Luminar Neo: Skylum's AI Photo Editor (formerly Luminar AI)

Luminar Neo: Skylum's AI Photo Editor (Successor to Luminar AI)

Luminar Neo is Skylum's flagship AI-powered photo editor and the direct successor to Luminar AI, which Skylum discontinued in October 2022. Rebuilt from the ground up on a new modular engine, Neo carries the same one-click, AI-driven editing approach into a faster, extensible architecture that ships new tools and Extensions on a regular cadence. Photographers who previously used Luminar AI are pointed here — it is the version Skylum actively develops.

Key Features

AI-powered editing: 24+ AI-based tools and 100+ precise features for fast, professional results.
Generative AI: GenErase, GenSwap, and GenExpand to remove, replace, and extend parts of an image.
Relight AI & Sky AI: adjust lighting depth and replace skies with automatic, realistic relighting.
Portrait tools: AI skin, face, body, and bokeh enhancements for natural-looking retouching.
Modular Extensions: add capabilities like HDR Merge, Noiseless AI, Upscale AI, and Magic Light AI as needed.

Ideal Use Case

Photographers, hobbyists, and visual creators who want professional, AI-assisted edits without the learning curve of layer-based tools. Luminar Neo works as a standalone editor or as a plugin for Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, and Apple Photos.

How Luminar Neo differs from Luminar AI

Luminar AI was a fixed application that Skylum stopped selling on October 3, 2022 and no longer adds features to. Luminar Neo is a separate product written from scratch on a modular engine, which is why it keeps receiving updates, generative-AI tools, and paid Extensions that Luminar AI never will.

tl;dr

Luminar Neo is the current Skylum AI photo editor and the successor to the discontinued Luminar AI. It offers 24+ AI tools, generative editing, and modular Extensions, available as a one-time purchase or subscription with a free trial.

FAQ

Q: Is Luminar AI still available? A: No. Skylum stopped selling Luminar AI on October 3, 2022 and no longer adds features to it. Luminar Neo is its successor and the version Skylum actively develops.

Q: What is Luminar Neo's pricing? A: Luminar Neo is sold as a one-time purchase or a subscription, with a free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. See the Luminar Neo pricing page for current tiers.

Q: Who is Luminar Neo for? A: Photographers, hobbyists, and creators who want fast, AI-assisted photo edits — usable standalone or as a plugin for Lightroom, Photoshop, and Apple Photos.

Q: What are alternatives to Luminar Neo? A: Common alternatives include Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, ON1 Photo RAW, Capture One, and Topaz Photo AI.

Looking for more options? Browse the AI Art & Image Creation category or see our best AI image editors & upscalers roundup.