Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

RawTherapee VS Adobe Photoshop

Compare RawTherapee VS Adobe Photoshop and see what are their differences

RawTherapee logo RawTherapee

RawTherapee is a free RAW converter and digital photo processing software.

Adobe Photoshop logo Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a webtop application for editing images and photos online.
  • RawTherapee Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-18
  • Adobe Photoshop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-15

RawTherapee features and specs

  • Open-source
    RawTherapee is free to download and use. Its source code is openly available, which encourages community involvement in development and improvement.
  • Advanced Color Correction
    It offers a wide range of color correction tools, making it easier to fine-tune the colors in your images precisely to your liking.
  • Non-destructive Editing
    All edits in RawTherapee are non-destructive, meaning the original image file is not altered and changes can be undone at any point.
  • High-Quality Output
    RawTherapee supports high bit-depth processing and provides high-quality output, which is essential for professional-grade photo editing.
  • Batch Processing
    The software allows users to process multiple images at once, significantly speeding up workflows when dealing with large volumes of photos.
  • Comprehensive Format Support
    RawTherapee supports a wide variety of raw formats from different camera manufacturers, as well as common file types like JPEG and PNG.

Possible disadvantages of RawTherapee

  • Steep Learning Curve
    RawTherapee can be quite complex for beginners due to its extensive range of tools and settings, requiring a significant amount of time to master.
  • No Local Adjustment Tools
    The software lacks local adjustment tools, which means you can't apply edits to specific areas of an image without affecting the whole picture.
  • Performance
    Depending on the system's hardware, RawTherapee can be resource-intensive and may experience slow performance, especially when handling large files.
  • Limited Integration
    RawTherapee does not have extensive integration with other software, unlike some other photo editors that offer easy workflows with programs like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom.
  • User Interface
    The user interface might feel less intuitive and more cluttered compared to other photo editing software, potentially impacting user experience.

Adobe Photoshop features and specs

  • Comprehensive Editing Tools
    Adobe Photoshop offers an extensive range of tools and features for image manipulation, including layers, masks, retouching capabilities, and more. This makes it suitable for everything from basic photo editing to complex digital art creation.
  • Professional-Grade Quality
    Widely used by professional photographers, designers, and artists, Photoshop delivers high-quality results that meet industry standards for various creative projects.
  • Regular Updates
    Adobe frequently updates Photoshop with new features, improvements, and bug fixes, ensuring that users have access to the latest tools and technologies.
  • Extensive Plugin Support
    Photoshop supports a variety of third-party plugins, which can enhance its functionality and provide additional specialized tools for different creative needs.
  • Integration with Adobe Ecosystem
    Seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications like Illustrator, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro allows for a smooth and efficient workflow across multiple creative tasks.

Possible disadvantages of Adobe Photoshop

  • High Cost
    Adobe Photoshop is relatively expensive, especially for individual users and small businesses. The subscription-based pricing model can be a significant financial commitment over time.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The software's vast array of tools and features can be overwhelming for beginners. It often requires a substantial amount of time and effort to learn how to use Photoshop effectively.
  • Resource Intensive
    Photoshop can be demanding on computer resources, requiring a powerful machine with ample RAM and storage to run smoothly, especially when working with large files or complex projects.
  • Subscription Model
    The move to a subscription-only model (Creative Cloud) forces users to pay continuously for access to the software, which can be a drawback for those who prefer one-time purchases.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Despite regular updates, users may still encounter bugs or issues that can disrupt workflow. Some updates may introduce new bugs that need to be addressed.

Analysis of RawTherapee

Overall verdict

  • Overall, RawTherapee is highly regarded in the photography community for its versatility and depth of features, making it a solid choice for those looking for a capable RAW processing software.

Why this product is good

  • RawTherapee is considered good for its comprehensive set of features that cater to both amateur and professional photographers. It offers a robust non-destructive editing environment, extensive RAW format support, and a vast array of adjustment tools for color correction, exposure, and detail enhancement. Additionally, it is open-source and available for free, making it accessible to a broad audience. Its compatibility across different operating systems further adds to its appeal.

Recommended for

    RawTherapee is recommended for photographers who need advanced RAW file editing capabilities. It's particularly suitable for those who are looking for a free, open-source alternative to commercial software. It’s a great tool for users who appreciate detailed image adjustments and want to have more control over the editing process.

Analysis of Adobe Photoshop

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Adobe Photoshop is generally regarded as a top-tier digital imaging software due to its comprehensive toolset and high level of precision. It is suitable for both beginners, who can benefit from tutorials and community support, and experienced users, who can take full advantage of its advanced features.

Why this product is good

  • Adobe Photoshop is considered one of the most powerful and versatile graphic design software available. It offers a wide range of tools and features for photo editing, graphic design, and digital art creation. Professionals appreciate its robust capabilities, extensive functionality, and regular updates that introduce new features and improvements. Its large user community also means there is a wealth of tutorials and resources available.

Recommended for

    Adobe Photoshop is recommended for photographers, graphic designers, digital artists, and anyone in need of advanced image manipulation capabilities. It is suitable for both professional projects and personal use, though its complexity and subscription model may not be ideal for casual users or those looking for a simple photo editing tool.

RawTherapee videos

RawTherapee: Another Totally Free Lightroom Alternative

More videos:

  • Review - DarkTable vs Rawtherapee (Show of Strength)
  • Review - Rawtherapee VS Darktable How Do They Compare

Adobe Photoshop videos

Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 NEW Features!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to RawTherapee and Adobe Photoshop)
Image Editing
11 11%
89% 89
Graphic Design Software
10 10%
90% 90
Digital Drawing And Painting
Photo Editing
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare RawTherapee and Adobe Photoshop

RawTherapee Reviews

We have no reviews of RawTherapee yet.
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Adobe Photoshop Reviews

  1. Sophie wesson
    · Working at Clipping path specialist ·
    Best photo editing software

    Many companies use this software for editing photos.

    👍 Pros:    Trusted|Affordable price|Easy to use
    👎 Cons:    Nothing
  2. Clipping Path Universe
    · Photo editing expert at Clipping Path Universe ·
    Clipping Path universe

    I use this for our company work and this works perfectly for image editing process.

    🏁 Competitors: GIMP
    👍 Pros:    Trusted|Tools integrations
    👎 Cons:    Price|Excellent support

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, RawTherapee seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 32 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.

RawTherapee mentions (32)

  • I have Sony a7iv. I am shooting Slog and trying color grading
    I haven't used either of these personally but darktable and Raw Therapee are two open-source options that seem to get recommended a lot. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Photography Tips and Tricks?
    Some closing links to edit images, just because I dislike Adobe as a company :P. Https://krita.org/en/ - a great and free image editing tool, focused on painting but very much funtional in many ways you would also find in Photoshop. Https://www.photopea.com/ - an online alternative of Photoshop. Https://www.darktable.org/ - A free lightroom alternative to edit raw photos with. Http://rawtherapee.com/ - Dito for... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Mint Is Amazing - I have a couple of questions.
    Is GIMP not an option? Raw Therapee? Darktable? Source: about 2 years ago
  • What software is so good you can’t believe it’s free?
    Darktable and RawTherapee for editing raw photos. Source: about 2 years ago
  • software for photo cataloging and raw+jpeg keeping/best .rar .nef viewer for windows
    I use digikam to organise my photos and rawtherapee to edit. Both free and open source, more than enough capability for non-pro use. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Adobe Photoshop mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing RawTherapee and Adobe Photoshop, you can also consider the following products

Darktable - darktable is an open source photography workflow application and raw developer.

GIMP - GIMP is a multiplatform photo manipulation tool.

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

digiKam - Professional Photo Management with the Power of Open Source

Krita - Krita is a professional FREE and open source painting program. It is made by artists that want to seaffordable art tools for everyone. Concept art. texture and matte painters, illustrations and comics.

Canva - Canva is a graphic-design platform with a drag-and-drop interface to create print or visual content while providing templates, images, and fonts. Canva makes graphic design more straightforward and accessible regardless of skill level.