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Photography · head to head

darktable vs Adobe Lightroom Mobile

darktable logo

darktable

Photography

Free open-source RAW photo editor and digital darkroom

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Adobe Lightroom Mobile logo

Adobe Lightroom Mobile

Photography

Free mobile photo editing app with core Adobe Lightroom tools, full features tied to a Creative Cloud photography subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Adobe Lightroom Mobile cross-device cloud sync, the feature that makes editing consistent across phone, tablet and desktop, is entirely gated behind a Creative Cloud Photography plan subscription, so the free mobile app functions as an isolated single-device editor.
  • They diverge on capability: darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Adobe Lightroom Mobile covers RAW and JPEG editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which darktable and Adobe Lightroom Mobile actually diverge.

Attributes where darktable and Adobe Lightroom Mobile differ
AttributedarktableAdobe Lightroom Mobile
Pricing modelfreeFree for local, single-device editing; cloud sync and some tools require a Creative Cloud Photography plan
Platformswindows, mac, linuxiOS, 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 Adobe Lightroom Mobile

  • RAW and JPEG editing
  • In-app RAW camera
  • Presets
  • Local editing without subscription
  • Cloud sync (subscription required)
  • AI-based masking and select tools (subscription required)

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 Adobe Lightroom Mobile
  • Organizing and cataloging large personal photo librariesnot Adobe Lightroom Mobile
  • Tethered shooting directly into an editing workflownot Adobe Lightroom Mobile
  • Applying non-destructive edits that preserve the original RAW filenot Adobe Lightroom Mobile

Adobe Lightroom Mobile

  • A mobile photographer wanting RAW editing on a phone without paying for a subscription, and not needing cross-device syncnot darktable
  • An existing Creative Cloud Photography subscriber wanting their desktop Lightroom edits available on mobilenot darktable
  • Someone shooting RAW directly in the app for maximum editing latitude versus a standard JPEG capturenot darktable
  • A photographer testing Lightroom mobile tools before deciding whether to commit to the paid subscription for the full desktop and cloud workflownot 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

Adobe Lightroom Mobile

  • Cross-device cloud sync, the feature that makes editing consistent across phone, tablet and desktop, is entirely gated behind a Creative Cloud Photography plan subscription, so the free mobile app functions as an isolated single-device editor.
  • Free-tier cloud storage is limited to a small allotment, and photographers shooting in RAW will exhaust it quickly, pushing toward a paid plan sooner than the free label suggests.
  • Some newer AI-based tools, including certain masking and generative editing features, are subscription-gated, so the free app does not carry the full current tool set shown in Adobe marketing for Lightroom generally.
  • The subscription is billed through the same Creative Cloud Photography plan that covers desktop Lightroom, so this is not a separate cheaper mobile-only purchase, it is the same recurring cost whether used on one device or several.
  • Cancelling the Creative Cloud subscription can restrict access to cloud-synced photos and certain previously applied edits, so photos edited under a subscription are not fully portable if the subscription lapses.

Pricing, plan by plan

darktable

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

Adobe Lightroom Mobile

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Local RAW and JPEG editing on a single device
    • In-app RAW camera capture
    • No cross-device cloud sync
  • Creative Cloud Photography plan$9.99/month
    • Cross-device cloud sync of photos and edits
    • 20GB or 1TB of cloud storage depending on plan tier
    • Includes desktop Lightroom and Photoshop access

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 Adobe Lightroom Mobile if

  • You need raw and jpeg editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want in-app raw camera.
Adobe Lightroom Mobile review

Questions people ask

Is darktable or Adobe Lightroom Mobile better?
Neither clearly leads. darktable starts at Free and Adobe Lightroom Mobile at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, darktable or Adobe Lightroom Mobile?
darktable starts at Free and Adobe Lightroom Mobile at Free.
Does darktable or Adobe Lightroom Mobile run on more platforms?
darktable runs on windows, mac, linux. Adobe Lightroom Mobile 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 Adobe Lightroom Mobile is typically brought in for.
What can darktable do that Adobe Lightroom Mobile cannot?
darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Virtual lighttable, Wide camera RAW support, Tethered shooting. Adobe Lightroom Mobile covers RAW and JPEG editing, In-app RAW camera, Presets, Local editing without subscription.

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
Adobe Lightroom Mobile: Is Lightroom Mobile free?

Core local RAW and JPEG editing on a single device is free; cross-device cloud sync and some advanced tools require a Creative Cloud Photography plan subscription.

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 Lightroom Mobile: Is this the same as the desktop Lightroom application?

It shares the Lightroom name and many editing tools, but it is the separate mobile application; desktop Lightroom is catalogued as its own entry in this directory.

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 Lightroom Mobile: Do I need a subscription to shoot RAW photos in the app?

No, in-app RAW capture works without a subscription; the subscription is required for cloud sync and certain advanced editing tools.

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