAdobe Inc.Capture One A/S

Customer experience

Adobe Lightroom for iPad

All ratings51,054 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral1.9%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews1,595 reviews
Positive37.1%
Neutral15.6%
Negative47.3%

Capture One

All ratings329 ratings
Positive59.0%
Neutral5.2%
Negative35.9%
Written reviews457 reviews
Positive17.9%
Neutral14.4%
Negative67.6%

User reviews

Adobe Lightroom for iPad

From 51K App Store ratings

What 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

Capture One

From 331 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent tethering capability
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
  • 🚀 Fast image rendering
  • 👍 Great for culling and rating photos on the go
  • 👍 Seamless integration with desktop Capture One

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
  • 🔒 Requires separate subscription even for desktop users
  • 👎 Severely limited editing features compared to desktop version
  • 👎 Slow cloud sync and lack of external storage support
  • 👎 Unintuitive file management and export workflow

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

Capture One

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to log in due to keyboard not appearing
  • Inconsistent behavior when importing and exporting photos
  • Crashes when attempting to use certain editing features
  • Issues with wireless tethering and connection stability

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add layers, masks, curves, and other advanced editing tools
  • Enable direct import from camera/SD card, not just cloud sync
  • Allow opening and editing desktop Capture One sessions/catalogs
  • Improve tethering functionality with live view and camera control
  • Provide option to purchase app outright instead of subscription

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Adobe Lightroom for iPad

Subscriptions11
  • Premium Monthly 40GB$1.991 Month
  • Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly 100GB7 Days trial$6.991 Month
Show 8 more
  • Premium Monthly 100GB$6.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly 100GB2 variants$7.991 Month
  • Premium Weekly 100GB$7.997 Days
  • Lightroom plan 1TB$9.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly 40GB7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly 40GB7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly 100GB7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly 100GB7 Days trial2 variants$49.991 Year
4 purchases

Capture One

Subscriptions4
  • Capture One mobile7 Days trial$10.991 Month
  • All in One7 Days trial$39.991 Month
  • Capture One mobile7 Days trial$109.001 Year
Show 1 more
  • All in One7 Days trial$294.991 Year

Questions

Is Adobe Lightroom for iPad free?
Adobe Lightroom for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Capture One free?
Capture One is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Adobe Lightroom for iPad or Capture One?
Adobe Lightroom for iPad is rated higher. Adobe Lightroom for iPad averages 4.8 out of 5 from 51K ratings, while Capture One averages 3.5 from 331 ratings.
Do Adobe Lightroom for iPad or Capture One have ads?
Neither Adobe Lightroom for iPad nor Capture One shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Adobe Lightroom for iPad or Capture One?
Adobe Lightroom for iPad ships an update fortnightly, and Capture One fortnightly. Most recently, Adobe Lightroom for iPad was updated on October 26, 2026 and Capture One on October 25, 2026.

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