LightCraft: manage photos and develop raw files without a cloud.
LightCraft is a free photo library with raw development. You sort, rate and search your pictures and edit them without changing the originals. According to the vendor with no account, no cloud and no subscription.
How it helps day to day
- Hundreds of site photos are on the memory cardSort them into albums, rate them with stars, find them again later via search.
- Product photos from the system camera are too darkOpen the raw file, adjust exposure and colour, mask background or sky. The original stays untouched.
- Several pictures should look the sameApply one of the 18 presets or your own settings to the whole series.
What is inside LightCraft
Opens raw files as DNG, CR2, ARW, NEF, RAF, RW2, PEF and ORF. More formats are on the way, according to the vendor.
- Non-destructive editing
- 32-bit editing in a wide colour space; original files are never changed.
- Light and colour
- Exposure, colour, tone curve, 8-band colour mixer, grading wheels and 18 presets.
- Masks
- Brush, gradients, luminance and colour ranges and masks for sky, subject and background.
- Library
- Albums, ratings, flags and search by field.
LightCraft compared with Adobe Lightroom
LightCraft is laid out much like Lightroom: library with albums and ratings, non-destructive development, masks. According to a test it also reads a Lightroom Classic catalogue, though read-only. Auto settings and subject detection are still clearly less accurate.
| LightCraft | Adobe Lightroom | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | free, also for business | €14,49 a month (annual plan billed monthly, incl. VAT) Source |
| Licence | open source (Apache 2.0) | commercial software |
| Systems | Windows, macOS, Linux, in the browser | see vendor |
| Shared files | common raw formats such as DNG, CR2, NEF, ARW | |
| Maturity | in development, version 0.13.0 | on the market for years |
What independent tests say
- PHLEARN, 20.10.2026Importing raw files and a Lightroom Classic catalogue is quick, sky mask with one click. Auto and subject selection weaker than in Lightroom. Verdict: a starting point, not a replacement. Read the article
- heise online / c’t, 13.10.2026In c’t’s test, PhotoCraft and LightCraft disappointed at processing raw files. Read the article
Lightroom is a trademark of Adobe Inc.. It is named for orientation only; there is no connection between Adobe Inc. and the maker of LightCraft.
Our assessment
LightCraft promises what many miss: photo management without a cloud or subscription. The program is still in development. It is fine for trying out with a copy of your photo folder, but not yet as the only storage.
Already useful for
- Sorting, rating and finding photos
- Developing raw photos from common cameras
- Photo archives that should not go to a cloud
Better wait for now
- The only storage for important photos (backup remains a must)
- Cameras with raw formats not yet supported
- Switching your photo management over completely
Frequently asked questions
Are my photos uploaded?
According to the vendor, no: LightCraft works on your computer with no account, no cloud and no telemetry.
Can LightCraft replace Lightroom?
LightCraft promises what many miss: photo management without a cloud or subscription. The program is still in development. It is fine for trying out with a copy of your photo folder, but not yet as the only storage.
May I use LightCraft commercially?
Yes. The Apache 2.0 licence allows business use without a licence fee. It does not require you to publish your own files or data. Licence notices only apply if you redistribute or modify the program itself.
What does LightCraft cost?
Nothing. LightCraft is open source under the Apache 2.0 licence and may also be used in a business free of charge.
How do I install it?
The vendor’s page offers installers for Windows, macOS and Linux. If you use several Craft apps, the ArtCraft Launcher installs them and keeps them up to date. In businesses with several workstations, new programs should be approved centrally; we can help with that.
Related
Sources: vendor page and source code on GitHub, accessed 25 Oct 2026. We have tested the program ourselves and rated it worth a look. We have no business relationship with the vendor.
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