You shot a set of photos in raw format and want to develop them on a Windows PC without paying for a subscription. RawTherapee is a free raw processing program built for that job. This page covers version 5.13, which is listed with a 45.1 MB size and a July 26, 2026 update date.
Project background and GPL-3.0 licence
RawTherapee comes from rawtherapee.com, which also runs the project site. It is free software under the GPL-3.0 licence and costs nothing.
The source description calls it cross-platform and says it suits both enthusiasts new to digital imaging and professional photographers. Its job is developing raw files from many digital cameras. In the catalog it sits under utilities, with tags for image, photo, photography, raw and viewer.
Gamut compression, GHS and the 5.13 toolset
The notes for version 5.13 center on colour and tone. Gamut Compression now shows maximum red, green, blue and achromatic values, plus an estimated distance ratio between the working and target colour spaces. The Abstract Profile tool in Color Management adds adjustable highlight attenuation and custom destination primaries.
Selective Editing includes an Equalization & Pre-Tone Mapping tool, formerly called Shadows/Highlights, Equalizer & GHS. It uses Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch and adds a simple tone mapper called Michaelis-Menten.
Requirements and where the file comes from
The package identifier is RawTherapee.RawTherapee, and this build is for Windows. No minimum Windows version, processor or memory figures are given, so check the project site at rawtherapee.com before running it on older hardware, since raw development tends to be demanding.
The download is about 45.1 MB, which is modest for a full raw converter.
What's new in 5.13
The Gamut Compression tool gained higher maximum distance limits and automatic limit setting. The Abstract Profile tool now has adjustable highlight attenuation and a custom destination primaries option, and the GHS method can set black and white points automatically.
RawTherapee pros and cons
Pros
- Free under the GPL-3.0 licence
- Aimed at raw files from many digital cameras
- Gamut Compression shows maximum RGB and achromatic values
- GHS black and white points can be set automatically
- Download is served from the official github.com host
Cons
- The interface cannot be previewed before installing
- No minimum Windows version or hardware requirements are listed
- The 45.1 MB package comes with advanced colour tools that may take time for newcomers
Is RawTherapee safe?
RawTherapee 5.13 is a 45.1 MB Windows build from rawtherapee.com. Its GPL-3.0 license means the source code is open to inspection, which matters for a program that reads and writes your raw photo files. As with any download, a scan with your own security software before the first launch is a sensible habit.
How to install RawTherapee
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start RawTherapee from the Start menu.
