Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

gThumb VS Darktable

Compare gThumb VS Darktable and see what are their differences

gThumb logo gThumb

gThumb is an image viewer and browser for the GNOME Desktop. Features Image Viewer

Darktable logo Darktable

darktable is an open source photography workflow application and raw developer.
  • gThumb Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18
  • Darktable Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18

gThumb features and specs

  • User-friendly Interface
    gThumb provides an easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
  • Integration with GNOME
    As a GNOME application, gThumb integrates well with the GNOME desktop environment, offering a seamless experience.
  • Basic Editing Features
    It includes fundamental editing tools such as cropping, resizing, and color adjustments, which are sufficient for basic image editing tasks.
  • Batch Processing
    gThumb supports batch processing, allowing users to perform actions on multiple files at once, which is a significant time saver.
  • Organizational Tools
    The application offers good organizational capabilities, such as tagging, rating, and categorizing images, helping users manage large collections efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of gThumb

  • Limited Editing Capabilities
    While gThumb offers basic editing tools, it lacks advanced features found in more comprehensive image editors like GIMP or Photoshop.
  • Resource Usage
    gThumb may consume a considerable amount of system resources during certain operations, potentially slowing down older or less powerful systems.
  • Platform Limitations
    As a GNOME application, gThumb is primarily optimized for Linux environments, and its performance or functionality might not be as robust on other operating systems.
  • Lack of Professional Features
    The application might not meet the needs of professional photographers or advanced users who require more specialized tools and features.
  • Interface Customization
    Customization options for the interface are relatively limited compared to some other photo management and editing tools.

Darktable features and specs

  • Open Source
    Darktable is open-source software, meaning it's free to use and its source code is available for users to modify and improve. This can appeal to those who prefer community-driven projects.
  • Non-Destructive Editing
    The software ensures that the original image files are never altered. All edits are stored in a separate file, allowing users to revert to the original image at any time.
  • RAW Processing
    Darktable supports a wide range of RAW file formats from numerous camera manufacturers, offering high-quality RAW image editing capabilities.
  • Extensive Toolset
    Darktable offers a comprehensive set of tools for color correction, retouching, and other adjustments, comparable to other professional photo editing software.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, Darktable allows users to work on their preferred operating system without compatibility issues.
  • Active Community
    Darktable has an active community of users and developers who regularly contribute to forums, create tutorials, and develop plugins, providing robust support.

Possible disadvantages of Darktable

  • Learning Curve
    Darktable has a steep learning curve, which can be daunting for beginners who are not familiar with photo editing software.
  • Less Intuitive UI
    Compared to some commercial alternatives, Darktable's user interface is less intuitive, which may make it harder for new users to navigate and utilize all features efficiently.
  • Slower Performance
    Some users have reported that Darktable can be slower compared to other photo editing software, especially when working with very large files or complex edits.
  • Limited Integration
    Darktable does not integrate as seamlessly with other software in the Adobe ecosystem, which could be a drawback for those who rely on multiple Adobe products for their workflow.
  • Infrequent Updates
    Although the software is updated, it does not receive updates as frequently as some commercial alternatives, which can delay the release of new features or bug fixes.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there is a community and some documentation available, new users might find comprehensive guides and official tutorials lacking compared to more mainstream software.

Analysis of gThumb

Overall verdict

  • gThumb is a solid choice for users looking for an efficient, lightweight, and straightforward photo management and image viewing application. It effectively balances simplicity with functionality.

Why this product is good

  • gThumb is known for its simple and user-friendly interface, making photo management and image viewing accessible to a wide range of users. It offers a variety of features, such as image editing, organizing, and batch processing, which can be useful for both casual users and more advanced needs. Furthermore, its integration with GNOME environments enhances user experience for those using compatible operating systems.

Recommended for

    gThumb is highly recommended for users who need a reliable tool for managing photo collections and performing basic edits. It’s particularly suited for those using GNOME-based Linux distributions and anyone seeking a no-frills image viewer with additional editing capabilities.

gThumb videos

gThumb Overview

More videos:

  • Review - gthumb
  • Review - Gthumb : importation / élimination de doublons

Darktable videos

Free Lightroom Alternative: Darktable Review

More videos:

  • Review - darktable 3.0 How Good is it in comparison to other editing programs?
  • Review - Lightroom vs Darktable - the Key Difference ? 2019

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to gThumb and Darktable)
Image Editing
20 20%
80% 80
Photos & Graphics
31 31%
69% 69
Graphic Design Software
0 0%
100% 100
Photo Editing
26 26%
74% 74

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare gThumb and Darktable

gThumb Reviews

5 Best Linux Photo Management Software
gThumb is a lightweight photo management application built mainly for GNOME desktop environment. It includes all the basic photo management features as well as some editing and advance operations. Some of the main features of gThumb are:
Source: itsfoss.com

Darktable Reviews

Our 6 Favorite Free Photoshop Alternatives (2022 Update)
Darktable is a free, open-source photo editing software that is used by photographers and editors and is a wonderful alternative to the likes of Photoshop and Lightroom.
5 Best Linux Photo Management Software
Darktable is more of a photo editing application than an organizer. Darktable stands out for its own user interface regardless of the desktop environment you might be using, and of course for its editing capabilities. The basic features include:
Source: itsfoss.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Darktable seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 8 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

gThumb mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of gThumb yet. Tracking of gThumb recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Darktable mentions (8)

  • Photomator for Mac
    I'm pretty new to photography. I understand a lot of the basics (ex-wife shot as a professional hobbyist for a few years) but never really paid much attention to her editing workflow. Adobe already gets me for $20/mo for Illustrator (because designers) and I looked at alternatives. I've been using darktable http://darktable.org since I got my camera about a month ago and it's nice enough for me. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Nudibranch (Nembrotha cristata), Verde Island, Philippines, April 2023
    Thank you! The shot was gently edited in darktable. More TG-5 / single strobe examples here. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I've seen it with Adobe
    No, unfortunately not. But check out the free Darktable app which is similar on darktable.org and also this list https://petapixel.com/best-free-raw-editing-programs/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Exporting a RAW file. Is it possible without the format changing? If I export to another folder on my mac it becomes a .jpeg, to Lightroom it becomes a .jpg, to Photoshop it becomes a .tiff. I want to be able to edit the RAW file, a .dng in another app that is not Apple proprietary.
    It sounds like you might want non-destructive editing. Look at something like darktable.org or Lightroom. You can edit your RAW files in multiple different ways, i.e., effectively keeping multiple copies of edited RAW files around. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Software to edit and enhance Photos (JPG and RAW).
    If you're looking to learn more complicated software without having to rent it while you do, there's Darktable. Rawtherapee is another app in the same category, and usually appeals to people who don't like Darktable's interface. Source: about 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing gThumb and Darktable, you can also consider the following products

XnView MP - XnView is a free software that allows you to view, resize and edit your images. It supports more than 500 different formats!

GIMP - GIMP is a multiplatform photo manipulation tool.

FastStone Image Viewer - FastStone Image Viewer is a fast, stable, user-friendly image browser, converter and editor.

Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Photoshop is a webtop application for editing images and photos online.

IrfanView - IrfanView ... one of the most popular viewers worldwide.

Affinity Photo - Affinity is the imaging and design suite for creative professionals exclusively for Mac.