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MakeHDR vs other tools

MakeHDR makes true gain-map Ultra HDR photos and real HDR video in seconds, with no AI and no upload. Here's how it stacks up against the photo editors, online converters and video tools people usually reach for instead.

See the difference

SDR
Photo shown in SDR and HDR
HDR
Photo shown in SDR and HDR

MakeHDR vs Photoshop for HDR photos

Both produce true gain-map HDR files. The difference is everything around it: time, cost, and complexity.

MakeHDR vs Lightroom for HDR photos

Lightroom is a full RAW editor; MakeHDR is focused — it turns a finished photo into true gain-map HDR in one drop (and converts video to HDR too). Here's how they compare for getting real HDR output.

MakeHDR vs GIMP for HDR photos

GIMP is a free, powerful editor — but exporting true gain-map HDR isn't something it does. MakeHDR is built for exactly that.

MakeHDR vs Snapseed for HDR photos

Snapseed has an 'HDR' look filter — but that's tone-mapping, not a real HDR file. MakeHDR outputs true gain-map HDR that physically glows on HDR screens.

MakeHDR vs Apple Photos for HDR

iPhones capture HDR, and Apple Photos shows it — but it won't turn an ordinary JPEG into a shareable Ultra HDR file. MakeHDR does.

MakeHDR vs other online HDR converters

Online 'HDR converters' range from real gain-map tools to contrast filters that upload your file. MakeHDR computes a real gain map for photos and true HDR for video, on your device — and adds a native app for iPhone, iPad and Mac.

The MakeHDR app vs web

Both make the same Ultra HDR photos. They split on video: the web converter runs in your browser with nothing to install; the MakeHDR app uses hardware encoding on iPhone, iPad and Mac for 4K and long clips. Here's how to choose.

MakeHDR vs DaVinci Resolve for HDR video

DaVinci Resolve is a full color-grading suite — powerful, with a real learning curve. MakeHDR does one focused thing: turn a finished SDR clip into true HDR in one drop.

MakeHDR vs HandBrake for HDR video

HandBrake and FFmpeg are great transcoders, and FFmpeg can even do inverse tone mapping if you know the filters and settings. MakeHDR does the SDR-to-HDR conversion for you: it applies a true HDR gain curve and exports genuine BT.2020 HDR (10-bit in the MakeHDR app) — drop a file, no flags.