Compare software

darktable vs Adobe Lightroom: catalog facts
darktable	Adobe Lightroom
Free Free and open source, funded by donations.	Paid Sold through Adobe subscription plans.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web
Fully non-destructive: your original raw file is never modified Professional colour management maintained all the way through to print	Combines photo cataloging and RAW editing Library synced across desktop, web and mobile
The project itself says it is not a free Adobe Lightroom replacement A steep learning curve; the module list assumes you know the underlying concepts	Subscription only Sync depends on Adobe's cloud service
Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Web application, Hosted service
Open source	Closed source
License: GPL-3.0	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.