Last updated: July 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.
QUICK VERDICT
Bottom line: For most people the best paid pick is Adobe Lightroom CC Photo Editing (4.6★, 7,200+ ratings) — clear teaching, current for 2026, and it covers the editing workflow end to end. If you want Lightroom Classic and cloud Lightroom taught side by side, Master Adobe Lightroom Classic & CC (4.5★) is the most up-to-date. Before you pay, note that Adobe’s own Lightroom Academy is free and genuinely good.
- Best overall: Adobe Lightroom CC Photo Editing (Phil Ebiner)
- Best Classic + cloud together: Master Adobe Lightroom Classic & CC
- Best free: Adobe Lightroom Academy
- Pricing: Udemy courses are typically $15–$20 on sale, lifetime access
Lightroom is where most photographers actually spend their editing time, but it rewards structured learning more than trial and error — the difference between a good and a great edit is usually workflow, not a hidden slider. A few hours of proper training pays off every time you sit down with a fresh import.
The first thing to settle is which Lightroom you mean. Lightroom Classic is the desktop, folder-based application photographers have used for years; Lightroom (formerly Lightroom CC) is the newer cloud version that syncs across phone, tablet, and desktop. Most serious editing courses teach Classic; the newer cloud app is simpler and better for mobile-first shooters. We flag which version each course covers so you don’t buy training for the wrong one.
We checked every course below was live and confirmed its current rating and last-updated date before recommending it, and we dropped several once-popular courses that have been pulled. We earn a commission if you enroll through our links, which never changes the order.
HOW WE PICKED
We weighed instructor track record, how current the material is (Lightroom’s interface changes, so a 2017 course is a real problem), learner ratings at scale, and which version and skill level the course actually serves. Every paid pick holds a 4.5★ rating or higher, has thousands of ratings, and was updated within the last 18 months.
1. Best overall — Adobe Lightroom CC Photo Editing (Phil Ebiner)
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This is the pick for most people. Phil Ebiner’s course walks through the full editing workflow — import, organize, develop, retouch, export — in plain language, without assuming you already know the tools. At 4.6★ across more than 7,200 ratings and updated for 2026, it’s both the highest-rated large course here and one of the most current.
Best for: beginners and intermediates who want one complete, well-taught course. Worth knowing: it centers on the cloud/CC workflow — dedicated Classic users may prefer the next pick.
2. Best Classic + cloud together — Master Adobe Lightroom Classic & CC
Chris Parker’s course is the most recently updated on this list (2026) and its strength is coverage: it teaches both Lightroom Classic and the cloud version side by side, so you understand how the two fit together rather than committing to one blind. At 4.5★ over 2,800 ratings, it’s the best choice if you’re not yet sure which Lightroom you’ll settle on.
Best for: anyone who wants both versions covered, or who works across desktop and mobile. Worth knowing: covering two apps means some sections won’t apply to your setup.
3. Best for beginners — Adobe Lightroom Essentials (Daniel Walter Scott)
If you want the tightest, most polished starting point, Daniel Walter Scott’s course is it. It’s shorter and more focused than the masterclasses above — the essentials, taught cleanly, by an instructor with a strong production reputation. At 4.9★ it’s the highest-rated course here, which for a beginner course tells you the teaching lands.
Best for: complete beginners who want a fast, confidence-building intro. Worth knowing: it’s essentials by design — you’ll outgrow it and want a masterclass next.
RECOMMENDED PARTNER — UDEMY
Learn Lightroom for the price of a couple of coffees
Our paid picks live on Udemy and routinely drop to $15–$20 in its frequent sales, with lifetime access and a 30-day refund.
Affiliate partnership — we may earn commission when you sign up via this link. We only recommend courses we’d send a friend to.
4. Best free — Adobe Lightroom Academy
Before you pay for anything, spend an hour with Adobe’s own Lightroom Academy. It’s free, made by the company that builds the software, and covers the fundamentals plus regular new tutorials as features change. For a lot of hobbyists it’s genuinely enough — and it’s the best way to decide whether you even need a paid course. We don’t earn anything from recommending it; it’s here because it’s the honest best free option.
5. Best for finding a style — Skillshare (Sean Tucker)
Once you know the tools, the harder skill is developing a look of your own. Sean Tucker’s short, thoughtful classes on Skillshare are less about buttons and more about intent — why you’d make an edit, not just how. If you already have a Skillshare membership it’s well worth watching. (We don’t have an affiliate relationship with Skillshare, so this is an unlinked, honest recommendation.)
Lightroom courses compared
| Course | Best for | Version | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Lightroom CC Photo Editing (Ebiner) | Best overall | CC / cloud | 4.6 |
| Master Lightroom Classic & CC (Parker) | Both versions | Classic + CC | 4.5 |
| Lightroom Essentials (Walter Scott) | Beginners | CC | 4.9 |
| Adobe Lightroom Academy | Free option | Both | Free |
Lightroom Classic vs Lightroom (CC): which should you learn?
If you shoot regularly, edit on a desktop, and want the deepest control over your catalog and files, learn Lightroom Classic — it’s still where most professional workflows live. If you shoot mostly on a phone, value simplicity, and want your library to sync everywhere automatically, the cloud version (Lightroom) fits better. The good news: the develop tools are nearly identical between them, so a course in one transfers most of its value to the other.
Is there a Lightroom certification?
Not really — and it’s worth being clear about this. Adobe runs an Adobe Certified Professional program, but it centers on apps like Photoshop, not a standalone Lightroom credential. In photo editing, nobody hires on a certificate; they hire on a portfolio. The completion certificate a Udemy course issues is fine for a LinkedIn profile, but the real “credential” is a set of before-and-after edits you can show. Treat these courses as skill-building, not exam prep.
Building a wider photo skill set? See our guides to the best photography courses, best photo editing courses, and color grading courses.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Lightroom course?
For most people, Adobe Lightroom CC Photo Editing by Phil Ebiner (4.6★, 7,200+ ratings, updated 2026) is the best all-round paid course. If you want Lightroom Classic and the cloud version taught together, Master Adobe Lightroom Classic & CC (4.5★) is the most current choice.
Can I learn Lightroom for free?
Yes. Adobe’s own Lightroom Academy is free and genuinely good, and there are strong free tutorials on YouTube. A paid course is worth it mainly for a structured, start-to-finish workflow rather than scattered tips.
Should I learn Lightroom Classic or Lightroom (CC)?
Learn Lightroom Classic if you edit on a desktop and want maximum control over your files; learn the cloud version if you shoot mostly on mobile and want everything to sync automatically. The editing tools are nearly identical, so skills transfer between them.
How much do Lightroom courses cost?
The Udemy courses here are usually $15–$20 during Udemy’s frequent sales, with lifetime access and a 30-day refund. Adobe’s Lightroom Academy is free. Lightroom itself is a separate Adobe subscription, typically sold in the Photography plan with Photoshop.