Photo Editor

The best photo editor tools, ranked by our editorial score.

16 tools compared
A

Affinity Photo

Top Rated
Serif (Canva) • Windows, macOS, iPadOS •30 reviews

Professional-grade photo editor that rivals Adobe Photoshop in capability. Free since Canva acquisition — no subscription required. Features full RAW development, layer-based editing with masks, Frequency Separation, HDR merge, panorama stitching, focus stacking, and 360-degree image editing. Available on Windows, macOS, and iPadOS with desktop-class performance on all platforms. The strongest free desktop photo editor for professional workflows.

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Completely free professional-grade editor with no subscriptionFull RAW development, layers, masks, and Frequency SeparationMore intuitive interface than Photoshop with easier-to-use tools Plugin ecosystem less mature than Photoshop'sSmaller community for tutorials and troubleshooting
75
Score /100
Free
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Photopea

Photopea

Web •77 reviews

Free browser-based Photoshop clone supporting 50+ file formats including PSD, AI, INDD, RAW, SVG, Figma, and PDF. Offers layers, masks, Smart Objects, blending modes, vector editing, RAW development, batch processing, content-aware fill, AI inpainting, and one-click background removal. The most feature-complete free online photo editor, running entirely in-browser with no installation required.

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Completely free with all Photoshop-level features unlockedSupports 50+ file formats including PSD, AI, RAW, and SVGNo installation needed — runs entirely in the browser Can be slow and laggy with large files or complex projectsOccasional crashes reported under heavy workloads
71
Score /100
Free
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C

Capture One

Capture One A/S • Windows, macOS •100 reviews

Professional RAW photo editor and tethered shooting software used by studio photographers worldwide. Industry-renowned for superior color rendering and color grading tools. Features layer-based local adjustments, session-based workflow for tethered shooting, and native support for major camera RAW formats. Available on Windows and macOS at $18/month or $299 perpetual license. The benchmark for professional color science in RAW editing.

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Industry-leading color science and renderingBest-in-class tethered shooting for studio workflowsAdvanced layer-based local adjustments Premium pricing at $18/month or $299 perpetualSome users report declining quality in recent versions
59
Score /100
From $18/mo
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S

Snapseed

Google • iOS, Android •46 reviews

Free mobile photo editor by Google with professional-grade tools. Features selective adjustments, healing tool, curves, white balance, and RAW development. Offers an intuitive gesture-based interface optimized for touch editing on iOS and Android. The most powerful free mobile photo editor available, praised for combining professional features with a beginner-friendly workflow.

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Completely free with no ads or in-app purchasesProfessional tools including selective adjustments and RAW editingHighly intuitive gesture-based mobile interface Mobile-only — no desktop or web versionSome users dislike recent UI redesign
55
Score /100
Free
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Canva

Canva

Canva Pty Ltd • Web, iOS, Android •100 reviews

All-in-one design platform with one-click AI background removal, erase and restore brushes, and seamless design editor integration. Ideal for creative workflows where background removal is part of a broader design task. Free tier available, though background removal is a Pro feature. Widely recommended for its simplicity and ease of use across web, desktop, and mobile.

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Incredibly easy to use for quick photo editsMassive template library with 3.6M+ designsAI-powered editing tools work well for beginners Not optimized for deep photo editing — more of a design toolAdvanced editing features limited vs dedicated photo editors
52
Score /100
From $14.99/mo
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Adobe Express

Adobe Express

Web, iOS, Android •100 reviews

Adobe-powered background remover using Sensei AI for professional-grade cutouts with generative fill, pixel-level control, and HSL color matching. Best free offering among competitors — no signup required for basic use, full-resolution downloads, no watermarks. Strongest for users already in the Adobe ecosystem, though the web app is heavier than one-click alternatives and requires an Adobe account for saves.

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Adobe Sensei AI delivers professional-grade photo editingFree tier available for basic photo editing Limited photo editing depth vs dedicated editorsDescribed as ''a clone of Canva without a Properties panel''
51
Score /100
Free
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D

Darktable

Darktable Project • Linux, macOS, Windows •77 reviews

Free open-source RAW photo developer and non-destructive editor. Export RAW and standard image formats to JPG, PNG, TIFF, or WebP while preserving full EXIF metadata. Module-based workflow with color management, tethered shooting, and OpenCL acceleration. Ideal for photographers replacing Lightroom who need batch RAW-to-JPG conversion with professional-grade color science.

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Industry-leading RAW processing with non-destructive workflowProfessional color management with filmic RGB and OpenCL accelerationFree Lightroom replacement with no subscription Steep learning curve for new usersResource-intensive on older hardware
51
Score /100
Free
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L

Luminar Neo

Skylum • Windows, macOS •100 reviews

AI-powered desktop photo editor with one-click sky replacement, scene relighting, structure enhancement, and automatic object removal. Features AI-driven tools for dust spot removal, power line elimination, and distracting object cleanup. Available on Windows and macOS starting at $49 perpetual license. Innovative AI editing capabilities undermined by reported performance issues and criticism of Skylum's frequent paid upgrade cycles.

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Innovative AI tools for sky replacement and scene relightingOne-click removal of dust spots, power lines, and distractionsReview platform users rate it highly for ease of use Frequent paid upgrade cycles frustrate long-term usersReported performance issues with slow rendering
51
Score /100
From $49/mo
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P

Paint.NET

dotPDN LLC • Windows •18 reviews

Free Windows-only raster graphics editor with layer support, effects, and plugin extensibility. Lightweight and fast for basic to intermediate photo editing tasks. Supports layers, adjustments, special effects, and a thriving plugin community that extends functionality. Ideal for Windows users who need a capable free editor without the complexity or resource demands of GIMP or Photoshop. Free download from getpaint.net.

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Free lightweight editor with fast performance on WindowsLayer support with extensive effects and pluginsSimple interface accessible for beginners Windows-only — no macOS or Linux supportLimited compared to Photoshop or GIMP in editing depth
51
Score /100
Free
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G

GIMP

GNU Project • Linux, macOS, Windows •74 reviews

Free open-source image editor with export to JPG, PNG, WebP, TIFF, HEIC, BMP, GIF, PSD, and 40+ other formats. Full layer-based editing with masks, filters, and scripting via Python and Scheme. Cross-platform on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Best for users who need both editing and format conversion in one tool, not for pure conversion-only workflows.

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Free Photoshop replacement with no subscriptionFull layer-based editing with masks and filtersScriptable via Python and Scheme for automation Dated interface compared to modern editorsSteep learning curve for Photoshop users
50
Score /100
Free
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A

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Inc. • Windows, macOS, iOS, Android •131 reviews

Industry-standard professional photo editor with unmatched feature depth. Offers advanced color correction, CMYK print workflows, 3D design, AI generative fill, Neural Filters, and the largest plugin ecosystem in the industry. Available on Windows, macOS, iPad, and iPhone at $22.99/month as part of Adobe Creative Cloud. The benchmark all other photo editors are measured against, though pricing remains the primary complaint across user communities.

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Unmatched feature depth with professional color correction and AI generative fillLargest plugin ecosystem in the industryIndustry standard for professional print and digital workflows $22.99/month subscription is the most expensive in categoryEcosystem lock-in makes switching difficult
49
Score /100
From $22.99/mo
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P

PhotoScape X

MOOII Tech • Windows, macOS •6 reviews

Free all-in-one photo viewer and editor for Windows and macOS. Combines batch editing, collage creation, screen capture, GIF animation, and RAW viewing in a single lightweight application. Offers generous free features that users typically need to pay for elsewhere. Best suited for quick edits and batch processing rather than professional-grade editing, but excellent value for casual users.

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Free with generous features that usually require payment elsewhereVersatile — combines viewer, editor, batch processor, and collage makerEasy to use for quick edits and batch processing Limited editing depth compared to professional editorsMore of a utility tool than a pro-grade photo editor
49
Score /100
Free
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Pixlr

Pixlr

Web, iOS, Android •140 reviews

Browser-based photo editor with AI-powered features including generative fill, AI noise reduction, AI sharpening, background removal, and AI image generation. Offers layer support, blending modes, and a familiar Photoshop-like interface. Available as Pixlr X (quick edits) and Pixlr E (advanced editor with layers). Freemium model with limited free saves per day.

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Familiar Photoshop-like interface with layer supportGood AI tools including generative fill and noise reductionDecent free tier for casual editing Aggressive paywall limits free usage to 3 saves per dayFeatures confusingly split between Pixlr X and Pixlr E
47
Score /100
From $7.99/mo
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BeFunky

BeFunky

Web, iOS, Android •31 reviews

Online photo editor, collage maker, and graphic design tool founded in 2007. Offers photo editing with touch-up tools, effects, filters, background replacement, and AI-powered features. Known for high-resolution exports and Chromebook compatibility. Freemium model with watermarked free exports.

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High-resolution exports praised over CanvaGood for Chromebook users needing browser-based editingSolid effects and filter library Must pay to remove watermarks and save imagesFeature set feels outdated vs modern AI-powered competitors
27
Score /100
From $6.99/mo
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Fotor

Fotor

Web, iOS, Android •143 reviews

AI-powered online photo editor with Magic Eraser, one-click background removal, AI image generation, AI upscaling, text removal, generative expand, portrait touch-up, and eCommerce virtual try-on. Ranked

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Best-in-class AI object removal on par with Photoshop per ZapierClean interface with minimal learning curveGood free tier for basic photo editing Credit-based pricing can be confusing and expensiveMany editing features locked behind paid plans
27
Score /100
Free
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PicMonkey

PicMonkey

Web, iOS, Android •120 reviews

Online photo editor and graphic design tool offering photo editing, templates, collage creation, and social media design tools. Acquired by Shutterstock in 2021. Provides background removal, color correction, touch-up tools, and a template library. No free tier — requires subscription from $7.99/month.

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Easy to use interface with intuitive design toolsGood template selection for social media graphicsTouch-up tools work well for portraits No free tier — must pay before tryingAggressive billing practices with hidden charges
22
Score /100
From $7.99/mo
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