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 4.1% of all New Zealand photo editing app searches, placing Adobe Lightroom fourth out of seven apps. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about photo editing apps, Adobe Lightroom appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

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

  1. PhotopeaShare of searches 55.3%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  2. PixlrShare of searches 22.1%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  3. PicsartShare of searches 13.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  4. Adobe LightroomShare of searches 4.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  5. SnapseedShare of searches 2.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd

+2 more

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Top photo editing apps 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 most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Adobe Lightroom1st
  2. Snapseed2nd
  3. VSCO3rd
  4. Picsart4th
  5. Pixlr5th
  6. Apple Photos / Google Photos6th
  7. Photopea–

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
  • Snapseed5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • VSCO5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Picsart3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Apple Photos / Google Photos2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Pixlr1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Photopea0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about photo editing apps

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 editing apps compete with Adobe Lightroom?

Adobe Lightroom against photo editing apps in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPhotopeaPixlrPicsartAdobe LightroomSnapseedVSCOApple Photos / Google Photos
Oct 202548.8%29.3%11.9%3.9%3%3.1%0.04%
Nov 202549.5%29.7%12%3.6%2.7%2.6%0.04%
Dec 202544.3%26%16.1%4.9%4.2%4.3%0.05%
Jan 202647.1%23.3%14.3%5.3%4.4%5.6%0.06%
Feb 202652%25.4%12.5%4.3%2.9%2.9%0.04%
Mar 202652.8%25%12.7%3.9%3.3%2.3%0.03%
Apr 202649.1%24%14.6%4.3%4.8%3.3%0.05%
May 202649%25.2%15%3.7%4.3%2.8%0.04%
Jun 202652%25.3%12.8%3.9%3.7%2.3%0.04%
Jul 202655.7%21.9%13.2%3.7%3%2.4%0.04%
Aug 202656.4%21.9%13.7%3.3%2.7%1.9%0.04%
Sep 202655.3%22.1%13.5%4.1%2.7%2.3%0.05%

  1. 1.Photopea

    55.3%

    Held 1st. 12.3K estimated branded searches, -20.2% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.

  2. 2.Pixlr

    22.1%

    Held 2nd. 4.9K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  3. 3.Picsart

    13.5%

    Held 3rd. 3K estimated branded searches, -19.6% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  4. 4.Adobe Lightroom

    4.1%

    Held 4th. 900 estimated branded searches, -1.1% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  5. 5.Snapseed

    2.7%

    Held 5th. 590 estimated branded searches, -20.3% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  6. 6.VSCO

    2.3%

    Held 6th. 520 estimated branded searches, -1.9% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  7. 7.Apple Photos / Google Photos

    0.05%

    Held 7th. 10 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 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?

2 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 editing apps in New Zealand peaked at 5.3% in January 2026 and was lowest at 3.3% in August 2026.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand photo editing apps in September 2026?

5 changes

  1. In September 2026, Adobe Lightroom gained share of searches among photo editing apps in New Zealand, from 3.3% to 4.1%.

  2. In September 2026, Photopea lost share of searches among photo editing apps in New Zealand, from 56.4% to 55.3%.

  3. Snapseed’s share of searches among photo editing apps in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 3.7% to 2.7% in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for VSCO in New Zealand fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 780 to 520 in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Pixlr in New Zealand fell 32.9% over 12 measured months, from 7.3K to 4.9K 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
  • 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%Shown above
Photo enhancer apps2nd of 615.7%Show ranking
AI photo enhancers2nd of 617%Show ranking
Photo culling software1st of 757.6%Show ranking
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