Natron Reviews 2025: Details, Pricing, & Features

Heten D.

CG Lead

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

Validated Reviewer

Verified Current User

Review source: G2 invite

Incentivized Review

Nov 03, 2021(Original Jun 05, 2016)

"A good, purpose made, open source alternative to commercial node based compositors."

What do you like best about Natron?

Free, Open source, and just enough node-based compositing software in the open-source eco-system, Natron, is no cut-down version of a full-fledged compositor. It is a full-blown compositor, following in the footsteps of industry standard, commercial composting applications. It's got enough nodes to get you through your daily CG as well as film compositing needs. Also, it uses shortcuts identical to Nuke. The minimal learning curve for users already familiar with Nuke. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Natron?

Although it is identical to Nuke visually, performance is not at par. Also, being open-source software, the development for Natron was stalled for a while, leaving users in a lurch. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Natron:

Well this is undoubtedly the best and probably the only (with the exception of blender) node based Open Source compositing software out there which is also free for commercial usage. If you're on a tight budget and want a really good compositing software Natron is what you're looking for. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Natron solving and how is that benefiting you?

Completing node based compositing shots at a fraction of the budget of any commercial application out there. Also since it's free for commercial use, there's no limitation on what sort of project it's used on unlike Nuke non-commercial or Fusion Free. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

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Verified User in Motion Pictures and Film

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

Validated Reviewer

Review source: G2 invite

Incentivized Review

Jan 30, 2019(Original Sep 07, 2018)

"Natron is not perfect but free"

What do you like best about Natron?

It is free software with big opensource OpenFx effects. The UI similar to Nuke. Users engage in open discussion about new tools with developers. An additional advantage of Natron is the availability of a version for 64-bit systems, as well as portable assemblies that do not require installation and can work from any carrier! It can render several graphs at the same time, thereby speeding up the delivery of the final result, as well as use a distributed render using computers on the local network. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Natron?

Natron could be unstable especially with really heavy network. Working with color is not so convenient like in Nuke. Another dislike is it's slow in development but it is obvious. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Natron:

Since this is a free product and is developed slowly, it has many drawbacks. And it is necessary to take into account the features of this program and not to expect excellent performance. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Natron solving and how is that benefiting you?

We use it as a cheap alternative for Nuke at production(for simple frame composition like dailies). And since the interface is similar to the interface of Nuke, it is easier to use Natron, although it is necessary to take into account the features of this free program and not to expect excellent performance. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

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Juvenal V.

Field Service Technician

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

Validated Reviewer

Review source: G2 invite

Incentivized Review

Nov 26, 2018

"Not the Best But Gets You Out of a Bind"

What do you like best about Natron?

I like the user interface's similarity with Nuke. Makes using it non confusing as only a very few number of tools differ in name. Everything else is pretty much the same. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Natron?

It takes forever to cache previews. It really struggles with HD and 4K footage as to where other compositors don't. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Natron:

Use it as a last resort. Test it out first before making any commitments to work. If a newer version is released where it can cache your work faster, then this would be a great alternative to Nuke. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Natron solving and how is that benefiting you?

For a lot of freelance work I do, I can't always afford a Nuke license. Natron fills in that gap. I do wish they could work out the kinks of it buffering. Would use this more often and even use it more than Fusion if it was faster. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

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