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GIMP vs RawTherapee
GIMP is a general image editor, not specialized for raw processing
Which to pick
Pick GIMP if you want…
- Free, extensible image editing
- General raster editing
Pick RawTherapee if you want…
- Non-destructive RAW development
Side by side
- What it is
- GIMP:GIMP is a free, open-source cross-platform image editor for photo retouching, artwork, and graphic design.
- RawTherapee:RawTherapee is a free, cross-platform raw photo processor for high-quality image development.
- Best for
- GIMP:Free, extensible image editing
- RawTherapee:Non-destructive RAW development
- Who it’s for
- GIMP:Graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, scientists and developers needing image manipulation.
- RawTherapee:Enthusiast to professional photographers who need advanced raw editing.
- Pricing
- GIMP:Free
- RawTherapee:Free
- Open source
- GIMP:Yes, 6,484 GitHub stars
- RawTherapee:Yes
- Works with
- GIMP:Python, Scheme, C, C++, Scribus, Inkscape
- RawTherapee:—
GIMP features
- Cross-platform. Runs on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows and other operating systems.
- Extensible plugins. Supports third-party plugins and scripts written in Python, Scheme, C, C++ and more.
- High-quality photo manipulation. Tools for retouching, restoring and compositing images.
- Graphic design elements. Create icons, UI mockups and other design assets.
- Color management. Ensures accurate color reproduction for digital and printed media.
- Customizable UI. Many configuration options let users tailor the interface to their workflow.
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.
GIMP vs RawTherapee FAQ
Is GIMP or RawTherapee free?+
Yes, both are free.
Is GIMP or RawTherapee open source?+
Yes, both are open source: GIMP (GNOME/gimp on GitHub) and RawTherapee (Beep6581/RawTherapee on GitHub).
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.