But with Bridge’s ability to manage more than just image files, users considering Lightroom solely for its organizational capabilities will be thoroughly happy with Bridge. Adobe Bridge shares many of the same useful organizational tools as Lightroom does in a cost-free package! Bridge is a program that (depending upon the user’s priority) can step above Lightroom in its ability to organize non-image assets such as PDF files and documents.īridge and Lightroom Classic have the same functionality for organizing images the only difference is in the user interface. Adobe Bridge (Best Free Image Organizer)Īdobe Bridge is one of the company’s slightly lesser-known offerings, typically overshadowed by Lightroom and Photoshop. Confusing interface for first-time usersĢ.Lacks in performance speed and power when compared to Lightroom.One of the best aspects of Darktable is its compatibility with almost any operating system (from Mac and PC to lesser-known Solaris 11 / GNOME and BSD). Users that don’t have a Lightroom-based frame of reference will find Darktable fast and efficient, so long as it doesn’t crash (which is often reported)! Equally, some of the tabs and their names aren’t as logical as Lightroom, so utilizing the interface for the first time can confuse new users. However you spin it, Lightroom is a lighter and faster program. Where Darktable finds its faults tends to lie in performance. Most importantly, Darktable does non-destructive edits in the same fashion as Lightroom. These features include file management and organization, photo editing capabilities with sliders and various tools, RAW image processing, mapping, printing, and even tethering your camera for instant image previews. These features work just as well as in Adobe’s software. Because the creators were in the photography world, the developers translated many of Lightroom’s most beloved features into Darktable. The program continues to grow and improve as a result. Source: Darktableĭarktable is an open-source platform developed by photographers dabbling in programming. You can even customize the workspace to fit your needs and preferences, making the program fully adaptable. Appearing very similar to Lightroom Classic on the surface, Darktable is arguably the best free Lightroom alternative out there. Darktable (Best Free Lightroom Alternative)įamiliarity is certainly the easiest way to transition from one program to another, and Darktable has quite a recognizable interface. Creatives looking to dabble in photo editing or save costs can consider these free alternatives to Adobe’s program.

With Lightroom being a subscription program, the cost increases over time.

Lightroom free for macbook