FREE
darktable
Free, open-source RAW photo editor and library – the closest free alternative to Lightroom
PRICEFree
RUNS ONWindows, macOS, Linux
ALTERNATIVE TOAdobe Lightroom
About darktable
darktable is a free, open-source photography workflow program and RAW developer – a virtual “lighttable and darkroom” for photographers. It manages your photos in a library, lets you browse, rate and tag them, and develops RAW files with professional, non-destructive tools.
It offers precise control over exposure, colour, sharpness and noise reduction, masks for local edits, and tethered shooting with a connected camera. Besides RAW it handles JPEG, TIFF, PNG, WebP, AVIF, HEIF and HDR files.
darktable runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. Support for brand-new camera models can take some months to arrive, so check the camera list before switching.
Key features
Photo libraryBrowse, rate, tag and filter in the lighttable
RAW developmentNon-destructive editing in the darkroom
Precise toolsExposure, colour, sharpness and noise reduction
MasksLocal adjustments to parts of a photo
TetheringShoot with a camera connected to your computer
Many formatsRAW, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, WebP, AVIF, HEIF, HDR
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Good and keep in mind
Good
- Completely free and open source
- Library and RAW editing in one program
- Professional-level tools
Keep in mind
- Steeper learning curve than Lightroom
- New camera models can take months to be supported
- Can be slow with very large RAW files on older PCs
Frequently asked questions
Is darktable free?
Yes. darktable is free and open source, for personal and commercial use.
Can darktable replace Lightroom?
For most photographers, yes: it combines a photo library (lighttable) with non-destructive RAW editing (darkroom), like Lightroom. It works differently, so expect some time to learn it.
Does darktable support my camera?
Most cameras are supported. Very new models can take some months; check the camera list on the official website.