Is darktable or Facetune better?

Neither clearly leads. darktable starts at Free and Facetune at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, darktable or Facetune?

darktable starts at Free and Facetune at Free.

Does darktable or Facetune run on more platforms?

darktable runs on windows, mac, linux. Facetune runs on iOS, Android.

Can I use darktable for free?

Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.

What is darktable best used for?

darktable is most often used for processing raw photos without paying for a subscription editor, organizing and cataloging large personal photo libraries, tethered shooting directly into an editing workflow, applying non-destructive edits that preserve the original raw file. Of those, processing raw photos without paying for a subscription editor and organizing and cataloging large personal photo libraries are not what Facetune is typically brought in for.

What can darktable do that Facetune cannot?

darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Virtual lighttable, Wide camera RAW support, Tethered shooting. Facetune covers Skin and blemish retouching, Facial reshaping, Body contouring, Teeth whitening and eye enhancement.

Photography · head to head

darktable vs Facetune

darktable

Photography

Free open-source RAW photo editor and digital darkroom

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

Facetune

Photography

Selfie and portrait retouching app from Lightricks, sold on a subscription with a short free trial

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Each has a real cost: darktable open-source with no vendor pricing: Darktable is released under GPL 3.0; no cost or licensing applies; Facetune the free trial is short, commonly around 3 days, and automatically converts into a paid annual subscription unless the user proactively cancels beforehand, a pattern that has generated a consistent volume of complaints about unexpected charges.
They diverge on capability: darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Facetune covers Skin and blemish retouching.
Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which darktable and Facetune actually diverge.

Attributes where darktable and Facetune differ
Attribute	darktable	Facetune
Pricing model	free	Free download with a short free trial, most tools require a Facetune Pro subscription that auto-renews annually
Platforms	windows, mac, linux	iOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 darktable

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

Only in Facetune

Skin and blemish retouching
Facial reshaping
Body contouring
Teeth whitening and eye enhancement
Background blur and replacement
One-tap auto-enhance

What people use each for

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

darktable

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

Facetune

Someone wanting quick, targeted retouching of a single selfie or portrait before posting to social medianot darktable
A user comfortable cancelling a free trial through their phone app store settings before it converts to a paid annual chargenot darktable
Someone who has decided to pay for the annual subscription and wants a broad set of face and body retouching tools in one appnot darktable
A user who has used Photoleap or Videoleap from the same publisher and wants a consistent editing tool stylenot darktable

Where each one falls short

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

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

Facetune

The free trial is short, commonly around 3 days, and automatically converts into a paid annual subscription unless the user proactively cancels beforehand, a pattern that has generated a consistent volume of complaints about unexpected charges.
Cancellation must be done through the phone Apple App Store or Google Play subscription management screens rather than a clear button inside the app itself, adding friction specifically at the point users most want to stop paying.
Nearly all meaningful retouching functionality is locked behind the paid tier, so the free download is not a genuinely usable product on its own, only a gateway to the trial.
Heavy reliance on face and body reshaping tools has drawn broader criticism, common to this whole app category, over promoting unrealistic beauty standards, particularly among younger users.
Published subscription pricing has varied by region and promotional period, so the price a new user is quoted is not necessarily stable or consistent across markets.

Pricing, plan by plan

darktable

Free

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

Facetune

Free

FreeFree
- Very limited basic editing tools
- Most retouching features locked
- Trial access to Pro tools for a short period, commonly around 3 days
Facetune Pro$47.99/year
- Full access to retouching, reshaping and enhancement tools
- Auto-renews annually unless cancelled before trial or renewal date
- Cancellation handled through Apple App Store or Google Play subscription settings, not inside the app

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Facetune if

You need skin and blemish retouching.
You want to start without paying.
You work on iOS, Android.
You also want facial reshaping.

Facetune review

Questions people ask

Is darktable or Facetune better?: Neither clearly leads. darktable starts at Free and Facetune at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, darktable or Facetune?: darktable starts at Free and Facetune at Free.
Does darktable or Facetune run on more platforms?: darktable runs on windows, mac, linux. Facetune runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use darktable for free?: Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is darktable best used for?: darktable is most often used for processing raw photos without paying for a subscription editor, organizing and cataloging large personal photo libraries, tethered shooting directly into an editing workflow, applying non-destructive edits that preserve the original raw file. Of those, processing raw photos without paying for a subscription editor and organizing and cataloging large personal photo libraries are not what Facetune is typically brought in for.
What can darktable do that Facetune cannot?: darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Virtual lighttable, Wide camera RAW support, Tethered shooting. Facetune covers Skin and blemish retouching, Facial reshaping, Body contouring, Teeth whitening and eye enhancement.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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

Facetune: Does Facetune have a free trial?

Yes, typically around 3 days, after which it automatically converts to a paid annual subscription unless cancelled beforehand.

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

Facetune: How do I cancel a Facetune subscription?

Cancellation is done through the Apple App Store or Google Play subscription settings on your phone, not through a button inside the Facetune app itself.

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

Facetune: Can I use Facetune without paying?

The free download offers very limited functionality; nearly all retouching tools require the paid Facetune Pro subscription after the trial ends.

darktable vs Facetune

darktable

Facetune

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in darktable

Only in Facetune

What people use each for

darktable

Facetune

Where each one falls short

darktable

Facetune

Pricing, plan by plan

darktable

Facetune

Which should you pick?

Choose darktable if

Choose Facetune if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on darktable

More on Facetune

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