Capture One vs Luminar Neo for Photo Editing

Luminar Neo vs Capture One: which one should you get?

We all want to create the most amazing photos we can, but finding the most suitable photo editing software isn’t always easy.

This is why I decided to make a comparison between Luminar Neo vs Capture One. Hopefully, this will help you decide which one is best for you.

Which one has the friendliest interface? Which one has better presets? Which one has raw file support for your camera system?

You’ll find the answers to all these questions and more in this article.

What Is Capture One?

Capture One is an all-in-one software program that allows users to do their entire photographic workflow in a single place—everything from tethering shoots to photo editing and management in one product.

The software, originally released in 1998 by Phase One, was called Lightphase Capture. Capture One was launched as an independent brand in 2003.

Currently, Capture One is in version 16.3.8, released in April 2024. Since 2019, Phase has no longer produced it because it has become its own company, Capture One A/S.

Who Is it for?

While Capture One has many easy-to-use solutions for the amateur photographer, the program is mainly designed for professional photographers.

Capture One is specifically designed for studio photographers, offering advanced tethered shooting tools.

It even allows for overlays during tethered sessions, making it easy to compose images with elements like text and titles—ideal for projects such as magazine layouts.

Another useful feature for pro photographers is the ability to share their photographs live with their clients and team members.

This allows users to get feedback and adjust things during the photo shoot, even if the client, the art director, and the photo retoucher are in different parts of the world.

You can also share your files with a watermark to protect your work until you deliver the final results.

Also, Capture One offers more advanced edits designed for professionals who need control over every detail.

You can read our in-depth Capture One review here.

What Is Luminar Neo?

 

Luminar Neo is a photo management and editing software. It’s the latest version of a series of apps and programs developed by Skylum, which started with Luminar in 2016.

The multiple and highly developed AI tools distinguish Neo from its previous versions and other programs.

You can upgrade the base application by adding one or more of the seven available extensions, which are designed for popular features such as focus stacking and background removals.

The app can work as a stand-alone software or a plugin for Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and Photos.

Skylum just released the 1.19 version of Luminar Neo, which includes two new AI-powered tools: Water Enhancer and Twilight Enhancer.

Who Is it for?

Neo allows beginner and amateur users to get professional results. Thanks to its easy-to-use interface and AI-powered tools, the editing process is a breeze, even if you’re new to digital photography.

The idea behind Luminar Neo is that anyone can use it, whether casual shooters or professionals who need fast results.

Check out our full review of Luminar Neo here.

Capture One vs Luminar Neo

1. Ease of Use

Capture One is a very robust program, so compared to Luminar Neo, it has a steep learning curve. This is especially true if you want to use the more advanced tools and maximize its potential.

The interface is relatively standard. So, if you come from another editing program, you’ll probably find your way around pretty easily. Plus, you can customize it.

 

It has some AI features that help you speed up the work of masking, batch editing, and reviewing. However, this isn’t its strong suit.

Luminar Neo has an award-winning, more intuitive interface that’s easier for beginners to use. It also has many tools designed to enhance your images with a single click.

All features are clearly labeled and separated. You can quickly identify which tool you need and apply it using sliders. You can show or hide the effects on each one, reset the tool, and add masking.

Comparing the ease of use of Luminar Neo vs Capture One, the winner is Luminar Neo.

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2. Photo Management

The Capture One organization system is very similar to Lightroom’s – if you’re an Adobe user, you’ll feel at home.

You can import your pictures into a catalog and organize them into folders and collections. Importing is a background task, so you can start editing and leave it running.

It has AI-powered automatic grouping of similar images, with adjustable sensitivity to suit your needs. You can also rate and color-code your images—plus, you can allow remote collaborators to do this during a live session.

Neo makes importing and organizing your photos in folders and albums easy. You can also mark your favorites by simply clicking on the heart icon.

It doesn’t have many tools for culling, rating, and filtering images at a professional level. It’s also not possible to add keywords or edit the EXIF data.

In the photo management battle between Luminar Neo vs Capture One, Capture One is the winner.

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3. RAW Support

I’d consider a tie between Luminar Neo vs Capture One regarding raw file support. Both programs cover most of the camera brands and models.

In terms of raw editing, Capture One has in-house experts who fine-tune the results of their raw converter for over 600 camera models and 700 lenses.

Editing any file format has the same tools and workspace. In Neo, raw files have a separate panel in the Edits tab where you can develop your raw file separately from the usual tools. You have access to both raw development and regular editing tools to modify them at any point during the editing process.

4. Effects

On Luminar Neo, the Layers feature allows you to add effects, including flares, light leaks, and bokeh. You can also import images to use as overlays or to create a double exposure effect.

You can also add sun rays and draw on your photos with a neon and glow effect.

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5. AI Tools

Luminar Neo really shines in its AI technology. You’ll find all the usual AI-powered tools, such as Noiseless and Background Removal. These are separate extensions available on subscription.

Also, general tools such as Crop and Enhance are powered by AI. However, it also has some specific tools for Portraits, Sky Replacement, Relight, and others.

Neo simplifies complicated retouching tasks using AI, allowing users without any previous experience to do professional retouching with just one click.

New AI features are added on with each update. In the last one, Water and Twilight Enhancement were released.

Capture One also has some AI-powered tools. Masking is one of the most useful features. Smart Adjustments is also a powerful tool for batch editing, but it’s mainly useful for portraits.

Capture One’s photo manager also has AI features. For example, it organizes similar photos into groups while importing.

Comparing the AI integrated in Luminar Neo vs Capture One, Neo has the upper hand.

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6. Advanced Features

Now, let’s review some of the advanced features of Luminar Neo and Capture One.

First up, let’s talk about layers. Capture One allows you to work with adjustment or editing layers, where you can use masks to make local adjustments.

The masking tool is powered by AI, making it easy to work with. However, it’s not possible to layer more than one photo.

Luminar Neo also allows you to work locally with masking tools, and you can always go back and modify each edit. However, these features aren’t presented as layers—you can go to the Edits section for this.

Instead, you have a Layers section to work with textures and overlays. The software has some included, but you can also load other images from your hard drive. You can adjust their blending mode and opacity.

Neo’s advanced features are mostly based on AI. The extensions also allow for HDR and Focus Stacking.

The advanced features aren’t limited to the editing process. Caption One, for example, allows for tethered shooting. It also allows for composition overlays while shooting.

 

You can also get direct feedback from clients and collaborators by opening a live session. It’s also possible to add a watermark to your shared images to protect them.

In all, the winner here depends on your personal needs and what features you would use the most.

7. Plug-In/Preset Support

There’s another tie between Luminar Neo vs Capture One when it comes to support for plug-ins and presets. Although, you might find more made for Neo.

At the time of this article, Capture One has three available plug-ins: Smug Mug, HeliconSoft, and JPEGmini.

It also supports Presets (single tool) and Styles (multiple tools) to quickly enhance your photos and maintain a consistent look. You can customize them and save the changes for future use.

You can create your own or buy them separately.

Neo includes the Anniversary collection in all pricing plans except for the one-month subscription. This includes 35 skies, 80 presets, 39 LUTs, and 10 0verlays.

It’s also possible to create your own or buy more from the Skylum marketplace.

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8. Mobile App Support

Now, let’s compare the mobile version of Luminar Neo vs Capture One.

The Capture One app is only available for iPhones and iPads. It allows tethered shooting, live sharing, editing, and exporting.

You can subscribe only to Capture One mobile or get it included in the All-in-One package.

• Capture One for iPad Review

There isn’t a Luminar Neo app. Instead, there’s Luminar Share, which is available for Android and Apple devices. It allows users to share photos from their desktop to their mobile and vice versa and makes it easier for them to share their photos on social media.

 

Beware that Luminar for iPad is not a mobile version of Luminar Neo and it requires a separate paid subscription.

As an Android user, you really don’t have many choices between Luminar Neo vs Capture One. However, iOS users get a better product in Capture One.

9. Performance and Speed

Both software programs have similar system requirements. Their speed and performance may vary depending on your computer, the size of the photo, etc.

I’m using a standard MacBook Air M1 and used the same set of images to test both software.

Neo performed a fast launch and import. Do consider that images aren’t imported into Neo – you need to have them on your computer or plug in your hard drive or else they’ll appear as missing.

However, it was lagging while I was applying some effects and masks when they were AI-powered.

Capture One hasn’t given me any problems. The live preview of the styles and adjustments are immediate. The AI masking may take a bit, depending on how complex the image is, but nothing critical.

In my opinion, both programs work well. That said, I’m not a heavy shooter—maybe an event photographer who comes back with 1000+ pictures per session may experience this differently.

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10. Price

The price of Luminar Neo vs Capture One makes a big difference

You can buy a perpetual license of Capture One for US$299. This is limited to the current version and you would need to purchase future updates.

Since 2023, upgrade pricing isn’t available anymore. Instead, there’s a loyalty scheme that allows you to get a 20% discount per every subscription on perpetual licenses and get one for free after five years.

If you already have a perpetual license, you’ll receive a discount to get the newest tools—the size of the discount depends on when you bought the software.

The membership plans always include free updates. You can choose between Capture One mobile (USD$4.99), Capture One Pro, or All-in-One bundle for USD$24 per month.

After 5 years of subscription, you can get a free perpetual version of Capture One Pro. If you work in a team, you can ask for tailored solutions, or get the multi-user subscription.

Neo is available for a one-time purchase of US$119.99 (discounted price), with no access to future updates.

Subscription plans include all updates and the price depends on how long you commit. The longer the subscription, the bigger the discount you get. The price starts at US$11.95 per month and US$99 per year.

Plus, longer subscriptions and lifetime licenses include a Masterclass and the Anniversary Collection bundle, which is a nice bonus. Luminar offers educational, military, and loyalty discounts.

When it comes to price, Luminar Neo takes the edge for its affordability and transparent pricing structure. However, all prices may vary according to where you live and what discounts are currently on offer.

Capture One vs Luminar Neo: Final Verdict

Luminar Neo vs Capture One – is there a winner? Well, not exactly.

Both software applications boast impressive photo editing power, allowing you to get excellent results. However, they have pretty different targets in mind.

This is why the decision between Luminar Neo vs Capture One comes down to your needs and skill level.

Neo is better for beginners because the interface is more user-friendly. Additionally, it has multiple presets and AI functions that can turn an OK photo into a great one with just a few clicks.

If you’re a casual user who enjoys hassle-free photo editing, Luminar Neo is perfect, and Capture One would be overkill.

If you’re a professional user, Capture One might be more suitable. The workflow and interface have more room for customization. While you edit, you have more options in the settings to adjust any tool you’re using.

Additionally, Capture One allows tethered shooting, which is a great advantage for studio photography. You can also work live with clients and team members based elsewhere.

I’d say that, putting Luminar Neo vs Capture One in comparison, Neo is best for beginners or advanced photography lovers who enjoy AI technology and presets. It’s also suitable for certain types of professional photography.

Instead, Capture One has the advantage for professionals who work in a studio, work with a big team, and need advanced functions to edit their work.

That’s my verdict—but of course, the final decision is yours.

FAQs About Capture One vs Luminar Neo

Do professional photographers use Capture One?

Yes, many professional photographers use Capture One—especially those working in studio photography, whether it’s product, portrait, or food photography.

Do professional photographers use Luminar Neo?

Luminar Neo is less popular than other photo editing programs among professional photographers. This is because this software is more focused on using AI and one-click solutions for fast and good results. Instead, professionals want more control over their edits.

Is Luminar Neo better than Capture One?

There isn’t a clear winner if you compare Luminar Neo vs Capture One because they’re different products aimed at different types of users. If you want fast and easy edits with amazing results, then yes, Neo is better.

However, if you want to streamline your entire workflow and need more advanced and manually controlled tools, Capture One is better.

What are the disadvantages of Capture One?

Capture One is more expensive than other editing software such as Luminar Neo, LR, or Photoshop. If you compare Luminar Neo vs Capture One, the latter has a steeper learning curve. Lastly, Capture One doesn’t have a mobile app for Android devices.

Can Luminar Neo replace programs like Capture One or Lightroom?

No, Luminar Neo can’t replace software like Capture One or Lightroom because it’s not aimed to do so. Neo can be a great complement to those programs, though. This is why you can install it as a plugin inside Photoshop or LR.

Is Luminar Neo worth it?

Luminar Neo offers great value for your money. It’s one of the most affordable editing apps and you can get amazing results with it.

It’s a very personal decision as to whether it’s worth it. It all depends on how many pictures you take, your editing process, and other factors.

Is Luminar X membership worth it?

Luminar X membership is an extra subscription you can get if you subscribe to or buy Luminar Neo. This membership includes multiple assets, an educational video library, and other discounts.

The price is quite fair for the amount of things you get from the membership. However, it’s only worth it if you have use for such products.

So, if you’re the type of user who likes to process pictures on their own, it may not be worth it. However, if you enjoy using overlays, templates, etc., then yes, Luminar X is worth it.

Will Luminar Neo work as a plugin with Capture One?

Considering both software’s current versions, it’s impossible to use Luminar Neo from inside Capture One. Instead, you can use Photoshop as an intermediary, which would require paying for three licenses or subscriptions.

Who are the competitors of Luminar Neo?

For the complete editing process, Luminar Neo’s biggest competitors are Lightroom, Capture One, Affinity Photo, ACDSee, ON1 Photo Raw, and Darktable.

If you only consider the photo editing part, you’d also include competitors such as Photoshop and GIMP. These are just some of the major programs, but there are plenty of other apps to manage and edit photos.