Image Editing Tools

broken image


  • February 10, 2020
  • 32 min to read

Powerful photo editor for pros. Pixlr editor users start here! Epic 7 on bluestacks. Classic photo editing with must-have tools, but sleeker. Open most image like PSD (Photoshop), PXD, JPEG, PNG. Classic desktop ui. Selection tools. Cut, copy, paste selections. Fill and Gradient tool. Sponge / Color tool. Advanced color picker; More tools, more contol. Cutting out the background from photos is a popular photo editing procedure. There are literally dozens of possible uses for PhotoScissors: uploading product images to eBay or Amazon, preparing photos for job seeking or dating websites, replacing a boring background with a more picturesque one or a solid color, creating photo jokes and collages, retouching vacation photos for fun or to make a. Experience next level, intuitive photo editing with AI-powered tools for quick yet professional edits. Our editor opens almost any image format such as PSD (Photoshop), PXD, JPEG, PNG (transparent), WebP, SVG and more. Advanced Pixlr E OR Playful Pixlr X We have two brand new (ish) editors.

Modern digital photography goes hand in hand with post-processing software. Although today the photo editing software market offers an unlimited number of options for photographers of all levels, most of the community sticks to tried-and-true Adobe Photoshop. It indeed is a universal app equipped with tools that a professional photographer would wish for, but it's time to make way for the new.

For the past decades, a lot of new and worthy photo editors entered the market bringing revolutionary technologies into the mundane editing process making even the most complex editing tasks doable for novices and streamlined for pros. Here we listed some of the best photo editing apps on the market including both old and new for photographers of different needs and skill levels.

1. Luminar 4

Completely revamped Luminar 4 is finally here to shake up the world of photo-editing software. Improved to be even more intuitive, Luminar 4 also brings a ton of brand-new AI editing tools designed to speed up the photo editing workflow.

- AI Sky Replacement automatically changes the sky and relights and recolors the entire photo to match the new sky.

- AI Skin Enhancer & Portrait Enhancer do all the retouching for you with just one click.

- AI Enhance automatically enhances your photo by making numerous adjustments of different complexity.

- AI Structure brings details up or down depending on your needs.

- Sunrays adds realistic sun rays to your photo that you're free to tweak as you please.

- Smart Contrast was improved to produce a more detailed and textured image.

Luminar 4 can not only be used as a stand-alone app but also as a plug-in for Adobe's Photoshop and Lightroom to make the best of your tools.

✅ Pros:

  • Non-destructive editing
  • Intuitive interface
  • Improved performance
  • In-depth customization
  • Available as a plug-in as well

✖️ Cons:

  • Mediocre library functions
  • Limited exporting options

2. Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom has been the app of choice for professional and amateur photographers alike for many years now. It offers a well-thought-out set of features for managing, organizing, processing, and exporting your photos. With the advanced library features, like labels, keywords, collections, and search filters, the app makes it easy for you to keep track of large numbers of photos. Lightroom comes with a good selection of RAW profiles to define colors in your photos for more precise editing. Tweak your photos to perfection with adjustment sliders, perspective and lens correction tools, retouching tools, filters, profiles, and presets to speed up your workflow.

✅ Pros:

  • Built-in file management system
  • Face detection and tagging
  • Color and luminosity masking
  • Plug-in support

✖️ Cons:

  • Not the best choice for beginners
  • A bit too taxing for Windows
  • No auto-tagging
  • Comparatively slow importing


What photo editing software do you use and why? Let us know in the comments, we'd be very interested to know!

3. ACDSee PHOTO STUDIO ULTIMATE 2020

Photo Studio Ultimate 2020 is a one-stop photo management and post-processing tool for Windows. It comes with everything you need to handle your files, like categories, keywords, face detection, ratings, color labels, metadata, geolocation, and more. It's quite powerful when it comes to photo editing, too, offering a broad set of tools for a variety of different purposes. It allows you to process your RAW, JPEG and other types of files in a non-destructive way in Develop Mode and perfect them in Edit Mode by adjusting color and lighting, bringing out details, removing flaws, and adding final touches. The user interface is completely customizable to suit your preferences.

✅ Pros:

  • Excellent built-in file management system
  • Powerful post-processing features
  • Fully customizable interface

✖️ Cons:

  • Available only for Windows
  • Too overwhelming for beginners
  • Subscription-based online storage gallery

4. GIMP

GIMP is a free and open-source photo-editing tool that has been around for more than 20 years. It boasts a limitless number of state-of-the-art features that you wouldn't expect to see in a free photo-editing app. The interface has been recently updated to be easier to use, however it still can be quite confusing for novices. GIMP offers a broad set of tools suitable not only for basic but for advanced editing, too. Here you can enhance colors, adjust hue and saturation, fix composition, adjust sharpness, reduce graininess, remove unwanted objects, work with masks, layers, and more.

✅ Pros:

  • 100% free
  • Open access to the source code
  • Has a broad selection of tools for different purposes
  • Plug-in support
  • Available for the main operating systems

✖️ Cons:

  • Non-intuitive workflow
  • Difficult to get the hang of
  • Lack of HDR support

5. Aurora HDR

Aurora HDR is a powerful HDR tool that brings innovation and simplicity together. The most recent update introduced a new Quantum HDR engine with AI-powered tone mapping technology which allows for more intelligent photo merging to produce vivid yet natural-looking photos. Whether you're creating an HDR photo from bracketed shots or a single image, the app's neural network enhances the photo and makes sure that no halos or ghosting spoils the final result. The brand-new Smart HDR Structure feature boosts details and sharpness without creating undesired artifacts that can make a photo look unrealistic. With over 80 distinctive Looks, you can make your photo look stunning in just one click.

✅ Pros:

  • One of the best HDR photo editors
  • Swift performance
  • Corrects badly taken single shots
  • Doesn't create artifacts, halos, or noise
  • Available as a stand-alone app and plug-in
  • Plug-in support

✖️ Cons:

  • None worth mentioning

6. Adobe Photoshop Elements

Developed for beginner and hobbyist photographers, Photoshop Elements' functions are naturally more limited than Photoshop's but it has all the essentials for achieving astonishing results. It offers three editing modes:

The Quick mode includes the simplest tools for straightening and cropping photos, removing unwanted objects, enhancing portraits, and applying filters.

The Guided mode uses step-by-step wizards to take you through more complex edits like removing objects, replacing the background, merging multiple photos, creating double exposures, and more.

The Expert mode gives you access to more complex Photoshop-like features including layers, masks, and filters.

✅ Pros:

  • Excellent for entry-level photographers
  • Simple and straightforward interface
  • One-time purchase
  • A bunch of Photoshop-like features simplified for nonprofessionals
  • Dozens of clear guides

✖️ Cons:

  • Too limited functionality
Are you a Lightroom, Luminar, or Photoshop user? Then you'd probably want to see our collection of the best free and paid presets for them.


Exposure X5 looks like a refined version of Lightroom that inherited only the features that photographers liked and used the most. Some of the most hated features were eliminated or improved. Thus, there's no time-consuming import process in Exposure X5 - you can get straight to editing by adding a folder with your photos in a few clicks. The interface is very well-organized and can be customized to suit your editing purposes. Besides non-destructive layer-based editing and cutting-edge tools that are crucial for the professional photo-manipulating process, Exposure X5 offers a mind-blowing collection of over 500 presets that you can customize to your liking.

✅ Pros:

  • Beginner-friendly
  • Well-organized and customizable interface
  • No power-draining import process
  • Non-destructive layer-based editing
  • A broad selection of free presets
  • No subscription

✖️ Cons:

  • The interface design looks a bit outdated
  • Lack of panorama and HDR tools

8. Capture One Pro

Capture One Pro is a full-fledged pro photo editor created for experienced photographers and serious hobbyists. Originally designed for tethered shooting, Capture One Pro is the fastest and most flexible tethering tool for photographers of all genres. It also offers top-notch RAW photo-editing functionality, smart photo organization tools, layer support, powerful adjustment tools, and plenty of other features you're looking for in professional-grade photo software.

✅ Pros:

  • Exceptional rendering of RAW files
  • Numerous adjustment tools for different needs;
  • Layer-based editing
  • Industry-leading tethering features
  • Fast and smooth spot removal
  • Annotations feature

✖️ Cons:

  • Lack of third-party plug-in support;
  • Lack of panorama and HDR tools
  • Limited organization features;
  • Absence of history panel

9. Affinity Photo

Even though Affinity Photo can't boast any organization or management tools, it's well-packed with all kinds of editing features for photographers of all levels. The workflow includes several Personas, or modes, focused on different editing stages. Develop Persona focuses on RAW file processing, Photo Persona is used for boosting your photos using layers, lighting and color adjustments, curves, LUTs, etc. Tone Mapping Persona is for HDR editing, Liquify Persona for bending photos, and Export Persona for exporting finished photos.

✅ Pros:

  • Layer-based editing
  • RAW editing tools
  • Panorama, HDR, and focus stack merging tools
  • No subscription

✖️ Cons:

  • No lens-based corrections
  • Lack of organization tools
  • No ability to save custom workspaces
  • Poor noise reduction

10. Pixlr

One of the most powerful online photo tools, Pixlr has become a popular choice when it comes to making quick photo corrections. Since it's a web app, it doesn't take up any room on your computer and is compatible with all operational systems. Pixlr features a clean and intuitive interface with many tools for cropping, selecting, transforming, removing objects, retouching and adjusting your photos using numerous sliders for brightness, contrast, vibrance, saturation, shadows, and more. It also offers a vast collection of filters and effects that will enhance your photos in a snap!

✅ Pros:

  • Beginner-friendly
  • Great for quick editing
  • Online
  • 100% free
  • Has a clean interface
  • Offers a nice collection of filters and effects
  • Mobile version available

✖️ Cons:

  • Limited functionality
  • Advertising can be annoying
  • Can be laggy sometimes

11. Paint.NET

Developed to replace the iconic Microsoft Paint, Paint.NET has grown into a full-featured yet simple photo-editing tool for WIndows. The app offers a user-friendly interface that's very easy to navigate. Paint.NET is packed with a nice set of tools for making your photos look beautiful in the most effortless way. Here you can play around with various adjustments, such as levels, curves, contrast, brightness, saturation, and more, selecting and removing objects, resize and crop your photos, and so much more!

✅ Pros:

  • 100% free
  • Unlimited history
  • Layer-based editing
  • Tons of creative filters and effects
  • Suitable for beginner and intermediate users
  • User-friendly interface
  • Plug-in support

✖️ Cons:

  • Only for Windows
  • Interface design looks a bit outdated
  • Limited functionality


Do you agree with our opinion in this article? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

FAQ:

Q: Which one is the best photo editing software?

A: Luminar 4 is the best photo editing software because it offers the most powerful collection of features and tools for different editing needs.

Q: What is the easiest free photo editing software?

A: Paint.NET is the easiest free photo editing software, however, it has a very limited number of features suitable only for basic editing.

Q: Which photo editing software is the best for HDR photo editing?

A: Aurora HDR is the best HDR photo editing software with a broad set of tools for creating and correcting HDR images.

Q: How can I edit pictures on my computer for free?

A: GIMP free photo editor is the best way to edit pictures on your computer for free. It's well-packed with features and is suitable for beginners and pros alike.

Q: Which photo editing software can be used as a plug-in for Photoshop/ Lightroom?

A: Luminar 4 is the best Photoshop/ Lightroom plug-in that allows you to use its unique features in your go-to photo editor.

Whether you take photos for fun or business, it's not an easy task to find a photo editing software that can best fit your photo editing needs with so many different options on the market. We believe that it's easier to find something when you know what you're looking for, so we came up with three criteria that you should take into account when looking for your one and only photo app. So, we recommend you to make your choice based on the features you want your app to have, the platform you're going to use it on, and the price that you're ready (or not) to pay for it. This will help you to filter out the irrelevant options and narrow your choices down to a few most suitable ones.

Features

We believe that all photo editing apps can be divided into several categories based on what they have to offer to users of different levels and needs. These categories are:

  1. Photo editing software for beginners. If you're just starting out in photography or need to apply quick corrections to your photos once in a while, you should opt for a beginner-friendly photo editor like Paint.NET or Pixlr. Such editors usually have a clean and straightforward interface without too many tabs and icons, and a decent set of tools for applying basic corrections.
  2. Professional photo editing apps are designed for professional photographers and advanced hobbyists and give more control over photo processing and editing. Their use requires more specialized knowledge of photography and high photo-editing skill. Pro-grade photo editors like Adobe Lightroom or Capture One Pro often come with an in-build photo management system, provide support for RAW files, tethered shooting, and presets.
  3. Software for creating and editing vector graphics. As you probably know, there are two types of graphics: raster and vector. Raster graphics represent images as a pixel grid, while vector graphics use lines and curves. Vector software can't change pixels and thus is ineffective for photo correction. However, you can use vector software to add graphics to your photo such as text, shapes, lines. Many raster photo editors include a handful of vector tools, like GIMP or Photoshop.
  4. AI photo software uses AI-based technology that allows reducing manual photo editing to a minimum - even the most complex editing tasks such as retouching or removing objects can be done with just a few clicks. Such apps are a popular choice among beginners and pros alike as they substantially speed up the editing process without affecting the quality. Luminar 4 is one of a few decent AI photo editing tools on the market.
  5. Open source photo editing apps are apps for which the source code can be viewed and changed by any user, like GIMP. It means that any user can interact with the program code to correct bugs, improve the exciting features and add new ones. Open-source software is usually completely free and for this reason much beloved by users of different levels of expertise.
Platform

There is another thing you should take into account when looking for your perfect photo-editing app - the platform you're going to use it on. If you're a Mac or Windows user, you've got a wider choice of options unlike, for example, Chrome OS users, who have a much more limited choice. Let's take a closer look at what we have here.

  • Windows is the most compatible with most of the photo software you're going to want to use. If you're a Windows user, you have a great number of options to choose from including most widely-used apps like GIMP, Luminar 4, Lightroom, Paint.NET, and more.
  • As Mac is the second most popular operating system, you won't have any troubles finding a photo app compatible with it. Here you still have a vast number of options including Lightroom, Aurora HDR, Luminar 4, etc. The popular GIMP, however, isn't compatible with Mac.
  • If you're a Chromebook user, your choice is limited to Google Play apps. Those, however, include a pretty good number of options, such as GIMP, Photoshop, Lightroom, and others. If you have strong programming skills, you could try installing external apps as well.

It doesn't matter what platform you're using if you choose to work in an online photo editor. It runs in a browser and doesn't need installing.

If you're looking for an app for your Android or iOS device, you should check what your app store has to offer. Some web and desktop apps, like Pixlr or Lightroom, however, have mobile versions.

Price

No matter how good the software is, its price can be a real dealbreaker. Luckily, not all photo editing software is paid for. There are such apps as GIMP and Paint.NET that are completely free. Paid options include subscription-based (Photo Studio Ultimate 2020, Lightroom) and one-time-fee (Luminar 4, Photoshop Elements, Affinity Photo) software. Some paid apps though have free trial versions, so you can test an app for free for several days to see if it's worth the money.

  • January 16, 2020
  • 33 min to read

Top 10 Shortlist:

  1. Luminar (7 days full free version)
  2. Adobe Lightroom (7 days trial)
  3. Paint.NET (Free)
  4. Adobe Photoshop Elements (7 days trial)
  5. Gimp (Free)
  6. Aurora HDR (7 days full free version)
  7. Photolemur 3 (Free with watermark)
  8. Fotor (Free basic plan)
  9. Fhotoroom (Free + Offers in-app purchases)
  10. AirMagic (Free with watermark)

Tired of looking for the free feature-rich photo editor? Want to try out something new? Or just need to find your perfect editing software compatible with Windows 10? You've come to the right place.

Be my guest and learn about the top-ranking photo editing programs for Windows 10 on the market. Knock yourself out!

1. Luminar (7-day free trial)

Apart from being one of the best international editors (it's translated into 10 languages so far), Luminar 4 is also a top plugin for Adobe products such as Photoshop and Lightroom.

The program is very snappy, user-friendly, and easy-to-use. The design is super simple and minimalistic. Nothing distracts you from the editing process. Besides, Luminar 4 team have recently updated a few super useful features you should try:

Image

- AI Sky Replacement (changes the sky, matches the colors of other objects with the sky, fixes poor lighting, and removes unnecessary objects);

- AI Skin Enhancer & Portrait Enhancer (smooths the skin, gets rid of pimples and blemishes without obliterating the skin texture, enhances skin color and adds natural shadows);

- AI Structure (face detection, emphasizes the details, gives a photo a natural-beauty look);

- Sunrays (adds realistic-looking sunbeams between hard-to-reach objects like twigs, trees, and bushes);

- AI Enhance (enhances the overall look of the photo, adjusts the colors to create a more realistic effect);

- Smart Contrast (makes a realistic contrast, emphasizes texture).

Pros

  • Boasts of a wide range of video guides;
  • Offers non-destructive editing;
  • Easy to use;
  • A perfect plugin for Lightroom, Photoshop or Photos for macOS;
  • Has a free 7-day trial;
  • Has pleasant discounts for upgraded plans

✖️ Cons

  • A little bit slower than Lightroom and Photoshop;
  • Limited exporting options;
  • Luminnar's Library loses to Lightroom's DAM.

2. Adobe Lightroom (7 days trial)

If you're savvy in photo editing and need your editor to have all the best features on the market, go for Lightroom. Many professional photographers say that no editing software can ever fill in for Lightroom.

Lightroom is a well-known universal program for editing that has a 7-day free trial. The cloud allows you to save, store, and share any of the edited photos. No matter where you edit (phone, laptop, tablet), Lightroom applies the changes everywhere. Besides, the interface of the program is clear. Intuitive thinking is pretty much everything you need to figure out how to use Lightroom.

Pros

  • Non-destructive editing;
  • A cloud-based system;
  • Easy processing of RAW files;
  • Incredible presets;
  • Unique filters and tools (post-crop vignette, geometry tools, etc.)

✖️ Cons

  • Has more features in iOS version;
  • A little bit expensive;
  • Not the best decision for beginners.

Paint.NET is a veteran of photo editing. This editing software offers users to enjoy its elementary and snappy design. Besides, the program is super responsive and has no bugs.

Paint.NET can't be called a rival to Photoshop or Lightroom. It's not surprising because, otherwise, no one would ever opt for the latter.

Pros

  • The FREEST of all free photo editors;
  • A simple familiar design;
  • Compatible with any OS.

✖️ Cons

  • No text correction if you applied a filter;
  • No Burn and Dodge filters;
  • No mask of layers.

4. Adobe Photoshop Elements (7 days trial)

This program is a brand new product by Adobe featured in 2020. The editor brings the editing experience to another level. You get hooked on handy modes such as Quick Mode, Expert Mode, and Guided Mode.

Whereas other editors like Photoshop take time to adjust, Adobe Photoshop Elements is a no-brainer. A fully optimized interface, simple tools, and step-by-step guidelines will make your editing fast and enjoyable.

Pros

  • Perfect for beginners;
  • The best object removal feature on the market;
  • Adobe Ecosystem

✖️ Cons

  • No cloud storage;
  • Doesn't process 3D objects;
  • No phone app.
5. GIMP (Free)
GIMP is sort of a classic program for graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers. You can create a Graphic Art from the start or just adjust the existing picture according to your needs.
You to enjoy its layers, filters, brushes, and enhancement tools from the start thanks to the intuitive system. It's easy to figure out how to use it without contacting the Support Team or watching dozens of YouTube reviews.

Pros

  • Open to code manipulations;
  • A wide range of filters;
  • 100% Free;
  • Fit for almost any photo manipulation purposes.

✖️ Cons

  • Could be slower than Photoshop;
  • Average score on Trustpilot
  • No iOS, Android, and Desktop applications.
Aurora HDR has recently been updated into the snappier and more functional version of itself so that you, guys, could get a true value-driven offer. I can't relate more to the fact that Aurora HDR's auto-correction feature is splendid.
The updated version is not ripped or deprived of features. Conversely, it contains some tools it never had before. Aside from the well-known HDR Detail Boost and HDR Denoise tool (that have become indispensable for HDR image editing, btw), Aurora HDR presents has one-of-a-kind Top & Bottom Tuning, Polarizing Filter, Glow Filters, and other.
Long story short, Aurora HDR will get you hooked from the first seconds of using it. Try it out!

Pros

  • A lovely and simple layout;
  • Super speedy and snappy work;
  • Never gets buggy;
  • Non-destructive editing;
  • AI-powered system;
  • Good both for newbies in editing and pros.

✖️ Cons

  • Not that functional as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom;
  • No healing brush in the standalone version;
  • Long response when uploading big raw images.
Some editors seem quirky, hard-to-use, or ripped. You struggle while using them and never get the desired result. If you relate to this, let Photolemur 3 be your editor.
After you've downloaded and setup Photolemur 3, you just drag and drop the photos. We all love this feature. Then, the program suggests its variant of corrections. The before/after slider makes you fall in love with Photolemur 3 even more.
After that, you use one or two of the editor's features such as Face Enhancer, Eyes Enlarge, Color Recovery, and BOOM. You're sold!

Pros

  • Instant auto-correction;
  • Super speedy;
  • Advanced Artificial Intelligence;
  • Supports 18 languages.

✖️ Cons

  • Could be slow while processing RAW files;
  • You no longer know what to do with your Photoshop subscription.

If you're looking for an app to start your graphic design or photographing career, opt for Fotor. It's a simple and feature-rich photo editor that lets you expose your talent for image manipulation/creating.

It's compatible with all the devices you need. You can use it on your laptop and mobile phone depending on your choice. It's free and has an intuitive interface which is more than enough to make your first dive into the photo-editing world.

Pros

  • Some freelance graphic designers say it's the best money-value offer;
  • Super user-friendly layout;
  • Compatible with PCs, phones (Android and iOs);
  • Supports 9 languages.

✖️ Cons

  • Not fit for professional photographers/designers;
  • Gets confused with 800x800-sized photos (last time I checked);
  • Sometimes, it's pretty slow.

Fhotoroom is your pick if you're looking for Snapseed or VSCO alternative. The mobile app works flawlessly, especially on Android devices. The desktop app also boasts of cool features such as Text Layer, Highlight Tint, Shadow Tint, etc.

Pros

  • Has a phone app, a desktop app, and an app for Mac OS;
  • A dedicated photo-sharing community;
  • The free version doesn't give way to the premium one;
  • 200+ sorting and ordering methods;
  • Perfectly compatible with Windows 10.

✖️ Cons

  • No auto-correction;
  • The in-app camera crashes on iOS;
  • The app might crash while applying the Ansel filter;
  • An outdated interface.

The software is perfect for newbies in aerial photography. You just drag the photo you need to edit, wait 5-10 seconds, and receive the 'after' version of your photo. Of course, you can edit your photos by yourself from scratch but even auto-corrections could be a final result.

Pros

  • Suitable for editing drone photography;
  • Drag-and-drop algorithm;
  • Useful features like auto-correction, tonal contrast, sky enhancement, haze removal, etc.)

✖️ Cons

  • No mobile app;
  • You can't edit videos;
  • No preset descriptions.

PicsArt Photo Studio is best suitable for collage making. Although you obviously can edit your photos via PicsArt Photo Studio, that's hands down only ONE out of MANY specializations of the app.

When I first saw the official website of the editor, I thought it was the perfect tool for graphic designers, clipart makers, and abstract art lovers. The coolest things you can get from PicsArt Photo Studio are funny stickers for iMessage (just drag and drop them in your chats), dispersion tool, and Challenges section (here you can find inspiration for your future creations).

Pros

  • Awesome filters and effects;
  • Simple design;
  • Integration with iMessage;
  • Completely free;
  • A built-in camera;
  • The variety of templates.

✖️ Cons

  • Pop-up ad windows in the free version;
  • Available in mobile version only;
  • No sync with the cloud;
  • The editor gets buggy from time to time;
  • It could be a bit difficult to use.
12. KVADPhoto+ 2 (Free + Paid Pro Version)

Like Aurora HDR, KVADPhoto+ 2 is an updated version of the program. Why you should care?

  • They fixed some lags;
  • There are over 150 stunning filters right now!!!
  • And over 200 special effects! Isn't that awesome?

By the way, the guys have released many digital photo frames in case you need to make your design more outstanding. KVADPhoto+ 2 features a wide range of photo manipulation tools like transform tools, adjustment tools, magic tools, and artistic filters.

Image Editing Tools Downloads

Pros

  • Elementary in usage;
  • Many customized features;
  • Available on all the devices – from PC to smartphone;
  • New Clip Art Stickers;
  • You can save Collage and PicFrames as projects which is good for prof graphic designers.

Image Editing Tools For Windows 10

✖️ Cons

  • Bugs (compared to the old version, they're not that nasty);
  • Some effects are outdated.
13. PhotoScape (Free + 4-50$ additional services)

If you're into simple apps providing basic features, Photoscape is the editing software fit for you. Behind the huge variety of features, most of the users find difficulty in usage. That's certainly not the case with Photoscape.

With the editor, you can do color correction, resizing, cutting, batch editing, screen capturing, tonal contrasting, and RAW editing. That is usually all the average user will look for in the photo editor. Don't worry, your Instagram pictures are sure to be nicely adjusted to your needs with Photoscape!

Besides, for Windows and Mac users, Photoscape offers to use Photoscape X. This one has an updated design and about the same variety of features as its older brother, Check them out!

Pros

  • Includes batch editing;
  • Allows to make animations;
  • A face search feature that allows you to find people looking like you;
  • A simple interface.

✖️ Cons

  • A bit outdated interface;
  • Not quite snappy;
  • Doesn't have an erase tool;
  • Sometimes, you have system lags;
  • Fit only for beginners.

Pixlr is a trust-worthy editing software that will make it worth your while. The great variety of splendid effects, gorgeous filters, and snappily working interface will make anyone savvy in the world of photo manipulation.

Retouching tools don't obliterate the skin texture and get rid of unwanted objects on the photo in a few seconds. The Pixlr's drawing tools let you add anything you want to make your pictures stand out.

Pros

  • Simple design;
  • Has Dark and Light Modes;
  • Works within Dropbox;
  • Over 500 million users.

✖️ Cons

  • No Desktop version;
  • Eats the quality of pictures a bit;
  • It doesn't work smoothly with a weak Internet connection.

This photo editor is pretty curious due to its primary function. For those of you who didn't know, Lightzone was created as commercial software but, now, it's available for everyone.

Unlike similar photo editing programs, this one doesn't eat the quality of the photos after you saved them. Besides, it easily handles RAW files. Many people consider Lightzone a sibling of Lightroom because of that.

Pros

  • So many unique photo-tweaking tools (Gaussian Blur; Fill Flash, Crisp, etc);
  • Non-destructive editing;
  • The tools you've used get saved in a stack;
  • Shows lens names;
  • Fancy design.

✖️ Cons

  • Support is no longer available;
  • No online or email photo sharing;
  • Not many formats (the main ones being JPEG and TIFF);
  • May seem too basic for pro-photographers.




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