Side by side
PaintFE vs RawTherapee
Both stand on photo editing software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan WebWindowsMac+1
PaintFE offers its listed editing capabilities under a free, MIT-licensed plan without an account or subscription. Consider that cloud sync is not included.
Visit PaintFE Free plan LinuxMacWindows
RawTherapee focuses on image development, with raw support, batch processing and editor integration at no cost. Users needing asset management, printing or uploading will need those features elsewhere.
Visit RawTherapeeThe facts
| PaintFE | RawTherapee | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | RawTherapee |
| Website | paintfe.com | rawtherapee.com |
| On photo editing software | #18 of 159 | #14 of 159 |
PaintFE: what it does well
- Supports RAW photos.
- Includes layers, masking, batch editing, and AI retouching.
- Runs on web, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- No account or subscription required.
What to know first
- Cloud sync is not included.
- Editing is local.
RawTherapee: what it does well
- Free raw development on Linux, macOS and Windows.
- Non-destructive 32-bit floating-point processing.
- Supports masking and batch editing.
- Can integrate with GIMP or another editor.
- Includes command-line use.
What to know first
- No digital asset management features.
- No printing or uploading features.
- macOS version 5.13 requires installation in /Applications.
- macOS minimum requirements vary by processor type.
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