Capture One vs ART

Capture One9.0Visit ART3.0Visit

Higher score Capture One #3 in Photo Editing Software 9.0/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Capture One

vs

ART #63 in Photo Editing Software 3.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 6 features Visit ART

• Capture One fits best

  Professional RAW and tethered workflows

• ART fits best

  Free open-source technical workflows

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Side by side

Feature	Capture One 9.0/10 Visit ↗	ART 3.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	3.0
Ranking	#3 in Photo Editing Software	#63 in Photo Editing Software
Best for	Professional RAW and tethered workflows	Free open-source technical workflows
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	—	Free plan
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	7 days	—
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile, Cloud	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Tickets, Docs	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features Capture One 6/6 · ART 4/6
RAW photo support	✓	✓
Layer editing	✓	✓
Masking tools	✓	✓
Batch editing	✓	✓
Cloud sync	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
AI retouching	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Platform	Multi-platform	Multi-platform
Our review
Pros	Deep RAW conversion, layers, masks, and AI retouching Tethered capture with camera control for supported cameras Catalogs, Sessions, batch editing, and cloud synchronization	Non-destructive RAW editing with adjustment layers and masks Batch export, metadata tools, and broad format support Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux under GPLv3
Cons	No free plan Desktop Pro and Studio pricing is not shown here Mobile editing is available on iPhone and iPad	AI masking and denoising rely on external tools Technical workflows may be more than casual editors need Advanced color and format features require specialist knowledge
Our verdict	Capture One is photo editing software for professional photographers, studios, and image creators who need RAW processing, tethered capture, organized photo libraries, and non-destructive editing. Its desktop software runs on macOS and… Read the review →	ART is a free, open-source desktop photo editor for photographers who need detailed RAW processing across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its workflow also covers JPEG, PNG, and TIFF files, making it suitable for users who want one technical… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Capture One — where it wins

  • Deep RAW conversion, layers, masks, and AI retouching
  • Tethered capture with camera control for supported cameras
  • Catalogs, Sessions, batch editing, and cloud synchronization

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan
  • Desktop Pro and Studio pricing is not shown here
  • Mobile editing is available on iPhone and iPad

• ART — where it wins

  • Non-destructive RAW editing with adjustment layers and masks
  • Batch export, metadata tools, and broad format support
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux under GPLv3

  Where it doesn't

  • AI masking and denoising rely on external tools
  • Technical workflows may be more than casual editors need
  • Advanced color and format features require specialist knowledge

• Capture One9.0/10 · 7-day trial

  A deep choice for professional RAW and tethered workflows, without a free plan.

  Visit Capture OneFull verdict →
• ART3.0/10 · Free plan

  A technical, cross-platform RAW editor with layers, masks, batch export, and external AI integrations.

  Visit ARTFull verdict →