Adobe Lightroom vs Pixlr:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Pixlr had more branded searches than Adobe Lightroom among photo editing apps in New Zealand. Pixlr had about 4,900 branded searches, while Adobe Lightroom had 900. Pixlr made up 22.1% of all photo editing app searches we track, and Adobe Lightroom accounted for 4.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about photo editing apps, Adobe Lightroom appeared in all five answers and Pixlr in one. Adobe Lightroom was mentioned before Pixlr in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Pixlr, about 5 searches for every 1 for Adobe Lightroom
Who does AI mention more?
Adobe Lightroom, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Adobe Lightroom, named ahead of Pixlr in every answer
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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. Pixlr was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Adobe Lightroom was listed before Pixlr in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Adobe Lightroom1st
- Snapseed2nd
VSCO3rd
Picsart4th- Pixlr5th
- Apple Photos / Google Photos6th
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which photo editing app should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best photo editing apps in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best photo editing app in New Zealand for creative editing?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best photo editing app”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“photo editor app”
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.
Is Adobe Lightroom or Pixlr more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Adobe Lightroom and Pixlr by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven photo editing apps we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Pixlr, Adobe Lightroom. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Photopea | Pixlr | Picsart | Adobe Lightroom | Snapseed | VSCO | Apple Photos / Google Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 48.8% | 29.3% | 11.9% | 3.9% | 3% | 3.1% | 0.04% |
| Nov 2025 | 49.5% | 29.7% | 12% | 3.6% | 2.7% | 2.6% | 0.04% |
| Dec 2025 | 44.3% | 26% | 16.1% | 4.9% | 4.2% | 4.3% | 0.05% |
| Jan 2026 | 47.1% | 23.3% | 14.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 5.6% | 0.06% |
| Feb 2026 | 52% | 25.4% | 12.5% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 0.04% |
| Mar 2026 | 52.8% | 25% | 12.7% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 0.03% |
| Apr 2026 | 49.1% | 24% | 14.6% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 3.3% | 0.05% |
| May 2026 | 49% | 25.2% | 15% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.8% | 0.04% |
| Jun 2026 | 52% | 25.3% | 12.8% | 3.9% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 0.04% |
| Jul 2026 | 55.7% | 21.9% | 13.2% | 3.7% | 3% | 2.4% | 0.04% |
| Aug 2026 | 56.4% | 21.9% | 13.7% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 1.9% | 0.04% |
| Sep 2026 | 55.3% | 22.1% | 13.5% | 4.1% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 0.05% |
How has the Adobe Lightroom and Pixlr comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Pixlr was ahead of Adobe Lightroom in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Lightroom’s share of searches among photo editing apps in New Zealand moved from 3.9% to 4.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 970 to 900.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pixlr’s share of searches among photo editing apps in New Zealand moved from 29.3% to 22.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 7.3K to 4.9K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand photo editing apps in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Adobe Lightroom gained share of searches among photo editing apps in New Zealand, from 3.3% to 4.1%.
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 branded searches counted?
12 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Adobe Lightroom’s and Pixlr’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Adobe Lightroom
6 branded search terms
- adobe lightroom
- adobe lightroom classic
- adobe lightroom downloader
- adobe lightroom editing
- adobe lightroom filters
- adobelightroom
Pixlr
6 branded search terms
- editor foto pixlr
- pixlr
- pixlr editing
- pixlr express
- pixlr filters
- pixlr photo editor
Other head-to-heads among photo editing apps
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