ON1 HDR vs HDRMerge

ON1 HDR8.0Visit HDRMerge6.6Visit

Higher score ON1 HDR #4 in HDR Software 8.0/10 30-day trial ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit ON1 HDR

vs

HDRMerge #10 in HDR Software 6.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit HDRMerge

• ON1 HDR fits best

  AI-assisted desktop HDR editing

• HDRMerge fits best

  Free RAW-to-DNG HDR merging

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	ON1 HDR 8.0/10 Visit ↗	HDRMerge 6.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.0	6.6
Ranking	#4 in HDR Software	#10 in HDR Software
Best for	AI-assisted desktop HDR editing	Free RAW-to-DNG HDR merging
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Docs	Community
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market	Solo, Small business
Features ON1 HDR 2/2 · HDRMerge 2/2
Batch processing	✓	✓
RAW file support	✓	✓
Specs
HDR merge mode	Both	Both
Tone mapping controls	Advanced	Not published
HDR output formats	PSD, TIF, JPG, PNG, HEIC	DNG 1.4
Supported platforms	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux
Maximum input images	Not published	Not published
Our review
Pros	Merges bracketed exposures or creates HDR looks from a single RAW photo Automatic alignment, ghost removal, motion control, and batch processing AI masking, layers, advanced tone mapping, and RAW support for over 800 cameras	Free and open source on Windows, macOS, and Linux Graphical ghost-removal masks and automatic small-translation alignment Command-line batch processing with 16-, 24-, and 32-bit output
Cons	No free plan is available Runs on Windows and macOS rather than mobile platforms Photo RAW MAX may be broader than needed for HDR-only workflows	Output is centered on DNG 1.4 Automatic alignment handles small image translations Best suited to users with a compatible RAW or HDR editor
Our verdict	ON1 HDR is desktop photo-editing software for photographers who merge exposure brackets or create HDR looks from single RAW images. It suits landscape, architecture, real-estate, hobbyist, and professional photography workflows. The… Read the review →	HDRMerge is desktop software for photographers who want to combine multiple camera RAW exposures into one high-dynamic-range RAW image. It merges exposure-bracketed RAW files, supports certain single RAW files containing multiple bracketed… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• ON1 HDR — where it wins

  • Merges bracketed exposures or creates HDR looks from a single RAW photo
  • Automatic alignment, ghost removal, motion control, and batch processing
  • AI masking, layers, advanced tone mapping, and RAW support for over 800 cameras

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan is available
  • Runs on Windows and macOS rather than mobile platforms
  • Photo RAW MAX may be broader than needed for HDR-only workflows

• HDRMerge — where it wins

  • Free and open source on Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Graphical ghost-removal masks and automatic small-translation alignment
  • Command-line batch processing with 16-, 24-, and 32-bit output

  Where it doesn't

  • Output is centered on DNG 1.4
  • Automatic alignment handles small image translations
  • Best suited to users with a compatible RAW or HDR editor

• ON1 HDR8.0/10 · 30-day trial

  A focused HDR editor with AI masking, batch processing, and RAW support for over 800 cameras.

  Visit ON1 HDRFull verdict →
• HDRMerge6.6/10 · Free plan

  A free, open-source tool for merging bracketed RAW exposures into floating-point DNG.

  Visit HDRMergeFull verdict →