CyberLink PhotoDirector vs RawTherapee:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, RawTherapee had more branded searches than CyberLink PhotoDirector among photo editing software worldwide. RawTherapee had about 33,100 branded searches, while CyberLink PhotoDirector had 9,900. RawTherapee made up 0.32% of all photo editing software searches we track, and CyberLink PhotoDirector accounted for 0.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about photo editing software, CyberLink PhotoDirector and RawTherapee each appeared in two of the five answers. CyberLink PhotoDirector was mentioned before RawTherapee in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
RawTherapee, about 3 searches for every 1 for CyberLink PhotoDirector
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
CyberLink PhotoDirector, named ahead of RawTherapee in 2 of 2 answers
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Top photo editing software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, CyberLink PhotoDirector and RawTherapee were each mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. CyberLink PhotoDirector was listed before RawTherapee in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Adobe Lightroom5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Adobe Photoshop5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Capture One5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Affinity5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
GIMP3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Luminar Neo3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
RawTherapee2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
DxO PhotoLab2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
CyberLink PhotoDirector2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Photopea1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about photo editing software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which photo editing software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best photo editing software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best photo editing software for advanced photo edits?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“photo editing software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“photo editor software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is CyberLink PhotoDirector or RawTherapee more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for CyberLink PhotoDirector and RawTherapee by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 photo editing software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for RawTherapee, CyberLink PhotoDirector. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Photopea | Picsart | Adobe Lightroom | Pixlr | GIMP | VSCO | Adobe Photoshop | Snapseed | Capture One | Affinity | Luminar Neo | RawTherapee | DxO PhotoLab | CyberLink PhotoDirector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 31.9% | 16.7% | 9.7% | 12.7% | 8.4% | 6.6% | 6.4% | 3.2% | 0.86% | 1.6% | 0.86% | 0.39% | 0.26% | 0.47% |
| Nov 2025 | 27.2% | 17.9% | 9.7% | 13.6% | 8.9% | 6.8% | 6.7% | 3.2% | 1.1% | 2.7% | 1.1% | 0.4% | 0.27% | 0.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 29.1% | 19.1% | 10.4% | 11.4% | 7.7% | 7.3% | 7.2% | 3.5% | 0.96% | 1.2% | 0.96% | 0.35% | 0.19% | 0.53% |
| Jan 2026 | 29.2% | 18.8% | 10.6% | 11.4% | 9.2% | 7.4% | 5.9% | 3.5% | 0.96% | 1.2% | 0.96% | 0.35% | 0.19% | 0.43% |
| Feb 2026 | 31.3% | 19.5% | 11% | 10.8% | 8.2% | 6.5% | 6.3% | 3.1% | 0.69% | 0.9% | 0.85% | 0.31% | 0.17% | 0.38% |
| Mar 2026 | 29.8% | 19.2% | 11% | 11.4% | 7.9% | 7.5% | 6% | 3.6% | 0.98% | 1% | 0.8% | 0.29% | 0.2% | 0.29% |
| Apr 2026 | 30% | 22.5% | 11% | 9.8% | 7.7% | 6.2% | 6% | 3.6% | 0.66% | 0.72% | 0.99% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.24% |
| May 2026 | 30.9% | 22.4% | 10.8% | 10.3% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 5.1% | 4.6% | 0.68% | 0.74% | 0.83% | 0.31% | 0.2% | 0.25% |
| Jun 2026 | 32.2% | 22.2% | 11.1% | 8.9% | 6.8% | 6.7% | 5.3% | 3.4% | 1.1% | 0.93% | 0.71% | 0.32% | 0.21% | 0.12% |
| Jul 2026 | 32.8% | 22.3% | 9.7% | 9.4% | 7.1% | 6.8% | 5.4% | 3.3% | 0.89% | 0.94% | 0.73% | 0.32% | 0.22% | 0.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 32.7% | 22% | 11.3% | 8.7% | 7% | 6.8% | 5.4% | 3.3% | 0.88% | 0.78% | 0.59% | 0.32% | 0.22% | 0.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 32.6% | 17.5% | 11.3% | 10.2% | 8.3% | 6.7% | 6.5% | 3.2% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.48% | 0.32% | 0.26% | 0.1% |
How has the CyberLink PhotoDirector and RawTherapee comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: RawTherapee took it in April 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CyberLink PhotoDirector’s share of searches among photo editing software worldwide moved from 0.47% to 0.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 9.9K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, RawTherapee’s share of searches among photo editing software worldwide moved from 0.39% to 0.32%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 49.5K to 33.1K.
How did search popularity change for photo editing software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

Estimated monthly branded searches for CyberLink PhotoDirector worldwide fell 83.6% over 12 measured months, from 60.5K to 9.9K in September 2026.

Estimated monthly branded searches for RawTherapee worldwide fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 49.5K to 33.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using CyberLink PhotoDirector’s and RawTherapee’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
CyberLink PhotoDirector
2 branded search terms
- cyberlink photodirector
- photodirector
RawTherapee
1 branded search term
- rawtherapee
Other head-to-heads among photo editing software

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