# RawTherapee

Application: RawTherapee team

Also called raw therapee, rawtherapee

RawTherapee team, Creative

An open-source raw processor with a different tone than darktable. rawtherapee.exe is the process. It is not Lightroom.

## What you need to know

RawTherapee is a free raw processor. It is not Lightroom.

rawtherapee.exe uses .pp3 sidecars and a folder browser. Lightroom is Adobe. darktable is the other GPL raw app with a different tone.

- **What is it?**: Open-source raw processor

  **Still current?**: Yes, see Current status

  **Official download?**: Use the vendor link in this article

Feex says

If rawtherapee.exe is the process, that is RawTherapee, not Lightroom and not darktable. I would not hunt Lightroom.exe to explain a .pp3 sidecar.

## What is RawTherapee?

RawTherapee is an open-source raw processor. Sidecars are .pp3 files. The Windows executable is rawtherapee.exe.

## If you have never used it

RawTherapee is a free raw processor. rawtherapee.exe is the process. It is not Lightroom. It is also not darktable. The tone engine and .pp3 sidecar are its own. Download from rawtherapee.com/downloads.

## What is it used for?

**File Browser**

Open a folder of raws. Lightroom uses a catalog. darktable uses a library. This is a browser.

**Exposure and tone**

A different engine than darktable. Do not expect the same sliders.

**Queue**

Batch process. Lightroom export is a different queue.

## Who is it for?

- Photographers comparing free raw apps
- People who found darktable too modular
- Anyone who opened Lightroom looking for .pp3 files

## Current status

RawTherapee (2005) is a current open-source raw processor from RawTherapee team. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.rawtherapee.com/downloads/.

## How old is it?

RawTherapee started in 2005, before darktable (2009). Lightroom shipped in 2007. Current RawTherapee is still a GPL processor with a File Browser, not an Adobe catalog.

## Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Current Windows build

## System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

### Minimum

| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| RAM              | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more.          |

## Resource profile

- **CPU demand**: Follows what you open inside the app

  **RAM demand**: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

## Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

| rawtherapee.exe | Main Windows executable |
| --------------- | ----------------------- |

## Startup components

RawTherapee does not need to start with Windows.

## File locations

| Typical install | C:\Program Files\RawTherapee\\ |
| --------------- | ------------------------------ |

## File formats

RAW, DNG, PP3, JPEG

## Common problems

### Expected darktable modules

Different engine. Learn RawTherapee's tools. Do not paste darktable history.

### Sidecar not next to the raw

Save .pp3 beside the file. Lightroom catalogs do not apply here.

## Getting unstuck

### Confirm rawtherapee.exe

Program Files\RawTherapee is the app. Lightroom.exe is Adobe. darktable.exe is the other GPL app.

### Install from rawtherapee.com/downloads

Windows builds are listed there.

### Read RawPedia

rawpedia.rawtherapee.com is the vendor manual.

## Alternatives

darktable, Lightroom, and Capture One overlap. Lightroom does not replace a .pp3 workflow.

## Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

| Download      | [www.rawtherapee.com/downloads/ ](https://www.rawtherapee.com/downloads/)Official installer or vendor page |
| ------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Help          | [rawpedia.rawtherapee.com/ ](https://rawpedia.rawtherapee.com/)Vendor support                              |
| Official site | [www.rawtherapee.com/ ](https://www.rawtherapee.com/)Start here, not a random exe host                     |

## Related hardware

RawTherapee wants RAM for big raws. A fast CPU helps the queue more than a gaming GPU.

## Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[Adobe Lightroom: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/adobe-lightroom)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [RawTherapee official site ](https://www.rawtherapee.com/)· Vendor product page
- [RawTherapee help ](https://rawpedia.rawtherapee.com/)· Vendor support
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Developer**: RawTherapee team

  **Category**: Open-source raw processor

  **Process**: rawtherapee.exe

  **License**: GPL-3.0

  **First released**: 2005

  **Official site**: [rawtherapee.com](https://www.rawtherapee.com/)

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/rawtherapee/)

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