Adobe Lightroom vs Photopea: The Data Privacy Comparison
Explore how US-based Lightroom and Czech Photopea handle your data. Make an informed choice to protect your creative assets today.
Should You Switch to Photopea?
Gain full GDPR compliance and a free tier for basic use.
Loss of advanced editing tools and cloud storage features.
Switch if privacy is a priority and you need basic editing; stay for advanced features.
At a Glance
US data laws
GDPR protected
Adobe Lightroom
Contact
Photopea
freemium
Privacy & Compliance Comparison
Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance
| Criteria | Adobe Lightroom | Photopea |
|---|---|---|
Server Location | US (Adobe data centers), EU (optional) | EU (CZ) |
GDPR Compliance | Partial (SCCs) | Full |
Open Source | ||
E2E Encryption | Enterprise only | Optional |
Data Portability | Full export | Full export |
CLOUD Act Notice
Adobe Lightroom is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. Photopea is not subject to US jurisdiction.
Adobe Lightroom
🇺🇸Adobe Inc.
Photopea
🇨🇿Photopea
US Data Storage
Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities
EU Data Protection
Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency
Certifications & Compliance
No certifications listed
Reasons to Switch
- ✓Photopea is free with a functional tier for casual users.
- ✓Browser-based; no installation required, works on any OS.
- ✓Supports PSD files, allowing easy editing of Adobe projects.
- ✓GDPR compliant, ensuring data protection for EU users.
Things to Consider
- !Learning curve due to different interface and tools compared to Lightroom.
- !Limited photo organization features compared to Lightroom's cataloging.
- !No cloud storage; users must manage files locally or use third-party services.
Migration Overview
Depends on data size and complexity
Quick Steps
Create Photopea account and configure settings
Export and prepare data from Adobe Lightroom
Import data, test integrations, and migrate users
Other alternatives to Adobe Lightroom
Ready to make the switch?
Start using Photopea today and take control of your data privacy.