Best RAW Photo Processing Software in 2026
Updated
In short: darktable is ranked #1 of 25 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of RawTherapee and vkdt. The best-ranked option with a free plan is RawTherapee. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Zoner Photo Studio X at $4.92/mo.
Working with camera RAW files can involve organizing a catalog, making local edits, correcting lenses, and exporting finished images. This ranking compares those workflows along with RAW format support, export formats, and tethered capture. Supported platforms, free plans, and paid-from pricing give you additional points to weigh. darktable, Adobe Lightroom, and RawTherapee lead the entries, followed by Darkroom and ART. Compare the listed capabilities with the files you handle and the processing workflow you want to use.
25 RAW photo processing software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
6 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | darktableWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 2 | RawTherapeeWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 3 | vkdtWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | Canon Digital Photo ProfessionalWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 5 | Hasselblad PhocusWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 6 | Nikon NX StudioWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 7 | ARTWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 8 | DarkroomMac · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 9 | PhotomatorMac · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 10 | dcrawWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 11 | FUJIFILM X RAW STUDIOWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 12 | OM WorkspaceWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 13 | Capture OneiPhone | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 14 | Corel AfterShot ProWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $79.99/mo | 5.1 |
| 15 | Luminar NeoWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $129/mo | 5.1 |
| 16 | ON1 Portrait AIWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 17 | RAW PowerMac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $9.99/mo | 5.1 |
| 18 | Adobe Camera RawWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 19 | DxO PureRAWWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 20 | ExposureWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 21 | NitroMac · iPhone | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 22 | ON1 Photo RAWNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 23 | SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro12Windows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | ¥25,300/mo | 4.9 |
| 24 | Zoner Photo Studio XWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $4.92/mo | 4.9 |
| 25 | Iridient DeveloperMac | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | $119.99/mo | 4.8 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which RAW photo processing software is ranked first on Freedom251?
darktable is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 6.5. RawTherapee is second and vkdt third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Zoner Photo Studio X has the lowest first paid tier we found: $4.92/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.