Brandwave

How popular isAdobe Lightroom?

In September 2026, people searched for Adobe Lightroom by name about 900 times in New Zealand, a 7.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 57.6% of all New Zealand photo culling software searches, placing Adobe Lightroom first out of seven brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about photo culling software, Adobe Lightroom appeared in all answers and was the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Adobe Lightroom is the most searched of 7 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Adobe LightroomShare of searches 57.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  2. Imagen AIShare of searches 26.5%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  3. AftershootShare of searches 6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. Photo MechanicShare of searches 6%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. Evoto AIShare of searches 2.6%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

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Top photo culling software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Adobe Lightroom appeared in all five answers. Adobe Lightroom is the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Aftershoot1st
  2. Narrative2nd
  3. FilterPixel3rd
  4. Photo Mechanic4th
  5. Imagen AI5th
  6. Adobe Lightroom6th
  7. Evoto AI–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Adobe Lightroom5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Aftershoot5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Narrative5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Photo Mechanic4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • FilterPixel3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Imagen AI2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Evoto AI0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about photo culling software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Which photo culling software compete with Adobe Lightroom?

Adobe Lightroom against photo culling software in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Adobe Lightroom, Imagen AI, Aftershoot, Photo Mechanic, Evoto AI. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthAdobe LightroomImagen AIAftershootPhoto MechanicEvoto AIFilterPixelNarrative
Oct 202551.1%31.9%7.4%5.9%2.1%0.53%1.1%
Nov 202552.8%30.1%6.7%6.7%1.8%0.61%1.2%
Dec 202553.7%29.9%5.5%6.7%2.4%0.61%1.2%
Jan 202653.9%29.3%5.4%6.6%3%0.6%1.2%
Feb 202651.4%26.8%6%4.9%2.7%0.55%7.7%
Mar 202652.2%29.3%6.8%5.4%2.4%0.49%3.4%
Apr 202649.4%28.5%8.1%6.4%2.9%0.58%4.1%
May 202650.6%28.5%8.1%6.4%2.9%0.58%2.9%
Jun 202649.1%34.3%6.3%4%2.3%1.1%2.9%
Jul 202650.7%33.6%4.8%7.5%1.4%0.68%1.4%
Aug 202653.4%30.4%5.6%6.8%1.9%0.62%1.2%
Sep 202657.6%26.5%6%6%2.6%0.66%0.66%

  1. 1.Adobe Lightroom

    57.6%

    Held 1st. 870 estimated branded searches, +1.2% vs prior month. Share +4.2 points.

  2. 2.Imagen AI

    26.5%

    Held 2nd. 400 estimated branded searches, -18.4% vs prior month. Share -3.9 points.

  3. 3.Aftershoot

    6%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 90 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  4. 4.Photo Mechanic

    6%

    Moved from 3rd to 4th. 90 estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.

  5. 5.Evoto AI

    2.6%

    Held 5th. 40 estimated branded searches, +33.3% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  6. 6.FilterPixel

    0.66%

    Moved from 7th to 6th. 10 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.Narrative

    0.66%

    Moved from 6th to 7th. 10 estimated branded searches, -50% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

Compare popularity between Adobe Lightroom and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Adobe Lightroom

12 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Adobe Lightroom changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Adobe Lightroom in New Zealand fell from 970 to 900.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Lightroom’s share of searches among photo culling software in New Zealand increased from 51.1% to 57.6%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Lightroom’s share of searches among photo culling software in New Zealand peaked at 57.6% in September 2026 and was lowest at 49.1% in June 2026.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand photo culling software in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Adobe Lightroom gained share of searches among photo culling software in New Zealand, from 53.4% to 57.6%.

  2. In September 2026, Evoto AI gained share of searches among photo culling software in New Zealand, from 1.9% to 2.6%.

  3. In September 2026, Imagen AI lost share of searches among photo culling software in New Zealand, from 30.4% to 26.5%.

  4. In September 2026, Photo Mechanic lost share of searches among photo culling software in New Zealand, from 6.8% to 6%.

  5. In September 2026, Narrative lost share of searches among photo culling software in New Zealand, from 1.2% to 0.66%.

  6. In September 2026, Aftershoot rose from 4th to 3rd among photo culling software in New Zealand.

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
  • adobe lightroom classic
  • adobe lightroom downloader
  • adobe lightroom editing
  • adobe lightroom filters
  • adobelightroom

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Who owns Adobe Lightroom?

Adobe Lightroom is owned by Adobe. Brandwave also tracks Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Analytics, Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Marketo Engage, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Real-Time CDP and Adobe Stock, owned by the same company, in New Zealand.

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 four competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Photo editing apps4th of 74.1%Show ranking
Photo enhancer apps2nd of 615.7%Show ranking
AI photo enhancers2nd of 617%Show ranking
Photo culling software1st of 757.6%Shown above
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Is Adobe Lightroom your brand?

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