tools

Luminar Neo

AI photo editor for enhancing, retouching, compositing, and restoring images on desktop and mobile.

Luminar Neo is an AI-assisted photo editor for photographers who want automated tools alongside layers, masking, RAW editing, and manual controls. It can enhance images, retouch portraits, replace skies, remove objects, generate or expand image content, and restore older photos.

It is available as a desktop app for macOS and Windows, with mobile editing and cross-device synchronization on supported plans. The software is sold through one-time licenses, while some AI tools, new features, and asset libraries may require Luminar Prime or renewal after the included access period.

Features

Enhance photos with AI-based adjustments
Retouch skin and facial features with Skin AI and Face AI
Replace skies and adjust scene lighting
Remove, replace, and expand image content with generative AI
Edit with layers, masks, and non-destructive workflows
Process RAW files and export edited images
Sync edits across desktop and mobile devices
Publish edited images in web galleries

Use cases

Retouch portraits and reduce blemishes or dark circles
Replace skies and improve lighting in landscape photos
Remove unwanted objects from travel and street photographs
Restore and colorize older photographs
Edit photos on mobile and continue on a desktop
Prepare images for clients, portfolios, print, or social media

Pros

Cons

Latest updates

2026-10-28 Luminar 1.29.0: Smarter editing, realistic fog, printing and more (1.29.0)
Exporting opens a mode with a preview; Crop suggests up to 12 compositions; Fog picks up color from your photo; AI Assistant holds a conversation.
2026-09-16 Luminar 1.28.1: Better DNG support, faster editing and more (1.28.1)
Uses the official Adobe DNG SDK for DNG handling; adds JPEG XL DNG support; batch export around 15% faster; Details up to 40% faster.
2026-08-05 Luminar 1.28.0: Meet a fresh design in Luminar (1.28.0)
Catalog and Edit are now one space; redesigned right sidebar; exports up to 27% faster; Preset previews up to 3.8× faster.
2026-06-17 Luminar Neo 1.27.1: Bring your Lightroom library along (1.27.1)
Lightroom Migration transfers photos, folders, albums, ratings, and basic edits; adds support for the Ricoh GR IV and Ricoh GR IV Monochrome.
2026-04-09 Luminar Neo 1.27.0: Smarter portrait tools, mask feathering and more (1.27.0)
Adds Bokeh AI, new Skin AI controls, Dark Circles removal in Face AI, and the Mask Feather control.

Capabilities

Edits images — “Replace unwanted or damaged pixels with pixels of your choosing from anywhere in your photo.” source
Upscales — “Enlarge your photos while preserving every detail and texture.” source
Mobile app — “Works as a standalone for: Android iOS ChromeOS” source

Pricing

Prices checked: 2026-11-05

All Platforms

$139.00 — One-time payment, use apps forever

Luminar on Desktop, Mobile, and Web: lifetime access
Cross-device editing
AI tools access for 365 days
Continuous updates
Access to Fall Upgrade 2026 features
Access to Library of Assets

Max

$159.00 — One-time payment, use apps forever

Luminar on Desktop, Mobile, and Web: lifetime access
Cross-device editing
1 year of Luminar Prime included
New features released during your subscription are yours to keep forever
Access to Library of Assets
Continuous updates

Desktop Only

$99.00 — One-time payment, use app forever

Luminar on Desktop: lifetime access
AI tools access for 365 days
Continuous updates
Access to Fall Upgrade 2026 features
Access to Library of Assets
Perpetual license for Luminar for Desktop on 2 devices

Official website