ChimpStackr vs Zerene Stacker
ChimpStackr
github.com
Zerene Stacker
zerenesystems.comSide by side
| Figure | ChimpStackr | Zerene Stacker |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Spec score · Focus Stacking Software | 8.4 (#4) | 7.6 (#15) |
| Integrations | The README says gallery images were post-processed in darktable; it does not describe a software integration. | Prosumer and Professional editions include a Lightroom plugin and an integrated controller for the StackShot automated rail. |
| Purpose | ChimpStackr is an open-source application for focus stacking. | Zerene Stacker is focus stacking software designed for challenging macro subjects and discerning photographers. |
Plans
Zerene Stacker
- Student Edition$39, paid once
- Personal Edition$89, paid once
- Prosumer Edition$189, paid once
- Professional Edition$289, paid once
In their own words
ChimpStackr
ChimpStackr is a free, open-source application for focus stacking, with graphical and headless command-line interfaces. It offers Laplacian Pyramid, Weighted Average, Depth Map, and Exposure Fusion methods. Automatic alignment supports translation, Euclidean rotation, similarity rotation and scale, and affine correction. Its 16-bit pipeline preserves bit depth from RAW input to output, and automatic cropping removes black edges caused by alignment shifts. Users can drag image files or folders into the app, compare input and output with a slider, and pause, resume, or cancel long-running stacks. Auto-tuning detects parameters from image resolution. Downloads are listed for Windows as a ZIP, macOS as a DMG, and Linux x86-64 as an AppImage; TIFF and PNG are listed output formats, and RAW files are supported. The project uses the GPL-3.0 license. Exposure Fusion is described for images with varying exposure or lighting, rather than focus stacking. Building from source requires Python 3.9–3.13, and builds can only be made for the current platform.
Zerene Stacker
Zerene Stacker has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.