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Photography · head to head

darktable vs Pic-Time

darktable logo

darktable

Photography

Free open-source RAW photo editor and digital darkroom

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pic-Time logo

Pic-Time

Photography

Client galleries with an automated print store and marketing campaigns built in

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; Pic-Time the commission on store sales means the true cost rises with your success, so a photographer with strong print revenue may pay far more than the subscription implies and should price the top tier against the percentage before choosing.
  • They diverge on capability: darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Pic-Time covers Designed galleries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which darktable and Pic-Time actually diverge.

Attributes where darktable and Pic-Time differ
AttributedarktablePic-Time
Pricing modelfreePer month by photo count
Platformswindows, mac, linuxWeb, 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 Pic-Time

  • Designed galleries
  • Automated store campaigns
  • Wall art visualiser
  • Album proofing
  • Regional lab fulfilment
  • Digital delivery

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

Pic-Time

  • A wedding photographer who wants print revenue from past clients without writing and sending the promotions personallynot darktable
  • Studios where the gallery itself is part of the perceived product and a plain grid of thumbnails undersells the worknot darktable
  • Album based workflows that need clients to comment on spreads rather than exchange PDFs by emailnot darktable
  • Photographers with clients in several countries who need orders fulfilled by a lab local to the clientnot 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

Pic-Time

  • The commission on store sales means the true cost rises with your success, so a photographer with strong print revenue may pay far more than the subscription implies and should price the top tier against the percentage before choosing.
  • Storage is counted by photo, so high volume delivery pushes you up the tiers even when the files themselves are small.
  • There is no contracts, invoicing, booking or CRM module, so a working studio still pays for a separate management tool and reconciles two systems.
  • Lab coverage is uneven by country and some regions have a single partner, which removes any ability to shop for print quality or price.
  • The automated campaigns go out under your studio name on Pic-Time schedules, and photographers with a small or recently marketed client list can look pushy unless every sequence is edited by hand.

Pricing, plan by plan

darktable

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

Pic-Time

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Small photo allowance for evaluating the platform
    • Store available with the commission that applies to this tier
  • Paid tiers$undefined/month
    • Priced by the number of photos stored
    • The sales commission differs by tier and falls on the higher plans
    • Automated marketing campaigns included from the paid tiers upward

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 Pic-Time if

  • You need designed galleries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want automated store campaigns.
Pic-Time review

Questions people ask

Is darktable or Pic-Time better?
Neither clearly leads. darktable starts at Free and Pic-Time at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, darktable or Pic-Time?
darktable starts at Free and Pic-Time at Free.
Does darktable or Pic-Time run on more platforms?
darktable runs on windows, mac, linux. Pic-Time runs on Web, 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 Pic-Time is typically brought in for.
What can darktable do that Pic-Time cannot?
darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Virtual lighttable, Wide camera RAW support, Tethered shooting. Pic-Time covers Designed galleries, Automated store campaigns, Wall art visualiser, Album proofing.

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
Pic-Time: Does Pic-Time take a percentage of print sales?

Yes, and the rate depends on the plan you are on, with the higher tiers reducing it. Check the current rate for your tier, because it usually outweighs the monthly price difference.

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
Pic-Time: Can it replace my studio management software?

No. There is no contract signing, invoicing or booking. Pic-Time covers delivery and sales only.

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
Pic-Time: Do clients need an account to view a gallery?

No. Galleries open from a link with an optional password, and an email is only requested when a client downloads or orders.

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