Alternatives to ART

Raw photo processor derived from RawTherapee with a simpler interface. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as ART.

  • RawTherapee

    A raw processor built around demosaicing and colour accuracy, with a 32-bit floating point engine and unusually deep controls.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    RawTherapee is the upstream project ART derives from, offering the same raw engine with many more controls for fine adjustment, at the cost of a busier interface.

  • darktable

    A non-destructive raw developer and photo workflow application: a virtual lighttable and darkroom for photographers.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    darktable is also free and GPL-3.0 on the same platforms, and adds a database-managed library and GPU acceleration, with a steeper learning curve.

  • RapidRAW

    Develop camera RAW images in a GPU-accelerated editor.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid

    RapidRAW is a free AGPL-3.0 RAW editor with GPU acceleration that also runs on Android, but it requires compatible graphics hardware.

  • Adobe Lightroom

    Adobe's photo organizer and RAW editor with a library synced across desktop, web and mobile.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSWeb

    Adobe Lightroom adds photo cataloging and a library synced across desktop, web and mobile, but it is subscription only, closed source and has no Linux version.

  • Capture One

    Professional RAW photo editor and tethering tool used by studio photographers.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Capture One is a paid, closed-source RAW editor with tethered shooting and precise color handling, available only on Windows and macOS.

  • Photomator

    RAW photo editor from the Pixelmator team with ML enhancements and color grading.

    PaidProprietarymacOSiOS

    Photomator is a paid RAW editor for macOS and iOS with machine-learning enhancements and color grading, leaving Windows and Linux behind.

  • Ansel

    An open-source RAW photo editor forked from darktable, aimed at precise, manual image development.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux

    Ansel is an open-source darktable fork aimed at precise manual raw development, available on Windows and Linux but not macOS.

  • Filmulator

    An open-source raw photo editor that simulates film development to keep editing simple.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux

    Filmulator simplifies editing further with a small control set and film development simulation, but has no macOS build and a much smaller feature set.

Also worth comparing

These listings name ART as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • DxO PhotoLab

    Desktop raw photo processing software known for its noise reduction and automatic optical corrections.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    ART is a free GPL-3.0 raw processor derived from RawTherapee with a simpler interface on Windows, macOS and Linux, without cataloguing.

  • vkdt

    A GPU-accelerated workflow toolbox for processing raw photos and raw video, built on Vulkan.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    ART is a RawTherapee-derived raw processor with a simpler interface on Windows, macOS and Linux, trading fine adjustment for speed of use.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.