RawTherapee

RawTherapee is a free and open-source desktop application for developing RAW photographs. The project began in 2004, when Gabor Horvath started experimenting with digital camera RAW data and image-processing algorithms.

The software uses a non-destructive workflow. It stores editing instructions in processing profiles rather than changing the original image file. RawTherapee targets photographers who need detailed control over demosaicing, color, exposure, sharpening and export.

Version 5.13 was released on July 26, 2026. Official builds are available for Windows, macOS and Linux, including x86_64 and ARM64 packages for supported systems.

RawTherapee includes a floating-point processing engine, advanced demosaicing, color-management tools, exposure controls and detail enhancement. It supports RAW files from many digital cameras and can use LibRaw alongside its enhanced dcraw-based reader.

The application includes a file browser, processing queue, batch adjustments, sidecar processing profiles, metadata handling, lens corrections and export tools. The command-line utility supports scripted and batch conversion to formats such as JPEG, TIFF and PNG.

Recent releases add improved gamut compression, selective editing, denoising, sharpening, crop guides, HiDPI support and ARM performance improvements. Feature availability can depend on the installed build, camera format and supporting libraries.

RawTherapee is distributed at no cost under the GNU General Public License version 3. There are no published subscription tiers, paid editions or commercial trial plans on the official website.

The complete desktop application is downloadable from the project website. Users may also obtain source code and build the software themselves under the license terms.

Pros

• Free to use and released as open-source software under GPLv3.
• Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
• Provides detailed control over RAW decoding, demosaicing and color processing.
• Supports non-destructive editing through processing profiles.
• Includes batch workflows and a command-line conversion utility.

Cons

• The large number of controls creates a steeper learning curve.
• It is primarily a RAW development tool, not a complete layer-based compositing application.
• It does not provide a web application or mobile edition.
• No public REST API or developer SDK is documented in the official materials reviewed.
• Camera support can vary between releases and package builds.

Darktable is a closely related open-source RAW workflow application with desktop versions for major operating systems. ART, or Another RawTherapee, is a RawTherapee-derived project with a different interface and additional workflow choices.

Commercial alternatives include Adobe Lightroom Classic, Capture One and DxO PhotoLab. These products generally provide broader cataloging, ecosystem or support services, but use paid licensing models.

Is RawTherapee free?

Yes. RawTherapee is free and open-source software distributed under GPLv3.

Which platforms support RawTherapee?

Official downloads support Windows, macOS and Linux. Current releases include x86_64 and ARM64 builds for Windows and Linux, with macOS builds for Intel and Apple Silicon requirements stated by release.

Does RawTherapee edit JPEG files?

Yes. RawTherapee can process non-RAW images as well as camera RAW files, although its workflow is mainly designed for RAW development.

Does RawTherapee have an API?

No public web API or SDK is documented in the official materials reviewed. RawTherapee does provide a command-line interface for scripted and batch image conversion.

Does RawTherapee offer a free trial?

A separate trial is not needed because the full desktop software is available without charge.

Can RawTherapee work with other applications?

The documentation includes an external-editor workflow and a GIMP plugin reference. It also works with supporting technologies such as ICC profiles, Lensfun and LibRaw.