Whether you’re all about selfies, showing off delicious gourmet meals, or you're creating a digital scrapbook of your life, a good photo editing app can take your pictures to the next level and really make them pop. Luckily, there's a vast array of options available from intuitive and easy-to-use beginner blogging apps to complex, multi-faceted software for pros.
The difficult bit is finding the app that is going to work best for you! To help you in your pursuit of the perfect candid holiday snaps and Instagram aesthetic, we’ve set about creating a buying guide as well as a ranking of our top ten favourites to download paid or for free on iPhone or iPad, Android, PC, and Mac.
Quick List - Top Photo Editing Apps
Adobe
The Best Choice for Anyone Looking to Get Serious About Their Photography
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The first factor to consider is how much experience you have using this kind of software, because your proficiency level will determine what kind of app is best suited to you. Editing apps for social media are usually on the simpler side and are easy for complete beginners to use. They're also likely to be free, or at least fairly cheap.
Intermediate apps step it up a notch with a greater array of editing tools and features, which might appeal if you're interested in learning more about digital photography. Luckily, these apps will still be intuitive and quite manageable if you’ve used other photo apps previously.
Finally, professional-grade applications. These tend to be the most expensive but give the most control, providing the scope to do almost anything to your photos. However, these aren’t programs that you can simply open and start doodling around on, and require previous knowledge and experience before you get going.
If you like the idea of printed pictures, check out our instant cameras article!
Entry-level photo editing apps are aimed at those who are mainly just looking to take their social media game to the next level. This kind of app will have filters or presets that allow you to get a particular look for the 'gram, or basic convenience functions like merging photos.
Compared to the basic editing tools you will find on platforms like Instagram or even on your phone, these apps will offer that little bit more. For example, there will also be less common sliding editing tools to play around with such as white balance, vignette and shadows, as well as stickers and other fun effects.
Creative apps will provide you with a bit more freedom. These will typically let you add text or borders, change certain skin tones, and possibly even remove red eye and other undesired aspects of the photo. They may also focus on artistic aspects like making photo collages and editing videos as well as photos.
These apps are useful if you want to start a blog or social media account that you would like to be taken seriously, but you’ve not quite got the cash to pay a professional – or the skills to do it yourself. The more creative-themed will appeal to budding graphic artists or even those studying photography.
And finally, advanced editing apps. These will have all of the above features alongside more technical tools like image cutting, multiple layer editing, and advanced image healing with pristine precision. Some allow you to create your own presets based on these adjustments, too.
Again, using these features will require some knowledge on your part, either that or you must be prepared to undergo a steep learning curve. Apps with these tools are aimed at those who will be using the programs for work, study, or any sort of professional use.
If you're all about getting the right shot or angle, then our action cameras might interest you.
The next thing to consider is how much you want to pay, if anything! There are three typical payment types, the first being free versions of apps. Try to find out exactly what's involved with these, as some are free to download but require payment after a trial period, or in order to get access to more than the basic editing tools.
The second option is to buy the app with a one-off payment. With photo editing apps this is usually quite a reasonable figure, costing from £1.99 to around £5, though they can be as much as £20 for more professional software.
Lastly, paid subscriptions. These tend to be left to the more complex systems such as Photoshop and are either paid per month or per year. You’ll usually get a better price if you pay annually, but you should be confident the app is right for you before you commit – no one likes wasting money on an app they don't use.
Looking for a budget smartphone that doesn't break the bank?
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Adobe Lightroom Photo Editor | ![]() | The Best Choice for Anyone Looking to Get Serious About Their Photography | |
2 | Serif Labs Affinity Photo | ![]() | For Those Who Want to Commit Without Spending Big | |
3 | Google LLC Snapseed | ![]() | A Free App From Google That Has Functions for Everyone | |
4 | Adobe Photoshop Mix - Cut Out, Combine, Create | ![]() | A Nice Introduction to Adobe Photo Editing Software | |
5 | Pixelmator Team Pixelmator | ![]() | Still Learning the Ropes? This App Does the Work for You | |
6 | Adobe Photoshop Express Photo Editor | ![]() | A Scaled-Down Photoshop for Both Artists and Social Media Users | |
7 | Visual Supply Company VSCO: Photo & Video Editor | ![]() | Popular Among Influencers Thanks to Its First-Rate Filters and Presets | |
8 | Merek David Com, LLC Mextures Photo Editor | ![]() | A Tool That Allows You to Edit Away From Polished Perfection | |
9 | ADVA Soft GmbH TouchRetouch | ![]() | A Valuable Retouching Component in an Editing Arsenal | |
10 | PicsArt Photo & Video Editor | ![]() | Straightforward and Fun With Beginner-Friendly Tutorials |
It might not be for everyday users, but when you download Lightroom you're not just getting your hands on tools that will crop, balance or change the contrast. Instead, you're getting a mammoth photo editing universe that's interconnected with all your devices and provides professional-grade control, wherever you are.
It could be a steep step up from the tools of everyday apps to Lightroom, but there is a frequently updated library of tutorials that allows those that are passionate and motivated to learn quickly. For those in the know, this has all the features that serious photographers want to bring their stories to life.
Usually, there are the simple, everyday apps and then the more expensive professional options. Serif Labs spotted a gap in the photo editing market and what they created with Affinity Photo is something that slid effortlessly in between, providing top of the range advanced tools without the cost.
This program is powerful and will allow you to breeze through complicated, multi-layer edits and get really artistic using your Apple pencil. Plus, there is even a desktop version available that is almost exactly the same as the app, should you find yourself liking it a little more than your usual editing software.
Snapseed could quite possibly be one of the best free photo editing apps ever created. Considering that you don't pay a penny, you'll find a large selection of tools and functions as well as an interface that is easy to navigate for pretty much any user, regardless of their experience.
Don't let that simple interface put you professionals off though, as this app has everything serious photographers will need to create amazing images on the go. Best of all, unlike most other free apps, the work you do is non-destructive, meaning you can always go back and delete a function if you feel like it didn't work out.
Photoshop Mix is an engaging, and relatively easy way to edit your photographs, making it perfect for those looking to dip their toes in the Adobe world of photo editing. Using this app you'll be banging out multilayered images and designs in minutes.
The app has plenty of features, from beginner-friendly selective retouch to fix flaws through to more complex blend modes and colour adjustments for new designers. While it's a step away from the professional program, this still has the core quality that Adobe carry through all their programs.
Ever get the feeling that instead of making your photos better, you're just butchering them? Well, Pixelmator fancies themselves capable of replacing the human eye with their machine learning function. The app has been trained using over 20 million professional images so it's well equipped to sort your pictures out for you!
Of course, it doesn't always work, but there are dozens of adjustments that you make to ensure you get the look you want. Furthermore, there are plenty of advanced tools that even those with limited knowledge can enjoy thanks to the simple interface.
For a long time, Adobe refused to jump on board and produce editing software for tablets and smartphones, then towards the end of 2019, they relented. Express is intended as a mobile Photoshop, and for those familiar, it will be a welcome addition to their portable devices, since they can now work from anywhere.
Those familiar with full Photoshop may find the app somewhat frustrating, as features have been traded for mobile compatibility. This can be particularly irritating given Photoshop's professional reputation compared to the simplistic Express version, so modify your expectations if you're an Adobe veteran.
A massive hit with the majority of social media influencers, the VCSO app has all the classic editing tools across the bottom as soon as you upload an image. Where it sets itself apart is the copious amount of filters and presets available, all which give your photos that extra touch of personality and character.
However, there are some issues. Firstly, the free part of the application is quite limited, serving up only ten filters and no video editing functions. Secondly, it doesn't have that extra layer of artistic features that we feel an app like this should have, like borders or the ability to add text.
Finding yourself bored with the clean-cut, overly-slick images recently? The folk behind Mextures were too, which is why they created their photo editing software to add a bit of grime to your images. Think light leaks, grain, dust, and other characteristics that will take your images away from polished perfection.
However, the skill-to-features ratio is a little upside down here, as you'll need a little bit of knowledge, but you'll only be able to produce basic edits. Also, the recent update of the application has seen it lose some of its fluidity, which can be rather annoying when you're in that flow state.
Imagine, if you will, that you've just gone on holiday and you've ventured to the local hotspot. When there you spend all your time trying to get photos without any strangers in, but it's impossible because it's so overcrowded. You, dear friend, need to get yourself TouchRetouch.
This app can be used automatically to remove unwanted objects, or you can go old-school and do it manually, either way, you'll get the photo you wanted initially. The downside is that this is a one-trick pony, but paired with other apps this will become a valuable part of your editing arsenal.
Finishing our list is the user-friendly and hugely fun app, PicsArt. This platform excels when it comes to providing users with a lot of control over the outcome of their images, without ever bogging them down with too many technicalities. Instead, it's all attractive filters, artistic text, and entertaining stickers.
Another handy feature that is great for the target audience is the in-app tutorials which are straightforward and easy to follow. The only problem is that while the download is free, the wide range of different subscriptions ranging from £2.99 per month to £55.99 per year means you might need to pay a bit to get the good stuff.
No. 1: Adobe|Lightroom Photo Editor
No. 2: Serif Labs|Affinity Photo
No. 3: Google LLC|Snapseed
No. 4: Adobe |Photoshop Mix - Cut Out, Combine, Create
No. 5: Pixelmator Team|Pixelmator
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