Paint.NET

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.

vs Photopea 71/100

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.

vs Fotor 64/100

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

vs Canva 62/100

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.

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.

vs Adobe Express 57/100

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

vs Pixlr 47/100

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.

vs BeFunky 38/100

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.

vs PicMonkey 22/100

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.