RawTherapee Crowned Best Free RAW Editor of 2024

On October 15, 2024, Amateur Photographer reviewed RawTherapee as the best free RAW editor. However, the well-known magazine didn’t shy away from pointing out some drawbacks alongside their praise. As a long-time RawTherapee user since its very first version, I was naturally curious to read their take on it.

What immediately caught my attention—after skimming through their reviews of other commercial software—was the language used. For paid programs, they highlighted advantages such as “powerful editing tools” and “excellent RAW processing.” But for RawTherapee, the phrase “many options for editing RAW” was quickly followed by criticism of its “overly complex interface.”

Now, it’s not like I’ve never struggled with RawTherapee myself—far from it! Even as a seasoned user, there are moments when I find myself scratching my head. After all, I’m not a professional editor, and I don’t use it daily. For some context, my very first RAW editor was Ufraw—a super simple tool with only the bare essentials. Compared to that, RawTherapee is certainly more complex, but calling it “too complicated” feels like a stretch.

This prompted me to dig deeper into Amateur Photographer’s critique of RawTherapee. I wanted to see how fair their comments were and to explore the criticisms they raised. So, what are the main points of contention with RawTherapee? Let’s break them down:

All quotes are written by Amateur Photographer :

“RawTherapee can be intimidating to novices, but it’s a powerful tool that’s 100% free.”

• Accurate, but partial.
  • While RawTherapee indeed has a steep learning curve due to its comprehensive feature set, the claim ignores the fact that the software provides a “basic” tab and customizable interfaces to ease newcomers into the workflow. Tutorials, documentation, and user forums are also freely available, mitigating the steepness of the learning curve.

“We’ve found that this free raw conversion software is not blessed with the most intuitive of interfaces.”

• Misleading.
  • While RawTherapee has a technical and feature-rich interface, calling it “not intuitive” is subjective. For users familiar with professional photo editors (like Lightroom or Capture One), the interface is logical and follows conventions typical of raw editors. The complexity stems from the vast number of options, which is a deliberate design choice to offer advanced control over image processing.

“Geeks will be in heaven; normies might feel a little overwhelmed.”

• Exaggerated.
  • This statement overly simplifies the audience for RawTherapee. Many amateur photographers (even those with limited technical expertise) successfully use the software to improve their images. The comment leans on unnecessary stereotyping and dismisses the adaptability of the average user with guidance.

“Bear in mind that updates for the software have slowed in recent years, with the last one coming in November 2022 – so if you have a newer camera, the software won’t have specific profiles for it.”

• Inaccurate.
  • While it is true that RawTherapee doesn’t receive updates as frequently as commercial software, its updates are still substantial. Additionally:
    • RawTherapee relies on libraw and dcraw libraries, which often get camera support independently of RawTherapee’s core updates.
    • Users can manually add camera profiles if needed, or use the extensive existing profiles for many cameras.
    • Other raw editors like Lightroom or Capture One also have gaps in support for very new or niche cameras; this issue isn’t unique to RawTherapee.
    • The most recent update wasn’t in 2022! In fact, there have been two updates in 2024 alone—one in February and another in August. If you take a closer look at the full list of updates (found at the very bottom), you’ll notice a consistent history of updates being released regularly since 2009.
    • My brand-new OM-1 Mark II, released in February 2024, initially lacked support for RAW file processing. However, that didn’t mean I couldn’t work with my RAW files. By converting them with Adobe RAW Converter, I could continue editing without much trouble. Within a few weeks, RawTherapee added support, so I only had to use this workaround for a short time.

“Tons of options for processing raws” (Pro).

• Accurate, but understated.
  • RawTherapee isn’t just rich in options—it competes head-to-head with high-end paid software. It features advanced demosaicing algorithms, tone mapping, LAB adjustments, and noise reduction options that some paid tools lack or implement less effectively. The software is favored by many professionals for its unparalleled customizability and precise color management.

“Slow pace of updates” (Con).

• Partially accurate but contextually unfair.
  • Open-source projects like RawTherapee rely on community contributions and volunteers, which naturally result in slower development compared to commercial software. However, the slower pace of updates does not indicate stagnation—the software has remained relevant due to its robust feature set and adaptability. Furthermore, it’s free, unlike subscription-based paid software that depends on frequent updates to justify cost.

No Mention of Integration or Workflow Compatibility

• The review omits a key strength: RawTherapee integrates well into broader workflows. It can be used in conjunction with software like GIMP or Adobe Photoshop for more extensive editing, making it a powerful, cost-effective addition to a photographer’s toolkit.

General Comparison to Paid Software

• The review fails to make a logical comparison with paid software:
  • RawTherapee offers features like batch processing, advanced tone curves, and sophisticated noise reduction algorithms comparable to Lightroom and Capture One.
  • Unlike many paid tools, it is cross-platform and compatible with Linux, giving it an edge for users outside the Windows/macOS ecosystem.

Conclusion :

If you’re a potential user—or perhaps already exploring RawTherapee—I hope you’re not discouraged by claims that it’s “too complicated.” The truth is, any photo-editing software comes with a learning curve, even commercial products. Fortunately, as I mentioned earlier, RawTherapee offers several “quick start” features that can help you achieve beautiful photo edits without needing much prior knowledge.

I also hope I’ve managed to counterbalance the less encouraging views expressed by Amateur Photographer.

In my opinion, RawTherapee deserves five stars, not the four given in that magazine review. It truly stands out as the best free raw editor of 2024—and likely will remain a top choice for years to come.

Article Update 22/11 – 15:30

Getting started with any new software can be a bit challenging, but there’s a simple trick to make it easier: add your most-used tools to the Favorites menu. You’ll find this menu on the right side, under the star icon.

To customize it, go to Preferences in the bottom left corner, then navigate to the Favorites tab. From there, you can select or deselect the tools you need. As you become more familiar with the software, you can update your favorites to include the tools you use most often. It’s a really handy way to streamline your workflow!

Even better: you can arrange them in order of most to least used, turning it into a tab that represents your entire workflow. To do this, go to the Favorites Panel on the right side, click on an item, and drag it up or down to reorder.

These are the tools I use the most at the top – the rest is a full workflow

Start with adding the basic tab : exposure, work your way up later by adding other tools. After opening a photo, always begin by switching the top-right dropdown menu from ‘Last Saved’ to ‘Neutral’. This ensures you’re starting with a clean slate, ready to make your adjustments!

Have Fun !

Links:

https://www.rawtherapee.com/