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Photography · head to head

RawTherapee vs ShootProof

RawTherapee logo

RawTherapee

Photography

Open source raw developer with selectable demosaicing algorithms and floating point processing

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: RawTherapee there is no catalogue, only a folder browser, so any library management, keywording or search has to happen in a separate application.; 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: RawTherapee covers Selectable demosaicing, ShootProof covers Proofing galleries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which RawTherapee and ShootProof actually diverge.

Attributes where RawTherapee and ShootProof differ
AttributeRawTherapeeShootProof
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer month by photo count
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOSWeb, 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 RawTherapee

  • Selectable demosaicing
  • Floating point pipeline
  • Local adjustments
  • Wavelet levels
  • Processing profiles
  • Colour management

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.

RawTherapee

  • Difficult raw files where the demosaicing algorithm visibly changes the result, such as fine fabric, foliage or architectural detailnot ShootProof
  • Archive and restoration work where a free tool with strict colour management is preferable to a subscriptionnot ShootProof
  • Photographers who want to understand and control each processing stage rather than accept a vendor renderingnot ShootProof
  • Producing a high quality sixteen bit TIFF to hand to GIMP or another editor for compositingnot ShootProof

ShootProof

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

Where each one falls short

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

RawTherapee

  • There is no catalogue, only a folder browser, so any library management, keywording or search has to happen in a separate application.
  • The default rendering is deliberately neutral and looks flat next to the camera JPEG, which means every user has to build their own processing profiles before the tool is pleasant to use.
  • Support for new camera models and for Fujifilm X-Trans sensors arrives later than in commercial converters because it depends on volunteer work and upstream library updates.
  • The interface presents several hundred controls across many tabs with little guidance about which ones interact, and the learning curve is measured in weeks rather than hours.
  • Batch export is slow compared with commercial converters and there is no GPU acceleration, so processing a large wedding shoot ties up the machine for a long time.

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

RawTherapee

Free
  • RawTherapeeFree
    • GPL licensed with no seat limit
    • All processing features included
    • Documentation and support through RawPedia and the community forum

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 RawTherapee if

  • You need selectable demosaicing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want floating point pipeline.
RawTherapee 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 RawTherapee or ShootProof better?
Neither clearly leads. RawTherapee starts at Free and ShootProof at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, RawTherapee or ShootProof?
RawTherapee starts at Free and ShootProof at Free.
Does RawTherapee or ShootProof run on more platforms?
RawTherapee runs on Linux, Windows, macOS. ShootProof runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use RawTherapee for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is RawTherapee best used for?
RawTherapee is most often used for difficult raw files where the demosaicing algorithm visibly changes the result, such as fine fabric, foliage or architectural detail, archive and restoration work where a free tool with strict colour management is preferable to a subscription, photographers who want to understand and control each processing stage rather than accept a vendor rendering, producing a high quality sixteen bit tiff to hand to gimp or another editor for compositing. Of those, difficult raw files where the demosaicing algorithm visibly changes the result, such as fine fabric, foliage or architectural detail and archive and restoration work where a free tool with strict colour management is preferable to a subscription are not what ShootProof is typically brought in for.
What can RawTherapee do that ShootProof cannot?
RawTherapee covers Selectable demosaicing, Floating point pipeline, Local adjustments, Wavelet levels. ShootProof covers Proofing galleries, Print store, Zero sales commission, Contracts and invoices.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

RawTherapee: Does RawTherapee support Fujifilm X-Trans files?

Yes, but support arrived later than in commercial converters and results on fine detail still trail Capture One and Adobe on some bodies.

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.

RawTherapee: Can it replace Lightroom entirely?

It replaces the develop side. It does not replace the catalogue, so you will need digiKam, darktable or something similar alongside it.

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.

RawTherapee: Are my edits stored in the raw file?

No. Edits are written to sidecar profile files next to the raw, so originals are untouched and profiles can be copied between images.

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.

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