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Photography · head to head

Adobe Photoshop vs darktable

Adobe Photoshop logo

Adobe Photoshop

Photography

The world's best imaging and graphic design software

From
$19.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
darktable logo

darktable

Photography

Free open-source RAW photo editor and digital darkroom

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only darktable has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Adobe Photoshop subscription-only model with ever-increasing costs, no perpetual license option; darktable open-source with no vendor pricing: Darktable is released under GPL 3.0; no cost or licensing applies
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe Photoshop covers Advanced photo editing, darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe Photoshop and darktable actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe Photoshop and darktable differ
AttributeAdobe Photoshopdarktable
Starting price$19.99/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Web, Androidwindows, mac, linux
Founded1982Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Photography).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Adobe Photoshop

  • Advanced photo editing
  • Layer-based editing
  • Selection tools
  • Color correction
  • Digital painting
  • 3D design
  • Typography tools
  • Batch processing

Only in darktable

  • Non-destructive RAW editing
  • Virtual lighttable
  • Wide camera RAW support
  • Tethered shooting
  • Color management and modules

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Adobe Photoshop

  • Photo editingnot darktable
  • Digital art creationnot darktable
  • Graphic designnot darktable
  • Web designnot darktable
  • Print designnot darktable
  • Social media graphicsnot darktable

darktable

  • Processing RAW photos without paying for a subscription editornot Adobe Photoshop
  • Organizing and cataloging large personal photo librariesnot Adobe Photoshop
  • Tethered shooting directly into an editing workflownot Adobe Photoshop
  • Applying non-destructive edits that preserve the original RAW filenot Adobe Photoshop

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Adobe Photoshop

  • Subscription-only model with ever-increasing costs, no perpetual license option
  • High hardware requirements for smooth performance with large graphics
  • Limited mobile optimization compared to desktop version
  • Limited 3D modeling and rendering tools for professionals
  • AI text generation inside images remains inconsistent and unpredictable
  • No progress monitoring bars for rendering operations

darktable

  • Open-source with no vendor pricing: Darktable is released under GPL 3.0; no cost or licensing applies
  • Self-hosted photography workflow: customers bear full responsibility for hosting, maintenance, and support outside community
  • No commercial support model published: community-driven project with mailing lists and forums only; no commercial SaaS alternative
  • Community contribution required for feature development: no vendor roadmap for prioritized feature work; community volunteers drive development

Pricing, plan by plan

Adobe Photoshop

$19.99/month
  • Photography Plan$19.99/month
    • Photoshop desktop for macOS and Windows
    • Lightroom desktop and cloud
    • 1TB cloud storage
  • Photoshop Single App$22.99/month
    • Photoshop desktop for macOS and Windows
    • Photoshop for iPad
    • Photoshop web (limited features)
  • Creative Cloud Pro$69.99/month
    • All Creative Cloud apps including Photoshop
    • Unlimited standard AI features with Firefly Pro
    • 4,000 AI credits monthly

darktable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full RAW editing and lighttable features
    • Open-source under GNU GPL v3
    • No account or subscription required

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe Photoshop if

  • You need advanced photo editing.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Web, Android.
  • You also want layer-based editing.
Adobe Photoshop review

Choose darktable if

  • You need non-destructive raw editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want virtual lighttable.
darktable review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe Photoshop or darktable better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe Photoshop starts at $19.99/month and darktable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe Photoshop or darktable?
darktable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19.99/month for Adobe Photoshop and Free for darktable.
Does Adobe Photoshop or darktable run on more platforms?
Adobe Photoshop runs on Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Web, Android. darktable runs on windows, mac, linux.
Can I use darktable for free?
Yes. darktable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Adobe Photoshop starts at $19.99/month.
What is Adobe Photoshop best used for?
Adobe Photoshop is most often used for photo editing, digital art creation, graphic design, web design. Of those, photo editing and digital art creation are not what darktable is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe Photoshop do that darktable cannot?
Adobe Photoshop covers Advanced photo editing, Layer-based editing, Selection tools, Color correction. darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Virtual lighttable, Wide camera RAW support, Tethered shooting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Adobe Photoshop: What does a Photoshop subscription include?

A single-app Photoshop subscription ($22.99/month) includes the desktop app for macOS and Windows, Photoshop for iPad, limited web features, 100GB cloud storage, and 25 AI credits monthly. The Photography Plan ($19.99/month) adds Lightroom and increases AI credits to 1,000 monthly.

Source
darktable: How much does Darktable cost?

Darktable is free and open-source under the GPL 3.0 license. There are no licensing fees, subscription costs, or commercial restrictions.

Source
Adobe Photoshop: Is there a free trial for Photoshop?

Yes, Adobe offers a 7-day free trial for individuals and 14 days for Teams. The trial requires credit card verification, includes 100GB cloud storage, and full access to all features. The subscription auto-renews at $20.99/month unless cancelled 24 hours before trial ends.

Source
darktable: Is Darktable created by a commercial vendor?

No. Darktable is a community-driven open-source project 'created for photographers, by photographers.' It has no commercial vendor or SaaS model.

Source
Adobe Photoshop: What AI features does Photoshop 2026 include?

Photoshop 2026 features Generative Fill with reference image support (for control over lighting and color), Generative Upscale (enlarges images to 8MP while preserving detail), a conversational AI assistant in beta, Harmonize for auto light and color matching, and integration with Gemini 2.5 Flash and FLUX.1 AI models.

Source
darktable: How can I get support for Darktable?

Darktable is supported through community channels including mailing lists and forums. There is no commercial support option published on the website.

Source
Adobe Photoshop: What platforms does Photoshop run on?

Photoshop is available on Windows 10/11, macOS 13+, iPad (iOS 17+), iPhone (iOS 17+), and web browsers. Android version entered beta in June 2025.

Source
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