[category: photo editing][verified alternatives][no votes, no pay-to-list]
Free and open source alternatives for Photo editing
12 free or open source projects taken from the pages of 10 paid apps in this category. For each one: how many it replaces, how much subscription it cancels, what it costs to run.
- free alternatives
- 12
- $/month replaceable
- 121
- already self-hosted
- 12
- apps covered
- 10
12 alternatives
No alternative matches these filters. Try dropping the set or the category.
The value is the sum of the prices of the apps that project replaces — including outside this category, because a good alternative rarely serves only one.
61 $ /mese
RapidRAW open source ★ 9,2k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux · Android
A lighter modern catalog-and-edit workflow with ratings, presets, masks, and batch processing; newer, friendlier, less proven.
the 7 apps it replaces · 61 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (61 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
61 $ /mese
digiKam open source ★ 32 active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
Excellent local photo cataloging, metadata, tags, duplicates, RAW handling, and basic edits; elegance was not in the requirements.
the 4 apps it replaces · 61 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (61 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
50 $ /mese
Piwigo open source ★ 3,8k active [ops] web · self-hosted · iOS · Android
The old, dependable gallery engine: private albums, users, metadata, themes, plugins, and mobile upload, paid for in maintenance rather than money.
the 5 apps it replaces · 50 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (50 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
40 $ /mese
Lychee open source ★ 4,3k active [docker] web · self-hosted
A clean self-hosted album gallery with metadata, passworded sharing, downloads, and a simple Docker setup; much less discovery machinery.
the 4 apps it replaces · 40 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (40 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
36 $ /mese
darktable open source ★ 12,9k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
A serious local catalog and non-destructive RAW editor with ratings, collections, masks, and lens profiles; learning curve included free.
the 6 apps it replaces · 36 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (36 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
32 $ /mese
Photoview open source ★ 6,5k active [docker] web · self-hosted
Maps existing folders directly into a clean web gallery with RAW, EXIF, users, albums, links, and downloads; your directory tree stays the boss.
the 3 apps it replaces · 32 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (32 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
25 $ /mese
Selekt free [1-click] macOS · Windows
A packaged local culler with RAW previews, duplicate and burst grouping, explainable scores, ratings, and XMP export; still labelled beta.
the 1 app it replaces · 25 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (25 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
10 $ /mese
Ente Photos open source ★ 26,8k active [ops] web · self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
The actual open-source Ente stack: end-to-end encrypted backup with cross-platform clients; self-hosting means running storage, a database, and backups.
the 1 app it replaces · 10 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (10 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
8 $ /mese
Immich open source ★ 109,8k active [ops] web · self-hosted · iOS · Android
A superb personal photo archive with mobile backup, metadata, albums, search, maps, and sharing on storage you control; public portfolio polish is modest.
the 1 app it replaces · 8 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (8 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
8 $ /mese
LibrePhotos open source ★ 8k active [ops] web · self-hosted · Android
Self-hosted photos and video with faces, objects, semantic search, albums, and public links; deployment is a small server, not a button.
the 1 app it replaces · 8 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (8 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
8 $ /mese
PhotoPrism open source ★ 40k active [docker] web · self-hosted
A searchable self-hosted photo library with RAW support, labels, faces, maps, albums, metadata, and share links; library first, social network never.
the 1 app it replaces · 8 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (8 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
— price not verified
RawTherapee open source ★ 4,1k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
Processing profiles and sidecars make repeatable RAW adjustments completely reversible; automation is deterministic, not psychic.
the 2 apps it replaces
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
Checked by hand: no votes, no buyable positions. Prices in dollars.