Zoner Photo Studio X vs RawTherapee

Zoner Photo Studio X8.4Visit RRawTherapee7.9Visit

Higher score Zoner Photo Studio X #8 in Photo Editing Software 8.4/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Zoner

vs

R RawTherapee #12 in Photo Editing Software 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 6 features Visit RawTherapee

• Zoner Photo Studio X fits best

  Windows photo management and editing

• RawTherapee fits best

  Free open-source RAW development

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Side by side

Feature	Zoner Photo Studio X 8.4/10 Visit ↗	RRawTherapee 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.4	7.9
Ranking	#8 in Photo Editing Software	#12 in Photo Editing Software
Best for	Windows photo management and editing	Free open-source RAW development
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	$59/yr	Free plan
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	7 days	—
Deployment	Desktop, Cloud	Desktop
Platforms	Windows	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Email, Phone, Live chat, Docs	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Zoner Photo Studio X 6/6 · RawTherapee 3/6
RAW photo support	✓	✓
Layer editing	✓ (best)	—
Masking tools	✓	✓
Batch editing	✓	✓
Cloud sync	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
AI retouching	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Platform	Desktop	Desktop
Our review
Pros	Combines RAW editing, layers, masks, and local adjustments Batch tools and organization support large photo libraries Includes AI enhancement, video editing, and cloud services	Supports most RAW formats plus HDR DNG, JPEG, TIFF, and PNG Non-destructive sidecar editing with masking and local adjustments Batch processing, queued exports, and command-line automation
Cons	Available only for Windows Requires a paid plan after the seven-day trial Monthly access costs more over time than annual billing	Desktop application only, with no mobile platform listed Does not provide layer-based editing GIMP is the listed integration
Our verdict	Zoner Photo Studio X is Windows software for importing, organizing, editing, sharing, printing, and managing photos and videos. It is aimed at photographers from beginners to experienced users who want one desktop application for library… Read the review →	RawTherapee is free, GPLv3-licensed desktop software for developing and processing RAW photographs. It is aimed at enthusiast and professional photographers who want detailed control over camera files across Linux, macOS, and Windows.… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Zoner Photo Studio X — where it wins

  • Combines RAW editing, layers, masks, and local adjustments
  • Batch tools and organization support large photo libraries
  • Includes AI enhancement, video editing, and cloud services

  Where it doesn't

  • Available only for Windows
  • Requires a paid plan after the seven-day trial
  • Monthly access costs more over time than annual billing

• RawTherapee — where it wins

  • Supports most RAW formats plus HDR DNG, JPEG, TIFF, and PNG
  • Non-destructive sidecar editing with masking and local adjustments
  • Batch processing, queued exports, and command-line automation

  Where it doesn't

  • Desktop application only, with no mobile platform listed
  • Does not provide layer-based editing
  • GIMP is the listed integration

• Zoner Photo Studio X8.4/10 · 7-day trial

  A broad Windows editor for photographers who want organization, advanced editing, and cloud services.

  Visit ZonerFull verdict →
• RRawTherapee7.9/10 · Free plan

  A capable free RAW workflow with masking, batch tools, and non-destructive editing.

  Visit RawTherapeeFull verdict →