darktable 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 darktable and RawTherapee side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a 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:
darktable
Open source photography workflow
RawTherapee
Free, cross-platform raw image processing for photographers of all levels.
| At a Glance | darktable | RawTherapee |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free 100% free |
Category | Image Editing File Management | Image Editing Developer Tools |
Rating | 5.0/5 1 review | 4.3/5 G2 4.1 · Capterra 4.4 · SourceForge 5.0 61 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose darktable or RawTherapee?
Choose darktable if
- You need image editing features specifically.
Choose RawTherapee if
- You need image editing features specifically.
In-Depth Analysis
darktable
Open source photography workflow
The pricing for darktable is exceptionally fair and generous, as it is completely free.
Strengths
- Pro: Free and open source
- Pro: Non-destructive editing
- Pro: Cross-platform
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Less polished UI
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: darktable vs RawTherapee
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| darktable |
| darktable.org read Oct 7, 2026 |
| RawTherapee |
| rawtherapee.com read Nov 9, 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 darktable pricing and RawTherapee pricing.
Key Takeaways
darktable
- Worth considering for image editing
RawTherapee
- Worth considering for image editing
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (5.0/5 from 1 reviews for darktable, 4.3/5 from 61 reviews for RawTherapee; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- 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
darktable Reviews
Easy to use
organisation of all the pics, screenshots, posters etc. editing is easy. options are also good to edit.
RawTherapee Reviews
No reviews yet
Frequently Asked Questions
How do darktable and RawTherapee compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (5.0/5 from 1 reviews for darktable, 4.3/5 from 61 reviews for RawTherapee; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Both have a free plan.
What are darktable and RawTherapee used for?
darktable: Open source photography workflow. RawTherapee: Free, cross-platform raw image processing for photographers of all levels.
What does darktable cost vs RawTherapee?
darktable is free. RawTherapee is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 9, 2026.
What's the main difference between darktable and RawTherapee?
darktable's main strength: free and open source. RawTherapee's main strength: completely free and open-source.
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