Affinity Photo vs RawTherapee: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Affinity Photo and RawTherapee side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Affinity Photo leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Affinity Photo
Pro photo editing without the subscription
Best for you if:
- • You want one-time purchase
RawTherapee
Free, cross-platform raw image processing for photographers of all levels.
Best for you if:
- • You want completely free and open-source
| At a Glance | Affinity Photo | RawTherapee |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free 100% free |
Category | Image Editing Graphic Design | Image Editing Developer Tools |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.8 333 reviews | 4.3/5 G2 4.1 · Capterra 4.4 · SourceForge 5.0 61 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | No cloud storage included, must use third-party. | n/a |
Choose Affinity Photo or RawTherapee?
Choose Affinity Photo if
- You want one-time purchase
- You want professional features
Choose RawTherapee if
- You want completely free and open-source
- You want high image quality processing capabilities
In-Depth Analysis
Affinity Photo
Pro photo editing without the subscription
Affinity Photo's one-time purchase model is exceptionally fair and generous compared to the subscription-heavy market.
Watch out
No cloud storage included, must use third-party.
Strengths
- Pro: One-time purchase
- Pro: Professional features
- Pro: Great performance
Weaknesses
- Con: Smaller community
- Con: Fewer plugins
Key features
RawTherapee
Free, cross-platform raw image processing for photographers of all levels.
RawTherapee offers an incredibly generous pricing model, as it is completely free.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free and open-source
- Pro: High image quality processing capabilities
- Pro: Extensive raw file support and correction tools
- Pro: Cross-platform availability
- Pro: Active and helpful community with documentation
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires time to learn due to its powerful features
- Con: May be overwhelming for absolute beginners
Key features
Plans and prices: Affinity Photo vs RawTherapee
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Affinity Photo |
| affinity.studio/photo-editing-software read Oct 31, 2026 |
| RawTherapee |
| rawtherapee.com read Nov 2, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Affinity Photo pricing and RawTherapee pricing.
Key Takeaways
Affinity Photo
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 4.3/5
RawTherapee
- Choose if you want free, cross-platform raw image processing for photographers of all levels
What the data shows
On the data below, Affinity Photo leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Affinity Photo has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 333 reviews for Affinity Photo, 4.3/5 from 61 reviews for RawTherapee).
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
What Users Say
Affinity Photo Reviews
I've been using Affinity Photo since it started some years ago.
The fact that it is free, and it does everything I want it to.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Affinity Photo and RawTherapee compare in 2026?
On the data below, Affinity Photo leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Affinity Photo has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 333 reviews for Affinity Photo, 4.3/5 from 61 reviews for RawTherapee). Both have a free plan.
What are Affinity Photo and RawTherapee used for?
Affinity Photo: Pro photo editing without the subscription. RawTherapee: Free, cross-platform raw image processing for photographers of all levels.
What does Affinity Photo cost vs RawTherapee?
Affinity Photo is free. RawTherapee is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between Affinity Photo and RawTherapee?
Affinity Photo's main strength: one-time purchase. RawTherapee's main strength: completely free and open-source.