Sable review
A capable local-first editor for layered work without accounts or cloud processing.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Sable is a free, MIT-licensed raster image editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is aimed at solo creators, small teams, and organizations that want layered desktop editing with local AI rather than an account-based cloud service. The application combines a GPU-based canvas with a non-destructive document graph covering pixel, shape, text, vector-path, group, adjustment, and live-filter layers. Its toolset also includes masks, blend modes, selections, brush work, cloning, healing, patching, liquify, and mesh warping.
The pricing model is straightforward: Sable is free and open source. Its local AI features include smart selection, background removal, upscaling, and object removal. An optional local ComfyUI integration adds Generative Fill and text-to-image workflows. This makes the standout capability the combination of editable layered documents and locally managed AI processing, while keeping the core editor available without a subscription or cloud dependency. Native Sable documents support the editor's graph-based workflow, with PNG import and export for a common image format.
Sable fits users who want control over their editing environment and access to source-available desktop software across three major operating systems. Multi-document tabs, non-linear undo, named snapshots, per-layer effects, and GPU compositing support a detailed editing workflow. The tradeoff is that generative features introduce a separate local ComfyUI setup, and the product is desktop-only. Community support and documentation are the listed support paths. Choose Sable for local, open-source editing with layered control and AI-assisted image work; choose another option if mobile editing or a simpler, integrated generative workflow is central to your requirements.
Sable pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Local AI includes selection, background removal, upscaling, and object removal
- Non-destructive layers, masks, filters, selections, and retouching tools
- Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux without an account or cloud service
- Where it doesn't
- Desktop-only workflow with no mobile app
- Generative Fill and text-to-image require optional local ComfyUI integration
- Support is centered on community resources and documentation
Sable fact sheet, pricing and score →
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