Capture One alternatives

Top Photo Editing like Capture One

Updated Oct 12, 2026

The most popular alternative to Capture One is Adobe Lightroom, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Capture One are darktable, Luminar Neo, RawTherapee, and Adobe Photoshop.

Most alternatives to Capture One are in the Photo Editing category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Capture One alternatives

All Free Open source

7 apps

Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom is a non-destructive photo editor and organizer for processing RAW files, adjusting color and light, and managing large libraries with ratings, keywords and AI-based search. The cloud-based Lightroom syncs edits across desktop, web and mobile, while Lightroom Classic keeps catalogs on the local disk. Presets, masking and AI removal tools serve both enthusiasts and professionals.
9 Adobe Lightroom alternatives
Pros
Non-destructive RAW editing with powerful masking
Library tools with ratings, keywords and AI search
The cloud version syncs edits across desktop, web and mobile
Cons
Subscription only, with no perpetual license
Choosing between Lightroom and Lightroom Classic can be confusing
Cloud storage adds to the cost for large libraries
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
Photo Editing
Platforms
Web Windows Mac iPhone Android
Features
Color grading Cross-device sync Non-destructive editing Photo library management RAW photo editing
Visit website More about Adobe Lightroom
darktable
13.3Kstars
darktable is a free, open source photography workflow application that acts as a virtual light table and darkroom for RAW files. It offers non-destructive editing with a scene-referred pipeline, parametric and drawn masks, color calibration tools, tethered shooting and a tagged image library. It runs on Linux, Windows and macOS and suits photographers who want advanced RAW processing without a subscription.
6 darktable alternatives
Pros
Free, open source RAW processing with no subscription
Scene-referred pipeline with advanced masks and color calibration
Runs on Linux, Windows and macOS, with tethered shooting
Cons
Steep learning curve and a dense interface
No mobile apps or cloud sync
Cost / License
FreeOpen source
Categories
Photo Editing
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Color grading Non-destructive editing Photo library management RAW photo editing
Visit website More about darktable
Luminar Neo
Luminar Neo is a photo editor from Skylum that relies on AI tools to simplify complex edits such as sky replacement, portrait retouching, relighting and object removal. It works as a standalone app on Windows and macOS or as a plugin for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, with extensions for upscaling, background removal and noise reduction. It targets photographers who prefer fast results to manual masking.
7 Luminar Neo alternatives
Pros
AI tools make sky replacement and relighting quick
Works standalone or as a plugin for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop
Portrait retouching and object removal with little manual work
Cons
Some tools come as extensions on top of the base app
Can feel slow with large photo libraries
AI results can look artificial without careful tuning
Cost / License
Free trialProprietary
Categories
Photo Editing
Platforms
Windows Mac
Features
Background removal Layers Photo enhancement RAW photo editing Upscaling
Visit website More about Luminar Neo
RawTherapee
4.2Kstars
RawTherapee is a free, open source program for developing RAW photos on Windows, macOS and Linux. It focuses on image quality, with several demosaicing algorithms, advanced noise reduction, color management and detailed tone and color tools, all applied non-destructively through processing profiles. It includes a file browser and batch queue but no catalog, so it suits photographers who organize files themselves.
6 RawTherapee alternatives
Pros
Free, open source RAW development with fine-grained controls
Several demosaicing algorithms and advanced noise reduction
Batch queue and processing profiles for consistent results
Cons
No catalog or library management
Technical interface with a steep learning curve
Cost / License
FreeOpen source
Categories
Photo Editing
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Color grading Non-destructive editing RAW photo editing
Visit website More about RawTherapee
Adobe Photoshop
4.5(94.4K) · App Store
Adobe Photoshop is a professional image editor used for retouching, compositing, graphic design and digital painting. It combines layers, masks, adjustment layers, Camera Raw processing and a large plugin ecosystem with Firefly-powered tools such as Generative Fill and object removal. It runs on Windows and macOS, with web, iPad and iPhone versions that sync through Creative Cloud.
12 Adobe Photoshop alternatives
Pros
Industry standard for retouching and compositing
Generative Fill and object removal powered by Firefly
Vast ecosystem of plugins and tutorials
Cons
Subscription only, which adds up over time
Steep learning curve for beginners
Demanding on hardware with large files
Cost / License
Free trialProprietary
Categories
Photo Editing Graphic Design
Platforms
Web Windows Mac iPhone
Features
Background removal Digital painting Image generation Layers Plugins & extensions RAW photo editing
Visit website More about Adobe Photoshop
Affinity
Affinity is a professional creative app from Canva that merges the former Affinity Designer, Photo and Publisher into one program with vector, pixel and layout workspaces. It is free to download for Windows and macOS, while its optional Canva AI tools require a paid Canva plan. It suits designers who want an alternative to Adobe subscriptions and can import PSD, PDF and IDML files.
12 Affinity alternatives
Pros
Free download combining vector, pixel and layout workspaces in one app
Imports PSD, PDF and IDML files from Adobe workflows
Professional tools without a mandatory subscription
Cons
Canva AI tools require a paid Canva plan
Smaller plugin and training ecosystem than Adobe’s
Imported Adobe files can need manual adjustments
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
Graphic Design Photo Editing
Platforms
Windows Mac
Features
Digital painting Layers Non-destructive editing RAW photo editing Vector editing
Visit website More about Affinity
Pixelmator Pro
4.4(561) · Mac App Store
Pixelmator Pro is an image editor designed for macOS that brings photo editing, retouching, illustration and graphic design into one app. It offers non-destructive layer-based editing, RAW processing and machine learning tools for upscaling, denoising, background removal and automatic enhancement. Pixelmator was acquired by Apple in 2024, and the app is sold on the Mac App Store.
9 Pixelmator Pro alternatives
Pros
Native Mac design with a clean interface
Machine learning tools for upscaling, denoising and background removal
Combines photo editing, painting and vector design
Cons
No version for Windows or Linux
Fewer plugins and pro integrations than Photoshop
Cost / License
PaidProprietary
Categories
Photo Editing
Platforms
Mac
Features
Background removal Layers Non-destructive editing RAW photo editing Upscaling Vector editing
Visit website More about Pixelmator Pro

Capture One vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Capture One, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Capture One vs its alternatives at a glance
App	Pricing	Platforms
Capture One	Free trial	Windows, Mac, iPhone
Adobe Lightroom	Freemium	Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android
darktable	FreeOpen source	Windows, Mac, Linux
Luminar Neo	Free trial	Windows, Mac
RawTherapee	FreeOpen source	Windows, Mac, Linux
Adobe Photoshop	Free trial	Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone

Capture One alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Capture One?

The most popular alternative to Capture One is Adobe Lightroom: Photo editing and library management for photographers, on desktop and mobile. Other great alternatives are darktable, Luminar Neo, RawTherapee, and Adobe Photoshop.