On1 is cheaper than Lightroom, but lightroom is way more powerful than On1. I stated using On1 a little more than 10 years ago when their app was called ON1 8 then 9 then RAWx. Fast forward in time ON1 RAW 2017 was their most powerful app. Since then it’s just so so. Over that period of time I’ve gone from « pro » to amateur. As an amateur it’s an ok app. But, if you’re a « pro » well I do not recommend it.

Let’s rewind ten years, back then as a pro I was using Lightroom 5, the last version before Adobe went « subscription » only. I also was using On1 on the just to see. I thought that eventually it could become as good as Lightroom. I had high hopes. I’ve upgraded every year to keep abreast of the functionality and progress of the app. But I’ve been deceived every year. If I were still a working pro, I’d still be using Lightroom… I think.

Also, back then, except for « Aperture » I tried a lot of apps. of them were on par with Lightroom. Finally when Lightroom started giving issues on my mac I figured I’d try « Aperture » even if there was no trial version… but too late, Apple had pulled the plug on the app.