Geeklister
SOCIAL:
Filed under: How to, Photo Editing, Technology

How to Get Lightroom For Free?

How to get Lightroom for free?

We get this question hundreds of times from different forums. Most of the beginners, even some pro, who don’t have enough money to pay Adobe mostly asked this question.

In actual, there is no legal way to get lightroom for free except downloading the Lightroom free trial version or buying it.

Instead, you can use Lightroom free alternative apps as a bridge to enjoy the minimum features of Lightroom.

However, on the web, you can find a ton of tutorials to get the pirated version of Lightroom.

But, using pirated software is illegal. Besides, there are many side-effects of using the Lightroom pirated version.

So, how can I get Lightroom for free legally?

In this guide, I have broken down four legal ways that help you to get lightroom for free. Also, let you know how to download lightroom free trial version following the step by step guide.

Here, what I am going to break down:

  • Four legal ways to get lightroom for free
  • Free Trial FAQ
  • How to download Lightroom free trial version
  • Benefits of using Lightroom free trial version
  • Top 7 Lightroom alternative apps
  • Disadvantage of using Lightroom pirated version

Bonus Tips 1: How to Buy Lightroom following step by step guideline?

Bonus Tips 2: Top 5 Free Lightroom Presets

So, let’s dive in.

4 legal ways to get lightroom for free

In this chapter, I am going to break down three legal ways to get Lightroom for free.

Here we go.

01. Downloading the free trial version

Lightroom offers a 7-day free trial. You can enjoy all the features Lightroom delivers in this version.

Though you can use the free trial version for a limited time, you can test the features and performance of Lightroom.

As a result, it will be easier for you to decide whether it is perfect or not for you.

Don’t know how to download the free trial version? Don’t worry! In the third chapter, I have broken down the method. So, continue to read.

02. Using Lightroom free alternative apps

On the web, there are a plethora of free Lightroom alternative apps available.

If you can’t pay Adobe per month, you can use those apps as an alternative to Lightroom.

As I said before, they work as a bridge that lets you enjoy the same or at least minimum features as Lightroom offers.

Darktable, Irfanview, and GIMP are some of the best free lightroom alternative apps.

In the fifth chapter, I have broadly described it.

03. Downloading the mobile version app

Installing the mobile version app of Lightroom CC is another legal way to use this software for free.

In this case, what you need to do is download & install the Lightroom mobile version app from Google Play Stor or Apple App Store.

The mobile version of Lightroom CC performs in the same way as the desktop version does.

It lets you edit & organize photos, do color correction, and more.

And the best part of using the Lightroom mobile version app is it is legal and free to use.

04. Buying Lightroom

Finally, you can buy Lightroom to use this best Mac photo editing software legally.

Though it is not a method of getting Lightroom for free, you should buy it if editing is your profession.

If photo editing is your hobby, not profession, then I recommend you to use the free Lightroom alternative apps.

Do you know how to buy Lightroom? If you don’t know, then keep reading this article till the end.

As a bonus tip, I have described how to buy Lightroom at the end of this guide.

Lightroom Free Trial FAQ

Before downloading the trial version, it is better to know the FAQ related to it.

If you have any questions about this, you will get the answer. So, let’s know the FAQ of Lightroom Free Trial.

Does the free trial version of Lightroom compatible on Windows and macOS?

Yes, it is compatible both on Windows and macOS.

Will the trial version delivers the full-features of Lightroom?

Yes, you can enjoy every feature and tool Lightroom offers in the free trial version.

What’s the lifetime or duration of the free trial?

The duration of the Lightroom free trial version is for seven days. At the time you check out, it lasts for the next seven days. After the end of the trial, it will automatically convert to a paid plan if you don’t cancel it.

Does Lightroom let me get the Lightroom free trial on my phone?

Yes, Lightroom lets you download the trial version on the mobile devices.

Does Lightroom offer discounts for students and teachers?

Yes, Lightroom offers 60% discounts for students and teachers.

Will Lightroom let me get the trial version without being a member of Creative Cloud?

No, Lightroom never lets you download the trial version without being a member of Creative Cloud.

How to download Lightroom free trial version?

There is no need to give an introduction to this chapter. So, let’s go to the point straightly.

01. Visit on Adobe Photoshop Lightroom page & Click on Free trial

First, go to the official product page of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. Then, click on the Free trial button.

02. Choose the Individual Plan

Afterward, choose a plan that suits you. I recommend you to choose the Lightroom Photography plan under Individual.

Next, click on the Start Free Trial button.

03. Input your email and Fill up the form

Adobe wants you to put your email on the box. So, put your Gmail address and tap on the continue button.

You must to fill-up the form properly.

Note: Adobe doesn’t cost you a single buck during the trial version run on your device. So, don’t worry about that.

Once you completed to fill-up the form, click on the Start free trial button at the bottom of the page.

04. Tap on the prompt up button and download

Finally, a prompt up button will appear on the desktop screen.

To download the trial version, click on the button, and complete the download process.

Benefits of using Lightroom Free Trial version

Though you can use the trial version app for a limited time, you can enjoy full-features of Lightroom during these seven days.

The greatness of using the Lightroom trial version is you don’t need to break down any rule.

In other words, you don’t need to follow the illegal way to get this software. At the same time, you can enjoy every feature of Lightroom.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t cost you a single buck to use the full-featured version of Lightroom.

Moreover, you will get an opportunity to taste the Lightroom. If you find Lightroom perfect for you, you can use this.

On the other hand, if you don’t like Lightroom features, you can cancel your plan.

And all these benefits you can enjoy downloading the trial version without spending a single buck.

Top 7 Lightroom Free Alternative Apps

Again, I encourage you to buy Lightroom instead of using the Lightroom pirated version.

Using the crack version of Lightroom is illegal as well as dangerous. If you don’t have enough money to buy Lightroom, then use these following free lightroom alternative apps.

At least, you can enjoy the minimum features of Lightroom using these apps I listed below and don’t cost you a single buck.

Here is the list of top 7 free Lightroom alternative apps you can try.

  • Darktable
  • Raw Therapee
  • Pixlr
  • Paint.Net
  • GIMP
  • Photoscape X
  • Fotor

01. Darktable

Darktable is an opensource free image editing software.

For the similarity of its interface, toolset, and features with Lightroom, Darktable is considered as the best free alternative to Lightroom.

With Darktable, you can organize and store photos using tag, rating, location, and color.

Like Lightroom, this free photo editor also offers slider-based image editing tools.

Using those sliders, you can easily adjust the saturation, brightness, exposure, darkness, and so on.

To do these, what you need to do is move the slider from left to right.

In short, it makes photo editing simple.

At the same time, Darktable offers non-destructive image editing workflows that is the big plus of this app.

Though Darktable offers Lightroom alike features, Lightroom performs better in the case of color correction.

Besides, the presets of Lightroom are more robust than the styles of Darktable.

Although Darktable doesn’t come with every advanced tool like Lightroom and Photoshop, it does its job well as a free Lightroom alternative.

02. Raw Therapee

Raw Therapee is another opensource image editing tool on our list.

It is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac.

The interface and toolkits of this software are a combination of Photoshop and Lightroom.

Using Raw Therapee, you can edit and process raw files precisely. Nevertheless, it offers non-destructing photo editing workflows.

That means any change you do on the photo it will keep the original file untouched.

This photo editing app is perfect for basic photo editing and color correction.

Though its library let you organize photos with tag and rating, the library of Lightroom is more powerful.

Unfortunately, the tools and features of Raw Therapee are not powerful than Adobe products.

Also, there is a lack of tutorials online.

03. Pixlr X

Pixlr X is an online-based photo editing software compatible with PC, Mac, and Linux.

It has three modules including Edit, Collage, and Design.

The Edit module is the backbone of Pixlr X. Under this module, you can find every tool for doing basic editing to beauty retouching.

Therefore, Pixlr X has come with a lot of effects and filters to enhance a photo with a few clicks.

On top of that, you can customize each of the effects and filters.

The Collage module offers a plethora of layouts and free templates to create stunning collage and group photos.

Besides, you can create business cards, invitation cards, and other designs using Pixlr X.

However, Pixlr X doesn’t perfect for advanced retouching. Again, it shows ads in the free version that is so annoying. Even bitter, sometimes it crushes that destroy what you do with your photos within a second.

Moreover, the free version offers limited features.

04. Paint.Net

Paint.Net is a free photo editor app that only runs on Windows.

Unfortunately, it is not compatible with Mac and Linux.

The interface of Paint.Net has specially designed for doing simple editing workflows. This free photo editor is for those who don’t need to perform extensive retouching workflows.

It only lets you do basic editing including cropping and resizing, add effects, and fine-tune adjustments.

As a photo editor, you can’t organize photos in Paint.Net. Besides, it doesn’t let you perform batch photo processing.

In short, it is not perfect for pro photo retouchers.

However, if you are a beginner and don’t need a lot of tools and features, then Paint.Net can be the best software for you.

05. Gimp

GIMP is the best free alternative to Photoshop out there. It is an opensource image editing software compatible with Mac, Linux, and Windows.

Those who are looking for a robust photo editing app like Photoshop but refuse to pay Adobe, then GIMP is the best selection for them.

It has come with advanced photo editing tools and features like Photoshop offers. Plus, the interface of GIMP is similar to Photoshop.

With GIMP, you can do every image editing workflow from basic to extensive.

The only downfall of GIMP is there is no option for photo organization. To organize photos, you need to use other apps.

However, you can perform every pro image editing workflow using GIMP.

Indeed, it is the best alternative to Photoshop and Lightroom for the pro image retouchers.

06. Photoscape X

Photoscape X is a free photo editor compatible both on macOS and Windows.

It is an all-in-one photo editing software that lets you do photo editing, organizing, collage creating, add effects, and much more.

With it, you can erase the background from a photo precisely. To do this, it has come with three cutout tools including the Brush tool, Magic eraser, and Lasso tool.

Plus, a plethora of effects and filters available in Photoscape X that lets you enhance photos with a few clicks.

Furthermore, you can create collages, batch photo editing, crop & resizing with this free photo editor app.

But the downfall of this app it can’t perform advanced retouching workflow. However, if you are a beginner and looking for an easy to use app, then Photoscape X is for you.

07. Fotor

Fotor is another online-based photo editing software on this list. It helps you to do basic editing including cropping & resizing, cut out objects, and color correction.

At the same time, you can also perform basic retouching workflows. It lets you erase blemishes, acne, remove red-eyes, and so on.

The interface of Fotor is similar to Pixlr X. Like Pixlr, it also offers a plethora of effects and filters to enhance photos with a single click.

Nonetheless, you can also create photo collages and graphic design using Fotor.

The downside of Fotor is it offers limited features in the free version. Plus, it displays ads while editing that is annoying.

Disadvantage of using Lightroom pirated version

Many of you may have come to this site to check whether I include a process of downloading the crack version or not.

If you have come to my post with this intension, then I always discourage to stop seeking for the crack version of Lightroom.

As a good wisher, I always forbid you to use Lightroom illegally. Now, you can ask, “Sohel, I don’t have enough money to buy Lightroom. What should I do in this case?”

Well, I have already included the list of free Lightroom alternative apps. You can use those apps for free to create stunning photos.

The insecurities of using the Lightroom pirated version are many. Computer crush is the most common problem of using Lightroom illegally. In the worst case, you should pay a high-price ($1500) as a penalty.

So in the long run, it is better to stop using the Lightroom crack version.

Here are some remarkable disadvantages of using the Lightroom pirated version.

  • It’s a crime
  • Deprived you from using the updated version of Lightroom
  • Adobe doesn’t provide any help when you are in problem
  • Attack malware/viruses that cause computer crash
  • Doesn’t function well
  • Need to pay high-price as a penalty

Bonus Tips: How to buy Lightroom?

Now, you already know the downfalls of using a crack version of Lightroom. To avoid those side-effects, you should buy Lightroom or use the free Lightroom alternative app.

In the case of buying, as a beginner, maybe you don’t know how to buy Lightroom.

To help you out, in this part, I have included step by step process to buy Lightroom. So, let’s get started right here!

Step 1. Visit on Adobe official page

First, go to the Adobe official page by clicking here.

Under the Creativity & Design, choose the Lightroom and click on it. It will bring you to the Adobe Photoshop-Lightroom page.

From there, click on the Buy now button.

Step 2. Select the plan according to your need

When you click on the buy now button, it will bring up a page.

From the page, you should choose the plan that is perfect for you. Here I have provided some insight into those plans. It will help you to make a final purchasing decision.

Lightroom plan: If you want to use Lightroom alone, then you should choose this plan.

What it includes:

  • Provides 1TB cloud storage that let you store 20000 raw images as well as 200000 jpegs
  • Let you use Lightroom both on desktop and mobile devices
  • Offer tools to share your work on social media
  • Personal portfolio website

Photography Plan: Those who want to use both Lightroom and Photoshop together, they should choose this plan.

What it includes:

  • Includes both Photoshop and Lightroom
  • Lightroom classic
  • Let you use Lightroom both on desktop and mobile devices
  • Allow you to use Photoshop both on desktop and iPad
  • Cloud storage: 20 GB (you can increase the storage capacity later)
  • Personal portfolio website

Creative Cloud: This plan includes all the apps.

As a beginner, I recommend you to choose the Photography Plan.

So, click on the buy now button under the Photography Plan.

Step 3. Input your email

After clicking on the buy now button, it will bring up an email box. Put your email address there.

If you are a new user, you need to set your password after purchasing.

Then, click on the continue to payment button.

Step 4. Fill up the form properly

When you click on the continue to payment button, it will bring up a payment form like the below screenshot.

Fill up the form properly. Once you completed it, click on the Place secure order button from the bottom of the page.

And here it is! You have done all. What you need to do next is, set up your password and access to your creative cloud account to install Lightroom on your device.

Bonus Tips 2: Top 5 Free Lightroom Presets with Download Link

To give an enticing and dramatic look to your photo, I have listed the top 5 free Lightroom presets to enhance photos with a single click.

The best part is all these presets are free and customizable. Here we go.

HDR Color- Free Lightroom Preset

HDR Color is a free Lightroom preset to enhance your landscape and sunset photos. It helps to add color and vibrance to your photo and bring out the dynamic look of your photo.

Portrait Preset

Portrait Lightroom preset comes from Stockpresets.Com. This free Lightroom preset is perfect for landscape, portrait, travel, and cityscape photography.

This preset helps to add film effects to your photo.

Free Real Estate Preset

This preset is specially designed to enhance real estate photos. If you are a real estate photographer, then you must use this preset.

Product Preset

To give a professional look to your product photo, you should use this free preset. It helps you to boost up your sales enhancing your product photos.

Free Light & Airy Preset

To give a soft, creamy, muted green and hues, you should use this Light & Airy preset. Using this preset, you can add dreamy look to your photo.

Conclusion

Keep in mind; there is no legal way to get Lightroom for free permanently except buying it.

However, the four steps I included above help you to get lightroom free for a limited time.

For your convenience, I have broken those steps here again.

  • Download the free trial version of Lightroom
  • Using Lightroom mobile version app
  • Using the free Lightroom alternative apps
  • Buy the Lightroom

Nonetheless, the fourth option is not a free method.

Besides, I also described the downfalls of using a pirated version of Lightroom.

To avoid those dangerous effects of using the pirated version, you should buy Lightroom.

If you never buy Lightroom before, then follow the step by step guide I included above.

At the same time, I also included five free lightroom presets that let you enhance photos with a single click.

Have I missed anything in this guide? Are you going to buy Lightroom?

Don’t have enough money to use the premium version of Lightroom? Then, which free Lightroom alternative apps are you going to use?

Let me know your opinion commenting below.