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Reviews on SourceForge
2 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Price
Free, no paid tier. Compare plans

Key facts

  • Free open-source photo editing like Lightroom
  • RAW processing for 450+ camera formats
  • Non-destructive editing workflow

Pros

  • Free and open source
  • Non-destructive editing
  • Cross-platform

Cons

  • Learning curve
  • Less polished UI

What is darktable?

darktable is a free, open-source photography workflow application and RAW developer. Similar to Adobe Lightroom, it provides non-destructive editing of RAW images from over 450 camera models. Features include color correction, lens correction, noise reduction, and sophisticated masking. Organize your photo library with tags, stars, and collections. Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Professional photo editing without the subscription cost.

Available on: Linux, Windows, macOS

Ratings Across the Web

4 (1 reviews)

darktable holds an aggregate rating of 4 out of 5 from 1 reviews across SourceForge, last checked September 4, 2026.

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

  • RAW processing
  • Non-destructive editing
  • Color management
  • Tethering
  • Open source
  • Cross-platform

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Oct 7, 2026. Source: darktable.org, read Oct 7, 2026

darktable plans and prices, checked October 2026
Plan Price Details
Free

$0

  • Full RAW processing
  • Non-destructive editing
  • Tethered shooting
+3 more
  • Color management
  • Masking tools
  • Open source GPL-3.0

Is darktable worth the price?

Great value

The pricing for darktable is exceptionally fair and generous, as it is completely free.

Offering full RAW processing and non-destructive editing at no cost is an outstanding value proposition compared to proprietary alternatives. It's best for budget-conscious photographers and those who value open-source software.

Full darktable pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

darktable by the numbers

Toolradar data: Its Toolradar page had 182 visits in the last 30 days, ranking #2 of 8 tools with 50+ visits in File Management. As of Nov 2026.

darktable compared with 132 File Management tools on Toolradar, as of Nov 2026
Metric darktable Peer median Position (1 is best)
Free plan Yes 63% have one n/a
Listed as an alternative to 5 tools 2 #29 of 132 (joint)
Toolradar page visits, last 30 days 182 visits 97 #2 of 8 tools with 50+ visits
Compare-page visits, last 30 days 74 visits 50 #13 of 38 tools with 20+ compare-page visits

Visitors most often compare darktable with Affinity Photo, RawTherapee and Adobe Lightroom (last 30 days, Nov 2026).

Listed as an alternative to: #26 on 2026-10-16 to #29 on 2026-11-02 (rank among 132 tools, 1 is best).

Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All File Management data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source.

Cite this: Toolradar, “darktable by the numbers”, Nov 2026.

Reviews (1)

Reviews written by Toolradar users. The badge on each one says what we checked about its author.

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Hardik Dodiya's profile picture

Hardik Dodiya

Rated 5.0 out of 5

Easy to use

Pros

organisation of all the pics, screenshots, posters etc. editing is easy. options are also good to edit.

Cons

use Auto AI to organise all the pics, screenshots, posters etc.

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darktable FAQ

How does darktable handle image editing?

darktable provides non-destructive editing of RAW images, allowing users to make adjustments without altering the original file. It includes features for color correction, lens correction, noise reduction, and sophisticated masking to refine photographs.

Which teams would benefit most from using darktable?

darktable is ideal for photographers and creative professionals who require advanced image editing capabilities without a subscription cost. It supports individual users and small teams looking for a powerful, open-source solution for their photography workflow.

How is darktable priced?

darktable is free to use, as it is an open-source application. There are no paid plans or subscription costs required to access its full range of features.

Can darktable help organize a large photo library?

Yes, darktable includes tools for organizing photo libraries. Users can manage their images using tags, star ratings, and collections to keep their photography workflow streamlined.

What kind of trade-offs should users expect with darktable?

Users should be aware that darktable has a learning curve due to its extensive features and may present a less polished user interface compared to some commercial alternatives. However, it offers professional photo editing capabilities without a subscription.

How does darktable compare to Adobe Lightroom?

Similar to Adobe Lightroom, darktable offers non-destructive editing of RAW images and a comprehensive photography workflow. However, darktable is free and open-source, providing an alternative without the subscription model of Adobe Lightroom.

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