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Photography · head to head

Affinity Photo vs darktable

Affinity Photo logo

Affinity Photo

Photography

Professional photo editing software

From
$69.99/one-time
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: Affinity Photo version 2.0 required a full repurchase after seven years, breaking the perpetual license promise made to earlier users; darktable open-source with no vendor pricing: Darktable is released under GPL 3.0; no cost or licensing applies
  • They diverge on capability: Affinity Photo covers 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 Affinity Photo and darktable actually diverge.

Attributes where Affinity Photo and darktable differ
AttributeAffinity Photodarktable
Starting price$69.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iPadwindows, mac, linux
Founded1987Unknown

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 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

  • 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

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.
Affinity Photo 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 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.

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
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
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
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