darktable vs DxO PhotoLab
darktable scores 7.3 to DxO PhotoLab's 4.7 among the raw photo editors we rate, and is the better pick for 4 of the 4 kinds of buyer below.
darktable wins, 7.3 to 4.7
darktable costs nothing and is open source, while DxO PhotoLab sells one-time licences, an Essential edition and a pricier Elite edition. darktable can shoot tethered to a computer and merge bracketed exposures into HDR. DxO PhotoLab answers with automatic removal of sensor dust, and Virtual Copies with a full history for going back to earlier edits. Both keep you off a subscription, but darktable asks nothing at all to get started.
Pick darktable if you want tethered shooting and HDR merging for free.
Pick DxO PhotoLab if you want automatic sensor dust removal and virtual copies.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- Shoots tethered to the computer: darktable yes, DxO PhotoLab no
- Merges HDR or panoramas: darktable yes, DxO PhotoLab no
- AI upscaling: darktable yes, DxO PhotoLab no
- But DxO PhotoLab leads on removes an object by itself: DxO PhotoLab yes, darktable no
- Third-party plugins: darktable yes, DxO PhotoLab no
- Developer or scripting API: darktable yes, DxO PhotoLab no
- Free plan: darktable yes, DxO PhotoLab no
- Source published under an open licence: darktable yes, DxO PhotoLab no
- But DxO PhotoLab leads on ways to reach support: 4 support channels against 2 support channels
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other raw photo editors we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. darktable leads on 4 of 4 criteria.
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Published by only one of them
Where they match (5)
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
darktable
DxO PhotoLab
For everything else about each tool, read the full darktable review and DxO PhotoLab review.
darktable vs DxO PhotoLab: common questions
Which is better, darktable or DxO PhotoLab?
darktable scores 7.3 and DxO PhotoLab 4.7 out of 10 among the raw photo editors we rate. darktable is ahead on what it adds beyond the basics, workflow and sharing, pricing and privacy and trust.
Is darktable or DxO PhotoLab cheaper?
darktable's cheapest paid plan is Free and DxO PhotoLab's is $159.99 one-time (Essential). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
Do darktable and DxO PhotoLab have a free plan?
darktable does and DxO PhotoLab does not.
What can darktable do that DxO PhotoLab cannot?
What can DxO PhotoLab do that darktable cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: removes an object by itself.
