The differences between light room and photoshop is that there is more features in light room and you go more into detail about what you want to edit. I think that light room is a more updated app where you can edit your photos. The similarities are that both save your work when you get back to it. You can make great designs and edits with both. They are both free in photography schools but i think outside of photography schools or even high schools, you will have to pay.