darktable
Open-source photography workflow and RAW developer
FreeImageOpen Source3 impressions
darktable is a free alternative to Adobe Lightroom.
darktable is an open-source photography workflow app and RAW developer with non-destructive editing.
- for
- Photographers who need a free, full-featured RAW processing tool.
- pricing
- open source
- license
- GPL-3.0
- nightlyDarktable nightly build 202610072 days ago
- release-5.6.2release 5.6.24 days ago
- release-5.6.1release 5.6.1a month ago
Key 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.
Use cases
- Import, organize and tag large RAW photo collections.
- Apply non-destructive color correction and exposure adjustments.
- Batch process images using GPU acceleration for faster workflow.
- Prepare photos for print with accurate color management.
darktable vs alternatives
 darktable |  Adobe Photoshop |  Krita |  Photopea |  Adobe Lightroom | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-source RAW workflow | Professional Photoshop-style editing | Free painting and illustration | Free online image editing | Adobe Lightroom photo management |
| Pricing | Open source | Subscription | Free | Free | Subscription |
| DevHunt upvotes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Launched | — | — | — | — | — |
- darktable vs Adobe Photoshop: Commercial, feature-rich editor with layers and compositing; not open source.
- darktable vs Krita: Focused on digital painting and illustration rather than RAW workflow.
- darktable vs Photopea: Browser-based, Photoshop-like UI; limited to online use.
- darktable vs Adobe Lightroom: Commercial RAW workflow with cloud sync; subscription model.
darktable FAQ
Do I need to write code to use darktable?+
No, darktable is a graphical application; coding is only required if you want to contribute to the project.
Is my original RAW file modified when I edit?+
No, edits are stored non-destructively in the pipeline; the original file remains unchanged.
Can darktable speed up processing with my graphics card?+
Yes, it includes GPU-accelerated processing to reduce rendering times.
What platforms does darktable run on?+
It is available for Linux, macOS and Windows.
How can I get help or contribute?+
You can join the mailing list, forum, or submit code via the project's source repository.
Summarized by DevHunt from darktable.org · Oct 7, 2026. Details may change; check the official site.
About this listing
DevHunt lists darktable because developers expect to find it next to the tools in its category. It did not launch on DevHunt. Work on darktable? Message us to claim this listing.
