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5 Best Free Photo Editors for Ubuntu 24.04 (Updated for 2026)

The five strongest free photo editors for Ubuntu 24.04 are GIMP, Krita, darktable, RawTherapee, and digiKam. Choose between them by workflow: raster editing, painting, RAW development, or library management.

By ThatPainter Team Updated 13 min read
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The best free photo editors for Ubuntu 24.04 are GIMP for general editing, Krita for painting and tablet work, darktable for catalog-based RAW development, RawTherapee for detailed RAW processing, and digiKam for managing large libraries. Your workflow—not a generic feature count—should decide whether you need pixels, brushes, RAW controls, or metadata.

The title refers to 2025, but the current research snapshot is dated August 14, 2026. Ubuntu’s official release list identifies Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS as released on February 12, 2026, with standard support through June 2029, so the version and packaging notes below use explicit dates.

Table of Contents

Key takeaways

  • GIMP is the best default for broad, layer-based photo editing, retouching, compositing, and format conversion on Ubuntu 24.04.
  • Krita is the strongest choice for pressure-sensitive brush work, painting, creative retouching, and graphics-tablet workflows.
  • darktable is more catalog- and workflow-oriented, while RawTherapee is more focused on detailed RAW development.
  • digiKam is the best Linux photo manager when albums, tags, metadata, search, camera import, and large collections matter most.
  • Ubuntu package versions can differ from upstream releases, so the installation source and package freshness matter as much as the editor name.
  • A graphics tablet is optional for ordinary cropping and color adjustments but useful for pressure-sensitive masking, retouching, and painting in GIMP or Krita.

Which free photo editor should you choose for Ubuntu 24.04?

Choose GIMP for general-purpose editing, Krita for painting and tablet work, darktable for a non-destructive RAW catalog workflow, RawTherapee for detailed RAW controls, and digiKam for organizing a large photo library. The table below separates the five editors by the job they are actually designed to do.

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Editor Best choice when you need RAW workflow Library and metadata tools Retouching and creative editing Main caution
GIMP One flexible raster editor for cropping, layers, masks, selections, and retouching Useful for image editing, but not RAW-first Not primarily a catalog manager Deep layer, selection, transformation, plug-in, and scripting tools Less suitable for Lightroom-style library management
Krita Painting, brush-based retouching, creative manipulation, or tablet work Not its primary workflow Not a catalog-centered application Strong brush engine and pressure-sensitive workflows Krita describes itself primarily as a painting program
darktable Organized, non-destructive RAW development and photography workflows Dedicated RAW developer with presets and batch workflows Library database, styles, presets, and catalog-style organization Photography adjustments rather than general compositing Build features and library compatibility can vary by package source
RawTherapee Fine-grained exposure, color, sharpening, noise, and RAW control Dedicated detailed RAW processor Less catalog-centered than darktable or digiKam Selective image-processing controls and batch export More specialized and less all-in-one for library management
digiKam Importing, tagging, rating, searching, and maintaining a large collection RAW support with a library-management focus Albums, tags, ratings, labels, metadata, and advanced search Color adjustments, cropping, sharpening, filters, and batch processing More of a photo manager with editing tools than a pure pixel editor

What Ubuntu 24.04 version should you use?

Ubuntu 24.04 began as an LTS release on April 25, 2024, while the current point-release context in this research is Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS, released on February 12, 2026, with standard support through June 2029. The original title says 2025, but the upstream software versions below reflect an August 14, 2026 research snapshot, so they should not be mistaken for the versions available from every Ubuntu mirror or repository.

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Ubuntu 24.04.4 is still the relevant 24.04 installation target. Point releases update installation media and bundled fixes; they do not turn Ubuntu 24.04 into a different major Ubuntu series. For software, however, Ubuntu’s repository, Snap channel, Flatpak remote, PPA, AppImage, and upstream release page may all offer different versions.

1. GIMP: What is the best overall free photo editor for Ubuntu?

GIMP is the best overall free photo editor for Ubuntu 24.04 when you want broad, layer-based editing rather than a RAW catalog. GIMP handles cropping, resizing, selections, masks, layers, transformations, compositing, retouching, graphic design, format conversion, plug-ins, scripting, and batch processing.

The official GIMP 3.0 user manual describes GIMP as a multi-platform tool for creating and editing images of all kinds. The same manual documents simple painting, expert-quality photo retouching, digital art, batch processing, image rendering, multiple undo and redo, layers, channels, selections, transformations, plug-ins, scripting, and formats including JPEG, PNG, PSD, and TIFF.

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“GIMP is a multi-platform tool to create and edit images of all kinds.”

GIMP Documentation Team, official GIMP 3.0 User Manual

What is GIMP best at?

  • Removing or repairing parts of a photograph with selections, masks, and retouching tools.
  • Combining multiple images with layers and compositing.
  • Preparing images for print, websites, social media, or other formats.
  • Making precise pixel-level changes rather than applying only global RAW adjustments.
  • Extending the workflow with plug-ins, scripts, and batch processing.

GIMP is the closest general-purpose Photoshop alternative for Ubuntu in this list. GIMP is not the strongest Lightroom alternative on Linux because GIMP is not primarily a catalog manager or a RAW-first photography application. A photographer who mainly wants to import, rate, search, develop, and export a growing RAW library should start with darktable or digiKam instead.

Which GIMP version and package should Ubuntu users consider?

The official download page lists GIMP 3.2.4 as the stable release dated April 17, 2026. The page lists Linux choices including x86_64 and ARM64 AppImages, Flatpak, and Snap. GIMP’s AppImage support statement refers to Debian 13 or newer, so Ubuntu 24.04 users should check that specific compatibility guidance instead of assuming that every AppImage, Flatpak, Snap, and distribution package behaves identically.

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Choose GIMP if: you want one versatile photo editor for layers, masks, selections, retouching, transformations, and compositing. Choose something else first if: your central requirement is a searchable photo catalog, a non-destructive RAW pipeline, or pressure-sensitive painting as the primary activity.

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2. Krita: Is Krita good for photo editing and drawing tablets?

Krita is the best choice here for painting, brush-based retouching, digital art, and pressure-sensitive graphics-tablet work. Krita can edit photographs, but Krita’s own documentation is clear that painting is its primary purpose.

“Krita is a professional FREE and open source painting program.”

Krita, official project download page

“Krita is primarily a painting program, although it has image processing capabilities.”

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Krita, official FAQ

What makes Krita different from GIMP?

GIMP is the stronger default for conventional raster editing and image manipulation, while Krita is the stronger default for painting and brush-driven work. GIMP suits a user who frequently makes selections, composites, transformations, and format conversions. Krita suits a user who paints over photographs, performs brush-based cleanup, creates concept art, or uses a pressure-sensitive tablet.

Krita is not the best catalog manager, and Krita should not be the default recommendation for processing many RAW files. Krita’s own FAQ points readers toward other software for cataloging, conventional photo effects, and some photo-editing workflows. That positioning makes Krita a focused choice rather than a weakness disguised as a feature.

Which Krita version and package should Ubuntu users consider?

The official download page lists Krita 5.3.2.1, released June 2, 2026. Linux distribution choices include a 64-bit AppImage, along with community-maintained Flatpak and Snap packages. Krita’s official installation documentation warns that Ubuntu’s default package can be old and discusses the AppImage, Flatpak, Snap, and project PPA routes.

Krita’s documentation also notes that the Flatpak and Snap packages are not tested by Krita’s core developers. That does not make those packages unusable, but it does make the package source relevant when troubleshooting missing features, integration issues, or an unexpectedly old build.

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Choose Krita if: you want painting, creative photo manipulation, brush-based retouching, or a Linux photo editor that works well with a drawing tablet. Choose GIMP if: your work is primarily selections, layers, compositing, and conventional pixel editing without a painting-first workflow.

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3. darktable: Is darktable the best free RAW editor for Ubuntu?

darktable is the best choice for RAW photographers who want a catalog-style, non-destructive workflow. darktable is better understood as a photography workflow application and RAW developer than as a Photoshop replacement.

darktable combines RAW development with a library database, presets, styles, and batch-oriented workflow features. That combination makes darktable a strong Lightroom alternative on Linux for photographers who want to organize images and preserve an editing workflow without directly replacing the original RAW files.

Why choose darktable over a general photo editor?

  • darktable is designed around RAW photography rather than only finished JPEG or PNG pixels.
  • darktable supports non-destructive adjustments, so editing decisions remain part of the workflow rather than permanently changing the source image.
  • darktable provides a library database, presets, styles, and batch workflow features for repeated photography tasks.
  • darktable is a better fit than GIMP when importing, sorting, developing, and exporting a collection are connected steps.

darktable’s current documentation also describes optional AI features for tasks such as interactive object masking, denoising, and upscaling. Those features are off by default in a fresh installation, and third-party packages may omit AI support. Treat AI availability as a build-specific feature, not as a guarantee of every Ubuntu package.

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Which darktable version and package should Ubuntu users consider?

The project announced darktable 5.6.0 on June 21, 2026. The official installation page lists Ubuntu 24.04 among the supported build targets and provides source and AppImage distribution paths.

Package source matters more with darktable than with a simple image viewer because darktable stores its library database, presets, styles, and related configuration in installation-method-specific directories. The darktable configuration-directory documentation explains where these files are managed for different installation methods.

Users upgrading from the darktable 5.4 series should back up the darktable library and configuration before moving to 5.6.0. The 5.6.0 release announcement warns that the new library and configuration will no longer be usable with 5.4 after the upgrade. A backup is therefore part of the upgrade procedure, not an optional precaution.

Choose darktable if: you photograph in RAW, want a searchable workflow, use presets, or need non-destructive development. Choose RawTherapee if: detailed processing control matters more than catalog-centered organization.

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4. RawTherapee: What is the best detailed RAW processor for Ubuntu?

RawTherapee is the specialist pick for detailed RAW processing and fine-grained control over exposure, white balance, color, tone, sharpening, noise, and export. RawTherapee is aimed at enthusiasts and professional photographers who want to understand and control the digital-imaging process.

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RawTherapee is a better fit than GIMP when the starting point is a camera RAW file and the goal is to recover highlights, shape tones, tune color, reduce noise, sharpen, make selective adjustments, and batch-export finished images. RawTherapee is less catalog-centered than darktable and digiKam, so it is not automatically the best answer for finding and maintaining a large collection.

What is the difference between darktable and RawTherapee?

Decision darktable RawTherapee
Primary identity RAW developer plus photography library workflow Detailed RAW image-processing program
Best starting point Photographers who want organization and development together Photographers who want granular control over processing
Catalog emphasis Library database, presets, styles, and workflow organization Less catalog-centered
Batch work Batch-oriented photography workflow Batch export and processing-oriented workflow
Main upgrade concern Back up the library before a major version change Check the package’s LibRaw version and camera-support behavior

Which RawTherapee version and package should Ubuntu users consider?

The official RawTherapee home page lists RawTherapee 5.12, released May 28, 2025. The project’s official 5.11 Linux download instructions explain the AppImage route: download the AppImage, make it executable, and run it. A typical shell workflow is:

chmod +x RawTherapee-<version>.AppImage
./RawTherapee-<version>.AppImage

Use the actual filename downloaded from the official project page in place of RawTherapee-<version>.AppImage. The 5.11 documentation says that release introduced LibRaw support while retaining an enhanced dcraw fallback. Unofficial Ubuntu packages can use a different LibRaw version, which can change camera support, so package provenance matters when a camera RAW file fails to open.

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Choose RawTherapee if: you enjoy controlling the processing details and do not need the strongest built-in catalog. Choose darktable if: your main problem is managing a growing photography library as well as developing RAW files.

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5. digiKam: What is the best Linux photo manager for a large library?

digiKam is the best choice when organizing and finding photographs matters more than having the deepest pixel-editing interface. digiKam imports and organizes photos, RAW files, and videos while providing albums, tags, ratings, labels, metadata, search, editing, batch processing, and extensibility.

The official digiKam feature description says that digiKam currently supports more than one thousand formats. The word “currently” matters: format support is a changing project detail, not a permanent promise for every future release or every importer.

What can digiKam do besides organize photos?

  • Import photographs from cameras and external storage.
  • Organize collections into albums and apply tags, ratings, labels, and metadata.
  • Search a library using advanced search and metadata-oriented criteria.
  • Work with RAW files, videos, and collections stored on local, removable, or network media.
  • Apply color adjustments, noise reduction, cropping, rotation, sharpening, curves, panorama stitching, G’MIC-Qt filters, and automatic Lensfun lens correction.
  • Run batch-processing tasks across a collection.

digiKam is a particularly useful answer to the phrase “best Linux photo manager.” digiKam is also more than a basic editor, so a user who only wants to open one JPEG, crop it, and export it may find GIMP more direct. A photographer who repeatedly asks where an image is, which files have been rated, or which photographs belong to a project will benefit more from digiKam’s organization tools.

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Which digiKam version should Ubuntu users consider?

The digiKam Team announced digiKam 9.1.0 as a stable release on June 7, 2026. The release work included database migration, previews, advanced search, usability, and workflow efficiency. Use the project’s official download route or a trusted Ubuntu-compatible package, and back up the digiKam photo database before migrations or major version changes.

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Is GIMP or Krita better for photo editing?

GIMP is better for conventional photo editing, while Krita is better for painting and brush-driven retouching. Both can manipulate images, but the primary workflow differs: GIMP emphasizes raster editing tools such as layers, selections, masks, transformations, plug-ins, and scripting, while Krita emphasizes a painting-oriented brush engine and tablet workflow.

If your main task is… Choose Why
Crop, resize, composite, mask, or retouch finished images GIMP Its general-purpose raster tools are the broadest fit
Paint over a photograph or create digital art Krita Its painting-first workflow and brush tools fit the task
Use pressure and tilt with a graphics tablet GIMP or Krita Both projects document tablet or pressure-sensitive workflows; Krita is the painting-oriented choice
Catalog, rate, and develop many RAW files darktable or digiKam Both are more photography-library-oriented than GIMP or Krita

Which Ubuntu photo editor with RAW support is right for you?

For a free RAW editor for Ubuntu, choose darktable when library organization, presets, and a non-destructive workflow are central; choose RawTherapee when detailed processing control is central; and choose digiKam when cataloging, metadata, and search are the first priority.

GIMP and Krita can still be useful after RAW development. A practical combination is to develop and export a RAW image in darktable or RawTherapee, then use GIMP for pixel-level compositing or Krita for brush-based painting. The five applications do not need to be treated as mutually exclusive replacements.

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How should you install these editors on Ubuntu 24.04?

Use the official upstream download or a trusted Ubuntu-compatible package, then check the installed version and package source before troubleshooting. A distribution package may be older than the upstream release, while an AppImage, Flatpak, Snap, or PPA can have different integration and feature behavior.

Editor Installation paths documented in the research What to verify before choosing
GIMP Ubuntu distribution package, x86_64 or ARM64 AppImage, Flatpak, or Snap The official AppImage support statement refers to Debian 13 or newer; do not assume identical compatibility across packages
Krita Ubuntu package, official Linux 64-bit AppImage, community Flatpak or Snap, or project PPA Ubuntu’s default package may be old, and Krita says the Flatpak and Snap packages are not tested by its core developers
darktable Ubuntu 24.04-supported build target, source, or official AppImage Back up the library and configuration before a major upgrade, especially from 5.4 to 5.6
RawTherapee Ubuntu distribution package or official Linux AppImage Make the AppImage executable and check the package’s LibRaw version if camera support differs
digiKam Official digiKam download route or a trusted Ubuntu-compatible package Back up the photo database before migrations or major version changes

For GIMP, start with the official downloads page. For Krita, compare the Ubuntu package with the official installation guidance. For darktable, consult the official install page. For RawTherapee, use the project’s official download instructions rather than an unknown build. For digiKam, use a package route that matches the database and collection backup plan.

Do you need a graphics tablet or extra storage?

A graphics tablet is not required for ordinary cropping, resizing, or global color adjustments, but a graphics tablet for photo editing can make pressure-sensitive retouching, masking, painting, and dodge-and-burn work more practical. GIMP documents pressure and tilt dynamics in its official dynamics documentation, and Krita documents Linux graphics-tablet workflows through its official project documentation and download guidance.

An external SSD for photo libraries can also be useful when a digiKam collection or darktable workflow includes local, removable, or network media. Storage is not automatically a backup: keep a separate copy of photographs and the relevant digiKam or darktable database before moving collections or changing major software versions.

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What is the final recommendation?

Start with GIMP if you want one free photo editor for Ubuntu 24.04 and do not yet know which workflow you need. Start with darktable if you shoot RAW and want a catalog-style workflow, RawTherapee if you want the most processing-focused control, digiKam if your library is the main problem, and Krita if painting or tablet-based retouching is the reason you edit photographs.

The strongest choice is therefore task-specific rather than universal: GIMP for pixels, Krita for brushes, darktable for cataloged RAW development, RawTherapee for detailed RAW processing, and digiKam for photo-library management.

The Bottom Line

Bottom line: GIMP is the best default free photo editor for Ubuntu 24.04. Choose Krita for painting and tablet work, darktable for a non-destructive RAW catalog, RawTherapee for detailed RAW control, and digiKam for organizing a large photo library.

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