Capture One
Capture One: A deep choice for professional RAW and tethered workflows, without a free plan. Ranked #3 of 158 in Photo Editing Software by our editors (9.0/10); pricing: 7-day trial; best for professional RAW and tethered workflows.
At a glance
- Editor score9.0 / 10
- Pricing7-day trial
- Best forProfessional RAW and tethered workflows
- Free planNo
- PlatformMulti-platform
- Founded1994 · Copenhagen, Denmark
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
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
Our verdict on Capture One
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 Windows, while Capture One Mobile provides editing and tethering on iPhone and iPad. A seven-day free trial is available, but there is no free plan, making it a paid product from the outset.
Its strongest fit is a workflow that combines capture, selection, correction, and delivery. Capture One supports RAW conversion for formats including CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, and RAF, with layer-based editing of up to 16 layers per image. Brush, gradient, healing, cloning, and AI masks cover detailed adjustments, while AI features support subject, background, people, clothes, selection, eraser, and face retouching tasks. Batch application of AI masks and adjustments can help photographers handle multiple images consistently.
The ecosystem supports Adobe Photoshop, Helicon Focus, Photoroom, and Adobe Lightroom Classic through round-trip or connected workflows. Catalogs, Sessions, ratings, color tags, and keywords provide several ways to organize work, while synchronization covers export recipes, shortcuts, workspaces, styles, and presets. The Mobile plan includes iPhone and iPad editing, RAW conversion, tethering, and continuous updates; All in One adds Capture One Pro for desktop, Capture One Mobile, Capture One Live Unlimited, and priority support. Choose Capture One for advanced RAW, tethered, and studio-oriented work. Choose an alternative if you need a free plan or a simpler editing tool.
Your product? Our editors can test Capture One in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Capture One pricing
All 5 Capture One plans and prices →
Capture One fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Platform | Multi-platform |
| RAW photo support | Yes |
| Layer editing | Yes |
| Masking tools | Yes |
| Batch editing | Yes |
| Cloud sync | Yes |
| AI retouching | Yes |
| Free trial | 7 days |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile, Cloud |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS |
| Support | Tickets, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | 7-day trial (source) |
| Website | captureone.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Capture One
- Adobe PhotoshopA deep, multi-platform editor for compositing, retouching, RAW work, and AI-assisted edits.9.4
- Adobe LightroomA broad Lightroom workflow for RAW editing, masking, organization, and synchronized access.9.2
- darktableA free, cross-platform RAW workflow with cataloging, masking, batch editing, and AI tools.8.8
See all Capture One alternatives →
Capture One vs the competition
- Capture One vs Adobe Photoshop
- Capture One vs Adobe Lightroom
- Capture One vs darktable
- Capture One vs GIMP
- Capture One vs ON1 Photo RAW
- Capture One vs DxO PhotoLab
Compare Capture One with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Capture One is ranked in 9 of our directories; the 6 strongest besides Photo Editing Software.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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