Clicked a picture of poor quality, but do you really like it?? Don’t worry folks, editing does it all! Editing can improve your picture quality by just adjusting a little brightness and contrast to remove blemishes on your face or making it smooth, like a professional. There are various photo editing software tools available on the Internet nowadays. So, you must be wondering, how to choose the best one.
Well, there are thousands of photo editing software out there. Every single one is unique in its own way and all of them offer a great way to edit videos. But, the point remains that not all of them can fulfill your needs.
So, just to help you out, we’ve created a guide to the best Photo editing software on the market. So, without wasting any more time let’s dive straight in.
What You Need from Your Photo Editing Software?
Before you go through the list, you need to have a clear idea of what you want. Chances are you need a simple video editing software but you end up choosing one with all the bells and whistles.
So, this is why you need to know which tool is perfect for your needs. To make sure your desired software has everything you want, make a list of the following:
- Features you need
- Features you don’t care about
- Features you may end up needing sometime
- Everything you don’t want and need
You may end up getting burdened under a list of features if you don’t make a list of what you want and what you don’t.
List of the Best Photo Editing Software
Let’s compare some of the top-rated photo editing software in the industry. Here’s all you need to know about them.
1. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic C/C
There’s no way we can begin this list without software from Adobe. When it comes to photo and video editing, Adobe is the biggest name. You’ll have to pay $9.99/mo for this software, but it’s worth it. It may run slowly on some devices, but the demand for RAW files in the industry is still high. The best part is that you can upload everything to the cloud and save precious storage on your device.
2. Lightbox Photo Editor
The best thing about Lightbox is that it’s completely free to use. It can easily perform basic functions such as removing red-eye, lighting correction, removing background elements, and more.
Do keep in mind that the software is not getting regular updates. So, if you want all the new editing features you won’t be able to get them.
3. Glorify – Photo Editing Software
Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, or iOS.
Glorify is one of the best photo editing software which can give you high-quality images within a few minutes. It is also available for free so there is no need for investment from your side. You will get a variety of templates with this software which will help you to create the best quality pictures. It also provides customization features like removing the background, adding shadows, annotating, putting elements, branding your image, adding reflections, and resizing the image.
Users can publish their images anywhere with the help of this software. It also provides a platform to organize your designs and even offers collaboration. You can start using it directly by going to their website. Glorify comes in a very organized interface and is very easy to use.
4. Adobe Photoshop Elements
So, this software can be used both in macOS and Windows. This software is very easy to use, enjoyable, and very efficient. Though there are not many updates as compared to last year, its excellent design along with Photoshop components make it one of the best photo editing software available.
A new topic selection option enables you to eliminate wrinkles to get that smooth skin that you always wanted! Adobe Sense AI evaluates your photos intelligently and improves them in order to save your precious time.
5. Photo Affinity
It is supported by Windows, macOS, and iOS (iPad only) as well.
Affinity Pictures is a high-end professional-level application that is free of cost! It has an impressive collection of software, including digital painting, crude editing, multi-layered composition, and skilled retouching. It has advanced lens correction and best-in-class noise reduction, which helps you to take complete control of your picture.
6. Corel Paintshop Pro
This tool is supported by the Windows operating system.
Corel Paintshop Pro is a strong software and it is very easy to use. Even if you are new to the software, you can understand this one very easily. This amazing software has a contextualized workspace and is integrated with a touch screen. Its 2021 edition is just an increase in contrast compared to the previous one.
7. Adobe Lightroom
It is supported by Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
This is a type of software that you can use easily on your smartphone to edit tonnes of images. This software is very easy to use and can be used by any person who is using it for the very first time. For those who want to make their pictures look more powerful, this software is definitely for you.
8. Google Photos
This software can be used on macOS or Windows.
Google Photos, as you know, can also be used on iOS and Android is definitely an amazing app in order to manage all your photos from your smartphone. Google Photos provides you with the least amount of editing features it can make your photos easy to compose and share.
9. Pixlr X
It can be used on the web as well as on a browser.
Pixlr X is simple to access on a web browser. It is easy and quick software on both mobile and a web browser. A very different feature this software has is that every edit can be changed and perfected at any time, which can prove very beneficial to the editors. It has layers, normal text, and easy modifications, which can be very beneficial as well as very interesting for the people using it for the first time.
10. Paintshop Pro – Photo Editing Software for Windows
It can be used on Windows.
Paintshop Pro is a very beneficial and effective software for people who want affordable software with great features for PC users. It has an additional feature of refining brush which can be very helpful while editing your photographs and making them look the way you want.
11. Darkroom Photo Editor
Darkroom is a photo editing software that works only on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. You can edit photos without any prior experience with photo editing. The complete one-year plan costs just $19.99/year but if you want to purchase the software completely, then it costs $49.99 (lifetime).
The paid version doesn’t have much to offer if you compare it with the free version. So, if you’re looking for limited editing then the free version would be best for you.
12. Adobe Photoshop CC
The software is not a physical copy, so you’ll have to get a free trial to try it out. The monthly costs are more expensive than the alternatives. But the range of features and functionalities you get is unmatched.
But it can be complicated if you don’t have any knowledge about photo editing. Plus, there are endless tutorials out there to help you.
13. Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is compatible with macOS, iOS, and Windows. The price is $49.99 makes it more affordable than other options, and layer editing is one of the best features offered.
Affinity Photo also works best with vector images, and it can even support RAW files, but if you need software with design templates.
14. PhotoDirector 365
Photo Director 365 has features to create an animation and edit photos with a low monthly or yearly subscription rate.
The tool is super easy to use, and the features include a body shaper and a number of smart editing tools. But, there have been some user reports of glitches in the tool.
15. Capture One Pro 21
This particular tool is a great photo editing tool, and the subscription cost is pricey. You should also note that there’s no option to save your data on the cloud. But this limitation is overcome by incredible high-quality raw processing, producing professional-looking results. Plus, the software is great for those who have previous photo editing software.
16. DxO Nik Collection 4
If you want a free trial of the DxO then it offers a generous free trial. If you like the software, then the good news is the price is super affordable.
But, the software is spread across multiple apps which can be a bit tough to understand for new users. There are some common issues such as edits not saving when you’re using different applications.
One great thing about DxO is that there are tons of presets to choose from that make your work easier.
17. Luminar AI
As the name suggests, the software is run by AI. It gives you hints and suggestions on how to improve your images. It is easier to do the editing especially when you don’t have any editing knowledge with the help of Luminar AI photo editing software.
While the names of the effects don’t really clarify what they have to offer with enough usage you’ll understand what each one offers.
18. GIMP
With GIMP you can create original artwork, enhance photos, make use of different elements of graphic design, and perform digital retouching.
While some users compare it with Photoshop, we think the features offered by GIMP are limited. Plus, there are not too many tutorials out there to help you get familiarized with the tool. Basically, you’ll have to learn everything by yourself.
Conclusion – Photo Editing Software
Everyone wants great photos. Sometimes due to poor quality, we may not get the required results. But with the help of editing skills and, of course, great editing software, we can make it up! So given above is the list of some amazing photo editing apps that are all easy to use. They have great features. You can choose any software as per your requirement as per the things available. E.g., you can choose any software if you have a Mac, iOS, Android, or Windows. There are multiple options available, and all of them are best on their own. Enjoy editing!
