Contents
1. Overview of Luminar
2. Luminar Review
3. Luminar Alternatives
4. Luminar VS Lightroom
5. FAQs

Luminar Review: A Wide-Range Photo Editor for Windows & Mac

Skylar ReidSkylar ReidUpdated on Feb 23, 2023Photo Editor

As a techy person, it is essential for you to have a professional, sleek design photo editor, especially if you are categorized as Editor. Have you heard about Luminar? It is not heard enough, but all its features and editing are enough to meet your standards in editing photos. Moreover, give Luminar a try, but before that, read this article review first so that you will not miss a single thing upon using it.

Luminar Review

Table of contents

1. Overview of Luminar 2. Luminar Review 3. Luminar Alternatives 4. Luminar VS Lightroom 5. FAQs of Luminar

1. Overview of Luminar

What is Luminar?

Moreover, you will notice that it has a simple user interface. With that, it provides pleasure for users seeking a user-friendly user interface. In addition, Luminar has comprehensive editing tools and filters, which are perfect for your images.

What's more? A library of overlays and textures supports it. Plus, it has a unique AI adjustment for filters and tools. Furthermore, the interesting part of Luminar is you can install Luminar as a plug-in for some third-party apps.

Pros
It is user-friendly.
It has a simple user interface and a sleek design.
It also has layer-based editing for professional users.
It offers powerful Luminar AI-based editing.
Cons
Its AI does not have a consistent performance.
It does not allow you to print the edited photos.
Sometimes, the Luminar program is too slow.
It has limited advanced editing.
It has no face recognition for keyword tagging.
8.6 Overall

Interface9

Features8.5

Advanced Editing Tools 8.5

2. Luminar Review

Interface

Luminar Review Interface

The program Luminar has a dark user interface, allowing you to concentrate only on the Preview pictures and not on the numerous options on every side of the panel. In addition, the user interface of Luminat is customizable and offers a guide for beginner users.

You will notice that the Luminar user interface offers three modes of Catalog. The first is viewing all your images, such as All Photos with year, Single Image Edits, Favorites, Recently Added, Recently Edited, and Trash.

The second Catalog contains the Folders, like DCIM, and many folders you have on your computer. With that, you will easily categorize your folders. Lastly, the Album is almost similar to the second Catalog, in which you can organize your Albums.

Furthermore, below the Preview image, the X stands for quick culling, and next to it is the Heart Icon, which is the Favorite. When it comes to the Edit corner, you will see the Tools, Presets, and Edit.

Pricing

Luminar Review Pricing

Luminar Leo provides a flexible subscription plan. For those who want to purchase Luminar at the lowest price, you can choose Luminar Neo Pro, which is $9.92 a month. It consists of Licenses for two computers and is complete with all Pro Extensions.

It provides Luminar Neo Photo Editor, Extension Pact, 10 Magnificent Skies, All Upgrades and Future Extensions, Technical Support, and Money-Back. Luminar also has Luminar Neo Explore, which costs $9.95 a month and has Licensed for one computer only, and it does not have an Extension Pack.

Lastly, you can purchase the Luminar Neo Lifetime Plan. It costs $149.00, and it has all the features, but the disadvantages of this plan are you need to purchase the Extension Pack, 10 Magnificent Skies, AI Upgrades, and Future Extensions separately. Nevertheless, the money-back guarantee and Technical Support are covered.

For that reason, Luminar suggests to the users that if they purchase a plan, Luminar's best deal is Luminar Neo Pro. In addition, once you purchase this plan, you will have a 10% discount on your next purchase.

Luminar Basic Editing Photo

Luminar Review Basic Editing Photo

Luminar lets you edit your images using basic editing tools. After the Catalog button on the upper middle of the user interface, you will see the Edit button next to it. Once you click that, the Layer part is visible on the left-side corner, where you can add images by tapping the Plus Icon.

After adding a photo, it is time to use the Tools of Luminar. But before that, you need to know that it has three choices: Tools, Edits, and Presets. But in this part, we will focus on the Tools of Luminar.

The Tools of Luminar have Essentials, like Develop and Camera Profile. You need to set your Camera Profile to Luminar Default. Luminar also has External Profiles, like Adobe Standard, Camera Faithful, Camera Landscape, Camera Neutral, and so on.

When it comes to the Light part, Luminar has Exposure, Highlights, Shadows, Black and White, Curves, Colors, Sharpness, Noise Reduction, and Optics. You can also tap another tool, like Enhance, Erase, Structure, and more. Overall, you can make your image beautiful using these basic editing tools!

Adding Presents on Images

Luminar Review Adding Presets in Images

Let us now proceed on Presets of Luminar. After discussing the Tool part, we hope those tools satisfy your needs. Moreover, In the Presets, you can also add any image you like on the Layer part in the left corner.

In the middle part, you will see the large Preview of images, and Luminar lets you Zoom In on your photo up to 200%, but the advisable percentage is 100% only. Anyways, Presents, also known as Filters and Luminar, allows you to choose Presents, and the examples are; Scenery and Overcast. It also offers Essentials and Landscape that has Closeups and more.

3. Luminar Alternatives

AnyMP4 Image Upscaler

Luminar Alternatives AnyMP4 Image Upscaler

Price: Free

Platform: Online

Overall Rating:

AnyMP4 Image Upscaler is an online photo editor. You can use this tool to edit a photo as well as upscale images. Furthermore, AnyMP4 Image Upscaler is a perfect alternative to Luminar, and one of the major reasons is AnyMP4 Image Upscaler is free and can be used online. Therefore, there is no need for time to download and install the software.

After adding a photo on AnyMP4 Image Upscaler, you can choose Magnification, which could be 2x, 4x, 6x, and 8x. The interesting thing about AnyMP4 Image Upscaler is it has two side Previews. What does it mean? The left side shows the Original Image, and the image on the right side is the Output Image. There's more. Start trying it now!

GIMP

Luminar Alternatives GIMP

Price: Free

Platform: Mac, windows

Overall Rating:

GIMP is a professional photo editing software; you can use this as an alternative to Luminar. The good thing about GIMP is it is free and open source. With that, you can edit images as much as you like. In addition, it is not just a simple photo editing software but offers advanced features and editing tools.

Furthermore, GIMP produces high-quality images even after editing them. What else? GIMP can provide advanced features without paying anything. To thank GIMP, you can Donate to the GNOME Foundation. Please take note that donating to them is not required. What are you doing now? Try GIMP now for free!.

PIxlr

Luminar Alternatives PIXLR

Price: Pixlr Premium: $7.99 monthly and $4.99 monthly, payable for one year.

Platform: Online

Overall Rating:

If you are seeking for a photo editor you can use online, you can also try Pixlr as an alternative to Luminar. As you notice, Pixlr is for professional users who can pay for a monthly plan. Do not worry; this photo editor online is not pricey at all.

Moreover, Pixlr offers free versions for users with two features: Pixlr X: Quick and Easy Design and Pixlr E: Advanced Photo Editor. While using the free version, please expect that you will experience limitations. However, once you purchase a plan, you will no longer be frustrated because you will experience a complete package of features and more. .

4. Luminar VS Lightroom

Luminar VS Lightroom Luminar Lightroom
Overall Ratings
Interface
Support Service
Platform Luminar for Mac and Windows Mac and Windows
Pricing Luminar Neo Pro: $9.92, Luminar Neo Explore: $9.95, Luminar Neo Lifetime Plan: $149.00 Photoshop Lightroom: $09.12
Supported Formats PNG, JPG, HEIC, BMP, GIF, etc. HEIC, JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.
Conversion Speed Moderate Fast
Editing Tools Moderate Advanced
Best For It is best for producing before and after photos. It is also best for editing using Windows and Mac. Plus, best in AI-powerded tools. It is best for professional editing, allowing users to use advanced editing tools and features.
Free Trial 7 Days 7 Days
Features
  • Luminar Neo Photo Editor
  • Extension Pack
  • Magnificent Skies
  • Upgrade and Future Extension
  • Software Updates
  • Technical Support
  • Photo Editor
  • Individual Account
  • Apply Filters and Effects
Pros or Advantages
  • It is user-friendly.
  • It has a simple user interface and a sleek design.
  • It also has layer-based editing for professional users.
  • It offers powerful AI-based editing.
  • It is affordable.
  • It offers a seven days trial version.
  • It also offers advanced features and editing tools.
  • It provides a personal profile.
Cons or Disadvantages
  • Its AI does not have a consistent performance.
  • It does not allow you to print the edited photos.
  • Sometimes, the Luminar program is too slow.
  • It has limited advanced editing.
  • It has no face recognition for keyword tagging.
  • You must purchase it before the seven days trial version begins.
  • It is not suitable for beginner users.

5. FAQs of Luminar

Is Luminar free to use?

Unfortunately, Luminar is not free to use. Once you are on its official site, finding where you can download it isn't easy. Above this review, you will see the price of Luminar, and it is up to you if you want to purchase one of the plans.

Is Luminar AI a one-time purchase?

Yes, it is. You can purchase it for the worth of $47.00 for a one-time and lifetime license. It is not a bad price for a lifetime license. In addition, after purchasing Luminar AI, you will have a discount for the next purchase. For example, you want to buy Luminar Neo, etc.

Is Luminar AI worth it?

After the Luminar AI review, we found all its disadvantages, one of which is that its AI is inconsistent. For that reason, we can say that Luminar AI is not worth it.

Conclusion

Luminar is a comprehensive photo editor. It offers many products you can purchase separately. For that reason, you cannot purchase Luminar itself, but it has a specific product you can buy. Furthermore, upon reading this review, we become more aware of Luminar and discover its alternatives. Finally, feel free to leave us feedback, and see you again in the next post!

Did you find this helpful?

399 Votes

YesYESThanks for letting us know!NoNoThanks for letting us know!
AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate

All-in-one video converter, editor, enhancer upscaled with AI.

AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate