Photo apps for Mac and iPhoneHead to head
Darkroom vs Photomator
Darkroom ranks #2 and Photomator ranks #3 in our guide to the best photo apps for Mac and iPhone. Darkroom is the better pick for most people.
DarkroomPick Darkroom if you shoot on iPhone and want serious edits on your Photos library without paying up front.Free to start#3 in the guide
PhotomatorPick Photomator if you edit RAW photos in batches and want a lifetime license for Lightroom-style tools.From $7.99What decides it
- Photomator costs less over 3 years: $89.97, against $99.99 for Darkroom.
- Both run on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- Darkroom has the higher App Store rating: 4.8 from 29K ratings, against 4.5 for Photomator.
Side by side
Prices are checked every day.
| At a glance | Darkroom | Photomator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to try every tool. Darkroom+ is $9.99 a month, $39.99 a year or $99.99 once | Free download. Pro is $7.99 a month, $29.99 a year or $119.99 once |
| How you pay | Free, with paid upgrades | Subscription |
| 3 years of use | $99.99 | $89.97 Yearly plan Cheaper |
| Free trial | Free to start | None listed |
| Runs on | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Mac, iPhone, iPad |
| Where to buy | App Store | App Store |
| Rating | 4.8 29K ratings Higher | 4.5 3.8K ratings |
| Features | Shortcuts, Family Sharing | iCloud sync, Family Sharing |
| Made by | Bergen Co. | Apple |
| Last updated | 30 Oct 2026 | 27 Aug 2026 |
Who should get which
Get Darkroom if
You shoot on an iPhone and want Lightroom-level control without importing photos anywhere.
Get Photomator if
You edit RAW photos in batches and want pro color tools inside Apple Photos without paying Adobe.
Skip Darkroom if
You crop and brighten a photo now and then; the editor inside Apple Photos does that free.
Skip Photomator if
You crop and brighten a photo now and then, and the editor built into Apple Photos is free.
Our verdicts
Darkroom
Lightroom wants your photos in its own library, which is a hassle when everything already lives in Apple Photos. Darkroom edits that library directly on iPhone, iPad and Mac, and the free version covers RAW files, exposure, crop, presets and batch edits. AI masks, curves and color grading need Darkroom+, and the $99.99 lifetime option beats paying $39.99 every year if you keep editing.
Photomator
If you shoot RAW and want Lightroom-style color tools without an Adobe subscription, Photomator edits right inside your Photos library on Mac, iPhone and iPad. It reads over 750 RAW formats, batch edits hundreds of shots and uses AI to select skies, remove objects, cut noise and upscale. The $119.99 lifetime license equals 4 years of the $29.99 plan, so it is the cheaper route if you edit longer than that.
What each one helps you do
Darkroom
- Edit RAW and ProRAW photos on your iPhone
- Apply 1 edit to a whole shoot
- Brighten only the sky or the subject
- Color grade videos with the same tools
Photomator
- Edit RAW photos straight from your Photos library
- Remove a stranger from the background
- Apply one edit to hundreds of photos
- Rescue a noisy low-light shot
Where to get them
Darkroom
Free to try every tool. Darkroom+ is $9.99 a month, $39.99 a year or $99.99 once
-
App Store, every deviceWith in-app purchasesFree downloadApp Store
Photomator
Free download. Pro is $7.99 a month, $29.99 a year or $119.99 once
-
App Store, every deviceWith in-app purchasesFree downloadApp Store
Neither one quite right?
The other picks in our guide to the best photo apps for Mac and iPhone.
Pixelmator ProPick it if you edit photos and make graphics on a Mac and refuse to pay for Photoshop.$49.99 once
HalidePick it if your iPhone photos look over-processed and you want manual control over shutter speed and ISO.From $19.99
Read the full guideAll Darkroom alternativesAll Photomator alternatives