Photo editing has become more accessible over the 21st century, and you no longer need to be on your computer to create amazing photo adjustments. If you’re looking at different software to help you achieve these results, you might have heard of VSCO and Lightroom CC.
Both Lightroom CC and VSCO offer several options for photo editing, but the two apps also differ in several ways. In this guide, you’ll find out where you can use these programs—along with how much they cost. We’ll also cover your options for editing colors, importing your pictures, and much more.
1. Pricing
One main area in which Lightroom CC andVSCOdiffer is when it comes to pricing. VSCO has a free tier that offers access to basic editing tools, such as a handful of presets and sliders.
If you need more complex features, you can upgrade to VSCO Plus or Pro. VSCO Plus costs $29.99 annually ($7.99/mo if you pay monthly instead). Meanwhile, you’ll pay $59.99 per year ($12.99/mo) if you use VSCO Pro.
Lightroom CC, on the other hand, does not have a free tier. Instead, you’ll need to choose an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription that meets your needs. ThePhotography Plan, which includes bothLightroom Classic and Creative Cloud(along with Photoshop), starts at $9.99 per month.
Neither Lightroom CC nor VSCO has a one-time purchase option available. If you need more assistance with choosing the right Adobe plan, seewhat else Adobe Creative Cloud includes.
2. Creating Presets
When you create a preset, you can improve your photo editing workflow significantly. Each time you edit a new picture, you have the option to apply the preset and make smaller adjustments than if you started from scratch.
Lightroom CC and VSCO differ when it comes to making presets. As soon as you purchase a subscription for Lightroom CC, you can create presets within the app and save these for future edits. You can evensell your Lightroom presetsonce you’ve created a unique photography style for yourself.
You can also create presets in VSCO, but with a big caveat. If you use the free plan, you can only create one (these are known as Recipes in VSCO). With VSCO Plus and Pro, you can save as many Recipes as you like.
3. Availability of Presets
In addition to creating your own presets from scratch, it’s sometimes good to have a broader range of options available from others. This is especially true if you’re new to photo editing and don’t fully know how these platforms work yet.
Lightroom CC and VSCO both have a range of presets available. With Lightroom CC, you’re able to access several made by Adobe—along with a large range of presets from other creators. Furthermore, you can buy and import even more presets from elsewhere.
When you use VSCO, you may use 15 presets with the free plan. That number rises above 200 when you get a paid subscription. With VSCO Pro, you can customize presets with numerous features.
4. Basic Adjustments
Presets are a useful starting point for your images, but you’ll also need to make further adjustments in many cases. Lightroom CC and VSCO both offer a number of tools in this respect, but how each one is presented will depend on the program you use.
In Lightroom CC, you’ll find a number of basic adjustment sliders that go from -100 to +100. Examples includeContrast,Exposure, andHighlights. You can use these to create several interesting styles, such asusing overexposure in your photography.
In VSCO, you’ll see many of the same sliders. But instead of ranging between 100 either way, you can choose between +6 and -6. Some sliders that you see are locked unless you get a paid subscription.
If you’re looking to create images for a website, consider checking out thebest photo editing apps for bloggers.
5. Color Editing
Editing the colors is crucial if you want to make your images stand out, and again, both VSCO and Lightroom CC offer different features in this respect.
One of the best features you can use in Lightroom CC are the color grading wheels, which let you alter the midtones, shadows, and highlights. You’ll also see a global color wheel to edit the entire picture, and each one has aLuminanceslider.
In addition to the color grading wheels, Lightroom CC has HSL sliders for eight colors. you’re able to use these to adjust specific parts of your image.
6. Continuity Across Other Devices
Having the option to edit pictures from your smartphone or tablet is incredibly useful, especially if you’re traveling for extended periods. And in some cases, you might want toedit JPEG instead of RAWto quickly get your creations out there. However, having a bigger screen can help with photo editing in many cases.
Lightroom CC lets you edit from your computer, and you may sign in with the same Adobe CC account on another device to continue where you left off. You can also use Lightroom on Apple TV.
Download:Lightroom CC foriOS|Android|Mac|Windows(Free, in-app purchases available)
Download:VSCO forAndroid|iOS(Free, in-app purchases available)
7. Importing Options
When using a photo editing app, understanding how you can import your photos is an important part of your decision-making process. Lightroom CC lets you import both RAW and JPEG files, and you can upload your pictures from your smartphone, tablet, and computer.
VSCO lets you import RAW files, too, and you can edit JPEGs as well.
8. Sharing Features
Once you’ve finished editing your pictures, you’ll likely want to share them with others. VSCO has a community feature that allows you to showcase your art with others on the platform, and you may also choose to share your pictures on your Instagram account. VSCO has other sharing options, too, and you always have the choice to export to your camera roll as well.
With Lightroom CC, you can share your pictures via WhatsApp, Messages, and numerous other apps like Pinterest. On top of that, you can export to your camera roll.
VSCO and Lightroom CC Are Both Excellent Choices for Beginners
VSCO and Lightroom CC both offer several advantages if you want to edit your photos but don’t have much experience. VSCO has a free tier, which lets you get to grips with the basics of adjusting your pictures. However, its paid plans might also cater to your needs—along with having the added benefit of scaling as you become more proficient.
If you need something that also works on your computer, Lightroom CC might be a better option for the time being. But in the future, we expect VSCO to have broader options in that respect.
