# Adobe Lightroom for iPad vs Final Cut Pro

The clearest difference is monetization model: Adobe Lightroom for iPad at free with in-app purchases against Final Cut Pro's subscription. Adobe Lightroom for iPad also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Adobe Lightroom for iPad sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Final Cut Pro sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Adobe Lightroom for iPad has 51K ratings behind it against 3.1K, 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 35% of Final Cut Pro's.

Adobe Lightroom for iPad ships an update every 2 weeks, Final Cut Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Adobe Lightroom for iPad | Final Cut Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (51K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/adobe-lightroom-for-ipad/id804177739/reviews)** | [4.4 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/final-cut-pro-create-video/id1631624924/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **51K** | 3.1K |
| Positive reviews | **37.1% of reviews** | 34.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 350 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 26.6 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adobe Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/331646274) | [Apple Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) |

## What reviewers say

### Adobe Lightroom for iPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/adobe-lightroom-for-ipad/id804177739)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly 40GB | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly 100GB | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly 100GB | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly 100GB | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium Weekly 100GB | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Lightroom plan 1TB | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly 40GB | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly 40GB | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly 100GB | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly 100GB | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient editing
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💡 Powerful editing tools on the go
- 🔒 Seamless cloud sync across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and performance issues
- 🔒 Restrictive subscription model
- 💰 Expensive monthly fees
- 🔍 Missing key features compared to desktop version

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### Final Cut Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/final-cut-pro-create-video/id1631624924)

This professional video editing application reimagines creation for iPad with a touch-first interface. It offers advanced features like Live Multicam, intelligent editing tools, and a vast library of content to polish projects.

**Highlights:** Touch-first interface optimized for iPad, Live Multicam with up to four connected devices, Intelligent editing tools like Scene Removal Mask and Auto Crop, Live Drawing with Apple Pencil for annotations, Extensive library of titles, effects, and music, HDR workflow support

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Final Cut Pro for iPad | $4.99 | per month |
| Final Cut Pro for iPad | $49.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🚀 Great for editing on the go
- 💡 Useful drawing and annotation features
- 🚀 Comfortable to use with Apple Pencil and keyboard

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Lack of compatibility with desktop version and external storage
- 💰 Subscription model instead of one-time purchase
- 🔍 Missing key features like color grading, stabilization, and custom LUTs

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and loss of work
- Issues with importing and exporting media
- Bugs with text editing and timeline manipulation

**Requested features**

- Add support for external hard drives and storage
- Improve compatibility with desktop version of Final Cut Pro
- Introduce more advanced editing tools and effects
- Provide a one-time purchase option instead of subscription


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Adobe Lightroom for iPad free?

Adobe Lightroom for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Final Cut Pro free?

Final Cut Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Adobe Lightroom for iPad or Final Cut Pro?

Adobe Lightroom for iPad is rated higher. Adobe Lightroom for iPad averages 4.8 out of 5 from 51K ratings, while Final Cut Pro averages 4.4 from 3.1K ratings.

### Do Adobe Lightroom for iPad or Final Cut Pro have ads?

Neither Adobe Lightroom for iPad nor Final Cut Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Adobe Lightroom for iPad or Final Cut Pro?

Adobe Lightroom for iPad ships an update every 2 weeks, and Final Cut Pro every 2 months. Most recently, Adobe Lightroom for iPad was updated on October 19, 2026 and Final Cut Pro on October 18, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*