RawTherapee
FreeRawTherapee is a free, open source raw photo developer for Windows, macOS and Linux with detailed colour and tone controls.
About RawTherapee
RawTherapee is a free raw image processing program released under the GPL. It develops raw files from a wide range of digital cameras and gives you fine control over exposure, tone curves, colour, noise reduction, sharpening and lens corrections without altering the original file.
Its developers describe it as aimed at everyone from newcomers who want to understand how digital imaging works to experienced photographers. It is more technical than many commercial editors, and it exposes many options that others hide, such as colour management profiles and advanced tone mapping.
Version 5.13 notes describe improvements to the Gamut Compression tool, the Abstract Profile tool in Color Management and the Color Appearance and Lighting tool, which gives a sense of the project's focus on colour science. There is no cost, no account and no subscription, and development is volunteer driven. It is a good fit for photographers who want a no-cost alternative to commercial raw developers and are willing to spend time learning a dense interface.
Powerful but dense. Start with the default processing profiles and add tools gradually.
Version history
1 release tracked- Windows: Gamut Compression tool enhancements
- Abstract Profile tool gains highlight attenuation and custom primaries
- Color Appearance and Lighting tool improvements
Frequently asked
Is RawTherapee free?
Yes. It is free software released under the GPL-3.0 licence.
Does it need an account?
No. It is a desktop program that works with local files.
Which platforms are supported?
Windows, macOS and Linux.
Where does the download link go?
Directly to rawtherapee.com or the official app store for your platform. PlanetSofts never rehosts installers or adds wrappers, and these links were last verified Oct 6, 2026.