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Photography · head to head

DxO PhotoLab vs ShootProof

DxO PhotoLab logo

DxO PhotoLab

Photography

RAW processor built around lab-measured lens corrections and DeepPRIME denoising

From
$139/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ShootProof logo

ShootProof

Photography

Client proofing galleries, print store and studio billing with no commission on sales

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ShootProof has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DxO PhotoLab optical modules exist only for camera and lens pairs DxO has measured, so owners of new, niche or adapted lenses either wait for a module or lose the main reason to buy the product.; ShootProof storage is counted in photos rather than gigabytes, so a wedding photographer delivering three thousand frames per job crosses tier boundaries within a handful of weddings regardless of how small the files are.
  • They diverge on capability: DxO PhotoLab covers Optical modules, ShootProof covers Proofing galleries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DxO PhotoLab and ShootProof actually diverge.

Attributes where DxO PhotoLab and ShootProof differ
AttributeDxO PhotoLabShootProof
Starting price$139/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchasePer month by photo count
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb, iOS, Android

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 DxO PhotoLab

  • Optical modules
  • DeepPRIME denoising
  • ClearView Plus
  • Local adjustments
  • DxO Wide Gamut
  • Soft proofing
  • Linear DNG export
  • Folder-based library

Only in ShootProof

  • Proofing galleries
  • Print store
  • Zero sales commission
  • Contracts and invoices
  • Studio automation
  • Client mobile app

What people use each for

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

DxO PhotoLab

  • Rescuing wildlife or indoor sport frames shot at ISO 12800 where noise is the limiting factor rather than exposurenot ShootProof
  • Correcting a known-soft zoom at its weakest focal length using a profile measured for that exact body and lensnot ShootProof
  • Running a denoise and optical correction pass, then exporting linear DNG into an existing Lightroom or Capture One workflownot ShootProof
  • Owning an editor outright rather than adding another monthly subscription to a small studionot ShootProof

ShootProof

  • A portrait studio whose print revenue exceeds its subscription cost, where a percentage based competitor would be the more expensive optionnot DxO PhotoLab
  • School and sports volume work where galleries are keyed to individual subjects and priced from a fixed sheetnot DxO PhotoLab
  • A photographer who wants contracts, invoices and gallery delivery billed to one vendor instead of threenot DxO PhotoLab
  • Wedding delivery where clients need a downloadable set and the parents need a print ordering routenot DxO PhotoLab

Where each one falls short

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

DxO PhotoLab

  • Optical modules exist only for camera and lens pairs DxO has measured, so owners of new, niche or adapted lenses either wait for a module or lose the main reason to buy the product.
  • DeepPRIME and DeepPRIME XD are heavy on the GPU, and exporting a few hundred frames on an older machine takes long enough that batch work has to be scheduled rather than run between shoots.
  • The library indexes folders and holds no central catalogue, with no cloud sync and no mobile application, so it does not replace Lightroom for photographers who manage a large archive across machines.
  • There are no layers and no compositing, so any retouching beyond local adjustments means a round trip to Photoshop or Affinity Photo and a second set of files.
  • Most major versions are paid upgrades released roughly annually, so the perpetual licence costs more over five years than the headline figure suggests, and skipping versions eventually loses support for new cameras.
  • Getting DeepPRIME output into another editor requires exporting linear DNG, which produces large intermediate files and roughly doubles storage for any frame processed that way.

ShootProof

  • Storage is counted in photos rather than gigabytes, so a wedding photographer delivering three thousand frames per job crosses tier boundaries within a handful of weddings regardless of how small the files are.
  • Gallery presentation is plainer than Pic-Time and Pixieset, which matters at the high end where the gallery is part of the product the client is paying for.
  • There is no bundled website or blog builder, so photographers still pay a separate hosting subscription that competitors include in the same fee.
  • Print fulfilment is strongest with North American labs, and photographers outside that region face longer lead times, higher shipping and a shorter list of usable products.
  • Support is email and ticket based with no telephone line, which is awkward when a client gallery fails on the evening before a delivery deadline.

Pricing, plan by plan

DxO PhotoLab

$139/one-time
  • PhotoLab Essential$139/one-time
    • RAW processing with optical modules
    • DeepPRIME denoising
    • Local adjustments and library
  • PhotoLab Elite$229/one-time
    • Everything in Essential
    • DeepPRIME XD, the higher grade denoising model
    • DxO Wide Gamut working colour space

ShootProof

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 100 photos stored
    • Full store and download delivery
    • No commission on sales
  • Photo count tiers$undefined/month
    • Tiers set by the number of photos stored, not by file size
    • No sales commission at any tier
    • Contracts, invoices and studio automation included

Which should you pick?

Choose DxO PhotoLab if

  • You need optical modules.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want deepprime denoising.
DxO PhotoLab review

Choose ShootProof if

  • You need proofing galleries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want print store.
ShootProof review

Questions people ask

Is DxO PhotoLab or ShootProof better?
Neither clearly leads. DxO PhotoLab starts at $139/one-time and ShootProof at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DxO PhotoLab or ShootProof?
ShootProof has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $139/one-time for DxO PhotoLab and Free for ShootProof.
Does DxO PhotoLab or ShootProof run on more platforms?
DxO PhotoLab runs on Windows, macOS. ShootProof runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use ShootProof for free?
Yes. ShootProof has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DxO PhotoLab starts at $139/one-time.
What is DxO PhotoLab best used for?
DxO PhotoLab is most often used for rescuing wildlife or indoor sport frames shot at iso 12800 where noise is the limiting factor rather than exposure, correcting a known-soft zoom at its weakest focal length using a profile measured for that exact body and lens, running a denoise and optical correction pass, then exporting linear dng into an existing lightroom or capture one workflow, owning an editor outright rather than adding another monthly subscription to a small studio. Of those, rescuing wildlife or indoor sport frames shot at iso 12800 where noise is the limiting factor rather than exposure and correcting a known-soft zoom at its weakest focal length using a profile measured for that exact body and lens are not what ShootProof is typically brought in for.
What can DxO PhotoLab do that ShootProof cannot?
DxO PhotoLab covers Optical modules, DeepPRIME denoising, ClearView Plus, Local adjustments. ShootProof covers Proofing galleries, Print store, Zero sales commission, Contracts and invoices.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DxO PhotoLab: Is there a subscription?

No. Essential and Elite are one-time purchases. New major versions are separate paid upgrades.

ShootProof: Does ShootProof take a cut of print sales?

No. Every plan, including the free one, keeps zero percent of print and download revenue. You pay only the subscription and the lab cost.

DxO PhotoLab: What happens if my lens is not supported?

You still get the editor and DeepPRIME, but not the measured optical correction for that combination. Check the supported list for your exact body and lens before you buy.

ShootProof: Is the free plan usable for real work?

Only for small jobs. One hundred photos covers a single short portrait session, so it works as a trial rather than as a business tier.

DxO PhotoLab: Can it replace Lightroom entirely?

For processing, often yes. For cataloguing across drives, cloud sync and mobile, no, because PhotoLab has none of those.

ShootProof: Can I use my own lab?

Yes. You can fulfil orders yourself or through a lab that ShootProof does not integrate with, but you then handle ordering and shipping manually.

DxO PhotoLab: Does it handle Fujifilm X-Trans files?

Support for X-Trans sensors arrived in recent versions, but coverage of individual bodies still depends on DxO releasing modules for them.

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