Brandwave

How popular isAdobe Lightroom?

In September 2026, people searched for Adobe Lightroom by name about 1.2 million times worldwide, a 6.9% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 10% of all global image editing software searches, placing Adobe Lightroom fourth out of 15 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about image editing software, Adobe Lightroom appeared in four of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the 15.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Adobe Lightroom is the fourth most searched of 15 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. PhotopeaShare of searches 29.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  2. Adobe PhotoshopShare of searches 21%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. PicsartShare of searches 15.3%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. Adobe LightroomShare of searches 10%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. PixlrShare of searches 9%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th

+10 more

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Top image editing software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Adobe Lightroom was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Adobe Lightroom is the second most recommended of the 15.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Adobe Photoshop1st
  2. Adobe Lightroom2nd
  3. Affinity3rd
  4. Luminar Neo4th
  5. GIMP5th
  6. Photopea6th
  7. Pixlr7th
  8. Picsart–
  9. Fotor–
  10. Paint.NET–
  11. +5 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Adobe Photoshop5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Affinity5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Adobe Lightroom4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • GIMP4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Luminar Neo4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Photopea3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Pixlr1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Picsart0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Fotor0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Paint.NET0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about image editing software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Which image editing software compete with Adobe Lightroom?

Adobe Lightroom against image editing software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Photopea, Adobe Photoshop, Picsart, Adobe Lightroom, Pixlr, GIMP, Fotor. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPhotopeaAdobe PhotoshopPicsartAdobe LightroomPixlrGIMPFotorAffinityPaint.NETPhotoScapeLuminar NeoPixelmatorPaintShop ProXaraAcorn
Oct 202527.2%23%13.9%8.2%10.7%7.4%4%2.4%1.2%0.93%0.72%0.27%0.14%<0.01%<0.01%
Nov 202522.4%22.9%14.3%7.9%11%7.5%3.3%7.4%1.2%0.81%0.89%0.27%0.15%<0.01%<0.01%
Dec 202525.3%22.9%16%8.8%9.7%6.9%4.5%2.5%1.3%0.78%0.81%0.25%0.14%<0.01%<0.01%
Jan 202625.5%21.7%15.9%9.1%9.8%8.2%3%2.3%1.4%0.92%0.82%1.3%0.14%<0.01%<0.01%
Feb 202627.1%22.8%16.2%9.3%9.1%7.3%3%1.8%1.2%0.84%0.72%0.56%0.13%<0.01%<0.01%
Mar 202626.7%22%16.3%9.5%9.9%7.1%3.4%1.6%1.4%0.86%0.69%0.53%0.13%<0.01%<0.01%
Apr 202626.4%21.9%19%9.5%8.4%6.9%3.1%1.4%1.2%0.86%0.85%0.37%0.12%<0.01%<0.01%
May 202627.7%21.6%19.3%9.5%9%6%2.3%1.3%1.3%0.86%0.73%0.38%0.11%<0.01%<0.01%
Jun 202629.5%20%19.6%9.9%8%6.4%2.3%1.6%0.87%0.75%0.64%0.33%0.11%<0.01%<0.01%
Jul 202630.2%20.3%19.5%8.6%8.4%6.5%2.4%1.4%0.88%0.76%0.64%0.33%0.1%<0.01%<0.01%
Aug 202629.7%20%19%9.9%7.6%6.3%3.6%1.3%0.86%0.74%0.52%0.33%0.11%<0.01%<0.01%
Sep 202629.5%21%15.3%10%9%7.6%3.3%1.7%0.88%0.79%0.43%0.33%0.11%<0.01%<0.01%

  1. 1.Photopea

    29.5%

    Held 1st. 3.4M estimated branded searches, -1.5% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  2. 2.Adobe Photoshop

    21%

    Held 2nd. 2.4M estimated branded searches, +4.1% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  3. 3.Picsart

    15.3%

    Held 3rd. 1.8M estimated branded searches, -20.1% vs prior month. Share -3.7 points.

  4. 4.Adobe Lightroom

    10%

    Held 4th. 1.2M estimated branded searches, +0.71% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  5. 5.Pixlr

    9%

    Held 5th. 1M estimated branded searches, +17.4% vs prior month. Share +1.4 points.

  6. 6.GIMP

    7.6%

    Held 6th. 880K estimated branded searches, +18.6% vs prior month. Share +1.2 points.

  7. 7.Fotor

    3.3%

    Held 7th. 386K estimated branded searches, -9.1% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  8. 8.Affinity

    1.7%

    Held 8th. 197K estimated branded searches, +27.3% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  9. 9.Paint.NET

    0.88%

    Held 9th. 102K estimated branded searches, +0.93% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  10. 10.PhotoScape

    0.79%

    Held 10th. 92K estimated branded searches, +5.7% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  11. 11.Luminar Neo

    0.43%

    Held 11th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  12. 12.Pixelmator

    0.33%

    Held 12th. 37.9K estimated branded searches, -0.58% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  13. 13.PaintShop Pro

    0.11%

    Held 13th. 12.9K estimated branded searches, -0.46% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  14. 14.Xara

    <0.01%

    Held 14th. 950 estimated branded searches, +17.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  15. 15.Acorn

    <0.01%

    Held 15th. 210 estimated branded searches, -12.5% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Adobe Lightroom and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Adobe Lightroom

36 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Adobe Lightroom changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Adobe Lightroom worldwide held steady at 1.2M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Lightroom’s share of searches among image editing software worldwide increased from 8.2% to 10%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Lightroom’s share of searches among image editing software worldwide peaked at 10% in September 2026 and was lowest at 7.9% in November 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Lightroom rose from 5th to 4th among image editing software worldwide.

How did search popularity change for image editing software worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Pixlr gained share of searches among image editing software worldwide, from 7.6% to 9%.

  2. In September 2026, GIMP gained share of searches among image editing software worldwide, from 6.3% to 7.6%.

  3. In September 2026, Adobe Photoshop gained share of searches among image editing software worldwide, from 20% to 21%.

  4. In September 2026, Picsart lost share of searches among image editing software worldwide, from 19% to 15.3%.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Luminar Neo worldwide fell 55% over 12 measured months, from 110K to 49.5K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Affinity worldwide fell 46.2% over 12 measured months, from 366K to 197K in September 2026.

How are Adobe Lightroom’s branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Adobe Lightroom’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • adobe lightroom
  • lightroom
  • lightroom app
  • lightroom classic
  • lightroom mobile
  • lightroom presets

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Do you work for Adobe Lightroom? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

Where does Adobe Lightroom compete?

Adobe Lightroom is ranked in six competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Photo management software2nd of 86.5%Show ranking
Image editing software4th of 1510%Shown above
Photo editing software3rd of 1411.3%Show ranking
AI photo enhancers2nd of 924.9%Show ranking
Photo enhancer apps2nd of 825%Show ranking
Mobile photo editing apps2nd of 628.3%Show ranking
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Is Adobe Lightroom your brand?

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