imagic vs OptiCull

imagic is a desktop application for AI photo culling and RAW editing. It scores photos for sharpness, exposure, noise, composition, and detail, and also shows subject focus; other listed tools include duplicate, blur, and closed-eye detection. Users can batch-edit and export photos, and the built-in RAW engine supports formats including CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, PEF, TIF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, and WebP. Desktop culling, editing, and RAW processing happen locally, without uploading photos. The web editor instead sends an uploaded image to imagic's server for one edit, keeps it temporarily during the session, then deletes it. Edits are non-destructive, leaving original source files unchanged unless explicitly exported. The free trial includes full Max access and allows up to 500 photo exports. One-time licenses cost €19 for Lite, €49 for Plus, and €99 for Max. A license runs on one machine at a time; activating it on a new device deactivates the previous one. The app can send anonymous device, usage, and error data, which can be disabled in Settings.

OptiCull is a macOS app for selecting photos from a shoot, with manual comparison and automated assistance. It groups duplicates into scenes for side-by-side review, with adjustable grouping preferences and synchronized zoom on a face, all faces, or an image region. Magi-Cull can identify blurry photos or blinking subjects and suggest varied keepers based on user preferences; users can override its assessments. During import, the app can read from an SD card, identify photo sessions, apply custom naming patterns, and analyze images while copying. Selected photos can be sent to Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, Capture One, Apple Photos, and other Mac apps following Apple's standard file-import guidelines. The maker says photos stay on the local machine and AI processing runs on-device, though account, purchase, usage, and diagnostic data may be collected. OptiCull supports JPG, RAW+JPG, and RAW formats supported by the host macOS version. It requires macOS 11.0 or later and can run with 8GB RAM. Hobbyist is free; Pro is listed at $79.99, paid once.