Photomatix Pro from HDRsoft is the long-standing desktop HDR merger for real-estate work. Version 7 sells as a one-time $99 licence and includes real-estate presets, batch processing, a Tone Balancer rendering method, selective blending, and export plugins for Lightroom and Capture One.
CasaVivid takes a different approach. It does not give you a merge engine to tune. It is a hosted pipeline that turns a full shoot of brackets into finished listing photos.
| Photomatix Pro | CasaVivid | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 one-time licence (Pro 7) | Free during open beta |
| Runs on | Windows and macOS desktop | Web browser; processing in the cloud |
| Batch a whole shoot | Yes, batch processing with presets | Yes. Upload a whole shoot and brackets are grouped automatically |
| Control over the merge | Extensive: methods, presets, sliders, selective blending | Two looks (Natural, Bright & Airy) plus on/off switches; the merge itself isn’t user-tunable |
| Window view | Done through Photomatix’s blending and rendering controls | Automatic window pull (on by default, can be switched off) |
| Perspective | See HDRsoft’s current feature list | Automatic on interiors (straightens converging verticals; can be switched off). Not applied to exteriors or drone shots |
| Works offline | Yes | No. Photos are uploaded |
| Beyond HDR | HDR-focused | Virtual staging, sky replacement, AI edits and video tours in the same project |
When Photomatix Pro is the better choice
Choose Photomatix if you want to fine-tune every merge yourself, work offline, keep files on your own machine, or already have an editing routine built around Lightroom or Capture One. A one-time licence also costs less over time than any subscription.
When CasaVivid is the better choice
Choose CasaVivid if most of your editing time goes into the same fixes on every shoot: pulling window views, removing the yellow or blue cast from mixed lighting, lifting dark rooms. It suits you if you want those done automatically across a full upload. It also helps when the same listing needs virtual staging or sky replacement, since those live in the same project.
Where CasaVivid fits
CasaVivid is a web app made for real-estate photographers who shoot bracketed interiors and exteriors every day. You upload the whole shoot, RAW or JPEG. It groups the brackets, merges each set, brings back the view through bright windows, evens out colour casts from mixed lighting, and gives you finished listing photos. Staging and AI edits are in the same project.
Perspective correction (straightening leaning walls and converging verticals) runs automatically on interior photos and can be switched off. It is not applied to exteriors or to drone shots, where it was more likely to tilt a good frame than fix it.
It is in open beta and free to use while the beta lasts. It is not a general-purpose HDR tool: there are no tone-mapping operators to choose from, and no 32-bit output for further grading.
FAQ
- Is CasaVivid a replacement for Photomatix?
- For photographers who want finished listing photos from a batch with little hands-on work, often yes. For photographers who want to control each merge, Photomatix gives you far more control.
- Can I try both?
- Photomatix offers a free trial on HDRsoft’s site. CasaVivid is free while it is in open beta.