It suits photographers looking to combine images of a subject focused at different distances, particularly for macro work.
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Best Focus Stacking Software 2026
Facts read 20 Sep 2026 – 15 Oct 2026
Focus stacking combines images made at different focus distances, and software options can differ in how they support the work. Compared on are automatic alignment, batch processing, and manual retouching, as well as RAW file support and output formats. Supported platforms help you check compatibility with your setup. PlaneFuse, ForgePix, and Shine Stacker are among the entries shown, with Aduku Stacker and ImageFocus Alpha also named. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost points to consider. Compare the listed file, processing, and platform capabilities against the kinds of images and stacking workflow you expect to handle.
The standings: top 10
| Name | In a line | Record score | Price from | Try it free | Runs on | Facts read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Focus Stacking Online | It suits photographers looking to combine images of a subject focused at different distances, particularly for macro work. | 5.6 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 02 Zerene Stacker | 5.2 | $39 one-time | Free trial | Windows, Mac, Linux | 3 Oct 2026 | |
| 03 ImageFocus Alpha | It suits universities, laboratories and industry users working with compatible Euromex camera solutions. | 5.1 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows, Mac | 4 Oct 2026 |
| 04 OpenFocus | OpenFocus suits researchers, engineers, and image-processing professionals working with multi-focus image sequences. | 5.1 | Free plan | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux, Self-hosted | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 05 Helicon Focus | It suits photographers working with focus-stacked macro, product, landscape, or still-life images. | 5.0 | — | Free trial | Windows, Mac | 3 Oct 2026 |
| 06 ChimpStackr | ChimpStackr suits photographers or image-processing users who need a focus-stacking tool on Linux, macOS, or Windows. | 4.8 | Free plan | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux | 8 Oct 2026 |
| 07 CKAN | It suits Kerbal Space Program players who want to discover and manage mods, and mod authors who contribute or correct metadata. | 4.8 | Free plan | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux | 10 Oct 2026 |
| 08 focus-stack | focus-stack suits photographers working with subjects whose depth is not sharp at one focus setting, including microscope photography. | 4.8 | Free plan | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux | 9 Oct 2026 |
| 09 ForgePix | ForgePix may suit photographers working with macro, astrophotography, or long-exposure series who want stacking and editing tools in one application. | 4.8 | Free plan | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux | 29 Sep 2026 |
| 10 PlaneFuse | PlaneFuse may suit photographers working with macro, product, or landscape images who want to stack focus-bracketed frames locally. | 4.8 | Free plan | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | 29 Sep 2026 |
Zerene Stacker
WindowsMacLinuxImageFocus Alpha
It suits universities, laboratories and industry users working with compatible Euromex camera solutions.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+2OpenFocus
OpenFocus suits researchers, engineers, and image-processing professionals working with multi-focus image sequences.
WindowsMacLinux+1Helicon Focus
It suits photographers working with focus-stacked macro, product, landscape, or still-life images.
WindowsMacChimpStackr suits photographers or image-processing users who need a focus-stacking tool on Linux, macOS, or Windows.
It suits Kerbal Space Program players who want to discover and manage mods, and mod authors who contribute or correct metadata.
focus-stack suits photographers working with subjects whose depth is not sharp at one focus setting, including microscope photography.
ForgePix may suit photographers working with macro, astrophotography, or long-exposure series who want stacking and editing tools in one application.
PlaneFuse may suit photographers working with macro, product, or landscape images who want to stack focus-bracketed frames locally.
Open Galileo may suit microscopists, laboratories, scientists, students, macro and nature photographers, astrophotographers, and science educators.
CombineZP suits Windows users who want to combine close-up or macro photographs with different focus areas.
It suits photographers who want to combine focus-bracketed images on macOS or Windows.
PICOLAY may suit Windows users working with image stacks who need focus stacking, alignment, or 3D image outputs.
Shine Stacker suits people working with microscopy, macro photography, or computational imaging who need to combine frames taken at different focus distances.
It suits beginners and professionals creating macro images that need extended depth of field.
TuFuse suits Windows users who want to combine focused or well-exposed image regions and are comfortable with a command-line program.
FocusFusion suits Windows users combining photographs made at different focus distances, particularly when working with supported TIFF, JPEG XR, or JPEG files.