Compare software

darktable vs Aphera: catalog facts
darktable	Aphera
Free Free and open source, funded by donations.	Paid Paid app with a 30-day free trial that needs no credit card.
Windows, macOS, Linux	macOS
Fully non-destructive: your original raw file is never modified Professional colour management maintained all the way through to print	Film-inspired looks and support for your own and cinema LUTs Denoise, highlight recovery and lens profiles for hundreds of cameras
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	Mac only, and requires Apple Silicon and macOS 15 or later Paid after the trial
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
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 October 2, 2026

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