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Adobe Lightroom vs Shotwell: catalog facts
Adobe Lightroom	Shotwell
Paid Sold through Adobe subscription plans.	Free Free and open source under the LGPL 2.1.
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web	Linux
Combines photo cataloging and RAW editing Library synced across desktop, web and mobile	Imports and organises a photo library on the desktop Simple enhancement tools for quick fixes
Subscription only Sync depends on Adobe's cloud service	Linux only Editing is basic compared with dedicated RAW editors
Downloadable app, Web application, Hosted service	Downloadable app
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License: LGPL-2.1
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.