How does DxO Optics compare with Adobe Lightroom?

They overlap, but they are not identical tools, so “better” depends on what you need.

From the community feedback, Lightroom is generally seen as the better all-around value because it offers a stronger workflow and, in that comparison, better detail and contrast. DxO Optics, however, can still excel in certain situations.

So the practical takeaway is:

• Lightroom is often the better choice if you want a broader editing and organizing workflow.
• DxO Optics may be preferable for specific image-processing strengths or particular use cases.

In other words, they are different rather than strictly better or worse. If your priority is an efficient end-to-end workflow, Lightroom has the edge. If you care about the areas where DxO particularly shines, it may be worth using instead—or alongside Lightroom.