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ON1 Photo RAW Review and Score (AI Editing Software)

Last updated: November 6, 2023 - 35 min read
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ON1 Photo RAW is a RAW editing software that sees itself as a game changer in the photography world. Its aim is simple—to provide its users with approachable software that doesn’t require learning a range of specialized skills to achieve complex and beautiful edits.

ON1 is a company developed and owned by photographers focusing on their flagship Photo Raw program. It hit the web in 2017 and has been at the forefront of technological developments since its release.

ON1 is aware that most experienced photographers use Adobe or Capture One products. So, they also provide their unique functions as plug-ins.

A standout quality of ON1 Photo RAW is its adoption of AI to identify key features in your photographs. With this intelligence to read photos, ON1 Photo RAW gives you more control while potentially saving hours in creating masks. You can select specific areas in seconds or apply presets that affect only a portion of your images.

With these points in mind, let’s see how ON1 Photo RAW functions as a photo organizing and editing software. I’ll dissect every part of the program to see whether beginners and professionals can find a new application that makes their process easier, faster, and better! 

We Highly Recommend
ON1 Photo Raw
ON1 Photo RAW
A mid-table organization and editing software that offers a wide range of automatic functions. ON1 Photo RAW provides us with a peek at the potential futuristic capabilities of photo editing.

I have used Adobe Lightroom since its first iteration and have experience with various editing software. I have tested the top options available on the market. This testing has included everything from high-end software to entry-level programs. Read all our other reviews to find the best editing software for you!


RAW landscape image of desert rock formation and camelsON1 edited landscape image of desert rock formation and camels
 

ON1 Photo RAW Review: Key Features and Benefits

ON1 Photo RAW is a non-destructive RAW processing program. This means any adjustments you make in the application will not modify the original image.

The software doesn’t require an import process. Instead, you can locate your images through a basic file management system. ON1 can read RAW files from over 900+ cameras, covering a vast majority of modern digital cameras.

The greatest strength of ON1 Photo RAW is its ability to apply heavy photo manipulations easily and accurately. ON1 has put its primary focus on developing its AI functionality. This comes to light in many ways.

But its ability to read different sections in a photo is its most versatile development. With this, ON1 saves masking time and allows various options to make unfavorable photos more dramatic and dynamic in seconds.

Another noticeable strength is the range of preinstalled presets found in the program. This is particularly useful for beginner photographers who want to achieve drastic effects in seconds.

On top of this, ON1 provides an easy way to fine-tune these presets. You can stack a range of presets and adjust the finer details in each preset.

The layering system found in ON1 Photo RAW is another highlight. Its approachable and simple system is easy enough for beginners to pick up with only a short demonstration. Experienced editors will understand it almost immediately. Layered editing allows for finer controls in photos.

Presets, local adjustments, sky swap, and others exist using the same layering system, but Photo Raw splits these to ensure everything is clear. This system works great and is ideal for getting inexperienced editors into industry-standard methods.

ON1 Photo RAW has also spent time developing its Healing Brush technology. You can now perform advanced healing techniques to make your photo exactly how you want it.

This new technique lets you scale and rotate the healing brush. It even lets you flip your selection for perfect symmetry! On top of this, Copy and Move actions let you reposition and add more objects to your photo.

Newer additions to the software include a greater focus on image quality. This includes developments in their Resize function as well as their NoNoise AI.

AI’s ability to push these functions to new heights is evident across most recent photography software. ON1 has adopted these functions and added them to its stunning lineup of AI abilities.


RAW landscape image of river and yellow autumn treesON1 edited landscape image of river and yellow autumn trees
 

Overview of Specifications

ON1 Photo RAW
ON1 Photo Raw
Minimum Computer Requirements
Minimum Computer Requirements
8 GB RAM, 4 GB disk space
Minimum Software Requirements
Minimum Software Requirements
macOS 10.15.6 (Catalina), Microsoft Windows 10
Tethered Shooting
Tethered Shooting
Yes
Mobile / Tablet Option
Mobile / Tablet Option
Yes
Keyword Tagging
Keyword Tagging
Yes
Camera and Lens Corrections
Camera and Lens Corrections
Yes
Brush Tools
Brush Tools
Masking Brush, Refine, Retouch, Liquify
Layered Editing
Layered Editing
Yes
AI Editing
AI Editing
Yes
Noise Reduction
Noise Reduction
Yes
Export Options
Export Options
JPEG, TIFF, DNG, PNG, PSD
Best For
Best For
Amateur photographers who don't want to spend too much time behind a computer or anyone who wants to make dramatic edits easily without having to learn Photoshop

ON1 Photo RAW functions as stand-alone software supporting the whole photographic process from upload to export. It deals with RAW processing, file management, editing software, and exporting in multiple formats.

Add a couple of AI features that allow for plenty of enhancement to your photos, and you get extremely attractive software. Instead of focusing on the strengths of Lightroom and trying to catch up, ON1 Photo RAW sets its own path in the software market.

It has perfectly predicted the future of photographic editing and is ahead of some of the bigger software companies in its AI abilities. This not only tells us that the company has great features but also that they have a great vision for the future developments of photography.

In addition to these features, ON1 also provides features that improve usability and accessibility. This is noticeable in its improved RAW processing times, the inclusion of tethered shooting, and a phone and tablet application.

One big point ON1 decided to employ is its own dedicated cloud service. The cloud service gives you secure storage space accessible across multiple devices.

To run ON1 Photo RAW on your Mac, you need at least macOS 10.15.6 or newer. But ON1 recommends you have macOS 12. You will need at least Windows 10 for Windows, but Windows 11 is recommended.

There have been reports of the program needing to be faster. I have yet to experience this, but I run the program on an up-to-date Mac. You must also have at least 8 GB of RAM and 3 GB of extra space.

Main Strengths 

ON1 is on a mission to simplify the toughest and most time-consuming functions in digital photo editing.

It benefits photographers who like to have unlimited creative control over their photos rather than those who like to keep their photos natural. This is thanks to the incredible way you can simply change the atmosphere of a photo.

On top of a simpler way to perform tasks, the tools ON1 created are designed to save you time. If you’re a photographer who doesn’t have time to edit for hours, Photo Raw may be for you. And if you consider the organizational aspect of this application, it can function as the sole software for many photographers.

 

Workspace and File Management

Importing and Organizing Photos

ON1 Photo RAW does a great job of keeping the interface simple and clear without hiding key features. This includes easily identifiable icons to take your images to the next step of the editing process. It also shows each image’s relevant info and metadata.

File browsing is as simple as any folder structure found on any computer. When opening ON1 Photo RAW, you are greeted with the choice to hop straight to a single edit, browse through folders, or catalog your photos. This is the main method to locate your photos.

You must find the Getting Started page when you want to open a new separate folder, for instance, from Desktop or Downloads. An icon to get there quickly is at the top of the left-hand tool panel.

The other icons in this toolbar let you quickly cycle between the main folders to find your photos. You will find an icon for your Desktop, Pictures, Local Drives, and Albums. Underneath these icons, you will also find Advanced Search and Smart Organize.

Overall, ON1 Photo RAW‘s basic organization is simple and well thought out. And ON1 provides plenty of video tutorials to assist beginners.


Screenshot of ON1 RAW workspaceScreenshot of ON1 Photo RAW interface and highlighted plus-sign buttonScreenshot of ON1 Photo RAW Getting Started panel Screenshot of highlighted ON1 Photo RAW directional buttons
 

Viewing Photos

ON1 Photo RAW‘s Browse section prioritizes seeing your images clearly. This is the most helpful aspect when sorting through hundreds of images. The interface has plenty of customization options. You can flip between a few viewing options, such as Fullscreen, Filmstrip, Compare, and Map View.

You will also find the standard thumbnail size adjustments. There is even an icon to access a dual-screen mode quickly.

ON1 did a great job identifying the most valuable viewing options and giving us quick and easy access. Everything has been thought through for maximum attention and focus on the photos. To the bottom-left and right of your application are icons to collapse each panel for an uninterrupted editing experience.

Photo Raw also lets you create virtual copies of an image to try out different editing styles. In ON1 Photo RAW, they are referred to as “Versions.” You can create several Versions without ever tampering with the original RAW file.


Screenshot of ON1 Photo RAW grid viewScreenshot of ON1 Photo RAW fullscreen viewScreenshot of ON1 Photo RAW map view
 

Search and Sorting Tools

I was pleasantly surprised by ON1‘s approach to searching and organizing photos on a large scale. Any photographer with a couple of years of photos will understand the difficulty of finding a single photo quickly.

First of all, the Advanced Search lets you sort through a number of criteria and fields to find specific keywords, ratings, and other elements you may have attached to the photo. This method easily reduces large sections of photos. You can use this same search feature to create Smart Albums.

The best feature ON1 provides to help with organization is the Smart Organize feature. The program searches through your images to find images taken simultaneously, images that look the same or were taken in the same place, and duplicates.

This is incredibly helpful on multiple levels. First, if you have some photos taken in quick succession, you may only want one as your final. With Smart Organize, you can isolate these images to help pick your favorite and remove all other options.

Another strong positive of the Smart Organize feature is easily eliminating duplicates. Messy photographers will rejoice at this feature. Here, you can see each photo’s duplicates in a single area and delete irrelevant ones. This feature is great for spring cleaning your digital archive.


Screenshot of ON1 Photo RAW highlighted smart organize iconScreenshot of ON1 Photo RAW smart organize optionsScreenshot of ON1 Photo RAW search results for similar appearance
 

Image Development

RAW File Processing

Let’s start by discussing how ON1 Photo RAW reads our files through RAW processing. When importing your images, the program automatically translates your RAW files into visual material. The results ON1 Photo RAW produces are up to a very high standard. They can draw a great amount of detail and contrast from your photo.

The RAW processing just about holds up when comparing the results to Lightroom. The difference in detail and contrast are apparent. It picks up smaller details in the tonal range, ensuring no bits of information are lost in the process.

The unedited ON1 image is quite flat, which professional editors will prefer, but not casual or amateur photographers. The Lightroom image is more pungent with color, especially in the shadows.


ON1 RAW image of boy playing in an urban courtyard in front of a churchLightroom RAW image of boy playing in an urban courtyard in front of a churchON1 Photo RAW crop of person playing steel drumsLightroom crop of person playing steel drums
 

Basic Editing Tools

To access the editing, you can find the icons to switch between the Browse and Edit workspaces on the far right. You will notice that ON1 Photo RAW automatically applies camera and lens adjustments to the images you import.

This reduces distortion, chromatic aberration, and peripheral fall-off. A simple automatic adjustment like this is a great start to the editing process. You can turn this off by clicking the blue circle next to Lens Correction.

The editing process is split into five different sections. Develop, Effects, Portraits, Sky, and Local. Splitting different editing tools between these sections is helpful for several reasons.

Primarily, it lets you find the specific tools you want as quickly as possible. It also simplifies the workspace, making for an uninterrupted editing experience. For now, we will look at the Develop section.

ON1 splits the Develop process into “Tone & Color” and “Noise & Sharpening.” These sections contain a few easy sliders that cover basic adjustments. If you are looking for a wide range of sliders to fine-tune every tonal feature, ON1 Photo RAW is not for you. Instead, these adjustments fit along with the AI adjustments that come later.

The Tone section even has its own AI settings you can apply. AI Match will attempt to match the JPEG preview from the RAW file. AI Auto will adjust the sliders to best portray the tones from the RAW photo. These are a great starting point for photographers who don’t know where to begin their editing process.

The Exposure Compensation tool is harsh and all-encompassing but works well. It lets you adjust the photo to five stops of compensation, similar to Lightroom. When looking at both ON1 Photo RAW and Lightroom at -4 stops, you can see they are both relatively similar.

ON1 Photo RAW applies a blanket darkness rather than reading where the highlights and light sources come from. You get more detail in the darks at -4 on ON1, but the color retention isn’t as accurate.


ON1 underexposed urban imageLightroom underexposed urban image

Looking at other basic tonal tools (like shadow adjustments), we can see that ON1 keeps a similar approach to these basic adjustments. This approach could be better at identifying the different tonal ranges.

But it does provide options for drastic changes compared to Lightroom. This may be because ON1 only provides a few other avenues for tonal adjustment, unlike Lightroom.

Both programs reach -100, but -75 on ON1 is closer to -100 on Lightroom. Pushing the Shadows in ON1 isn’t a good idea. As you can see from this photo, ON1’s shadow doesn’t just darken areas, but it also adds a softness to the image.


ON1 shadow adjustments to image of boy playing in an urban courtyard in front of a churchLightroom shadow adjustments to image of boy playing in an urban courtyard in front of a church
 

ON1 has recently added a Tone Curve. Unlike Lightroom, you won’t find this in the same Develop section. You will need to go to Effects and then add another Filter. Here, you can select “Curves” and find the tonal curve. This is an important addition that many more experienced photographers will appreciate.

Other basic edits that ON1 has put in Photo Raw have all been thought through and provide helpful tools. This is especially true if you take a creative approach to photos.

One of these simple additions is found in the Crop section, which is located on ON1‘s far-left Tool panel. Here, you can set crop overlays to help with your compositions, even overlaying the golden spiral.

Preset Support

ON1 provides an incredible approach to presets. So, if you use them often, ON1 Photo RAW could be your program.

One unique feature ON1 employs is treating each preset as having multiple layers. This means you can go into and edit each aspect of the preset to meticulous detail. You are even able to add more filters or take some away. And you can always save your new preset once you have it perfectly fine-tuned.

Presets are front and center of the ON1 Photo RAW workspace. You can access them from both the Browse and Edit workspaces. ON1 provides great viewing options for preset selection. Once you click on the preset you want, you will see your current selected image with each preset variation.

From there, you can click the thumbnail button up top, which shows you all these in full-screen mode. This is an incredible way to see each preset variation quickly and in great detail.

Another unique feature that ON1 uses is AI adaptive presets. These are a game changer for presets. They allow for incredible control with minimal input from the user. I will cover this section more later on.

Highlighted Preset panel
 

Photo Manipulation Tools

ON1 Photo RAW provides users with a great introduction to important manipulation tools. You get quick and easy access to Local Adjustments, which uses simple masks to apply adjustments to specific areas.

You also get quick and simple access to the Retouch tool. A Retouch tool is why many people use programs like Photoshop. By providing this in ON1, you might never have to purchase Photoshop.

The Retouch tool includes four modes—Healing Brush, Perfect Eraser, Retouch Brush, and Clone Stamp. Each of these brushes corresponds to tools you can find in Photoshop.

These brushes all perform well, but sometimes the Perfect Eraser takes a while to load its results. This isn’t often the most accurate manipulation, but it does produce okay results in certain situations. It performs best when a simple background is behind the subject you’re trying to erase.

I have found these brushes can malfunction slightly, adding extra information not in the mask. This is easily reverted by going back a step. 

Photo Raw also provides quick access to a Liquify tool, which is rare for editing software like this. The Liquify tool is a fun way to warp your image. If you use it well and with care, you can dramatically improve an image. You can also use the Liquify tool creatively, so it goes hand in hand with ON1’s creative ethos.

Here is a quick example of the Retouch tool in action. This edit took me just over a minute to do!


Unedited image of person posing with hands up beside a boat and lake in the rainEdited landscape image of a boat beside a lake in the rain
 

Variety of Image Editing Views

There aren’t any specialist viewing options to help with editing in ON1 Photo RAW. With each click, you will find a Preview button letting you see a before image and a current version. The only other view option comes from Dual Screen Mode.

The Dual Screen Mode opens a separate page, allowing you to browse, organize, and rate your images in a separate workspace. This lets you have one Edit workspace up while also seeing the Browse workspace. This opens up many possibilities for your editing process or even for presenting your photos to clients.


Screenshot of ON1 Photo RAW dual screen workspaceScreenshot of ON1 Photo RAW dual screen mode with highlighted icon
 

Advanced Editing Features

AI Masking and Super Select AI

ON1 Photo RAW‘s most attractive feature is its AI masking. With the Super Select AI tool, you can choose the area you want to edit by clicking on the relevant section. ON1’s AI reads the image and assesses similar objects to understand what can be grouped.

This is far more accurate than the Magic Wand tool found in Photoshop. That’s because the AI reads the image, not just the change of tones and textures.

The Super Select AI tool can be found in the far-right toolbar. To use this tool, you simply hover over your image. Relevant areas turn red if they are deemed to be the same object. Your selection turns blue once you have clicked the relevant area.

From there, you can right-click and add all the adjustments Photo Raw offers. The program then makes a mask layer where your adjustment is fully customizable.

The tool works incredibly well. I normally spend hours creating paths for particular objects in Photoshop. This tool can do it in seconds! It is less accurate than producing your own paths, but for the time it takes, I was blown away.

Tools like this completely change the photographic experience because they allow beginners to perform complex edits. With ON1‘s progression in this technology, it is as easy as identifying a section that needs refining, clicking on it, and selecting the relevant adjustment.

This tool alone makes the software worth buying if you don’t have time to learn complex editing processes.


Unedited image of old government building with river reflection at golden hourBlue highlighted old government building with river reflection at golden hourEdited image of old government building with river reflection at golden hour
 

Sky Swap AI

Sky Swap AI is a feature that continues to blow me away. Thanks to ON1‘s development, you can completely change an image’s atmosphere in seconds.

Commercial photographers often keep their own “sky library” to edit their photos with unfavorable skies. ON1 gives you your own library with a huge range of options from stormy skies to the aurora borealis!

To use this tool, just find the Sky section in the Edit panel on the right of your screen. Once you click here, the program automatically detects the sky in your image. You then get a layer that contains all relevant customization for your new sky.

A standout feature for me is how it automatically adjusts foreground lighting. This is an element that photographers overlook when adding a new sky. It makes the difference between a believable sky and a bad Photoshop job.

Sky Swap AI lets you adjust the horizon level and fine-tune the edge of the sky to the rest of the image. These adjustments are important to make it as believable as possible.

ON1 even gives you the choice of uploading your own sky images. This is great because you can still access all the fine-tuning edits after placing the sky in your image.

This feature has blown me away. Expert photographers will be able to tell some of the skies are edited. But if you use a believable sky, you may trick even the most experienced photographers!

A feature like this can be useful for endless reasons. It works best for those working commercial jobs where a dull sky ruins an image. This is particularly true for real estate or architecture photography. But it can be used for most commercial genres!


Unedited image of a boy playing in an urban courtyard in front of a churchSky replaced in an image of a boy playing in an urban courtyard in front of a churchScreenshot of ON1 Photo RAW editing sliders with image
 

NoNoise AI

NoNoise AI is ON1‘s noise reduction software that uses AI for better results. As well as reducing noise, it also does a good job of sharpening and refining details in shadows and low-light areas. You can find NoNoise AI in Noise & Sharpening in the Develop section.

On the whole, the noise reduction does an okay job. It tries to apply too much sharpening or “Enhance Detail,” so I had to tone this down. Even with these toned down, this software still put a lot of sharpening in. This is great for certain pictures but can look fake on others, especially if you plan on printing your images.

The NoNoise AI also tends to smooth over wide noise areas on a plain background. This is how most noise reduction systems work, but I feel ON1‘s system can make certain sections look too soft. Again, this works well if you use your images for the web. But if you plan on printing them out, it does not hold up either.

NoNoise can be used simultaneously with Tack Sharp AI to give you more detail and sharpness in your image.


Unedited ON1 RAW image of rooftop with a police signON1 image of rooftop and police sign with noise reductionUnedited RAW image of rooftop and police signLightroom image of rooftop and police sign with noise reduction
 

Tack Sharp AI

Tack Sharp is a sharpening tool powered by AI that aims to give you more clarity in your images. I am not impressed by this feature. As I said, it tries to do too much with the sharpening and gives a rigid, over-pixelated look.

This is only really evident if you are zooming into the image. So, it is similar to the noise reduction, which won’t hold up on large prints.

ON1 claims unsharp images can be saved with Tack Sharp AI. And this is true to a certain extent. Tack Sharp AI works best on slightly soft images from either camera shake or a fast-moving subject.

The program’s strong point is that it can take soft lines and make them more definable. It won’t fully save an image when blown up, but it will make it look sharper for the web.

I found I was turning down the main Deblur slider almost three-quarters of the way on images that were shot in low light. This is due to the pixelation and added noise in these situations. For the example below, I did not touch any of the sliders. 


Close-up soft-focus image of a city building facadeClose-up of sharpened photo of city building with pixelation and noise
 

Resize AI

Resize AI is Photo Raw‘s photo enlargement software that uses AI to blow up images that may not have the quality to withstand large prints. A program like this is extremely helpful. It allows you to use images for situations outside your abilities.

There isn’t much to complain about this application. If it can give us more detail than the original image, that is a huge win. And from my tests, the Resize AI performs this task well without damaging the original results.

You also won’t find the over-sharpening and noise that comes with the Tack Sharp AI program. It actually is better at sharpening than the sharpening tool ON1 provides! 


Zoomed-in image of a building with a billboardZoomed-in sharpened image of a building with a billboard
 

AI Adaptive Presets

AI Adaptive Presets are a game changer for those who like to use presets in their editing process. Presets are helpful because they allow detailed edits to be done to an image in seconds.

ON1 Photo RAW‘s Adaptive Presets now take this one step further. Not only can you apply adjustments, but you can also apply masks without any intervention.

A feature like this would be extremely useful for photographers who work in a studio. Or it’s helpful with a repetitive subject matter that would need masking.

Other uses would include landscape, architecture, and car photography. AI Adaptive Presets can separate the subject and apply select adjustments to the background or subject of your photo.

Although these presets can save hours of editing, you must be careful about using the same one on every photo. For instance, if you use a sky swap adaptive preset, you may have the exact same clouds in every shot. People would quickly catch on that these photographs are edited.

The preset options are great, but they work best if you tweak them to your preferences. Luckily, ON1 makes this extremely easy to do. You are even able to make your own AI Adaptive Presets from scratch. This may take a while to set up, but it could save you hours down the road.


Original image of a plane landing over a group of peopleScreenshot of ON1 RAW Photo preset optionsImage of a plane landing over a group of people with an ON1 preset appliedScreenshot of ON1 adjustment sliders and image
 

Exporting and Sharing Images

Exporting in ON1 Photo RAW is straightforward. It doesn’t let you export in as many file types as Lightroom. But it offers a nice amount of control over the image regarding metadata and watermarks. You can even apply sharpening and resizing at this point in the editing process.

ON1 Photo RAW performs its exporting through the use of presets. It has some already, but you can also create your own to keep your files uniform whenever you export.

I see how this makes sense. But, in practice, photographers always need different file sizes and restrictions for different environments. It was slightly annoying that it asked me if I wanted to save this preset whenever I adjusted the exporting file.

 

Smartphone and Tablet Compatibility 

ON1 Photo RAW solidifies itself as an all-encompassing photo editing app with an app available for smartphones and tablets. You will find a wide range of the same features in the app on their desktop app.

You won’t be able to perform most of their AI actions on the application. But this makes sense as these are powerful tools. But it does feature a wide range of RAW photo processing edits from exposure control to presets.

On top of the basic adjustments, the app lets you perform more complex controls. This features great masking and local adjustment actions designed with touchscreens in mind. The app even allows you to stack multiple filters and actions. This lets you use the app similarly to Photoshop.

The app also brings you many more useful features besides photo editing. You get access to the organizational side of the app. If you get the ON1 Everything subscription plan, you can access ON1 Cloud Sync.

Cloud Sync lets you access your photos, edits, presets, and other extras from any device. This means you can continue to work on the same projects without sending images over email or other file transfer services.

If you like to use your smartphone or tablet as a camera, the ON1 app comes with a camera that gives you pro-level controls. It allows you to control the ISO, exposure, white balance, and more. It also saves your images as RAW files, giving you more flexibility in the post-processing stage.

Overall, the smartphone and tablet application is a great additional feature. It feels like an extension of Photo Raw rather than an afterthought. But it is a bit unrefined in certain sections. I found the uploading to not have the simplest and most accessible approach.

With the amazing capabilities we now get from smartphones and tablets, working on the go can be crucial for many photographers. This application may be another reason someone wants to choose ON1 Photo RAW.

ON1 Photo app on a tablet
 

ON1 Photo RAW Pricing Plans

ON1 has various options to accommodate different payment styles for their app. They offer both a monthly or yearly payment option and a one-off payment option. This satisfies all styles and periods people may want to use their application.

ON1 also gives you the option to buy their plug-ins separately. This is ideal for Adobe users who may want a specific action that ON1 performs. You can also buy cloud storage for ON1 Photo RAW to accompany your purchase. This comes in either a 1 TB or 200 GB option.

The flexibility ON1 Photo RAW offers means you should be satisfied with one of their options. New users can buy the stand-alone app, while ON1 owners can upgrade for a little less. New users can buy ON1 Photo RAW MAX, which adds the plug-in feature, for a sale price.

The pricing isn’t the cheapest, but it won’t break the bank. Photo Raw is fairly priced for all the features you get. But remember that many of the features we have covered in this article would come under the ON1 Everything subscription.

 

Alternatives to ON1 Photo RAW

Adobe Lightroom

After exploring ON1 Photo RAW, I can see how some photographers find it their ideal editing software. I wouldn’t be surprised if some are even tempted to stop using Adobe products altogether! This is because ON1 Photo RAW is designed for, and will attract, a particular type of photographer.

Adobe Lightroom has more in-depth and professional controls regarding organization and photo editing. Even though it caters to the higher end of the photographic spectrum, many Lightroom features may only be used for specific niches. So, you might be paying for advanced features or niche controls you may never use.

ON1 caters to providing the most crucial photographic actions in an accessible way. And it doesn’t have as much of a learning curve as advanced features found in Photoshop. This tells us that ON1 isn’t trying to replicate Adobe products but is bringing its own approach and ethos to the photo software market.

The main difference between ON1 Photo RAW and Adobe’s Lightroom is the control you get over the organization of your photos. This is not just in file navigation but also in general navigation around the application.

This results in Lightroom having a more archival feel to the application. This is reinforced by the many other ways to organize and catalog your photos in Lightroom.

Both programs approach editing in different ways. They both function using simple sliders, but you will find more in-depth controls in Lightroom. Most people making these in-depth adjustments will want to perform them on dedicated programs such as Photoshop.

Even though Lightroom is more in-depth, ON1 Photo RAW contains a great layered editing system that is missing from Lightroom. So ON1 Photo RAW functions better as an all-inclusive editing software without the same attention to detail.


RAW landscape image of sky, ocean shoreline, and inletBrightly edited image of sky, ocean shoreline, and inlet
 

Final Verdict for ON1 Photo RAW

Workspace
Workspace
65%
File Management & Organization
File Management & Organization
83%
RAW Processing
RAW Processing
73%
Importing & Exporting
Importing & Exporting
71%
Basic Editing Tools
Basic Editing Tools
74%
Manipulation Tools
Manipulation Tools
75%
Advanced Editing
Advanced Editing
77%
One-Click Editing
One-Click Editing
76%
Range of Tools
Range of Tools
82%
Value for Money
Value for Money
73%
Total Score
Total Score
86%

ON1 Photo RAW is a great software that finds its place as a photographic software to consider, thanks to its unique approach. The software positions itself as an application heavily reliant on AI abilities.

AI actions let computers read photos like never before. Thus, it performs advanced edits automatically. ON1 has harnessed this power to its advantage and has devised innovative ways to shake up the world of photo editing.

An automatic approach often means sacrificing control. ON1 has ensured this is not the case with their AI features.

Using layers, the software gives you automatic actions but lets you go back into the edits and fine-tune them to your desired effect. The use of layers is a defining factor of the software and is a great stepping stone between Lightroom and Photoshop.

All these features and approaches tell us that ON1 is ideal for photographers who may not have the same computer literacy as others. Many know that learning a new software can be like learning a new language. The inaccessibility can be a huge turn-off to get to perform advanced edits.

ON1 caters to people who don’t have time to put in the time. Now, they can achieve similar levels of control without needing extensive knowledge of how to use each tool.

The addition of AI features is great. But in terms of professional photographic performance, ON1 Photo RAW‘s adjustments are not up to par. This begins with the RAW processing and is seen in most basic adjustments.

Sometimes, even the AI adjustments can be sloppy. This isn’t surprising considering the early days of AI photo editing, but it is something to note when considering the software. 

I recommend ON1 Photo RAW to many photographers. Particularly those who are getting into photography late or those who aren’t computer savvy. Or even those who have short attention spans. The program takes some time to learn advanced features, but ON1 provides a wide range of video support to help.

We Highly Recommend
ON1 Photo Raw
ON1 Photo RAW
A mid-table organization and editing software that offers a wide range of automatic functions. ON1 Photo RAW provides us with a peek at the potential futuristic capabilities of photo editing.