# imagic: full fact sheet

> imagic is the one-time-purchase alternative to subscription and per-image AI culling and editing tools.

Last updated: 2026-10-03. Canonical page: https://imagic.ink/facts

imagic is desktop photo software for Windows and macOS. It culls a shoot with AI (scoring every frame and grouping bursts and duplicates), then edits and exports the keepers in the same app. Photos are processed on your own computer and are never uploaded.

## Pricing
- imagic Lite: 19 EUR, one-time. AI culling with duplicate and burst detection, the full manual editor (exposure, curves, HSL, crop), local adjustments (brush, linear, radial) and batch export on a native RAW pipeline.
- imagic Plus: 49 EUR, one-time. Everything in Lite, plus mask layers and AI masking, heal, clone and content-aware remove, portrait polish and watermarking.
- imagic Max: 99 EUR, one-time. Everything in Plus, plus the built-in MCP server and headless CLI, style calibration that learns from your own edits, and neural denoise, upscale and semantic search.
- Updates: Buy once, update forever: every licence includes all future imagic versions and new camera support for its tier. This covers Lite, Plus and Max alike, at no extra cost, for the life of the product: no paid major versions and no update plan to renew. Moving up a tier (Lite to Plus, Plus to Max) is the only paid change, and costs just the difference in price.
- Upgrades: pay only the difference between tiers.
- Free trial: 500 exports, full imagic Max features, no card; culling and editing are unlimited; 90-day backstop on the trial key.
- Refunds: 14-day refund window.
- A 50% launch discount is applied automatically at checkout until 31 October; the list prices above are the prices without it.
- Checkout: https://imagic.ink/desktop#desktop-checkout (secure checkout by Stripe)

## Price history
- 2026-03-18: First public release (0.1.0). Sold as a single one-time licence, advertised at USD 10.
- 2026-08-09: Three one-time tiers replace the single licence: Lite 19 EUR, Plus 49 EUR, Max 99 EUR. Everyone who bought before this date was moved to Max at no charge.
- 2026-09-25: The free trial is metered in exports (500) instead of days. Importing, culling and editing do not count against it.
- 2026-10-02: Written update policy: every licence, at every tier, includes all future versions and new camera support for life. Every release before this date already reached every licence holder at no charge.

## Platforms and versions
- Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) and macOS 14 Sonoma or later (Apple Silicon and Intel). One licence, one active device at a time.
- Current version: 1.5.2
- A portable Linux archive (.tar.gz) is also published, less often (currently 1.3.11).
- Release cadence: 34 tagged releases from 1.0.0 (10 August 2026) to 1.4.4 (1 October 2026). First public release 0.1.0 on 2026-03-18. Changelog: https://imagic.ink/changelog. Downloads and checksums: https://github.com/Lukefen31/imagic-releases/releases

## What's new
- The conversion pages (home, /desktop, /mcp and its setup guides, /tutorial, /press, /facts, /educators, /system-requirements) are published in 6 other languages (Deutsch, Español, Français, Italiano, Português, Nederlands) from the same templates as the English pages, with a language selector in the header and footer, since 2026-10-07. English stays at the root URLs and the blog is English only.
- A press kit (fact sheet, founder bio, logo pack download, six before/after pairs, contact) is published at https://imagic.ink/press, since 2026-10-03.
- A free one-page PDF, 'The 10-minute culling checklist', usable with any culling tool, is published at https://imagic.ink/culling-checklist, since 2026-10-03. No purchase or trial is needed to download it.
- The help centre at https://imagic.ink/help has 20 step-by-step articles, each answering one real support question with its own dated page.
- Version 1.4.7 (2026-10-03) ships the face-detection model inside the app itself, so face detection works offline on a fresh install; adds a Home banner telling trial users how many of their 500 exports are left, shown at 100 and 25 remaining; and adds a Home tip pointing first-time users to Export once photos are analysed or edited but not yet exported. Full changelog: https://imagic.ink/changelog.
- Six before/after photo pairs pinned at the top of https://imagic.ink/gallery are example edits by imagic's founder, not customer submissions: Church street, Erice, Saltpan sunset, Inverted lane, Erice, Windmill saltpans, golden hour, Sunset silhouette, Blue hour terrace.

## What it does
- Scores every frame for sharpness, exposure, noise, composition and detail
- Detects closed eyes and whether the subject is in focus
- Groups bursts and near-duplicates and picks the strongest frame of each group
- An Action (sports) profile groups bursts by pose and keeps the peak frame
- Learns from your keep and trash decisions over later sessions
- RAW formats: CR2, CR3 (Canon); NEF (Nikon); ARW (Sony); RAF (Fujifilm); ORF (Olympus / OM System); RW2 (Panasonic); DNG (Adobe Digital Negative); PEF (Pentax)
- Other inputs: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP
- Exports: JPEG, PNG and TIFF, with optional Lightroom Classic XMP sidecars

## AI agents (MCP and CLI)
- imagic Max includes a local MCP (Model Context Protocol) server with 25 tools for scanning, culling, editing and exporting, and a standalone CLI. Tool reference: https://imagic.ink/mcp/tools
- Works with MCP clients including Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code with GitHub Copilot, Codex CLI and Gemini CLI, configured once on your own machine. Setup per client: https://imagic.ink/mcp/setup
- Since 1.4.0 (26 September 2026), ChatGPT and Claude.ai on the web can connect through an opt-in relay at mcp.imagic.ink paired with a 6-digit code. Photos stay on your computer; library metadata (file names, EXIF, scores) passes through the relay.
- Listed on the official MCP Registry (registry.modelcontextprotocol.io) as io.github.Lukefen31/imagic, with remote https://mcp.imagic.ink/mcp; Smithery and PulseMCP ingest their listings from the registry automatically.
- Public setup docs and examples: https://github.com/Lukefen31/imagic-mcp

## Privacy
- Culling, editing and RAW processing run locally. Photos are never uploaded to imagic.
- The internet is used for licence activation, update checks and a small set of anonymous usage data: a one-way device fingerprint, OS and version, counts and durations, and error hashes. Never photos, file names, folder paths or image data. It can be switched off in Settings, About, Share anonymous usage data.

## Limits (what imagic does not do)
- Desktop only: no phone or tablet app. A free single-photo web editor runs at imagic.ink/editor.
- No cloud sync or cloud backup of your library.
- No tethered shooting.
- Not a long-term archive manager (DAM): it is built to take a shoot from card to export, not to catalogue decades of photos with keywords and collections.
- No third-party plugin ecosystem.
- The Windows installer is not code-signed yet (signing is in progress), so Windows SmartScreen and some antivirus tools warn on first install. SHA-256 checksums are published with every release.
- A very new product from a one-person company: first public release in March 2026.

## Company
- imagic is made by Luke Fenech (Sole trader, Malta), founded 2026. Contact: snap@imagic.ink
- Profiles: https://github.com/Lukefen31/imagic-mcp, https://x.com/imagic_ink, https://www.instagram.com/imagic.ink/, https://www.facebook.com/imagic.ink, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3KwK--LvJwoNK_DighJVzQ, https://www.tiktok.com/@imagic.ink

## Frequently asked questions
### Is imagic a subscription?
No. imagic is a one-time purchase: Lite 19 EUR, Plus 49 EUR or Max 99 EUR. There is no recurring fee and no per-image charge. Upgrading later costs only the difference.

### Are future updates included?
Yes. Buy once, update forever: every licence includes all future imagic versions and new camera support for its tier. This covers Lite, Plus and Max alike, at no extra cost, for the life of the product: no paid major versions and no update plan to renew. Moving up a tier (Lite to Plus, Plus to Max) is the only paid change, and costs just the difference in price.

### Is there a free trial?
Yes. The trial covers 500 exported photos with full imagic Max features and needs no card. Importing, culling and editing are unlimited during the trial; only finished exports count. The trial key also has a 90-day backstop.

### Does imagic upload my photos?
No. Culling, editing and RAW processing all run on your own computer. The app sends anonymous usage counts (never images or file names) that you can switch off.

### Which platforms does imagic run on?
Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) and macOS 14 Sonoma or later (Apple Silicon and Intel). The same licence key works on either, on one active device at a time.

### How is imagic different from Aftershoot, Narrative Select, FilterPixel or Imagen?
Those tools are sold as subscriptions or per edited photo. imagic is paid for once, culls and edits in the same app, and runs locally. Each comparison page at imagic.ink/compare links the competitor's own pricing page and the date we checked it.

### Can an AI assistant control imagic?
Yes, on imagic Max. Its MCP server and CLI let Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Copilot or Codex scan, cull, edit and export a shoot. Setup guides are at imagic.ink/mcp/setup.

## Comparisons
Competitor facts come from each vendor's own pages on the date shown. Prices change; the linked pricing page is the authority.

### imagic vs Adobe Lightroom Classic (https://imagic.ink/compare/lightroom-classic)
- Vendor: Adobe Inc. Model: Subscription. Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Pricing: Adobe Photography plan (1TB), which includes Lightroom Classic, Lightroom and Photoshop: USD 19.99/month billed annually, as listed on Adobe's US plans page on 3 October 2026 (prices vary by region; check Adobe for current pricing) (checked 2026-10-03, source https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html)
- Price model: Lightroom Classic: Subscription only, part of Adobe Photography Plan | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: Lightroom Classic: Yes - Assisted Culling, with a Faces panel showing Eye Focus and Eyes Open scores (version 15.4, June 2026) | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: Lightroom Classic: Yes - automatic duplicate detection, stacked for review (version 15.4, June 2026) | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: Lightroom Classic: Yes - presets, sync settings across many photos | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: Lightroom Classic: Yes, mature RAW engine, wide camera support | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: Lightroom Classic: Yes, catalog and files stay local (cloud sync optional) | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): Lightroom Classic: No official MCP server or CLI from Adobe; third-party open-source MCP bridges for Lightroom Classic exist | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: Lightroom Classic: Windows, macOS | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: Lightroom Classic: Moderate to steep - deep menus, catalog system | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: Lightroom Classic remains the deepest, most established RAW workflow tool for photographers who want one app to catalog, edit, and archive everything long-term, and who are comfortable paying for it monthly. imagic is a better fit for photographers who want fast AI-assisted culling and batch editing without a subscription, and who do not need Lightroom Classic's full catalog and DAM depth.

### imagic vs Adobe Lightroom (https://imagic.ink/compare/lightroom-cc)
- Vendor: Adobe Inc. Model: Subscription. Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android, web.
- Pricing: Lightroom plan (1TB): USD 11.99/month billed annually; the Photography plan (1TB) that adds Lightroom Classic and Photoshop is USD 19.99/month, as listed on Adobe's US plans page on 3 October 2026 (prices vary by region; check Adobe for current pricing) (checked 2026-10-03, source https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html)
- Price model: Lightroom (CC): Subscription only, part of Adobe Photography Plan | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: Lightroom (CC): Yes - Assisted Culling, with a Faces panel showing Eye sharpness and Eyes open scores (version 9.4, June 2026) | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: Lightroom (CC): No built-in duplicate finder | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: Lightroom (CC): Yes - presets and sync across photos | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: Lightroom (CC): Yes, same core RAW engine as Lightroom Classic | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: Lightroom (CC): Cloud-first - library stored/synced via Adobe cloud; limited offline use | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): Lightroom (CC): No MCP/CLI for agent-driven editing | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: Lightroom (CC): Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android, web | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: Lightroom (CC): Low to moderate - simplified interface vs Classic | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: Lightroom is a strong pick for photographers who want their whole library available and editable from any device and are comfortable with cloud storage and a subscription. imagic is the better fit for people who want a one-time purchase, local-only processing, and dedicated AI culling for sorting through large shoots quickly.

### imagic vs Capture One (https://imagic.ink/compare/capture-one)
- Vendor: Capture One A/S. Model: Subscription. Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Pricing: As of 3 October 2026, EUR 20.50/month for Pro billed annually, EUR 28.00 for All in One, EUR 52.92 for Studio; a Capture One Pro perpetual license is still sold at EUR 391.00 one time (check vendor for current pricing and terms) (checked 2026-10-03, source https://www.captureone.com/en/pricing/capture-one-pro)
- Price model: Capture One: Subscription (monthly/annual); a Pro perpetual license is also still sold | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: Capture One: Yes - Assisted Review (beta) flags closed eyes, missed focus and exposure problems, and can run automatically while tethered (version 16.8.6, September 2026) | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: Capture One: No built-in duplicate finder | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: Capture One: Yes - strong batch/tethering workflow, styles and presets | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: Capture One: Yes, highly regarded color science and tethered RAW workflow | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: Capture One: Yes, local catalog/session based | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): Capture One: No MCP/CLI for agent-driven editing | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: Capture One: Windows, macOS | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: Capture One: Steep - powerful but complex for newcomers | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Updates and new camera support: Capture One: Its pricing page calls the perpetual licence "best for photographers who don't depend on our newest updates or hardware support" and does not promise it future versions or new camera support (checked 2 October 2026) | imagic: Buy once, update forever: every licence includes all future imagic versions and new camera support for its tier. Tier upgrades cost the difference.
- Verdict: Capture One earns its reputation among studio and commercial photographers who need best-in-class color control and tethered shooting. For photographers whose main bottleneck is sorting through hundreds or thousands of images quickly, imagic's AI culling and one-time price are a more direct fit, though it does not attempt to match Capture One's studio-grade color tools.

### imagic vs ON1 Photo RAW (https://imagic.ink/compare/on1-photo-raw)
- Vendor: ON1, Inc. Model: One-time license. Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Pricing: One-time purchase: ON1 Photo RAW 2027 USD 99.99, ON1 Photo RAW MAX 2027 USD 169.99, with yearly subscription plans also offered, as of 1 October 2026 (check vendor for current pricing) (checked 2026-10-01, source https://www.on1.com/products/photo-raw/)
- Price model: ON1 Photo RAW: One-time purchase with optional yearly upgrade; optional ON1 Plus subscription add-on | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: ON1 Photo RAW: Basic browsing/filtering tools, not a dedicated AI quality scorer | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: ON1 Photo RAW: No dedicated duplicate finder | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: ON1 Photo RAW: Yes - batch processing and presets | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: ON1 Photo RAW: Yes, built-in RAW engine | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: ON1 Photo RAW: Yes, local library | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): ON1 Photo RAW: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: ON1 Photo RAW: Windows, macOS | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: ON1 Photo RAW: Moderate - all-in-one editor with a lot of tools | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Updates and new camera support: ON1 Photo RAW: Free updates for versions 2026 and 2027; ON1 says the licence does not include major upgrades in future years (checked 2 October 2026) | imagic: Buy once, update forever: every licence includes all future imagic versions and new camera support for its tier. Tier upgrades cost the difference.
- Verdict: ON1 Photo RAW suits photographers who want one broad app covering browsing, editing, layers, and effects, and who are comfortable with a wider, more general feature set. imagic is narrower by design - it focuses on AI culling, duplicate detection, and batch editing - which makes it faster to learn for photographers whose main problem is sorting through large shoots.

### imagic vs Luminar Neo (https://imagic.ink/compare/luminar-neo)
- Vendor: Skylum. Model: One-time license. Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Pricing: One-time purchase as of 1 October 2026: Desktop Only EUR 99, All Platforms EUR 129, or Max EUR 159 (Max includes one year of Luminar Prime, renewing at EUR 69/year); Skylum also sells a Luminar X membership (check vendor for current pricing and terms) (checked 2026-10-04, source https://skylum.com/luminar/pricing)
- Price model: Luminar Neo: One-time purchase; subscription options offered at various times | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: Luminar Neo: Some AI-assisted sorting features, not a dedicated sharpness/eye scorer | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: Luminar Neo: No built-in duplicate finder | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: Luminar Neo: Limited batch tools compared to dedicated catalog apps | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: Luminar Neo: Yes, built-in RAW support | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: Luminar Neo: Yes, local processing; some AI features may use cloud | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): Luminar Neo: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: Luminar Neo: Windows, macOS | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: Luminar Neo: Low - marketed toward beginners with AI one-click effects | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Updates and new camera support: Luminar Neo: One-time plans list continuous updates (performance, bug fixes, new camera support); new features every year come with Luminar Prime, one year included on Max, then EUR 69/year (checked 2 October 2026) | imagic: Buy once, update forever: every licence includes all future imagic versions and new camera support for its tier. Tier upgrades cost the difference.
- Verdict: Luminar Neo is a good fit for photographers who want fast, dramatic AI effects on individual images. imagic addresses a different bottleneck: getting from a large shoot to a finished, consistently edited batch quickly, with AI culling and duplicate detection Luminar does not offer.

### imagic vs DxO PhotoLab (https://imagic.ink/compare/dxo-photolab)
- Vendor: DxO Labs. Model: One-time license. Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Pricing: As of 3 October 2026, DxO's shop lists a single DxO PhotoLab 10 edition (no separate Essential/Elite tiers shown): EUR 249.99 full licence or EUR 129.99 upgrade from an earlier owned version (USD pricing not shown on the EU shop page; check vendor for current pricing in your currency) (checked 2026-10-04, source https://shop.dxo.com/en/)
- Price model: DxO PhotoLab: One-time purchase with paid version upgrades | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: DxO PhotoLab: No dedicated AI culling scorer | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: DxO PhotoLab: No built-in duplicate finder | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: DxO PhotoLab: Yes - batch export and preset application | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: DxO PhotoLab: Yes, widely regarded for noise reduction (DeepPRIME) and lens correction | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: DxO PhotoLab: Yes, local processing | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): DxO PhotoLab: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: DxO PhotoLab: Windows, macOS | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: DxO PhotoLab: Moderate - fewer cataloging features, focused on image quality | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Updates and new camera support: DxO PhotoLab: New major versions are paid upgrades: from EUR 129.99 for PhotoLab 8 or 9 owners, against EUR 249.99 for a new PhotoLab 10 Elite licence (checked 2 October 2026) | imagic: Buy once, update forever: every licence includes all future imagic versions and new camera support for its tier. Tier upgrades cost the difference.
- Verdict: DxO PhotoLab is a strong choice for photographers whose priority is squeezing the best technical quality out of RAW files, especially in noisy, low-light conditions. imagic solves an earlier problem in the workflow - sorting and culling a shoot quickly - and does not attempt to match DxO's specialized optical correction and noise reduction engine.

### imagic vs darktable (https://imagic.ink/compare/darktable)
- Vendor: darktable open-source project / contributors. Model: Free, open source. Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Pricing: Free, no cost to download or use (open source, GPL-licensed) (checked 2026-10-04, source https://www.darktable.org/install/)
- Price model: darktable: Free, open source | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: darktable: No AI quality-scoring culler | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: darktable: No built-in duplicate finder | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: darktable: Yes - history stacks, styles, batch export | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: darktable: Yes, extensive RAW support via its own processing pipeline | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: darktable: Yes, fully local and offline | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): darktable: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: darktable: Windows, macOS, Linux | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: darktable: Steep - powerful but technical, darkroom-style workflow | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: darktable is an excellent choice for photographers who want a capable, free RAW editor with full manual control, especially on Linux. imagic trades some of that manual depth for AI-assisted culling, one-click styles, and a faster path through large shoots, at a one-time price rather than free.

### imagic vs RawTherapee (https://imagic.ink/compare/rawtherapee)
- Vendor: RawTherapee open-source project / contributors. Model: Free, open source. Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Pricing: Free, no cost to download or use (open source, GPL-licensed) (checked 2026-10-04, source https://rawtherapee.com/downloads/)
- Price model: RawTherapee: Free, open source | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: RawTherapee: No AI culling - manual rating and filtering only | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: RawTherapee: No built-in duplicate finder | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: RawTherapee: Yes - batch processing queue | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: RawTherapee: Yes, deep RAW processing engine | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: RawTherapee: Yes, fully local and offline | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): RawTherapee: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: RawTherapee: Windows, macOS, Linux | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: RawTherapee: Steep - very technical, many manual sliders | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: RawTherapee is the free power-user darkroom - imagic decodes and renders RAW files with its own built-in engine, no separate RawTherapee installation involved. The real difference is workflow: RawTherapee asks you to manually process each image, while imagic wraps its own processing in AI-driven culling and batch editing so you can move through hundreds of photos quickly. Photographers who enjoy manual RAW work and want it for free should stick with RawTherapee; those who want speed and automation should consider imagic.

### imagic vs digiKam (https://imagic.ink/compare/digikam)
- Vendor: KDE / digiKam team. Model: Free, open source. Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Pricing: Free, no cost to download or use (open source, GPL-licensed) (checked 2026-10-01, source https://www.digikam.org/download/)
- Price model: digiKam: Free, open source | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: digiKam: Basic face detection and some auto-tagging, not a dedicated quality scorer | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: digiKam: Yes, has a built-in duplicate finder tool | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: digiKam: Yes - batch queue manager | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: digiKam: Yes, via bundled/external RAW engines | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: digiKam: Yes, fully local and offline | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): digiKam: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: digiKam: Windows, macOS, Linux | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: digiKam: Moderate to steep - full DAM with many features to learn | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: digiKam is a capable, free choice for photographers who primarily need organization, tagging, and cataloging of large libraries, and it already includes duplicate detection. imagic is narrower and more editing-focused - its strength is AI culling for image quality and batch editing toward a finished set of exports, rather than long-term library management.

### imagic vs Photo Mechanic (https://imagic.ink/compare/photo-mechanic)
- Vendor: Camera Bits, Inc. Model: One-time license or subscription. Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Pricing: As of 4 October 2026: Photo Mechanic USD 299 perpetual (one year of updates included), USD 14.99/month, or USD 149/year. Photo Mechanic Plus is listed at USD 399 perpetual, USD 24.99/month, or USD 249/year with working Add to Cart buttons, despite Camera Bits announcing on 2 March 2026 that Plus was no longer available for purchase (check vendor for current pricing) (checked 2026-10-04, source https://home.camerabits.com/get-photomechanic/)
- Price model: Photo Mechanic: Perpetual licence or subscription; Camera Bits announced on 2 March 2026 that Plus was no longer for sale, but its own purchase page still lists and sells it at full price (checked 4 October 2026) | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: Photo Mechanic: No AI scoring - built for extremely fast manual culling via keyboard/preview speed | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: Photo Mechanic: No built-in duplicate finder | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: Photo Mechanic: Limited editing - primarily an ingest/culling/tagging tool, not a RAW editor | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: Photo Mechanic: Preview-only RAW rendering (uses embedded previews), not a full RAW develop engine | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: Photo Mechanic: Yes, fully local | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): Photo Mechanic: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: Photo Mechanic: Windows, macOS | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: Photo Mechanic: Low to moderate - fast to learn for its focused ingest/cull workflow | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: Photo Mechanic is hard to beat on raw manual culling speed for photographers who process huge volumes under deadline pressure, but it is a preview and tagging tool, not a RAW editor - you still need something else to actually develop and export images. imagic covers both culling and editing in one app, using AI scoring instead of pure manual speed, which suits photographers who want fewer tools in their pipeline rather than the fastest possible manual review.

### imagic vs Aftershoot (https://imagic.ink/compare/aftershoot)
- Vendor: Aftershoot Inc. Model: Subscription. Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Pricing: As of 7 October 2026, billed yearly: Select USD 10/month, Retouch USD 20/month, Edit USD 30/month, or Complete (all three) USD 45/month, shown as USD 540/year; 30-day free trial (check vendor for current pricing) (checked 2026-10-07, source https://aftershoot.com/pricing)
- Price model: Aftershoot: Subscription only | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: Aftershoot: Yes - AI culling is its core focus, including duplicate/blink/blur detection | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: Aftershoot: Yes, built in as part of its culling AI | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: Aftershoot: Yes - AI-assisted editing presets in newer versions | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: Aftershoot: Yes, has added RAW editing tools alongside culling | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: Aftershoot: Yes - Aftershoot states culling, editing and retouching run locally on your computer, with images uploaded only if you opt in to train a personal AI profile | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): Aftershoot: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: Aftershoot: Windows, macOS | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: Aftershoot: Low - built to be fast for culling-heavy workflows | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: Aftershoot is a genuine specialist in AI culling for high-volume wedding and event photographers, and it now covers editing, retouching and client galleries too. Both apps process photos on your own machine. The real difference is the bill: Aftershoot is subscription-only, while imagic is a one-time licence covering culling, RAW editing and export, with optional AI agent automation on the Max tier.

### imagic vs Narrative Select (https://imagic.ink/compare/narrative-select)
- Vendor: Narrative (Narrative Software). Model: Subscription. Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Pricing: Subscription only as of September 2026: Lite USD 15/month (USD 10 billed annually), Standard USD 29 (USD 20), Premium USD 59 (USD 40), Ultra USD 79 (USD 60); no lifetime licence is currently offered (check vendor for current pricing and terms) (checked 2026-10-01, source https://narrative.so/pricing)
- Price model: Narrative Select: Subscription only; no lifetime licence currently offered | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: Narrative Select: Yes - AI-assisted culling, focus/blink detection is a core feature | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: Narrative Select: Yes, groups similar/duplicate shots for culling | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: Narrative Select: Yes on Standard and above - unlimited editing with Core and Marketplace AI presets, plus custom AI presets on Premium and above | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: Narrative Select: Basic preview rendering, not a deep RAW develop engine | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: Narrative Select: Yes, runs locally on the desktop | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): Narrative Select: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: Narrative Select: Windows, macOS | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: Narrative Select: Low - purpose-built for fast culling | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: Narrative started as a culling front-end and now bundles AI-preset editing alongside it, sold on per-seat monthly plans. imagic combines similar culling with its own RAW processing, batch editing and export, at a one-time price rather than a subscription, which suits photographers who would rather not keep a plan active to keep working.

### imagic vs FilterPixel (https://imagic.ink/compare/filterpixel)
- Vendor: FilterPixel. Model: Subscription. Platforms: Windows, macOS (desktop app; the AI processing runs in FilterPixel's cloud).
- Pricing: From USD 14.99/month billed annually (Standard, USD 180/year, 20 DeepCull shoots) as of September 2026; Pro USD 34.99/month and Studio USD 64.99/month billed annually include more shoots and custom AI profiles; extra DeepCull shoots USD 7.99 each (check vendor for current pricing) (checked 2026-10-04, source https://filterpixel.com/pricing)
- Price model: FilterPixel: Subscription (from USD 180/year), with per-shoot top-ups beyond the included DeepCull shoots | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: FilterPixel: Yes - cloud-processed AI culling is its core product, with genre-aware DeepCull modes | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: FilterPixel: Yes, part of its culling pipeline | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: FilterPixel: Yes - AI Edit with built-in expert profiles, and Style DNA trained on your own Lightroom catalog | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: FilterPixel: Handles RAW and JPEG, and exports to Lightroom, Capture One or Photo Mechanic | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: FilterPixel: No - the app is local but FilterPixel uploads low-resolution derivatives of your photos (not the originals) to its cloud for AI culling; the company states content stays encrypted and is retained while your subscription is active or until you request deletion | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): FilterPixel: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: FilterPixel: Windows, macOS (cloud processing) | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: FilterPixel: Low - import, cull, edit, export | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: FilterPixel is a strong option for event photographers on a deadline who do not mind their shoots being uploaded: cloud processing keeps culling fast regardless of the machine, and DeepCull explains why it picked each frame. imagic is built for photographers who want their photos to never leave the machine at all, and who would rather buy the app once than keep a plan and per-shoot top-ups running.

### imagic vs ACDSee Photo Studio (https://imagic.ink/compare/acdsee-photo-studio)
- Vendor: ACD Systems International. Model: One-time license. Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Pricing: One-time purchase as of 1 October 2026: Photo Studio Home 2027 USD 69.99, Professional 2027 USD 119.99, Ultimate 2027 USD 179.99; a subscription option is also offered (check vendor for current pricing) (checked 2026-10-01, source https://www.acdsee.com/en/products/)
- Price model: ACDSee Photo Studio: One-time purchase (varies by edition); a subscription option is also available | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: ACDSee Photo Studio: AI-assisted face recognition and people tagging, not a dedicated quality scorer | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: ACDSee Photo Studio: Yes, has a duplicate file finder tool | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: ACDSee Photo Studio: Yes - batch editing and actions | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: ACDSee Photo Studio: Yes, built-in RAW engine | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: ACDSee Photo Studio: Yes, local processing | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): ACDSee Photo Studio: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: ACDSee Photo Studio: Windows, macOS | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: ACDSee Photo Studio: Moderate - full DAM plus editor, more to learn | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: ACDSee Photo Studio is a broad, capable suite for photographers who want cataloging, duplicate detection, and layer-based editing together, and it already includes some AI-assisted organization features. imagic is more narrowly focused on AI culling by image quality and fast batch editing, which suits photographers whose main need is getting through a shoot quickly rather than managing a large, tagged archive.

### imagic vs Affinity Photo (https://imagic.ink/compare/affinity-photo)
- Vendor: Serif (owned by Canva). Model: Free + paid tiers. Platforms: Windows, macOS, iPad.
- Pricing: The Affinity app (photo, vector and layout in one) is free as of 1 October 2026; its AI tools need a paid Canva Premium plan (check current terms) (checked 2026-10-04, source https://www.affinity.studio/get-affinity)
- Price model: Affinity Photo: Free as a unified app under Canva ownership since late 2025; some paid add-ons may apply | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: Affinity Photo: None - not a culling tool at all | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: Affinity Photo: No built-in duplicate finder | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: Affinity Photo: Has batch/macro tools, but built around single-image retouching, not batch culling | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: Affinity Photo: Yes, has a RAW develop persona, though it is not its primary focus | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: Affinity Photo: Yes, local processing | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): Affinity Photo: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: Affinity Photo: Windows, macOS, iPad | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: Affinity Photo: Steep - full layers/compositing editor, closer to Photoshop than a culling tool | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: Affinity Photo is not a culling tool, and it is honest to say so: it is a layers-based editor for detailed retouching and compositing, now free under Canva, and excellent at that job. imagic solves a different problem entirely - sorting and batch-processing a full shoot with AI culling - and the two can reasonably be used together, with imagic handling the culling and batch pass and Affinity handling detailed retouching on individual standout images.

### imagic vs Imagen AI (https://imagic.ink/compare/imagen-ai)
- Vendor: Imagen. Model: Subscription or pay-per-photo. Platforms: Windows, macOS (the AI runs in Imagen's cloud).
- Pricing: As of 7 October 2026 for individuals: pay-as-you-go from EUR 0.045 per photo, charged on export since 29 September 2026, with a EUR 7 monthly minimum that rolls over as editing credit (AI culling is a separate add-on from EUR 11/month), or Limitless at EUR 109/month billed annually with unlimited editing and culling; 1,000 free edits, no card (check vendor for current pricing) (checked 2026-10-07, source https://imagen-ai.com/pricing/)
- Price model: Imagen: Pay-as-you-go per photo, charged on export since 29 September 2026, with a EUR 7 monthly minimum, or Limitless subscription (EUR 109/month billed annually) | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: Imagen: Yes - cloud-based AI culling; a paid add-on on pay-as-you-go, included in Limitless | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: Imagen: Groups similar shots in culling, at a similarity level you choose | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: Imagen: Yes - a personal AI profile trained on your edits, applied across whole shoots | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: Imagen: A built-in manual RAW and JPEG editor with in-app export, in a beta rolling out gradually from 29 September 2026; finishing in Lightroom Classic via XMP is still supported | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: Imagen: No - Imagen states its culling is cloud-based and needs an internet connection | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): Imagen: An in-app natural-language Assistant (beta) and API access on Imagen's business plans; no MCP server | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: Imagen: Windows, macOS (cloud processing) | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: Imagen: Low once a profile is trained; training needs a large edit history | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: Imagen is a strong choice for Lightroom Classic users with a large edit history who want an AI to reproduce their personal style across big wedding and event volumes, and who are happy for that work to happen in the cloud. imagic is for photographers who want culling, RAW editing and export in one app that runs entirely on their own machine, bought once rather than paid per photo or per month.

### imagic vs Excire Foto (https://imagic.ink/compare/excire-foto)
- Vendor: Excire (PRC). Model: One-time license. Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Pricing: Excire Foto 2027 lifetime licence USD 249 / EUR 229 as of September 2026 (USD 219 / EUR 199 during its launch promotion), with discounted upgrades from earlier versions and a 14-day free trial (check vendor for current pricing) (checked 2026-09-30, source https://excire.com/en/excire-foto/)
- Price model: Excire Foto: One-time lifetime licence; major version upgrades are paid, minor updates free | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: Excire Foto: Selection aids that analyse aesthetics, sharpness and facial expressions, plus a Survey View for comparing picks | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: Excire Foto: Yes, duplicate search | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: Excire Foto: No - organises and rates, then opens photos in your chosen editor | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: Excire Foto: Reads and previews RAW files for organising; does not develop them | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: Excire Foto: Yes - Excire states all AI processing takes place on your own computer | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): Excire Foto: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: Excire Foto: Windows, macOS | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: Excire Foto: Low to moderate - a library tool with a lot of search options | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Verdict: Excire Foto and imagic agree on the two things many photographers care about most: the AI runs locally and you buy the software once. They do different jobs. Excire is a library tool for finding, tagging and selecting across years of photos, and hands the selects to an editor. imagic is built to take one shoot from the memory card to finished exports, culling, developing the RAW files and exporting in the same app. Some photographers will reasonably use both.

### imagic vs PhotoCuller (https://imagic.ink/compare/photoculler)
- Vendor: PhotoCuller. Model: One-time license. Platforms: macOS (Apple Silicon, macOS 15 or later), iPad, iPhone.
- Pricing: As of September 2026: Standard USD 59 (2 devices, 1 year of updates) or Plus USD 79 (4 devices, 2 years of updates), perpetual Mac licence, extra update years USD 29; 30-day free trial with no card (check vendor for current pricing) (checked 2026-09-30, source https://photoculler.com/pricing)
- Price model: PhotoCuller: One-time perpetual licence (USD 59 or 79), with a set period of updates included | imagic: One-time license (EUR 19-99), free 500-export trial, no subscription
- AI culling: PhotoCuller: Culling aids: focus peaking, exposure warnings, similar-scene grouping and a face close-up panel | imagic: Yes - AI quality scoring: sharpness, closed-eye detection, composition
- Duplicate detection: PhotoCuller: Groups photos into scenes by visual similarity | imagic: Yes, built in
- Batch editing: PhotoCuller: No - a culling app that sends picks to your editor | imagic: Yes, plus one-click styles
- RAW processing: PhotoCuller: Reads RAW files from major camera brands for culling; does not develop them | imagic: Yes, via its own built-in RAW engine; 9 formats (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF)
- Local/offline processing: PhotoCuller: Yes - works offline, with no cloud uploads and no account | imagic: Yes - all processing local, photos never leave the machine
- AI agent control (MCP/CLI): PhotoCuller: No MCP/CLI | imagic: Yes on the Max tier - MCP server + CLI for AI agent-driven editing
- Platforms: PhotoCuller: macOS (Apple Silicon), iPad, iPhone | imagic: Windows, macOS
- Learning curve: PhotoCuller: Low - built for speed on one job | imagic: Low - guided AI culling plus one-click styles
- Updates and new camera support: PhotoCuller: 1 year (Standard) or 2 years (Plus) of updates included, each extra year USD 29; after that you keep the Mac versions released during your update period (checked 2 October 2026) | imagic: Buy once, update forever: every licence includes all future imagic versions and new camera support for its tier. Tier upgrades cost the difference.
- Verdict: PhotoCuller and imagic share a philosophy: local, offline, bought once. PhotoCuller is a focused culling app for Apple devices that hands your selects to another editor, and it is the better pick if you want to cull on an iPad or keep Apple Photos as your library. imagic covers the whole path from card to finished export, culling, RAW development and batch editing in one app, and runs on Windows as well as the Mac.