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So you want to learn some photo editing software to help you perfect your photos. But you’re not sure where to start.
It can be overwhelming trying to decide which photo editing software is best for your needs, especially if you’re a new photographer.
But don’t worry, we’ve got your back. We’ve done the research for you and found some of the best photo editing programs out there, whether you’re looking for something simple or need more advanced tools.
Whether you are a new or experienced photographer, these programs will have everything you need to edit your photos like a pro!
If you’re looking for the best photo editing software on the market, look no further than our list of recommended products.
We’ve listed the top-rated image editors for beginners and advanced photographers alike, ranging from simplified versions of professional tools to easy-to-use programs with all the basic editing functions.
Whether you’re just starting out and need a streamlined program to assist you in your first steps to becoming a pro photographer, or you’ve been behind the lens for years and want to brush up on your photo editing skills, this list has something for everyone.
Best Photo Editing Software
What Is Photo Editing Software?
Photo editing software is a must-have for every photography enthusiast.
Whether you’re an amateur or professional photographer, you’ll find that photo editing software can help you improve your pictures in ways that would be impossible using other tools.
Photo editing software allows you to manipulate the images in any way that you want.
This includes changing the color balance and brightness levels, adding special effects and filters, cropping and resizing, and even removing unwanted objects from the frame.
Best Photo Editing Software – Introduction
In the era of social media, everyone wants to capture and share their memories with the world. But sometimes, the photos we capture don’t turn out as perfect as we hoped. This is where photo editing software comes in.
With the right photo editing software, you can take your photos from mediocre to magnificent with just a few clicks.
However, with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best software for your needs.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you find the best photo editing software for your skill level and budget.
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, on a Windows or a Mac, or looking for free or paid software, we’ve got you covered. Read on to discover the best photo editing software that will help you bring your photos to life.
What Is The Best Photo Editing Software?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best photo editing software for you will depend on your specific needs, skill level, and budget.
That said, a handful of programs are widely regarded as some of the best on the market.
For beginners or those on a budget, Adobe Photoshop Elements and Corel PaintShop Pro are great options that offer many of the same features as their more expensive counterparts.
For more advanced users or professionals, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom are industry standards that offer a wide range of tools and customization options.
Other notable options include Skylum Luminar, Capture One, and DxO PhotoLab. Each of these software options has its own unique features and strengths, so it’s important to do your research and choose the one that best fits your needs.
Here are our picks for the best photo editing software to try this year:
Full software shortlist
| # | Software |
|---|---|
| 1 | Adobe Photoshop |
| 2 | Corel Paintshop Pro |
| 3 | Skylum Luminar Neo |
| 4 | Adobe Lightroom |
| 5 | Skylum Aurora HDR (discontinued, see Luminar Neo) |
| 6 | Canva |
| 7 | Stencil |
| 8 | Picmonkey |
| 9 | Designwizard |
| 10 | On1 Photo RAW |
| 11 | Pixlr Editor |
| 12 | Gimp |
| 13 | Adobe Photoshop Elements |
| 14 | Snappa |
| 15 | Portraitpro |
| 16 | Fotor |
| 17 | Inkscape |
1. Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is the gold standard of photo editing software.
It's professional-grade, and has a wide range of features that can be used to edit photos in just about any way you could imagine. Photoshop is available as part of Adobe Creative Cloud, which gives you access to all sorts of other programs like Illustrator and InDesign as well as Photoshop itself.
Features
Wide Range Of Features For Professional-grade Photo Editing
Adobe Photoshop is a professional-grade photo editing software that offers a wide range of features. With Photoshop, you can do everything from basic photo editing to advanced compositing and retouching.
Access To Adobe Creative Cloud
With Adobe Photoshop, you get access to Adobe Creative Cloud, which gives you access to other programs like Illustrator and InDesign. This can be incredibly useful if you need to use multiple programs to complete a project.
Supports Raw File Editing
Adobe Photoshop supports RAW file formats, which are a must-have for professional photographers. This means you can edit your photos without losing any data, and you can make advanced adjustments to exposure, white balance, and more.
Pricing
As of this review, Adobe's standalone Photoshop plan runs about $22.99/month with an annual commitment (billed monthly), or around $34.49/month if you want month-to-month flexibility with no annual commitment. The Photography plan, which bundles Photoshop with Lightroom and 20GB of cloud storage, starts around $19.99/month.
Pricing and promotions change often, so check adobe.com/products/photoshop for current rates.
Free trial available: Adobe offers a free trial of Photoshop.
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2. Corel Paintshop Pro
Corel PaintShop Pro is a comprehensive photo editing software that provides advanced features for both beginners and professionals.
It has an intuitive interface, which makes it easy to use for anyone who wants to edit their photos.
PaintShop Pro comes with a variety of special effects that can be used to enhance your photos and make them look more appealing.
You can also add text or stickers on top of the picture if you want something more personalized than just plain old editing.
The program also includes tools like red-eye correction, cropping, resizing and rotating images so they’re ready for sharing online or printing on paper (or canvas).
Features
Intuitive Interface
Corel PaintShop Pro has an intuitive interface that makes it easy to use for both beginners and professionals. The program is designed to be user-friendly, with tools that are easy to find and use.
Comprehensive Editing Tools
Corel PaintShop Pro offers a comprehensive set of tools that let you make a wide range of adjustments. With PaintShop Pro, you can do everything from basic photo editing to advanced retouching and compositing.
Includes Special Effects
Corel PaintShop Pro includes a variety of special effects that can be used to enhance your photos. These effects include things like filters, textures, and frames.
Pricing
Update: PaintShop Pro 2023 remains Corel's latest release as of this review -- Corel hasn't shipped a newer annual version since, though the 2023 edition continues to receive updates and bug fixes.
One-time purchase: pricing has shifted since this guide was first written; check paintshoppro.com for current rates, which have historically run in the $80-100 range for the standard edition.
Free trial available: Corel PaintShop Pro offers a free trial.
The PaintShop Pro Photo Editing Software from Corel is a program offering professional-grade tools and effects for organizing and enhancing digital photos.
3. Skylum Luminar Neo
The Skylum Luminar is a photo editing software that offers an intuitive user interface, comprehensive editing tools and is available as a one-time purchase or subscription.
The software features over 200 presets for different types of images such as landscapes, portraits, weddings and more.
You can also create your own custom presets using the built-in Preset Editor tool.
The Skylum Luminar includes over 80 unique filters that you can apply to your photos in order to give them a new look or feel without having to do much work yourself!
The Skylum Luminar has extensive editing capabilities including color correction tools (such as white balance), exposure adjustments, and contrast enhancements which will help improve any photo’s quality before saving it back out onto your computer drive you don’t lose any data during this process either!
Features
Intuitive User Interface
Skylum Luminar has an intuitive user interface that makes it easy to use, even for beginners. The program is designed to be user-friendly, with tools that are easy to find and use.
Comprehensive Editing Tools
Skylum Luminar offers a comprehensive set of editing tools that allow you to make a wide range of adjustments to your photos.
With Luminar, you can do everything from basic photo editing to advanced retouching and compositing.
Over 200 Presets For Different Types Of Images
Skylum Luminar includes over 200 presets for different types of images, such as landscapes, portraits, weddings, and more.
These presets can be used to quickly enhance your photos with just a few clicks.
Pricing
Skylum has moved on from the old Luminar 4 version referenced in earlier editions of this guide; the current product is Luminar Neo. As of this review, Skylum sells a perpetual desktop licence starting around $99 (higher tiers add mobile and cloud storage access) alongside an annual Pro subscription around $119/year. Pricing and promotions change often, so check skylum.com/luminar/pricing for current rates.
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Free trial available: Skylum Luminar Neo offers a free trial of the software.
Luminar Neo from Skylum is a photo editing program that uses AI technology to streamline image editing adjustments and makes complicated techniques more achievable. The program can be used as a stand-alone image library and editing software, or be used as a plugin alongside Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. [PRODUCT_AD:operations-handbook||best-photo-editing-software|early|0]
4. Adobe Lightroom
Lightroom is a powerful photo management software that allows you to import, organize and edit your images.
It’s available as part of Adobe Creative Cloud, which means you can use Lightroom on the desktop or mobile devices.
Lightroom supports RAW file formats and includes powerful tools for adjusting exposure, white balance and other settings in your photos.
It also has an extensive library of presets that can be applied to enhance certain types of images (such as portraits).
Features
Powerful Photo Management Software
Adobe Lightroom is a powerful photo management software that allows you to import, organize, and edit your images.
With Lightroom, you can easily manage large collections of photos and find the images you need quickly.
Supports RAW File Formats
Like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom supports RAW file formats, which are a must-have for professional photographers.
This means you can edit your photos without losing any data, and you can make advanced adjustments to exposure, white balance, and more.
Extensive Library Of Presets
Lightroom has an extensive library of presets that can be applied to enhance certain types of images, such as portraits.
Because Lightroom presets are non-destructive, they can be tweaked or removed entirely after applying them, which makes them a safer starting point than Luminar's for photographers who want to keep editing further.
Pricing
As of this review, Adobe's Lightroom plan (1TB cloud storage) runs about $14.99/month with an annual commitment, or roughly $22.49/month for flexible month-to-month billing. The bundled Photography plan, which includes both Lightroom and Photoshop, starts around $19.99/month.
Pricing and promotions change often, so check adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom for current rates.
Free trial available: Adobe offers a free trial of Lightroom.
Adobe Lightroom lets professional photographers and photo enthusiasts make amazing photos from anywhere through [photo editing](https://filmlifestyle.com/darkroom-manipulation/) and organizing.
5. Skylum Aurora HDR (discontinued — see Luminar Neo)
Skylum discontinued Aurora HDR as a standalone product in mid-2022. It's included here for reference, but it can no longer be purchased new; Skylum folded its HDR merging engine into Luminar Neo's HDR Merge extension instead, and existing Aurora HDR owners were offered a discounted upgrade path to Neo.
When it was available, Aurora HDR's professional-grade tools let you adjust exposure and color, remove noise from your photos, fix distortion, and more.
Features
Professional-grade Tools For High Dynamic Range Editing
Skylum Aurora HDR is a professional-grade photo editing software that offers advanced tools for high dynamic range editing.
With Aurora HDR, you can easily adjust exposure and color, remove noise from your photos, fix distortion, and more.
Formerly Available As A One-time Purchase
While it was on sale, Skylum Aurora HDR was sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription — a point in its favour that some photographers still miss in Luminar Neo's subscription-first pricing.
Supports All Major Camera Formats
Skylum Aurora HDR supports all major camera formats, including Sony’s XAVC S format. This means you can edit your photos no matter what camera you’re using.
Where to get HDR merging from Skylum now
Since Aurora HDR is no longer sold, photographers who want Skylum's HDR merging today should look at Luminar Neo and its HDR Merge extension instead, which uses the same underlying engine.
6. Canva
Canva is an online graphic design and photo editing tool that’s easy to use. It has a library of over one million stock images, and you can create your own designs using its drag-and-drop interface.
Canva offers both free and paid plans, with the latter offering more features like unlimited storage space for your projects.
Features
Online Graphic Design And Photo Tool
Canva is an online graphic design and photo editing tool that’s easy to use. With you of designs, from social media graphics to business cards.
Library Of Over One Million Stock Images
Canva has a library of over one million stock images that you can use in your designs. This makes it easy to find the perfect image for your project.
Create Your Own Designs
Canva has a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create your own designs. You can choose from a wide range of templates, or start from scratch and create your own design.
Pricing
Free plan available: Canva offers a basic free plan with access to a wide range of templates, design types, and limited storage.
Pro plan: around $18/month (or roughly $144/year billed annually) as of this review. This plan provides access to all features and benefits, including unlimited storage, branding tools, and access to Canva's premium stock photo, video, audio, and graphics library.
Canva Business (formerly the Teams plan): around $25/user/month. This plan is designed for teams and businesses, adding brand controls, approval workflows, and collaboration features on top of the Pro plan.
Pricing changes periodically, so check canva.com/pricing for current rates.
7. Stencil
Stencil is a great choice for those who want to create and edit images. The app comes with a variety of templates, so you can turn your photos into stickers or customized cards in no time at all.
There are also tons of fonts available, so it’s easy to add text that matches your theme or style.
If you’re looking for an app that’s free but still provides plenty of features, Stencil may be right up your alley.
Features
Extensive Library Of Templates
Stencil offers a vast library of over 4 million stock photos, icons, and graphics, along with 2,500 templates to choose from.
This makes it easy to create professional-looking designs quickly and easily.
Social Media Scheduling
Stencil integrates with popular social media platforms, allowing users to schedule posts directly from the platform.
This saves time and streamlines the social media marketing process.
Custom Font Uploading
Stencil allows users to upload and use their own custom fonts, giving them more creative control over their designs.
Pricing
Free plan available: Stencil offers a basic free plan that includes access to over 2 million royalty-free photos, 100,000+ quotes, and 50+ templates.
Unlimited plan: $15/month (billed annually) or $20/month (billed monthly). This plan provides access to all features and benefits, including unlimited images, custom templates, and more.
Enterprise plan: custom pricing. This plan is designed for large teams and businesses who need custom solutions. It includes all features and benefits of the Unlimited plan, plus advanced security and support, and a dedicated account manager.
Stencil is the web's favorite online graphic design tool, with millions of stock photos, templates, and quotes to create scroll-stopping social media graphics fast.
8. Picmonkey
PicMonkey is a photo editing and design tool that lets you create professional-grade images.
It’s available as a free or paid plan, with the paid version offering more features such as filters, fonts and effects.
Features
Easy-to-use Interface
PicMonkey’s intuitive interface makes it easy for users to edit photos and create designs without any prior experience. The platform also offers a variety of tutorials and resources to help users get started.
Collaboration Tools
The software offers collaboration tools that allow multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously. This is particularly useful for teams and businesses.
One-click Resizing
PicMonkey’s one-click resizing feature makes it easy to resize designs for different platforms and purposes, such as social media posts, blog graphics, and more.
Pricing
Basic plan: $7.99/month (billed annually) or $12.99/month (billed monthly). This plan provides access to basic features and benefits, including basic templates, tools, and effects.
Pro plan: $12.99/month (billed annually) or $24.99/month (billed monthly). This plan provides access to all features and benefits, including advanced templates, tools, and effects, as well as storage and collaboration features.
Team plan: $33.99/month (billed annually) or $51.99/month (billed monthly). This plan is designed for teams and provides access to all features and benefits of the Pro plan, plus additional team management and collaboration features.
Free trial available: PicMonkey offers a 7-day free trial of the Pro plan.
PicMonkey is an easy-to-use graphic design software designed to help businesses create and edit graphics and photos for various projects.
9. Designwizard
DesignWizard is an online graphic design software that allows users to create unique content in minutes.
It features editable templates that allow users to change or upload backgrounds, images, videos, colors, add logos, change fonts, and add personalized captions.
In addition, it has a collection of pre-made templates that users can customize to achieve designs that fully correlate with their brands.
DesignWizard also has an online design tool and video timeline that allows users to create the type of content that they or their businesses need, covering a wide range of visual styles and designs.
Features
Extensive Library Of Templates
DesignWizard offers a library of over 1 million stock photos and graphics, along with over 30,000 templates to choose from. This makes it easy to create professional designs quickly and easily.
Custom Color Palettes
DesignWizard allows users to create and save custom color palettes, making it easy to maintain brand consistency across all designs.
Collaboration Tools
DesignWizard offers collaboration tools that allow multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously. This is particularly useful for teams and businesses.
Pricing
Free plan available: DesignWizard offers a basic free plan that includes access to over 1 million templates and graphics, and 100,000+ images and videos.
Pro plan: $9.99/month (billed annually) or $19.99/month (billed monthly). This plan provides access to all features and benefits, including unlimited templates, custom sizes, and more.
Business plan: $49.99/month (billed annually) or $89.99/month (billed monthly).
All of Design Wizard’s features are free, allowing you to access a library of over 1 million copy right free images and 15,000 templates so that you can create, share or download customized designs for social, business or everyday use.
10. On1 Photo RAW
On1 Photo RAW is a powerful tool for photographers who want to get the most out of their RAW files.
It’s packed with professional-grade tools and supports all major camera formats, including Sony’s XAVC S format.
On1 Photo RAW offers a one-time purchase option or a subscription plan that includes cloud storage and access to features as they released.
Features
Non-destructive Editing
On1 Photo RAW allows users to edit photos without permanently altering the original image. This means that users can experiment with different editing techniques without worrying about losing the original photo.
Ai-powered Masking Tool
On1 Photo RAW’s AI-powered masking tool automatically detects and selects specific areas of an image for editing. This can save a significant amount of time compared to traditional masking techniques.
Batch Processing
On1 Photo RAW allows users to apply edits to multiple photos at once, saving time and streamlining the editing process.
Pricing
One-time purchase: $99.99. This is a one-time purchase of the full version of On1 Photo RAW. It includes all features and updates for the version purchased.
Upgrade from previous version: $79.99. This option is available to users who have previously purchased a version of On1 Photo RAW. It provides access to the latest version at a discounted rate.
Free trial available: On1 Photo RAW offers a 14-day free trial.
ON1 lets you choose file naming, add metadata (including keywords), and apply presets. If your photo files are already on the computer or you intend to dump them into the same folders regularly, you can designate them as cataloged folders.
11. Pixlr Editor
Pixlr Editor is a free image editing program that offers many of the same features as Photoshop, but in a much more user-friendly interface.
It’s available for both Windows and MacOS, and has been around since 2009.
Pixlr Editor is great for those who want to do basic edits like cropping or adding filters to their photos without having to learn how to use complicated tools like layers or curves.
The software also comes with an array of preset effects that you can apply directly from within the app–they’re easy enough even someone who isn’t very tech-savvy could figure out how they!
Features
Layers And Blending Modes
Pixlr Editor offers layers and blending modes, allowing users to create complex designs by layering different elements and adjusting their opacity and blending modes.
Advanced Editing Tools
Pixlr Editor offers a variety of advanced editing tools, including curves, levels, and color correction. This makes it easy to achieve precise edits and adjustments.
Cross-platform Compatibility
Pixlr Editor is available for use on desktops, laptops, and mobile devices, making it easy to edit photos on the go.
Pricing
Free plan available: Pixlr Editor offers a basic free plan that includes access to basic editing tools and effects.
Premium plan: $4.90/month (billed annually) or $7.99/month (billed monthly). This plan provides access to all features and benefits, including advanced editing tools, templates, and more.
Free trial available: Pixlr Editor offers a 7-day free trial of the Premium plan.
Pixlr is a cloud-based set of image editing tools and utilities, including a number of photo editors and a photo sharing service.
12. Gimp
Gimp is a free open source photo editing software that has been around for more than 20 years. The program offers a variety of features, including layers, filters and support for importing images from your camera.
Gimp’s interface may seem overwhelming at first but it’s actually quite simple once get used to it. The program also comes with an extensive help manual that explains how each feature works so you can learn as you go along.
Features
Customizable Interface
Gimp’s interface is highly customizable, allowing users to arrange tools and windows to their liking. This can improve workflow and productivity.
Advanced Editing Tools
The software offers a variety of advanced editing tools, including layers, masks, and brushes. This makes it easy to achieve precise edits and adjustments.
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Extensive Plug-in Library
Gimp has a vast library of plug-ins available, allowing users to extend the software’s functionality and customize their editing experience.
Pricing
Free and open-source software: Gimp is completely free to download and use. It includes all features and updates for the version downloaded.
13. Adobe Photoshop Elements
If you’re looking to do some basic photo editing, Adobe Photoshop Elements is a great option. It has all the features you need to edit your photos and then some.
It’s available as a one-time purchase for $99, which means that once you’ve bought it, there are no monthly fees or subscriptions required.
Features
Guided Edits
Adobe Photoshop Elements offers guided edits, which provide step-by-step instructions for achieving specific editing effects. This makes it easy for beginners to learn new editing techniques.
Smart Tags
Adobe Photoshop Elements uses AI-powered smart tags to automatically tag and categorize photos based on their content. This makes it easy to find specific photos and organize them efficiently.
Integration With Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe Photoshop Elements integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, allowing users to access a variety of additional tools and resources.
Pricing
One-time purchase: $99.99. This is a one-time purchase of the full version of Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Free trial available: Adobe Photoshop Elements offers a 30-day free trial.
Photoshop Elements is designed for consumers who are just getting started with photo editing and want an easy way to organize, edit, create, and share their photos.
14. Snappa
Snappa is a graphic design and photo editing software that can be used to create social media images. It has a variety of templates, and you can choose from free or paid plans.
Features
Extensive Library Of Templates
Snappa offers a library of over 600,000 templates and graphics to choose from. This makes it easy to create professional designs quickly and easily.
Custom Font Uploading
Snappa allows users to upload and use their own custom fonts, giving them more creative control over their designs.
Multiple Design Formats
Snappa allows users to create designs for a variety of formats, including social media posts, blog graphics, and more.
Pricing
Free plan available: Snappa offers a basic free plan that includes access to over 600,000 templates and graphics, and up to 5 downloads per month.
Pro plan: $10/month (billed annually) or $15/month (billed monthly). This plan provides access to all features and benefits, including unlimited downloads, custom sizes, and more.
Team plan: $20/month per user (billed annually) or $30/month per user (billed monthly). This plan is designed for teams and provides access to all features and benefits of the Pro plan, plus additional team management and collaboration features.
Free trial available: Snappa offers a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan.
Snappa is an infographic software that enables you to easily create online graphics that can be used for ads, [social media](https://filmlifestyle.com/video-content/), and blogs without the need of graphic designers or Photoshop.
15. Portraitpro
If you’re looking for a photo editing software that can help you with portrait retouching, PortraitPro is the way to go.
It has a variety of features that allow you to edit your photos in an effective and easy way.
The software comes as a one-time purchase or subscription, depending on what suits your needs best.
The best thing about PortraitPro is its ability to quickly remove blemishes and imperfections from portraits without having to spend hours on them.
You can easily get rid of acne scars or other skin issues by using this program’s tools such as Spot Healing Brush, Clone Stamp Tool (for duplicating parts), Healing Brush Tool (for healing larger areas) and more, which will save time while still producing great results!
Features
Ai-powered Editing
PortraitPro uses AI-powered facial recognition technology to automatically detect and edit facial features, such as skin tone, eyes, and hair. This can save a significant amount of time compared to traditional editing techniques.
Batch Processing
PortraitPro allows users to apply edits to multiple photos at once, saving time and streamlining the editing process.
Customizable Presets
PortraitPro allows users to create and save custom presets, making it easy to achieve consistent editing results across multiple photos.
Pricing
One-time purchase: $44.95. This is a one-time purchase of the full version of PortraitPro. It includes all features and updates for the version purchased.
Studio Max plan: $119.95. This plan provides access to all features and benefits of the full version, plus batch processing, RAW file support, and more.
Free trial available: PortraitPro offers a 14-day free trial.
PortraitPro is the world’s best-selling retouching software. Fast and intuitive, PortraitPro edits your portrait photos for beautiful results.
16. Fotor
Fotor is a great choice for photo editing and design. It’s easy to use, with tools that are intuitive and quick to learn.
You can choose from a free plan or pay $5 per month for access to more features (like unlimited storage).
Fotor offers all the basic functions you’d expect in your average photo editing software: cropping, filters, text overlays and more.
But it also has some unique features like collages that allow you to create multiple images at once by layering them together into one image file.
This makes it easier than ever before for users who want their photos printed out on multiple sheets of paper at home or sent off through snail mail rather than just sharing digitally online!
Features
One-click Editing
Fotor offers one-click editing tools that allow users to quickly enhance their photos with a single click. This can save time and make the editing process more efficient.
HDR Effects
Fotor offers HDR effects that allow users to create high dynamic range photos with a single click. This can improve the quality of photos taken in challenging lighting conditions.
Beauty Retouching
Fotor offers beauty retouching tools that allow users to smooth skin, remove blemishes, and whiten teeth. This is particularly useful for portrait and beauty photography.
Pricing
Free plan available: Fotor offers a basic free plan that includes access to basic editing tools and effects.
Pro plan: $8.99/month (billed annually) or $10.99/month (billed monthly). This plan provides access to all features and benefits, including advanced editing tools, templates, and more.
Free trial available: Fotor offers a 7-day free trial of the Pro plan.
17. Inkscape
Inkscape is a vector graphics editor. It can be used to create or edit vector graphics such as illustrations, diagrams, line arts and charts.
Inkscape uses the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format and is free software released under the GNU General Public License.
Inkscape has been translated into multiple languages including English, German, French, Spanish, and Russian.
The development team uses Bugzilla for issue tracking and Git for source code management; public code repository is hosted on GitHub.
Features
Vector Graphics
Inkscape is a vector graphics editor, which allows users to create and edit scalable vector graphics. This makes it ideal for creating logos, icons, and other graphics that need to be resized without losing quality.
Open-source Software
Inkscape is completely free and open-source software, which means that it can be downloaded and used by anyone without any cost.
Extensive Plug-in Library
Inkscape has a vast library of plug-ins available, allowing users to extend the software’s functionality and customize their editing experience.
Pricing
Free and open-source software: Inkscape is completely free to download and use. It includes all features and updates for the version downloaded.
Inkscape is a Free and open source vector graphics editor for GNU/Linux, Windows and macOS. It offers a rich set of features and is widely used for both artistic and technical illustrations such as cartoons, clip art, logos, typography, diagramming and flowcharting.
Photo Editing Software – Frequently Asked Questions
Sure, here are 6 frequently asked questions about Photo Editing Software along with their answers:
1. What Is The Best Photo Editing Software For Beginners?
The best photo editing software for beginners would be Adobe Photoshop Elements or Corel PaintShop Pro.
Both these software offer a user-friendly interface and basic editing features for beginners.
2. Which Is Better – Adobe Photoshop Or Lightroom?
Adobe Photoshop is a pixel-based editor, whereas Lightroom is a non-destructive RAW editor. If you need to do advanced pixel-based editing, then Photoshop is the way to go.
However, if you mainly work with RAW files, then Lightroom is a better option.
3. Can I Use Photo Editing Software On My Smartphone?
Yes, there are several photo editing apps available for smartphones. Some of the popular ones are Adobe Lightroom, VSCO, and Snapseed.
4. How Much Does Photo Editing Software Cost?
The cost of photo editing software varies widely depending on the software you choose. Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom are subscription-based, generally starting in the $15-23/month range depending on the plan (see the entries above for current pricing). Corel PaintShop Pro and Skylum Luminar Neo are sold as one-time or perpetual-license purchases, generally in the $80-120 range, while free options like GIMP and Inkscape cost nothing.
5. What Are The Minimum System Requirements For Photo Editing Software?
System requirements vary depending on the software you choose, but most current programs require at least a 64-bit processor, 8GB of RAM (16GB or more is preferable for large RAW files), and a graphics card with at least 2GB of VRAM.
6. Is There A Free Photo Editing Software Available?
Yes, there are free photo editing software available such as GIMP, Paint.NET, and RawTherapee. However, these software may not have all the features of paid software and may have a steeper learning curve.
7. What Do Professionals Use To Edit Photos?
Professionals typically use Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe Photoshop, Skylum Luminar, Adobe Photoshop Elements, GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program), and ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate to edit photos.
8. Is There A Free Version Of Photoshop?
The full desktop version of Photoshop requires a paid subscription, but Adobe offers Adobe Express, a free (with paid upgrade options) web and mobile app for quick edits, and a free trial of full Photoshop. Photoshop is also available as a free-to-try web app at photoshop.adobe.com, alongside iOS and Android mobile apps.
9. What’s The Difference Between Photoshop And Lightroom?
The main difference between Photoshop and Lightroom is that Photoshop is used for more complex editing tasks, such as creating graphics, manipulating images, and adding text, while
Lightroom is used for more basic tasks such as organizing, editing, and sharing photos.
10. Is Gimp As Good As Photoshop?
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open-source photo editor that is beloved by many for its ability to help you get under the hood and change the source code of the program to best suit your needs.
However, it is not as powerful as Photoshop and does not have as many features.
11. Does Microsoft Have A Photo Editor?
Yes, Microsoft has a photo editor called Microsoft Photos, available for free on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
12. Does Mac Have A Photo Editor?
Yes, Mac has a photo editor called Photos. It is available for free on Mac OS.
13. Is Photo Editing A Difficult Skill To Learn?
No, photo editing is not a difficult skill to learn. With the right tools and tutorials, anyone can learn how to edit photos.
14. What Are Some Examples Of Photo Editing?
Some examples of photo editing include cropping, adjusting color and contrast, adding filters, retouching, removing blemishes, and adding text.
15. What Are The Benefits Of Photo Editing?
The benefits of photo editing include improved image quality, increased creativity, better organization, and easier sharing.
Photo editing can also help you create unique and memorable images that stand out from the crowd.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that some photo editing software may offer a free trial period, allowing users to test the software before committing to a purchase.
Photo Editing – Further Thoughts
Whether you're looking for a simple free photo editor or a complex, paid subscription, the best editing software for you depends on your specific needs, experience level, and the type of edits you plan to perform. A wide range of genuinely capable free options exist -- GIMP and Inkscape (both covered above) prove that free software doesn't have to mean compromised results.
One notable option not covered in the numbered list above: Affinity Photo, a professional-grade layer-based editor long positioned as a one-time-purchase Photoshop alternative. As of late 2025, Canva (which acquired Affinity) made the entire Affinity suite, including Affinity Photo, free to use as part of a unified Canva/Affinity app -- a significant shift from its previous paid-license model worth knowing about if budget is a factor.
A few features worth understanding regardless of which software you choose:
- Layer editing lets you work on different parts of an image independently without affecting the rest, and is close to indispensable for anything beyond basic adjustments.
- Batch editing applies the same edits to multiple photos at once, a major time-saver when working through a large shoot.
- Background removal tools, increasingly AI-assisted, make isolating a subject from its background far faster than manual masking used to be.
- AI-assisted tools more broadly are now common across both free and paid editors, automatically adjusting brightness, contrast, and color balance, or handling selections and masking that once required manual work.
Before settling on a particular software, take advantage of the free trials most paid programs offer so you can test the actual workflow before committing.
Best Photo Editing Software – Wrapping Up
Photo editing software has become an essential tool for anyone who wants to take their photography to the next level, helping you enhance images, improve quality, and create photos worth sharing.
The market is flooded with options, but by weighing functionality, ease of use, and price against your own skill level and budget, you can find software that genuinely fits your workflow rather than just chasing the biggest name.
For most professionals, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom remain the industry standard thanks to their depth of tools and universal file compatibility with other software. But as this guide shows, they're far from the only capable options -- from Corel PaintShop Pro and Skylum Luminar Neo as paid alternatives to GIMP and Inkscape as genuinely powerful free tools, there's a real fit for nearly every need and budget.
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