REVIEWS / COMPARE
Affinity Photo 2 vs Skylum Luminar Neo
Affinity Photo 2 edges ahead at 8.9 vs 6.4 — but read the trade-offs below; Skylum Luminar Neo may still be the better fit for you.
| Affinity Photo 2 | Skylum Luminar Neo | |
|---|---|---|
| RATING | 8.9 / 10 | 6.4 / 10 |
| CONFIDENCE | high | low |
| USER VOICES | 257 | 69 |
| POSITIVE | 75% | 45% |
| PRICE | — | — |
| RECOMMENDED | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Affinity Photo 2
★ STRENGTHS
- One-time purchase (no subscription)
- Professional-grade results
- Strong alternative to Adobe ecosystem
✗ WATCH OUT
- Steep learning curve for Adobe users
- Missing some advanced Adobe features (e.g., AI object selection)
- Occasional UI lag and confusing workflows
Not recommended Full review →
Skylum Luminar Neo
★ STRENGTHS
- Perpetual ~$130 license beats Adobe's ~$110+/yr subscription for hobbyists and weekend shooters
- AI sharpening and noise reduction repeatedly praised by real users
- Simple layout that beginners and non-pros pick up quickly
✗ WATCH OUT
- Black-image bug as Photoshop plugin on M1/M4 Apple Silicon Macs, unfixed for months
- Support slow then unresponsive; blames Adobe while continuing marketing emails
- No lens-profile correction and other feature gaps vs Lightroom
Not recommended Full review →
HOW THIS COMPARISON WAS BUILT
Both verdicts are synthesised from real user voices on Reddit, YouTube, Hacker News, ProductHunt, Trustpilot and editorial sources — 257 for Affinity Photo 2, 69 for Skylum Luminar Neo. No paid placement; ratings come from raw sentiment, not our opinion. Read the methodology.