OpenBooth review
A focused, free Linux photo booth application for photo-only projects.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
OpenBooth is a free, open-source photo booth application for touchscreen-based projects running on Linux. It is suited to makers, educators, and developers who want a focused photo-only booth rather than a broad event-management system. The interface is optimized for touchscreens, with live previews that show filtered images. Wireless triggering supports a booth-style capture flow, while gPhoto2 handles camera communication and OpenCV processes images. The project originated as an Austrian university project and is associated with Otelo Wien.
The technical scope is clear: OpenBooth combines a touchscreen interface, image filters, live filtered-image previews, wireless triggering, gPhoto2, and OpenCV. That makes it a practical fit for a custom Linux installation where camera control and image processing matter more than a large platform ecosystem. Its MIT license and open-source model also suit projects that need to inspect or adapt the software. The trade-off is a narrow focus on photos, with Linux as the supported platform and no broader capture modes described.
Setup requires more technical involvement than a packaged booth application. Official build instructions target Ubuntu or Fedora and require Java, Maven, and gPhoto2, so the project is better suited to users comfortable managing Linux dependencies and camera connections. The repository describes OpenBooth as still in development, and its published scope does not establish printing or sharing workflows. Choose it for a minimal, customizable Linux photo booth with a touchscreen interface; consider another product if your booth depends on a finished event workflow, broader platform support, or confirmed printing and sharing capabilities.
OpenBooth pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Touchscreen interface with live filtered-image previews
- Supports wireless triggering, gPhoto2, and OpenCV
- Where it doesn't
- Linux-only platform support
- Captures photos rather than multiple capture modes
- Still in development, with no verified printing or sharing
OpenBooth fact sheet, pricing and score →
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