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Photography · head to head

darktable vs Stellarium

darktable logo

darktable

Photography

Free open-source RAW photo editor and digital darkroom

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stellarium logo

Stellarium

Education

Free open source desktop planetarium software, distinct from the paid Stellarium Mobile Plus app

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; Stellarium it is desktop-only software, so it has no native touch-optimised phone interface; the similarly named mobile app is a different paid product from a different company.
  • They diverge on capability: darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which darktable and Stellarium actually diverge.

Attributes where darktable and Stellarium differ
AttributedarktableStellarium
Pricing modelfreeOpen source, no licence fee
Platformswindows, mac, linuxWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryPhotographyEducation

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Stellarium

  • Photorealistic sky rendering
  • Large object catalogue
  • Telescope control
  • Scripting engine
  • Free and open source
  • Plugin ecosystem

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

Stellarium

  • A student or educator wanting a serious, scriptable planetarium tool without a budget line itemnot darktable
  • An amateur astronomer wanting telescope control from desktop software they can inspect and modifynot darktable
  • Someone running a planetarium display or public astronomy event on a scripted shownot darktable
  • A hobbyist who wants a large object catalogue without paying a subscription, and does not need a phone appnot 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

Stellarium

  • It is desktop-only software, so it has no native touch-optimised phone interface; the similarly named mobile app is a different paid product from a different company.
  • As a volunteer-maintained open source project, support is community-based rather than a guaranteed commercial help desk.
  • The interface, while capable, is less immediately intuitive for a first-time user than a polished commercial phone app.
  • Telescope control and some advanced plugins require additional setup that a non-technical user may find fiddly.
  • Because it shares a name with the unrelated paid Stellarium Mobile Plus app, buyers researching pricing online can easily conflate the two products.

Pricing, plan by plan

darktable

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

Stellarium

Free
  • Stellarium DesktopFree
    • Full software, GPL licensed
    • No account, ads or subscription
    • Community-developed plugins

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 Stellarium if

  • You need photorealistic sky rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want large object catalogue.
Stellarium review

Questions people ask

Is darktable or Stellarium better?
Neither clearly leads. darktable starts at Free and Stellarium at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, darktable or Stellarium?
darktable starts at Free and Stellarium at Free.
Does darktable or Stellarium run on more platforms?
darktable runs on windows, mac, linux. Stellarium runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
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 Stellarium is typically brought in for.
What can darktable do that Stellarium cannot?
darktable covers Non-destructive RAW editing, Virtual lighttable, Wide camera RAW support, Tethered shooting. Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering, Large object catalogue, Telescope control, Scripting engine.

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
Stellarium: Is Stellarium really free?

The desktop software is free and open source under the GPL licence. The separate mobile app, Stellarium Mobile Plus, is a different paid product.

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
Stellarium: Is the mobile app made by the same team?

No. Stellarium Mobile Plus is built by Noctua Software, a different company, and is sold on subscription.

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
Stellarium: What platforms does the free version run on?

Windows, macOS and Linux desktop.

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