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Luminar Neo VS Photos on macOS

Compare Luminar Neo VS Photos on macOS and see what are their differences

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Luminar Neo logo Luminar Neo

Luminar Neo - photo editing software for PC and Mac! Simple photo editor with AI that helps edit your photos as you imagine it in your eyes.

Photos on macOS logo Photos on macOS

Photos keeps your images organized and accessible. Rediscover favorite shots with Memories. Access them on your devices with iCloud Photos.
  • Luminar Neo
    Image date //
    2025-06-23
  • Luminar Neo
    Image date //
    2025-06-23
  • Luminar Neo
    Image date //
    2025-06-23
  • Luminar Neo
    Image date //
    2025-06-23

Luminar Neo combines smart AI tools and a simple, intuitive interface, making it perfect for professional photographers and beginners. The easy-to-use AI-powered tools streamline routine tasks, allowing you to focus on the fun and creative parts of photo editing.

  • Photos on macOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-18

Luminar Neo

Website
skylum.com
$ Details
paid Free Trial
Platforms
iOS Mac MacOS Windows Android Chrome OS
Release Date
2022 February

Photos on macOS

Website
apple.com
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

Luminar Neo features and specs

  • AI-Powered Editing
    Luminar Neo uses advanced AI algorithms to automate routine tasks such as sky replacement, skin retouching, and background removal, enabling users to achieve professional results quickly.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software boasts an intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for beginners while providing powerful tools for advanced users.
  • Creative Presets
    Luminar Neo offers various pre-made templates and presets that allow users to apply complex edits with a single click, enhancing creativity and saving time.
  • Non-Destructive Editing
    Changes made in Luminar Neo do not overwrite the original image file, allowing users to revert back to the original state or adjust edits easily.
  • Lens and Perspective Correction
    The software includes tools for correcting lens distortion, chromatic aberration, and perspective issues, helping to produce high-quality, professional images.

Possible disadvantages of Luminar Neo

  • Performance Issues
    Users have reported slow performance and lag, especially when working with large files or making complex edits.
  • Limited Export Options
    Compared to other professional editing software, Luminar Neo offers fewer options for exporting and sharing images.
  • Subscription Model
    While Luminar Neo offers perpetual licenses, some advanced features are locked behind a subscription plan, which may not be ideal for all users.
  • Lack of Advanced Tools
    Although it covers most basic and intermediate needs, Luminar Neo lacks some of the advanced editing tools available in other professional software like Adobe Photoshop.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic interface is user-friendly, mastering the more advanced features can be challenging and may require additional learning and practice.

Photos on macOS features and specs

  • Integration with macOS
    Photos seamlessly integrates with macOS, offering smooth performance and compatibility with other Apple applications.
  • iCloud Photos
    iCloud Photos syncs your entire library across all Apple devices, ensuring your photos and videos are accessible anywhere.
  • Editing Tools
    Offers a robust set of built-in photo editing tools, including advanced filters, adjustments, and retouching capabilities.
  • Memories and People
    Automatically creates Memories and recognizes faces, grouping them into the People album, which helps you easily find and relive moments.
  • Live Photos and Video Support
    Supports Live Photos, videos, and even editing of these formats, providing a comprehensive media management solution.
  • Privacy and Security
    Provides strong privacy controls and security features, including end-to-end encryption for iCloud Photos.

Possible disadvantages of Photos on macOS

  • Limited Customization
    Lacks advanced organizational features and customization options found in professional photo management software.
  • Performance with Large Libraries
    May experience performance issues when handling very large libraries, impacting speed and responsiveness.
  • Compatibility
    Primarily designed for Apple ecosystem; limited compatibility with non-Apple devices and third-party apps.
  • Storage Costs
    iCloud storage can become expensive as your photo library grows, requiring a subscription for additional space.
  • Learning Curve
    Users new to macOS or Apple's ecosystem may face a learning curve to fully utilize all the features and capabilities.
  • Limited Backup Options
    Relies heavily on iCloud for backup and lacks native support for third-party cloud services, offering less flexibility.

Analysis of Luminar Neo

Overall verdict

  • Luminar Neo is generally considered a good choice for those looking to enhance their photo editing capabilities with AI-powered tools. It offers a compelling mix of ease of use and powerful features that can help both beginners and professionals achieve impressive results. However, some users might find certain features less flexible compared to traditional manual editing techniques.

Why this product is good

  • Luminar Neo is a photo editing software developed by Skylum. It is known for its AI-driven tools that make complex editing tasks more accessible to users of varying experience levels. Features like sky replacement, face enhancement, and various AI filters allow users to easily achieve professional-quality edits. The interface is intuitive, and the software integrates well with existing workflows, making it a popular choice among photographers and digital artists.

Recommended for

    Luminar Neo is recommended for photographers and digital artists who want to leverage AI technology to simplify and enhance their editing process. It is particularly suited for those who prefer a user-friendly interface and are looking to improve efficiency in editing without compromising on quality. It is also a good option for amateurs who are just starting with photo editing and want to explore advanced functionalities without a steep learning curve.

Analysis of Photos on macOS

Overall verdict

  • Photos on macOS is a robust and user-friendly application that is well-suited for everyday users who value simplicity and integration across Apple devices. While it may not have all the advanced features of professional photo editing software, it is ideal for managing and enjoying photos.

Why this product is good

  • The Photos app on macOS offers seamless integration with Apple's ecosystem, making it convenient for users who already use Apple devices. It provides features such as iCloud Photo Library for syncing photos across devices, editing tools for enhancing images, and organization capabilities through albums and facial recognition.

Recommended for

  • Apple ecosystem users
  • Casual photographers
  • Those looking for basic photo editing tools
  • Users who need efficient photo organization

Luminar Neo videos

Why You'll Love Luminar Neo | Mark Wallace

More videos:

  • Review - Luminar Neo in 2025 : 3 years later is it any better?
  • Demo - New in Luminar Neo 1.24.0: Realistic Fog, Auto Adjust & Smarter Export
  • Demo - Luminar is Now on Android & ChromeOS
  • Review - Honest Opinion On Luminar NEO - Review of Luminar Neo
  • Review - The Magic of AI Photo Editing: Luminar Neo!
  • Review - Luminar Neo: GenExpand โ€“ An HONEST Review
  • Review - 5 reasons to use Luminar Neo over Adobe Lightroom

Photos on macOS videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Luminar Neo and Photos on macOS)
Photos & Graphics
52 52%
48% 48
Security & Privacy
0 0%
100% 100
Image Editing
100 100%
0% 0
Security
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Luminar Neo and Photos on macOS

Luminar Neo Reviews

  1. Lilly
    ยท photographer at Photo art ยท
    Background removal in Neo is a real lifesaver.

    Even with transparent objects like bottles or glasses, the program handles the scene better than manual tracing.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Adobe Photoshop
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Photo edit|Photos
  2. Vivian
    ยท Photographer at Freelance ยท
    Creative filters and effects are a godsend

    I really like the Creative and Professional sections, where you can experiment with atmosphere, film effects, drama, grain, and vignettes. These features allow you to create non-standard, atmospheric shots. I especially like the Mystical and Dramatic filters.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Adobe Lightroom
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Film effects|Photo edit
  3. an_net
    ยท photo content at Media maker ยท
    Amazingly user-friendly interface

    You really don't need to read instructions or take courses. Enhance AI, Skin AI, and Auto Adjust work almost "automatically", improving photos in just a couple of clicks.

    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Ai image editor|Photo edit

Best Photo Editing Software for Mac: 5 Pro Alternatives to Adobe
Important Note: If precise manual control is your top priority, or if your Mac has an older/weaker GPU, Luminar Neoโ€™s AI tools might not always give the smoothest experience.
Best Adobe Photoshop alternatives of 2024
So, who's it good for? Our sense is that this is the ideal tool for amateur photographers. Unfortunately, for professional use, it's missing certain features and performance, as with its simpler sister software Luminar AI, can be occasionally spotty. But once you get going, the overall experience of using Neo is surprisingly fluid, with more than enough fine-tuning tools for...

Photos on macOS Reviews

20+ Picasa Alternatives And Best Similar Apps Like Picasa 2022
If youโ€™re on a Mackintosh, you have already got a reasonably tight picture organization and written material system able to go with competence (though boringly) named Apple Photos.
The best photo organizing software in 2022
Images taken with iPhones or iPads live in the Apple Photos app. From here you can search for, edit, and share images online. Fortunately, Apple has done a great job at making it simple to find photos and videos here. Apple Photos collates images into year, month, and day order, to make finding photos and videos faster. Intelligent curation using on-device machine learning...

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Luminar Neo and Photos on macOS, you can also consider the following products

Adobe Lightroom - Adobe Lightroom is a family of image organization and image manipulation software.

Pulse Secure - Pulse Secure provides a consolidated offering for access control, SSL VPN, and mobile device security. Contact Pulse Secure at 408-372-9600 to get a free demo.

Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Photoshop is a webtop application for editing images and photos online.

StackPath - Secure Content Delivery Network, DDoS, WAF Service

Lensa - AI powered photo editing app

Flexera Software Vulnerability Manager - Flexera Software Vulnerability Manager provides solutions to continuously track, identify and remediate vulnerable applications.