# darktable

An open-source RAW photo workflow with non-destructive editing.

HTML: https://softbests.com/software/darktable
Markdown: https://softbests.com/software/darktable.md
Website: https://www.darktable.org

- Category: [Design & prototyping](https://softbests.com/category/design-prototyping)
- Pricing: Open source
- Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux
- Underrated

## Best for

Photographers who want a Lightroom-style RAW developer and library without a subscription.

## Why it deserves attention

darktable is GPL-3.0, has been developed since 2009, and has about 13,000 GitHub stars. It combines a photo library with a non-destructive RAW developer: every adjustment is stored as a history stack, so the original file is never touched. More than 60 processing modules cover exposure, color balance, filmic and sigmoid tone mapping, denoising, lens correction, and local masks, and it supports tethered shooting, color-managed printing, geotagging, and Lua scripting for automation. It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. The trade-off is a steep learning curve and a dense interface, and there is no built-in cloud sync or mobile app.

## Can replace

- Adobe Lightroom

## Related and alternatives

- [GIMP](https://softbests.com/software/gimp)
- [Audacity](https://softbests.com/software/audacity)