Customer Reviews (500)

FictionGuy • 2025-03-22T11:16:39-07:00

Trial ONLY NOT FREE!

Boogies Perspective • 2025-03-15T03:25:03-07:00

Heat

Shutter_Speed27 • 2025-03-13T14:47:35-07:00

All around super easy to use. On top of that Adobe does not compromise on both power and efficiency. I have used Lightroom for years now and would highly recommend the product.

Summary of Key Insights

Adobe Lightroom is a highly-rated photo editing app, winning the Apple App Store Award for Mac App of the Year in 2024. Users praise its ease of use, powerful editing capabilities, and AI-assisted features. However, the subscription model and reported bugs are significant pain points. While the overall sentiment is positive, negative reviews often focus on the cost, technical issues, and misleading "free" advertising. The app has a strong base of loyal users, but addressing these criticisms is crucial for continued success.

  • Overall Rating: High (majority of reviews are 5-star)
  • Key Strengths: User-friendliness, powerful features, AI-assisted tools.
  • Key Weaknesses: Subscription model, bugs/glitches, misleading "free" advertising, cloud syncing issues, performance issues on certain devices.
  • Overall Sentiment: Positive, but with significant negative feedback related to pricing and technical issues.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Total Reviews: 500
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 67.2% (336)
    • 4-star: 6.2% (31)
    • 3-star: 3.6% (18)
    • 2-star: 4.4% (22)
    • 1-star: 18.6% (93)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews from the Apple App Store.
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly specified, but likely covers a recent period given the mention of the "Apple App Store Awards 2024 Winner."
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Assessing the overall positive, negative, or neutral tone of the reviews.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identifying frequently used words and phrases to pinpoint common themes and issues.
    • Frequency Analysis: Counting the occurrences of specific keywords and topics to determine the prevalence of different issues and requests.
    • Categorization: Grouping similar reviews and comments into thematic categories.

Key User Pain Points

  • Subscription Model:
    • Issue: Many users dislike the subscription-based pricing, preferring a one-time purchase option. Some find it too expensive.
    • Impact: Dissatisfaction and frustration, leading to subscription cancellations and negative reviews.
  • Bugs and Glitches:
    • Issue: Users report various technical issues, including app crashes, freezing, syncing problems, import/export failures, and issues with specific features like the Point Color tool. Performance issues are also noted, especially on M1/M3 Macs and when using filters.
    • Impact: Reduced productivity, frustration, and a perception of poor quality.
  • Misleading "Free" Advertising:
    • Issue: Some users feel misled by the app being listed as "free," only to discover it requires a subscription after download.
    • Impact: Negative perception of Adobe's marketing practices and frustration with the app's inaccessibility without payment.
  • Cloud Syncing Issues:
    • Issue: Problems with cloud syncing, including slow syncing speeds, errors, and a lack of control over mandatory syncing.
    • Impact: Disrupted workflow, difficulty accessing photos offline, and concerns about data usage.
  • File Management Issues:
    • Issue: Difficulties with file management, including importing, exporting, and organizing photos. Some users also mention the inability to delete multiple photos at once.
    • Impact: Inefficient workflow and frustration with the app's organizational capabilities.
  • Printing Issues:
    • Issue: Lack of direct printing capability from within the app.
    • Impact: Inconvenience and the need to use other applications to print edited photos.
  • Customer Support Issues:
    • Issue: Some users reported not being able to log in to their account after being charged, with slow or no response from customer support.
    • Impact: Frustration and a feeling of being ripped off.
  • Cancellation Fees:
    • Issue: Some users reported being charged cancellation fees after cancelling their subscriptions.
    • Impact: Frustration and a feeling of being ripped off.

Frequently Requested Features

  • One-Time Purchase Option: A non-subscription option for users who prefer to own the software outright.
  • Improved Cloud Syncing Controls: More control over syncing, including the ability to disable it entirely or selectively sync folders.
  • Direct Printing: The ability to print photos directly from the app.
  • Enhanced File Management: Easier importing, exporting, and organization of photos. Ability to select all photos to delete.
  • More Export Options: Support for more file formats, such as HEIF.
  • Dual Monitor Support: Support for using the app on multiple monitors.
  • Video Watermarking: Ability to add watermarks to videos.
  • Better Performance: Improved performance on various devices, especially Macs.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Ease of Use: Many users find the app user-friendly and easy to learn, especially for beginners.
  • Powerful Editing Capabilities: Users appreciate the wide range of editing tools and the ability to achieve professional-looking results.
  • AI-Assisted Features: The AI-powered features, such as Denoise, Super Resolution, and masking, are highly praised for their effectiveness and time-saving benefits.
  • Cross-Device Syncing: The ability to edit photos on multiple devices and have changes automatically synced is a significant advantage.
  • Preset Functionality: The built-in and custom preset options are appreciated for quick and easy photo looks.
  • Organization Tools: The AI-powered search and organizational features are seen as helpful for managing large photo libraries.
  • In-App Tutorials: The availability of tutorials and inspirational content is valued by users, particularly beginners.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Bugs and Glitches: Invest significant resources into identifying and fixing reported bugs, crashes, and performance issues. Prioritize issues affecting core functionality and those causing data loss or workflow disruptions.
  • Improve Transparency Regarding Subscription: Clearly communicate the subscription-based nature of the app upfront, before users download or create an account. Avoid misleading language or marketing tactics.
  • Optimize Cloud Syncing: Enhance the reliability and speed of cloud syncing, and provide users with more control over the syncing process. Consider offering options to disable syncing or selectively sync folders.
  • Improve Customer Support: Respond to customer inquiries and complaints promptly and effectively. Address issues related to billing, account access, and technical support.

Medium Priority:

  • Consider a One-Time Purchase Option: Explore the feasibility of offering a one-time purchase option for users who prefer it. This could attract new customers and reduce negative feedback related to the subscription model.
  • Enhance File Management: Improve the app's file management capabilities, including easier importing, exporting, and organization of photos. Add the ability to select all photos to delete.
  • Add Direct Printing Functionality: Implement a direct printing feature to allow users to print photos from within the app.
  • Expand Export Options: Support more file formats, such as HEIF, for greater compatibility.
  • Address Performance Issues on Macs: Optimize the app's performance on Mac devices, particularly those with M1/M3 chips.

Low Priority:

  • Explore Dual Monitor Support: Investigate the feasibility of adding dual monitor support for users who prefer to work with multiple displays.
  • Add Video Watermarking: Consider adding the ability to add watermarks to videos.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Subscription-Free Photo Editor with AI Features: A photo editing app that offers powerful AI-assisted features without requiring a subscription. This could appeal to users who are dissatisfied with Adobe's pricing model.
  • Cloud Syncing Management Tool: An application that provides granular control over cloud syncing across multiple platforms, allowing users to selectively sync folders, manage bandwidth usage, and prioritize data transfers.
  • Photo Editing Education Platform: A platform that offers comprehensive training and tutorials on photo editing techniques, using various software applications, including Lightroom. This could cater to beginners and experienced users alike.
  • Bug Reporting and Resolution Platform: A platform that allows users to easily report bugs and track their resolution progress. This could improve transparency and communication between developers and users.

Trends and Observations

  • Language Preferences: The majority of reviews are in English, but there are also reviews in Spanish, Chinese, and other languages, indicating a global user base.
  • Shift in Sentiment: Some long-time users express dissatisfaction with the shift towards a subscription model and the removal of features from Lightroom Classic.
  • Recurring Technical Issues: Certain technical issues, such as app crashes and syncing problems, are mentioned repeatedly across multiple reviews, suggesting persistent problems.
  • Beginner vs. Professional Needs: The app is generally well-received by beginners, but some professionals may find it lacking certain advanced features or customization options.

Conclusion

Adobe Lightroom is a popular and powerful photo editing app with a strong user base. However, the subscription model, reported bugs, and misleading advertising are significant pain points that need to be addressed. By prioritizing bug fixes, improving transparency, and considering alternative pricing options, Adobe can enhance user satisfaction and maintain its competitive edge.

The key takeaway is that while the app has many strengths, addressing the weaknesses related to pricing, technical issues, and user experience is crucial for long-term success.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adobe-lightroom/id1451544217?mt=12&uo=2