darktable vs RawTherapee
Both are free photo & graphics tools. Here is how they actually differ.
darktable and RawTherapee at a glance
| Feature | darktable | RawTherapee |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | darktable team | RawTherapee development team |
| Licence | Open Source | Open Source |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile | No | No |
| Source code | Public | Public |
darktable: what it's good at
darktable is a RAW developer and photo workflow application for photographers, offering non-destructive editing, a proper light-table for culling, and colour management aimed at serious photographic work.
- Non-destructive RAW processing
- Light-table for culling and organising
- Extensive colour management
- Supports most camera RAW formats
RawTherapee: what it's good at
RawTherapee is a RAW image processor known for the quality of its demosaicing algorithms and the granularity of its controls. It appeals to photographers who want to extract maximum detail and control every parameter.
- Multiple high-quality demosaicing algorithms
- Advanced noise reduction and sharpening
- Non-destructive processing profiles
- Batch queue processing
Which should you choose?
Both are free, so the honest answer is that you can install either and decide for yourself — that is the advantage of free software over a paid trial.
Both run on Windows, macOS, Linux. Both are open source, so neither locks you in.
We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either. We have no way to verify a rating that would be honest at scale, and an invented one would be worse than none — so we give you the facts and let you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Is darktable better than RawTherapee?
Neither is universally better. darktable non-destructive RAW photo workflow — the free Lightroom alternative, while RawTherapee precision RAW converter with exceptional detail control. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.
Are both really free?
darktable is open source and RawTherapee is open source. Both can be downloaded without paying.
Can I install both?
Yes. Since neither costs anything, installing both and comparing them on your own files is usually the fastest way to decide.