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darktable vs RawTherapee

darktable is also open-source but focuses more on a Lightroom-style workflow
darktableOpen-source photography workflow and RAW developerRawTherapeeFree open-source RAW photo processor

Which to pick

Pick darktable if you want…

  • Open-source RAW workflow

Pick RawTherapee if you want…

  • Non-destructive RAW development

Side by side

What it is
darktable:darktable is an open-source photography workflow app and RAW developer with non-destructive editing.
RawTherapee:RawTherapee is a free, cross-platform raw photo processor for high-quality image development.
Best for
darktable:Open-source RAW workflow
RawTherapee:Non-destructive RAW development
Who it’s for
darktable:Photographers who need a free, full-featured RAW processing tool.
RawTherapee:Enthusiast to professional photographers who need advanced raw editing.
Pricing
darktable:Open source
RawTherapee:Free
Open source
darktable:Yes, 13,217 GitHub stars
RawTherapee:Yes

darktable features

  • Virtual Lighttable. Browse and organize digital negatives in a zoomable database view.
  • Non-destructive Editing. All adjustments are stored in a pipeline, leaving the original file untouched.
  • GPU-accelerated Processing. Leverages the video card to speed up image development.
  • Professional Color Management. Ensures color fidelity from screen to print.
  • Cross-platform Installation. Available for Linux, macOS and Windows with simple install guides.
  • Community Support. Mailing list, forum and source code contributions for users and developers.

RawTherapee features

  • 32-bit non-destructive editing. Processes images with a floating-point engine preserving original data.
  • Advanced demosaicing. Offers multiple algorithms, including dual-algorithm compositing for better colour reconstruction.
  • Pixel-shift and HDR support. Combines pixel-shift frames with ghost masking and handles high-dynamic-range DNG files.
  • Raw correction tools. Provides dark frame subtraction, flat-field correction, and hot/dead pixel removal.
  • Cross-platform. Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows with installers and AppImage formats.
  • Open-source GPLv3. Free to use, modify, and redistribute under a copyleft license.

darktable vs RawTherapee FAQ

Is darktable or RawTherapee free?+

Yes, both are free, and darktable is open source.

Is darktable or RawTherapee open source?+

Yes, both are open source: darktable (darktable-org/darktable on GitHub, GPL-3.0 license) and RawTherapee (Beep6581/RawTherapee on GitHub).

On DevHunt

darktable

Listed by DevHunt

darktable on DevHunt →darktable alternatives

RawTherapee

Listed by DevHunt

RawTherapee on DevHunt →RawTherapee alternatives

Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.