Software · head to head
Affinity Photo vs darktable
Affinity Photo
Software
Professional photo editing software
- From
- $69.99/one-time
- Rated
- -
darktable
Software
Free open-source RAW photo editor and digital darkroom
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only darktable has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Affinity Photo version 2.0 required a full repurchase after seven years, breaking the perpetual license promise made to earlier users; darktable interface has a steeper learning curve than commercial editors with more guided workflows.
- They diverge on capability: Affinity Photo covers Photo editing, darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Affinity Photo and darktable actually diverge.
| Attribute | Affinity Photo | darktable |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $69.99/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, iPad | windows, mac, linux |
| Founded | 1987 | Unknown |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Affinity Photo
- Photo editing
- RAW processing
- Non-destructive editing
- AI enhancement
- Retouching tools
- Batch processing
- Vector support
- HDR tools
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.
Affinity Photo
- Photo editingnot darktable
- RAW processingnot darktable
- Retouchingnot darktable
- Digital photographynot darktable
darktable
- Processing RAW photos without paying for a subscription editornot Affinity Photo
- Organizing and cataloging large personal photo librariesnot Affinity Photo
- Tethered shooting directly into an editing workflownot Affinity Photo
- Applying non-destructive edits that preserve the original RAW filenot Affinity Photo
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Affinity Photo
- Version 2.0 required a full repurchase after seven years, breaking the perpetual license promise made to earlier users
- Affinity Photo was discontinued in October 2025 and replaced by freemium Affinity application
- No subscription model means no cloud storage or automatic backups like Photoshop Creative Cloud
darktable
- Interface has a steeper learning curve than commercial editors with more guided workflows.
- Lacks the AI-based generative editing tools found in newer commercial competitors like Luminar Neo.
- No official mobile app, limiting editing to desktop platforms only.
- Community-driven support model lacks the dedicated customer support of paid software.
Pricing, plan by plan
Affinity Photo
$69.99/one-time- Standard$69.99/one-time
- Full version
- All features
- Lifetime updates
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 Affinity Photo if
- You need photo editing.
- You work on macOS, Windows, iPad.
- You also want raw processing.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Affinity Photo or darktable better?
- Neither clearly leads. Affinity Photo starts at $69.99/one-time and darktable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Affinity Photo or darktable?
- darktable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $69.99/one-time for Affinity Photo and Free for darktable.
- Does Affinity Photo or darktable run on more platforms?
- Affinity Photo runs on macOS, Windows, iPad. 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. Affinity Photo starts at $69.99/one-time.
- What is Affinity Photo best used for?
- Affinity Photo is most often used for photo editing, raw processing, retouching, digital photography. Of those, photo editing and raw processing are not what darktable is typically brought in for.
- What can Affinity Photo do that darktable cannot?
- Affinity Photo covers Photo editing, RAW processing, Non-destructive editing, AI enhancement. darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Virtual lighttable, Wide camera RAW support, Tethered shooting.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Affinity Photo: Does Affinity Photo include RAW editing?
Yes, Affinity Photo includes non-destructive RAW photo editing and development capabilities for photographers working with RAW image formats.
SourceRelated pages
More on Affinity Photo
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