The best free Lightroom alternative: a full non-destructive RAW workflow and catalog on Windows, Mac and Linux, if you accept a steeper learning curve.
What it is
darktable is an open-source (GPLv3) photo workflow app with a lighttable catalog for rating, tagging and filtering, and a darkroom with scene-referred, non-destructive RAW processing, masks and AI RAW denoise. It reads ratings and keywords from XMP sidecars, so a Lightroom library's organization can come across, but develop settings cannot. Version 5.6.2 shipped October 4, 2026 (5.6.0 in June). Windows, macOS 14+ on Apple Silicon and Linux. No account, no cloud and no subscription. Some RAW variants are not yet supported, including Apple ProRAW DNG, Nikon high-efficiency NEF and Fujifilm lossy RAF. Checked November 2026.
Best for
- Free RAW editing with a catalog
- Linux photographers
- Users who want no account or subscription
What we like
- Free and open source, no account
- Deep non-destructive RAW processing with masks and AI denoise
- Runs on Linux as well as Windows and Mac
What to watch
- Steep learning curve and a very different interface from Lightroom
- Lightroom edits and presets do not transfer
- No mobile app or cloud sync
- Some newer RAW formats are not supported yet
Where darktable ranks
Alternatives and head-to-heads
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