Photography · head to head
Exposure X vs Facetune
Exposure X
Photography
Perpetual-licence RAW editor and cataloguer built around film-emulation presets, from a very small vendor
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Facetune
Photography
Selfie and portrait retouching app from Lightricks, sold on a subscription with a short free trial
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Facetune has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Exposure X the vendor has published almost no public updates since 2022, so buyers cannot be confident about the pace or certainty of future 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.
- They diverge on capability: Exposure X covers Folder-based browsing, 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 Exposure X and Facetune actually diverge.
| Attribute | Exposure X | Facetune |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | Free download with a short free trial, most tools require a Facetune Pro subscription that auto-renews annually |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | 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 Exposure X
- Folder-based browsing
- Film emulation presets
- Non-destructive layers and masking
- RAW processing
- Plugin support
- Perpetual licensing
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.
Exposure X
- A photographer who wants film-look presets built into the editor rather than buying third-party preset packsnot Facetune
- Someone who dislikes database-style photo catalogues and wants to work directly on files in foldersnot Facetune
- A buyer who wants a one-time purchase RAW editor on both Windows and Mac without a subscriptionnot Facetune
- A Lightroom user adding Exposure as an external editor specifically for its film emulation librarynot Facetune
Facetune
- Someone wanting quick, targeted retouching of a single selfie or portrait before posting to social medianot Exposure X
- A user comfortable cancelling a free trial through their phone app store settings before it converts to a paid annual chargenot Exposure X
- Someone who has decided to pay for the annual subscription and wants a broad set of face and body retouching tools in one appnot Exposure X
- A user who has used Photoleap or Videoleap from the same publisher and wants a consistent editing tool stylenot Exposure X
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Exposure X
- The vendor has published almost no public updates since 2022, so buyers cannot be confident about the pace or certainty of future development.
- Email contact with the company is reported as unreliable, leaving technical support tickets as the only dependable channel.
- Its RAW processing and masking tools are less capable than Lightroom, Capture One or DxO PhotoLab for demanding professional retouching.
- It has no cloud sync or mobile companion app, unlike Lightroom or Skylum products, so multi-device workflows are not supported.
- Buying into a small, quiet vendor carries real continuity risk; a perpetual licence protects existing files but does not guarantee the software will be updated for future camera models.
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
Exposure X
On request- Exposure X7$129/one-time
- Perpetual licence, no subscription
- Folder-based, non-database workflow
- Upgrade pricing of 89 USD for existing owners
- Exposure X7 Bundle$149/one-time
- Exposure X7 plus Snap Art and Blow Up plugins
- Upgrade pricing of 99 USD for existing owners
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 Exposure X if
- You need folder-based browsing.
- You work on Windows, macOS.
- You also want film emulation presets.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Exposure X or Facetune better?
- Neither clearly leads. Exposure X starts at On request and Facetune at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Exposure X or Facetune?
- Facetune has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Exposure X and Free for Facetune.
- Does Exposure X or Facetune run on more platforms?
- Exposure X runs on Windows, macOS. Facetune runs on iOS, Android.
- Can I use Facetune for free?
- Yes. Facetune has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Exposure X starts at On request.
- What is Exposure X best used for?
- Exposure X is most often used for a photographer who wants film-look presets built into the editor rather than buying third-party preset packs, someone who dislikes database-style photo catalogues and wants to work directly on files in folders, a buyer who wants a one-time purchase raw editor on both windows and mac without a subscription, a lightroom user adding exposure as an external editor specifically for its film emulation library. Of those, a photographer who wants film-look presets built into the editor rather than buying third-party preset packs and someone who dislikes database-style photo catalogues and wants to work directly on files in folders are not what Facetune is typically brought in for.
- What can Exposure X do that Facetune cannot?
- Exposure X covers Folder-based browsing, Film emulation presets, Non-destructive layers and masking, RAW processing. Facetune covers Skin and blemish retouching, Facial reshaping, Body contouring, Teeth whitening and eye enhancement.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Exposure X: Is Exposure X7 still being sold and supported?
Yes, it is on sale and technical support responds to tickets, but public updates and communication from the company have been sparse since 2022.
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.
Exposure X: Do I need to import my photos into a catalogue?
No, it browses and edits files directly from folders rather than requiring a database import.
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.
Exposure X: Is there a subscription option?
No, it is sold only as a perpetual one-time purchase.
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.
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