RawTherapee
Claim this toolFree, cross-platform raw image processing for photographers of all levels.
Free, no paid tier Visit WebsiteThe Bottom Line
- Price
- Free, no paid tier. Compare plans
Key facts
- Free and open-source raw image processing software.
- Offers advanced tools for high-quality image development.
- Cross-platform compatibility for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source
- High image quality processing capabilities
- Extensive raw file support and correction tools
- Cross-platform availability
- Active and helpful community with documentation
Cons
- Requires time to learn due to its powerful features
- May be overwhelming for absolute beginners
What is RawTherapee?
Available on: Linux, macOS, Windows
Ratings Across the Web
RawTherapee holds an aggregate rating of 4.3 out of 5 from 61 reviews across G2, SourceForge and Capterra, last checked October 19, 2026.
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
- Non-destructive 32-bit (floating point) processing engine
- Modern demosaicing algorithms
- Advanced color and detail editing
- Support for High Dynamic Range DNG
- Compositing pixel-shift raw files with automatic ghost masking
- Multiple-frame raw file processing
- Dark frame subtraction
- Flat field correction
Pricing Plans
Pricing checked Nov 2, 2026. Source: rawtherapee.com, read Nov 2, 2026
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free |
+11 more Show less
|
Is RawTherapee worth the price?
RawTherapee offers an incredibly generous pricing model, as it is completely free.
This makes it an exceptional value compared to paid alternatives in the market. It's best for photographers of all levels seeking powerful raw image processing without any financial commitment.
RawTherapee by the numbers
| Metric | RawTherapee | Peer median | Position (1 is best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | 65% have one | n/a |
| Listed as an alternative to | 2 tools | 2 | #81 of 173 (joint) |
| User rating | 4.3/5 (across the web, 61 ratings) | 4.5/5 | #45 of 64 (joint) tools with 20+ reviews |
| Compare-page visits, last 30 days | 33 visits | 41 | #44 of 68 (joint) tools with 20+ compare-page visits |
Visitors most often compare RawTherapee with darktable (last 30 days, Nov 2026).
Listed as an alternative to: #77 on 2026-10-16 to #81 on 2026-11-02 (rank among 173 tools, 1 is best).
Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All Image Editing 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, “RawTherapee by the numbers”, Nov 2026.
Reviews
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Across 61 verified user reviews on G2, Capterra, SourceForge
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RawTherapee FAQ
How does RawTherapee assist photographers in managing their raw files?
What kind of user benefits most from RawTherapee?
How is RawTherapee priced?
Which teams would find RawTherapee suitable for their workflow?
What are the main trade-offs when choosing RawTherapee?
How does RawTherapee compare to Adobe Lightroom for raw image processing?
Source: rawtherapee.com