Alternatives to RawTherapee

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

  • ART

    Raw photo processor derived from RawTherapee with a simpler interface.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    ART is derived from RawTherapee and keeps its processing quality while cutting the number of controls, so it is quicker to use but allows less fine adjustment.

  • 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, adds a database-managed library, GPU acceleration and colour management through to print, but still has a steep 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-accelerated local processing that also runs on Android, but requires compatible graphics hardware and supported cameras.

  • Adobe Lightroom

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

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSWeb

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

  • Capture One

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

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Capture One is a paid Windows and macOS RAW editor with tethered shooting and precise color handling, with no Linux version and a higher price than mainstream editors.

  • Affinity Photo 2

    Raster photo editor for retouching, compositing and RAW processing.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Affinity Photo 2 is a paid Windows and macOS editor that adds layer-based retouching and compositing to RAW processing, though version 2 is now legacy.

  • Photomator

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

    PaidProprietarymacOSiOS

    Photomator is a paid macOS and iOS RAW editor with machine-learning enhancements and color grading, trading Linux and Windows support for Apple ecosystem integration.

  • DxO PhotoLab

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

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    DxO PhotoLab offers strong noise reduction and automatic lens corrections in paid software for Windows and macOS, dropping Linux support and open-source licensing.

Also worth comparing

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

  • Ansel

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

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux

    RawTherapee is a free, open-source raw processor with a 32-bit floating point engine and deep demosaicing controls, but has no library or catalogue management.

  • Filmulator

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

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux

    RawTherapee provides deep demosaicing and colour controls with a 32-bit floating point engine on Windows, macOS and Linux, but is not friendly to beginners.

  • Imaging Edge Desktop

    Sony's desktop software for developing RAW files, browsing images and tethered shooting with Sony cameras.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    RawTherapee is a free, open-source raw processor with a 32-bit engine and deep demosaicing controls on Windows, macOS and Linux, with no catalogue management or tethering.

  • Luminar Neo

    A desktop photo editor for Windows and Mac built around AI tools for skies, portraits and relighting.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    RawTherapee is a free GPL-3.0 raw processor with deep manual colour and demosaicing controls, but no AI tools or library management.

  • SILKYPIX Developer Studio

    A Japanese RAW developer for desktop computers with detailed color, tone and noise reduction controls.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    RawTherapee is free and open source with a 32-bit floating point engine and deep demosaicing controls on Windows, macOS and Linux, but no catalogue management.

  • vkdt

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    RawTherapee focuses on demosaicing and colour accuracy with a 32-bit floating point engine on Windows, macOS and Linux, but has no raw video handling.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.