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Free·from $39/mo
About Skylum
What Skylum Does
Skylum develops Luminar Neo, an AI-powered photo editing software that helps photographers quickly enhance, retouch, and transform their images. With on-device editing and support for RAW files, layers, and masking, it replaces subscription-based alternatives like Adobe Lightroom. The problem it solves: giving you professional-level photo results without a steep learning curve or monthly fees. It's for hobbyists and semi-pros who want speed and quality, and it's not for enterprise studios needing batch processing on hundreds of images daily.
Who It's For
Use Luminar Neo for everyday edits like removing distractions, replacing skies, or adding dimensional lighting. Portrait photographers benefit from skin smoothing and body sculpting tools; landscape shooters can recreate golden hour or remove haze. Real use case: a travel blogger edits a sunset shot in seconds with the AI sky replacement, then syncs the result to their phone for social sharing.
Key Capabilities
Over 24 AI-based tools and 100+ precise features cover essentials (exposure, contrast, color), landscape (sky swap, fog, rays), generative AI (remove distractions, expand scenes), image quality (denoise, upscale), creative effects (neon, cinematic texture), portraits (bokeh, facial enhancement), and photo merge (HDR, panorama, focus stacking). It integrates as a plugin with Lightroom Classic and Photoshop.
Key features
- AI Sky Replacement — Instantly swap dull skies for dramatic ones with automatic masking.
- Remove Distractions — Erase unwanted objects or people from your photos cleanly.
- Portrait Enhancement — Smooth skin, enhance facial features, and sculpt body proportions naturally.
- Cross-Device Sync — Start editing on phone or tablet, finish on desktop; edits stay synced.
- On-Device Privacy — All AI processing happens locally, keeping your images secure.
- RAW File Support — Import and edit raw photos from most cameras without conversion.
- Plugin Integration — Use directly inside Adobe Lightroom Classic or Photoshop for a seamless workflow.
SaaSpartout Score
7.3
/10
Editorial score from our review methodology — not user ratings.
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Skylum Pricing
Skylum pricing: from $87 one-time. Billing model: Lifetime.
For comparison: the median starting price in Design & Creative is $12/month, measured across 274 tools we track. See the full SaaS Pricing Index →
Luminar Neo (Essentials)
One-time purchase — price confirmed on site: $87 (or equivalent). Includes 24+ AI tools, essential editing (enhance, reveal details, boost contrast, fix composition, refine pixels, improve colors, sculpt light and shadow), and 30-day money-back guarantee.
No free plan listed, but the 30-day refund policy serves as a risk-free trial. Free trial may be requested during checkout.
Frequently asked questions
Is Skylum Luminar Neo free?
Luminar Neo is not free; it is a one-time purchase product. A 30-day money-back guarantee lets you try it risk-free.
How much does Skylum Luminar Neo cost?
The one-time purchase cost for Luminar Neo Essentials is $87. Additional plans (e.g., Landscape, Portrait bundles) may be available at higher prices.
What are the best alternatives to Skylum?
Top alternatives include Adobe Lightroom (subscription), Capture One (pro-focused), and Affinity Photo (one-time purchase). Skylum stands out for its AI ease-of-use and cross-device sync.
Who is Skylum Luminar Neo best for?
It's best for amateur and semi-professional photographers who want fast, AI-assisted editing on desktop, tablet, and mobile without a recurring subscription.
Does Skylum work on Mac and Windows?
Yes, Luminar Neo works on both Mac and Windows, plus iOS and Android apps for mobile editing with sync.
Can Skylum replace Adobe Lightroom?
For most common editing tasks—yes, especially with AI tools like sky replacement and portrait enhancement. However, advanced cataloging and batch processing are limited compared to Lightroom.
