darktable or RawTherapee?

darktable if you want the Lightroom-shaped workflow (the published path). RawTherapee if you want that processor. Pick one catalog on day one.

Immich is a phone camera roll (/replace/google-photos). Lightroom is a RAW editor. darktable is that job.

GIMP is general raster (/replace/photoshop). This page is RAW photography.

Stacks / Docs

Easy

darktable / RawTherapee

RAW photography on the workstation. darktable is GPL-3.0; RawTherapee is GPL-3.0 — Adobe Lightroom without the Creative Cloud seat.

The problem

Adobe Lightroom is a Creative Cloud catalog and RAW editor. You wanted a non-destructive editor on a machine you control. darktable is GPL-3.0 (photography workflow and RAW developer). RawTherapee is GPL-3.0 if you want that processor. This is a workstation install, not a Railway web app. Immich stays the camera-roll backup (/replace/google-photos). GIMP stays general raster (/replace/photoshop). This is not Lightroom's every cloud sync, Sensei mask, or mobile companion SKU.

Replaces

Adobe Lightroom

Replace Adobe Lightroom See all best open-source creative tools

Estimated SaaS saved

$1,200

per year, small team, before lock-in

Start on Railway

Immich if this is a camera-roll backup, not a RAW editor

Sponsor this stack Tip jar

This is a workstation install, not a hosted app. Start on Railway only if you also want a photo library — that stack is /stacks/immich-photos. No one-click desktop template in this repo.

The stack

darktable
GPL-3.0 photography workflow and RAW developer
Catalog entry →
RawTherapee
GPL-3.0 raw photo processor if darktable is not the shape
Catalog entry →

Cost table

You stop paying	Typical / year	Self-host instead
Adobe Lightroom (Creative Cloud, one seat)	$1,200	darktable or RawTherapee on the workstation

Agent setup prompt

Replace Adobe Lightroom with darktable (preferred workflow) or RawTherapee.

- Install on the workstation from the official site. Open one RAW you still have. Do not claim Lightroom cloud sync or every Sensei mask.
- A camera-roll backup is /stacks/immich-photos. General raster is /stacks/gimp-photo. Write AGENT_PROMPT.md.

Also as markdown: /stacks/darktable-photos.md

FAQ

darktable or RawTherapee?: darktable if you want the Lightroom-shaped workflow (the published path). RawTherapee if you want that processor. Pick one catalog on day one.
Why not Immich?: Immich is a phone camera roll (/replace/google-photos). Lightroom is a RAW editor. darktable is that job.
Why not GIMP?: GIMP is general raster (/replace/photoshop). This page is RAW photography.