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darktable vs Capture One: catalog facts
darktable	Capture One
Free Free and open source, funded by donations.	Paid Commercial software, sold as a license or subscription.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS
Fully non-destructive: your original raw file is never modified Professional colour management maintained all the way through to print	Tethered shooting support favored by studio photographers Precise RAW and color handling
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	Paid software, often priced higher than mainstream RAW editors Steeper learning curve for casual users
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 September 22, 2026

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