HDR Merge Master vs MergeHDR

HDR Merge Master is a free, GPL-3.0 open-source tool that uses Blender’s compositor to combine exposure brackets in batches. It outputs 32-bit OpenEXR or Radiance HDR files and creates tonemapped JPG previews alongside them. Multiple input folders can be added, with optional recursive subfolder processing and JSON batch import or export. Alignment choices include none, Hugin pre-alignment, and MTB alignment, depending on Blender version and mode. A headless command-line mode supports folder processing, JSON input, alignment, thread settings, and cleanup. Camera RAW processing requires RawTherapee, with adjacent PP3 profiles applied automatically. Documented workflows include Blender, RawTherapee, Hugin, Luminance HDR, and PTGui; a script can replace JPG paths with EXR paths in PTGui PTS projects. Blender 4.5 LTS and 5.1 LTS are actively tested, while older versions use a reduced-feature legacy script. The tool does not remove ghosting, so a steady tripod is advised.

MergeHDR detects exposure-bracketed photos in a library and merges them into HDR images after approval. It identifies three-, five- and seven-frame groups using metadata such as capture time and exposure values. Users can select alignment and one of four deghosting levels, then switch tone-mapping presets without repeating the merge. The app reads and writes through Apple Photos; its App Store listing also says it can connect to an FTP server to merge brackets directly from a camera. Listed inputs include Canon CR3, Sony ARW, Nikon NEF, Fujifilm RAF, Olympus ORF, Panasonic RW2, DNG, Apple ProRAW, HEIC and JPEG. Merged images can be saved at full quality or compressed to HEIC. Merging and previewing are free; the first 10 exports are free, with a limit of five free exports per day. Unlimited saves cost $9.99 a year or 19.99 USD once, with Universal Purchase for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Processing runs locally and offline, according to the maker, and the stated privacy label is Data Not Collected.