Capture One
Capture One is a Danish professional RAW photo editing software platform serving portrait, fashion, wedding, landscape, and commercial photographers, with proprietary color processing, tethered capture, and multi-device workflow tools, distributed via subscription, OEM partnerships with Leica and Panasonic, and an enterprise Studio tier.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersFrederiksberg, Denmark
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Capture One does
Capture One is a Danish professional photo editing software company headquartered in Frederiksberg, founded in 1993 and operating as a wholly owned product line under Phase One A/S, which has been controlled by Nordic private equity firm Axcel since a 2019 acquisition valued at approximately $233.8 million. The company builds a proprietary RAW image processing engine distinguished by color precision, industry-leading tethered shooting reliability, and support for over 600 camera and lens profiles, distributing it across desktop, iPad, and mobile platforms with cloud-based collaboration via Capture One Live.
The product surface spans Capture One Pro for individual professionals, Capture One Studio for high-volume teams, Capture One Mobile and iPad apps for cross-device workflows, an All-in-One bundle combining collaboration and priority support, and an Actions connector platform integrating Pixelz, Photoroom, and NanoBanana for automated post-production. The company sells through a hybrid go-to-market combining product-led growth (self-serve 7-day trial, monthly/annual subscriptions), enterprise direct sales (Studio Teams from 2 users, Enterprise from 5 users), strategic OEM partnerships with Leica and Panasonic, and a reseller network across EMEA, North America, and APAC.
The revenue model blends recurring subscriptions (Pro from $17/month, Studio, Enterprise), perpetual license legacy revenue, premium style packs, and student/education programs, with a 6% price increase scheduled for June 2026 across all tiers. Axcel is currently auctioning Capture One via Stifel following Phase One's 2024 revenue decline from over $70M to about $48M and a $3.6M net loss, while Capture One itself posted $10.6M EBITDA on a 2% gross profit increase despite cutting over 30% of staff.
Capture One firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Capture One
- Legal name
- Capture One A/S
- Website
- https://captureone.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Capture One is a Danish professional RAW photo editing software platform serving portrait, fashion, wedding, landscape, and commercial photographers, with proprietary color processing, tethered capture, and multi-device workflow tools, distributed via subscription, OEM partnerships with Leica and Panasonic, and an enterprise Studio tier.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Capture One industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Photo Editing Software
- NAICS
- Photographic Services (54192), Commercial Photography (541922), Photofinishing (81292)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Photofinishing Laboratories (7384)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Photography & Photo Production (BPAFAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Experiential Content Capture & Event Media Production (Photo/Video/Social) (BPAFAGAM)
Keywords
Where Capture One is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Frederiksberg
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Capture One business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription Licenses: Monthly and annual subscription plans for Capture One Pro, All-in-One, Studio, and Mobile tiers. Subscriptions provide access to all features, updates, and cloud services including Capture One Live and Cloud Sync.
- Perpetual Licenses: One-time purchase option for Capture One Pro licenses, allowing perpetual use of a specific version with optional upgrade fees for major version updates.
- Styles and Add-ons: Sale of style presets and packs (e.g., Elevation Styles) that provide preset looks and color grading for photographers.
- Enterprise/Team Plans: Multi-user licensing for Studio Teams (minimum 2 users) and Enterprise (minimum 5 users) with advanced features including admin portals, prioritized support, and dedicated training.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Pro monthly subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Pro annual subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Studio annual subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | All-in-One subscription |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Capture One 12 perpetual license |
| Subscription | Annual | Studio Teams (min 2 users) |
| Subscription | Annual | Studio Enterprise (min 5 users) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Mobile app |
| Subscription | Annual | Student pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
Capture One product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Capture One develops and sells professional photo editing and RAW image processing software used by photographers worldwide. Its flagship Capture One Pro application provides color-accurate RAW conversion, tethered shooting, layer-based editing, and AI-assisted tools, sold via subscription or perpetual license to individual photographers, studios, and enterprise teams.
Product overview
Capture One is a professional photo editing software ecosystem consisting of multiple interconnected products. The core product is Capture One Pro, a RAW image editing and management software with industry-leading tethered shooting and color precision. This is supplemented by mobile apps (Capture One Mobile for iPhone and Capture One for iPad) that provide standalone editing power and cross-device workflow integration via Cloud Transfer. Capture One All-in-One bundles collaboration tools, cloud settings, and priority support, while Capture One Studio targets high-volume commercial studios with advanced collaboration and automation features. Capture One Live provides real-time browser-based collaboration for sharing images with clients during shoots. Additional offerings include Styles (preset packs), Actions (third-party service integrations), and Negative Film Conversion tools for analog photographers. Enterprise solutions cover Teams and Enterprise tiers with administrative tools. All products share the same RAW engine and color processing capabilities, enabling seamless handoffs across the ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Enhanced Denoise processes images in 20-30 seconds per image with adjustable intensity
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Capture One
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Capture One technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability17 records
Feature10 records
Capture One partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Canva/AffinitycoreNative support for Affinity's .af file format in Capture One, enabling seamless file sharing without intermediary exports. Integration allows automatic file refresh when updates are made in Affinity, keeping workflows in sync. Canva is also integrating AI Studio tools and Brand System into Affinity.
- DaVinci ResolvecoreDaVinci Resolve now natively supports Affinity's .af file format alongside Capture One, enabling seamless file sharing between creative applications for video editing and photo workflows.
- LeicaflagshipStrategic partnership delivering faster, more reliable, and deeply integrated tethered shooting experience for Leica photographers. Collaboration offers direct tethering, Live View, real-time adjustments, and Leica-optimized profiles, backed by Capture One's color handling tools. Launch includes three-month complimentary trial of Capture One's All-in-One plan for Leica customers.
- London College of Communication (LCC)minorEducational partnership through which Capture One presents the RAW Talent Award at LCC's postgraduate photography show, awarding emerging photographers and featuring their work on Capture One's platform.
- PanasoniccorePartnership for tethering support to Lumix cameras. Through close collaboration between Capture One's engineering team and Panasonic, wireless tethering was introduced for LUMIX S1RII, S1II, and S1IIE cameras in Capture One 16.6.3.
- PixelzcorePixelz connector enables automation of retouching, cropping, background handling, and production workflows directly from Capture One export. Built for e-commerce teams needing faster handoffs and consistent specifications without manual uploads or end-of-day handoffs.
- PhotoroomcorePhotoroom connector generates fast AI-powered edits and e-commerce imagery workflows without leaving the Capture One production pipeline. Part of the Actions ecosystem for automated post-production.
- First ExposuresminorInitiative supported by Capture One in 2024 through free license donations for the program supporting emerging photographers.
- PhotofusionminorUK-based photography organization supported by Capture One in 2024 with free license donations for educational and community programs.
- United Nations Global CompactminorCapture One is a member of the UN Global Compact and upholds its Ten Principles, ensuring ethical practices in human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption.
- Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)minorCapture One has committed to science-based emissions reduction targets through SBTi, aligned with Paris Agreement goals to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
- The 0-Mission InitiativeminorClimate initiative that Capture One collaborates with as part of its emissions reduction strategy, having subscribed to solar panels covering 100% of electricity needs in Denmark.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Capture One competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Adobe Lightroom: Adobe Lightroom is the dominant professional RAW photo editing and cataloging software. It competes head-to-head with Capture One Pro for the same professional photographer customer base, with overlapping features (RAW processing, color, masking, presets) and bundled distribution via Creative Cloud subscriptions.
- Skylum Luminar Neo: Skylum Luminar Neo is a RAW photo editor positioned as an AI-driven alternative to Capture One and Lightroom. It targets enthusiast and professional photographers with one-time purchase and subscription options, competing directly on editing features, AI retouching, and price.
- DxO PhotoLab: DxO PhotoLab is a professional RAW photo editing suite known for its noise reduction (DeepPRIME) and lens correction technology. It competes with Capture One in the premium professional segment with similar perpetual license and subscription pricing models.
- ON1 Photo RAW: ON1 Photo RAW is an all-in-one photo editor and organizer combining RAW processing, layered editing, and AI features. It serves a similar professional and serious enthusiast customer base as Capture One, with comparable pricing and a focus on a single integrated workflow.
- Affinity Photo (Canva): Affinity Photo, now owned by Canva, is a professional photo editing application with a one-time purchase model and no subscription. With 5M+ users post-Canva relaunch and native file format interoperability now supported in Capture One, Affinity is a direct competitor at the prosumer and commercial photographer price point.
- Corel PaintShop Pro: Corel PaintShop Pro is a photo editing and design suite offering RAW processing, AI features, and graphic design tools. It targets the same hobbyist-to-prosumer segment as Capture One's lower tiers with a one-time purchase model.
Broad incumbents
- Apple Photos: Apple Photos is the default consumer photo management and editing platform on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It is a free incumbent for casual users but increasingly competes with Capture One Mobile for iPad workflows where photographers want raw editing on Apple devices.
- Google Photos: Google Photos is the dominant cloud photo storage and basic editing platform with AI-powered search and editing. While not a direct RAW editing competitor, it competes for end-user attention, storage, and simple editing use cases that overlap with Capture One's mobile ecosystem.
Others
- Phase One (parent hardware): Phase One is Capture One's parent company and a manufacturer of high-end medium format camera systems (IQ4, XT). The two are commercially and technically linked: Phase One cameras are tightly integrated with Capture One software, and Capture One originated as Phase One's tethered capture tool.
- Pixelz: Pixelz is an e-commerce retouching service that integrates with Capture One via the Actions connector for automated post-production workflows. It is a partner rather than competitor, but operates in the same broader commercial photography/production ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Capture One social profiles
Digital presenceCapture One compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Capture One financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Capture One leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Capture One subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Capture One funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Capture One M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Capture One
What does Capture One do?
Capture One develops and sells professional photo editing and RAW image processing software used by photographers worldwide. Its flagship Capture One Pro application provides color-accurate RAW conversion, tethered shooting, layer-based editing, and AI-assisted tools, sold via subscription or perpetual license to individual photographers, studios, and enterprise teams.
Is Capture One a public or private company?
Capture One is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Capture One founded?
Capture One was founded in 1993. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Capture One based?
Capture One is headquartered in Frederiksberg, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does Capture One make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Subscription Licenses are the primary driver. The others are perpetual Licenses, styles and Add-ons and enterprise/Team Plans.
Who are Capture One's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Adobe Lightroom, Skylum Luminar Neo, DxO PhotoLab, ON1 Photo RAW, Affinity Photo (Canva) and Corel PaintShop Pro. Broad incumbents are Apple Photos and Google Photos. Others are Phase One (parent hardware) and Pixelz.
Does Capture One have an API?
No public API is recorded for Capture One.
What industry is Capture One in?
Capture One's product category is Professional Photo Editing Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAIAF, Photography & Photo Production, with a secondary code of BPAFAGAM, Experiential Content Capture & Event Media Production (Photo/Video/Social). Its NAICS code is 54192 and its SIC code is 7330.