Best ON1 Photo RAW Alternatives in 2026
The top ON1 Photo RAW alternatives are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom and Capture One: 15 photo editing software our editors would look at instead of ON1 Photo RAW, in our ranking order.
ON1 Photo RAW: A broad desktop RAW editor with layers, masking, organization, AI, and cloud sync. Where it falls short: no free plan is available.
Switching from ON1 Photo RAW? For most photo editing software buyers the best ON1 Photo RAW alternative is Adobe Photoshop, built for professional compositing and advanced editing. Adobe Lightroom has a free plan, which ON1 Photo RAW does not.
Why People Look for an ON1 Photo RAW Alternative
- No free plan is available
- The desktop application supports only Windows and macOS
- The listed subscription uses annual billing rather than monthly billing
- No free plan — 8 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallAdobe Photoshop9.4
Professional compositing and advanced editing
Visit Adobe Photoshop - Best free optionAdobe Lightroom9.2
Has a free plan (ON1 Photo RAW has none)
Visit Adobe Lightroom
All 15 ON1 Photo RAW Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forProfessional compositing and advanced editing
- Better than ON1 Photo RAW:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 8.6
A deep, multi-platform editor for compositing, retouching, RAW work, and AI-assisted edits.
- Cloud sync
- Layer editing
- AI retouching
9.4/10★★★★★Try Adobe Photoshop -
Best forRAW workflows and cross-device photo editing
- Better than ON1 Photo RAW:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.2 vs 8.6
A broad Lightroom workflow for RAW editing, masking, organization, and synchronized access.
- Cloud sync
- AI retouching
- RAW photo support
9.2/10★★★★★Try Adobe Lightroom -
Best forProfessional RAW and tethered workflows
- Better than ON1 Photo RAW:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.6
A deep choice for professional RAW and tethered workflows, without a free plan.
- Cloud sync
- Layer editing
- AI retouching
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Capture One -
Best forFree open-source RAW cataloging
- Better than ON1 Photo RAW:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.8 vs 8.6
A free, cross-platform RAW workflow with cataloging, masking, batch editing, and AI tools.
- AI retouching
- RAW photo support
- Masking tools
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit darktable -
Best forFree layered editing and extensibility
- Better than ON1 Photo RAW:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.7 vs 8.6
A capable free editor for layered work, masking, scripting, and plug-in-based RAW workflows.
- Layer editing
- Masking tools
- Batch editing
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit GIMP -
Best forHigh-quality RAW correction and denoising
A focused desktop editor for RAW correction, denoising, and batch workflows.
- AI retouching
- RAW photo support
- Masking tools
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit DxO PhotoLab -
Best forWindows photo management and editing
A broad Windows editor for photographers who want organization, advanced editing, and cloud services.
- Cloud sync
- Layer editing
- AI retouching
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Zoner -
Best forWindows editing with design tools
A broad Windows editor for photographers and designers who need more than basic corrections.
- Layer editing
- AI retouching
- RAW photo support
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit PaintShop Pro -
Best forApple users needing RAW batch workflows
A capable Apple-focused editor for RAW, masking, retouching, and batch workflows.
- Cloud sync
- AI retouching
- RAW photo support
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Photomator -
Best forAI-focused editing across devices
A multi-platform editor with deep AI tools, RAW support, layers, and masking.
- Cloud sync
- Layer editing
- AI retouching
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Luminar Neo -
Best forFree open-source RAW development
- Better than ON1 Photo RAW:
- Free plan
A capable free RAW workflow with masking, batch tools, and non-destructive editing.
- RAW photo support
- Masking tools
- Batch editing
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit RawTherapee -
Best forLow-cost browser and batch editing
- Better than ON1 Photo RAW:
- Free plan
A low-cost, multi-platform editor with layers, batch macros, and AI tools.
- Cloud sync
- Layer editing
- AI retouching
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Pixlr -
Best forFree Photoshop-style browser editing
- Better than ON1 Photo RAW:
- Free plan
A capable free browser editor for Photoshop-style workflows and mixed file formats.
- Cloud sync
- Layer editing
- AI retouching
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Photopea -
Best forAffordable AI-assisted desktop editing
- Better than ON1 Photo RAW:
- Free plan
A broad desktop editor with free basics, RAW tools, layers, batch AI, and cloud options.
- Cloud sync
- Layer editing
- AI retouching
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit PhotoDirector -
Best forAccessible AI editing across platforms
- Better than ON1 Photo RAW:
- Free plan
Fotor brings accessible AI editing, layers, masking, and batch tools to multiple platforms.
- Cloud sync
- Layer editing
- AI retouching
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Fotor
ON1 Photo RAW Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to ON1 Photo RAW?
Adobe Photoshop: #1 in our Photo Editing Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A deep, multi-platform editor for compositing, retouching, RAW work, and AI-assisted edits.
Is there a free alternative to ON1 Photo RAW?
Yes. Adobe Lightroom, darktable, GIMP, RawTherapee and Pixlr have a free plan or a free tier (8 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for ON1 Photo RAW alternatives?
No free plan is available; The desktop application supports only Windows and macOS; The listed subscription uses annual billing rather than monthly billing.
How do I switch from ON1 Photo RAW?
Export your data from ON1 Photo RAW (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel ON1 Photo RAW.
How to Switch from ON1 Photo RAW
- Export your data from ON1 Photo RAW (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel ON1 Photo RAW.
ON1 Photo RAW vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Platform | RAW photo support | Layer editing | Masking tools | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | ON1 Photo RAW | No | Desktop | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 1 | Adobe Photoshop | No | Multi-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 2 | Adobe Lightroom | Yes | Multi-platform | Yes | Yes | 9.2 | ||
| 3 | Capture One | No | Multi-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 4 | darktable | Yes | Free | Multi-platform | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 5 | GIMP | Yes | Free | Multi-platform | No | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 6 | DxO PhotoLab | No | $159.99 one-time | Multi-platform | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 7 | Zoner Photo Studio X | No | $59/yr | Desktop | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 8 | PaintShop Pro | No | Desktop | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 9 | Photomator | Multi-platform | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |||
| 10 | Luminar Neo | No | $129 one-time | Multi-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| 11 | RawTherapee | Yes | Free | Desktop | Yes | No | Yes | 7.9 |
| 12 | Pixlr | Yes | Multi-platform | No | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 13 | Photopea | Yes | Web | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 14 | PhotoDirector | Yes | $79.99/yr | Multi-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 15 | Fotor | Yes | Multi-platform | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
Head-to-Head
- ON1 Photo RAW vs Adobe Photoshop
- ON1 Photo RAW vs Adobe Lightroom
- ON1 Photo RAW vs Capture One
- ON1 Photo RAW vs darktable
- ON1 Photo RAW vs GIMP
- ON1 Photo RAW vs DxO PhotoLab
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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