A workflow comparison · Updated
Selekt vs Narrative Select
Both tools support a photographer-led culling workflow. The choice is whether you want a free culling workspace with optional cloud features, or Narrative’s plan-based combination of culling and AI editing.
Try Selekt on your next shootPublished by Selekt. This is a review of documented features, not a hands-on speed or accuracy benchmark. Vendor sources are listed below.
When Selekt fits
A free place to make your selects.
Choose Selekt if you want free, unlimited culling on Mac or Windows with on-device focus, exposure, and blur scoring, optional cloud face checks, and every final pick left to you.
When Narrative Select fits
Choose around your workflow.
Consider Narrative if close-up face review, scene ranking, and an integrated route into AI editing are central to your work. Check which subscription includes the features you will actually use.
The differences that affect a shoot.
| What matters | Selekt | Narrative Select |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop platforms | macOS and Windows | macOS and Windows |
| Reviewing related photographs | Group bursts and similar frames, then review your selection. | Scenes View and sharpness ranking; availability depends on plan. |
| Quality assistance | Local focus, exposure, and blur signals. Cloud analysis is optional. | Focus and eye assessments, with a Close-Ups Panel on supported plans. |
| Editing handoff | Export selections and XMP metadata to an editing workflow. | Ship to Lightroom Classic; additional editor integrations vary by platform. |
| AI editing | Focused on culling. Continue in your preferred editor for RAW editing. | AI presets and personal preset options across paid plans. |
| Starting point | Free plan for unlimited imports, manual culling, and export. | Free trial, followed by a paid plan. |
Compare the plan you would actually use.
Selekt’s free plan includes unlimited culling and export, on-device quality scoring, and cloud AI for 100 photos a month. Pro costs A$16 a month (about US$11) and makes cloud AI unlimited for everyday shooting, with 10 GB of storage. See Selekt’s current plans →
Narrative lists Lite, Standard, Premium, and Ultra subscriptions. Billing period, promotions, and included AI features affect the price. A trial is different from a permanent free plan: compare the recurring cost of the features you need after the trial, using the same currency and tax basis.
Try this before choosing
Use the same shoot in both apps.
- Choose a representative folder. Include your usual RAW files, a burst, a difficult lighting situation, and photographs you already know you would keep. Use a backed-up copy.
- Finish a real selection. On a group portrait, can you inspect every face comfortably, and does the editing handoff preserve the ratings and files you expect?
- Complete the handoff. Open the exported selects in your editor. Check ratings, sidecars, RAW/JPEG pairing, and the amount of manual cleanup. Judge the whole workflow, not just the initial import.
A repeatable test on your own files is more useful than an unsupported claim that one app is universally faster.
Download Selekt for Mac or WindowsSources and review scope
Checked on . Features and offers can change. Selekt descriptions were checked against the desktop implementation and current plan information. No speed, accuracy, or time-saving results were measured for this comparison.