Our verdict: DxO PhotoLab gets more clean detail out of high-ISO RAW files than almost anything else, and its lens corrections are measured in DxO's own lab. It is a perpetual license, not a subscription, but it is expensive and new major versions are paid upgrades. The AI features expect a recent GPU with 8 GB of VRAM.
About DxO PhotoLab
DxO PhotoLab is a RAW photo editor from DxO, a French company known for camera and lens testing. Its DeepPRIME and DeepPRIME XD technologies combine demosaicing and noise reduction, and DxO Modules apply camera and lens profiles measured in its lab to fix distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting and softness automatically. Local edits use U Point control points, AI Masks and, in version 10, Depth Masks that select foreground or background by distance.
The 30-day trial is the full program with no watermark or export limits and no payment details. You enter your e-mail address on DxO's download page and receive the installer link and a demo activation key; the app needs an internet connection to activate. After 30 days it stops working until you buy a license, which costs $249.99 once, with upgrades from $129.99. The FilmPack and ViewPoint plug-ins inside the trial are sold separately.
What it does well
- DeepPRIME XD. AI demosaicing and noise reduction that recovers detail from high-ISO RAW files.
- DxO Modules. Lab-measured camera and lens profiles for automatic optical corrections.
- Masks and U Point. U Point control points, AI Masks and Depth Masks for local adjustments.
- Color grading. Grading tool for shadows, midtones and highlights with linked colors.
- Photo library. Non-destructive editing with batch processing and image management.
Who it is for
Good fit
Enthusiast and pro photographers who shoot RAW in low light and want the cleanest possible files without a subscription.
Look elsewhere
Casual shooters on older PCs, or anyone who wants a cheap or free RAW editor with cloud sync and mobile apps.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Excellent noise reduction with DeepPRIME XD
- Automatic lens corrections from lab measurements
- Perpetual license, no subscription
- Full-featured trial without watermarks
Cons
- Expensive, and major versions are paid upgrades
- Trial needs an e-mail address and stops after 30 days
- AI features need a GPU with 8 GB of VRAM and 16 GB of RAM
How to install DxO PhotoLab
Enter your e-mail on the official trial page to receive the Windows installer link and a demo activation key, then paste the key when PhotoLab starts. On first launch choose whether DxO Style - Natural or only optical corrections apply by default. Check the AI acceleration setting in Preferences if DeepPRIME is slow on your GPU.
Questions about DxO PhotoLab
Is DxO PhotoLab free?
No. DxO offers a full 30-day free trial with no payment details, but you must enter your e-mail to get the demo activation key. After the trial PhotoLab stops working until you buy a perpetual license for $249.99; upgrades from earlier versions start at $129.99.
Are my photos uploaded when using DeepPRIME or AI Masks?
No. DxO states that DeepPRIME and AI Masks run locally on your computer, images are never uploaded to its servers and are not used to train its algorithms.
Is DxO PhotoLab a subscription?
No. It is a perpetual license for Windows and macOS. New major versions are offered as paid upgrades.
