Capture One offers a free 30-day trial. After that, choose between subscription ($24/month or $179/year) or perpetual license ($299 one-time). There's also a free Capture One Express version with limited features for certain camera brands.

Capture One vs Lightroom: which should I use?

**Use Lightroom** if you want cloud sync, mobile editing, or a simpler interface at a lower price. **Use Capture One** if you need the best color science, professional tethered shooting, or work with high-volume studio photography. Lightroom is easier; Capture One is more powerful for pros.

Why do photographers say Capture One has better colors?

Capture One's RAW processing and color science are widely considered superior, especially for skin tones and subtle color gradations. The difference is subtle but noticeable to professional photographers. Lightroom's colors are good; Capture One's are often described as better out of the box.

Is Capture One good for product photography?

Yes, excellent. Capture One is popular in commercial and product photography for its tethered shooting (see photos instantly on a large screen), precise color control, and batch processing. E-commerce studios often use Capture One for consistent product shots.

Can I switch from Lightroom to Capture One?

Yes. Capture One can import Lightroom catalogs, though not all adjustments transfer perfectly (Lightroom-specific features may be lost). You can also simply re-import your photos and start fresh. Many photographers maintain both, using each for different jobs.

Is Capture One hard to learn?

Harder than Lightroom, easier than it looks. The interface has more panels and options, which can be overwhelming. But once you understand the tool structure (layers, color editor, styles), it's logical. Expect a few weeks to become comfortable, compared to hours with Lightroom.

Does Capture One have mobile apps?

Capture One has a basic iPad app and mobile companion, but mobile support is weaker than Lightroom. If mobile editing is important, Lightroom is better. Capture One is designed for desktop workflows.

Capture One: Professional Photo Editing

Capture One is professional photo editing software developed by Phase One (camera manufacturer). It’s known for exceptional color science, precise RAW processing, and professional studio features like tethered shooting. Commercial photographers, studios, and high-end product photographers often choose Capture One over Lightroom for its superior image quality and professional workflow tools.

Key Specs


Price	$24/month or $179/year subscription; $299 perpetual license
Platform	Mac, Windows; limited iPad app
Best for	Professional photography, product shoots, color-critical work
Learning curve	Moderate to steep; more complex than Lightroom

How Designers Use Capture One

Capture One serves design teams working with professional photography.

For Product Photography

Commercial photographers and e-commerce teams use Capture One for product shots. Tether your camera to see images on a large screen instantly. Apply consistent color and exposure across hundreds of SKUs. Export in multiple sizes for web, print, and catalogs.

For High-End Retouching Workflows

Fashion and beauty photographers use Capture One for initial RAW processing before sending to Photoshop for retouching. Capture One’s skin tone handling and color editor give retouchers a better starting point.

For Brand Photography

Corporate photography, headshots, and marketing shoots benefit from Capture One’s consistent color. Create styles (presets) that match brand color guidelines. Apply across shoots for visual consistency.

For Print-Ready Output

Capture One’s soft proofing and color management tools help prepare images for print. Verify colors before sending to press. Professional printers often prefer files processed in Capture One.

Capture One vs. Alternatives

Feature	Capture One	Lightroom	Lightroom Classic	Photoshop
Price	$24/month or $299 once	$9.99/month	$9.99/month	$9.99/month
Color science	✅ Best-in-class	✅ Good	✅ Good	⚠️ Not RAW editor
Tethered shooting	✅ Excellent	❌ No	✅ Yes	❌ No
Mobile editing	⚠️ Limited	✅ Excellent	❌ No	⚠️ Limited
Layer-based editing	✅ Yes	⚠️ Basic masks	⚠️ Basic masks	✅ Full
Learning curve	Steep	Easy	Moderate	Steep
Batch processing	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	⚠️ Actions

Choose Capture One if: You’re a professional photographer who needs the best color, tethering, and RAW processing. Worth the higher price for serious work.

Choose Lightroom if: You want cloud sync, mobile editing, or an easier learning curve. Great value in the Photography Plan bundle.

Choose Lightroom Classic if: You want Lightroom’s catalog system with more advanced features than regular Lightroom, but don’t need Capture One’s pro features.

Getting Started with Capture One

Plan a few hours to learn the interface.

Step 1: Import photos into a catalog or session

Open Capture One. Choose between Catalog (like Lightroom, for ongoing work) or Session (project-based, popular with commercial photographers). Import photos from your camera card or folder.

Step 2: Learn the tool tabs

Capture One organizes tools in tabs: Exposure, Color, Details, Lens, Metadata. Start with Exposure tab: adjust Exposure, Contrast, High Dynamic Range sliders. Move to Color tab for white balance and color grading. Each tab has multiple tools.

Step 3: Use styles for consistent looks

Styles are Capture One’s presets. Apply built-in styles or create your own from adjustments you’ve made. Right-click a style to apply with one click. Use styles to maintain brand consistency across photos.

Capture One in Your Design Workflow

Capture One is the first step in professional photo workflows.

Before Capture One: Photoshoots, tethered capture, receiving RAW files
During editing: RAW processing, color grading, batch adjustments
After Capture One: Export to Photoshop for retouching, or directly to web/print

Common tool pairings:

Capture One + Photoshop for RAW processing in C1, retouching in Photoshop
Capture One + tethered camera for live shooting with instant preview
Capture One + Figma for exporting processed photos into design mockups
Capture One + print RIP software for color-accurate print production

Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)

“Capture One is expensive compared to Lightroom”

True. Lightroom’s Photography Plan ($9.99/month) includes Lightroom, Classic, and Photoshop. Capture One alone is $24/month or $299 perpetual. The value depends on whether you need Capture One’s professional features. For casual use, Lightroom is fine.

“The interface is overwhelming”

Customize your workspace. Hide tools you don’t use (right-click tool bar). Create a simplified workspace for common tasks. Capture One lets you save workspaces; create one for different job types.

“My Lightroom catalog import lost some edits”

Lightroom-specific adjustments (like some masking features) don’t transfer. Basic exposure and color usually survive. For critical work, keep original RAWs and re-edit in Capture One rather than relying on imports.

“Mobile editing is limited”

Capture One’s mobile app is basic compared to Lightroom. If mobile editing is essential, use Lightroom for mobile work and Capture One for desktop studio work. Some photographers use both.

“Is the perpetual license worth it?”

If you use Capture One for more than 15 months, the perpetual license saves money. You don’t get updates after purchase, but you can use that version forever. For professionals who upgrade annually anyway, subscription makes sense.