When I play tennis, the coach often tells us that the game is not over until we shake hands with the opponent. In other words, regardless of time or score, every point is as important as before and after. When it comes to images, the same concept is very relevant. Whether they are to be displayed on a photo website or used as part of a public relations campaign, do not display the images as complete until the process is actually complete. This is the source of the best list of free photo editing software.
One of the most common mistakes when editing photos is ignoring the importance of post-processing. In most cases, the last step is skipped due to the high entry barriers of the most popular image editing software. For beginners and non-photographers alike, tools like Photoshop and Lightroom can be overwhelming, regardless of their cost.
But what many people overlook is a long list of free online and desktop photo editing software. Regardless of your skills, needs, and goals, these tools allow you to take your images to the next level and get a professional look with minimal effort. Largely because of their cost (or lack of cost), these free alternatives to Photoshop and Lightroom definitely make Adobe worth the money.
Ready to edit pictures like a pro? This is the best free photo editing software to use in 2021:
1. Adobe Photoshop Express
2. GIMP
3. Paint .NET
4. Pixlr E
5. Pixlr X
6. PhotoScape X
7. Fotor
8. Photos Pos Pro
9. InPixio
10. BeFunky
11. Bonus: Wix Photo Studio
Suitable for: mobile photo editing
For a long time people have been trying to find a free version of Photoshop, preferably online. Until one day Adobe finally answered their prayers and released Adobe Photoshop Express, an optimized online and mobile version of the industry-leading software.
Unlike the paid version, Adobe Photoshop Express is not intended for professional photographers and media designers, but for beginners or those looking for high-quality software for quick editing. This can easily be seen from the functions provided and their accessibility.
Adobe Photoshop Express gives you access to basic image editing operations such as contrast, perspective, saturation, exposure, and blemish removal, as well as choosing from preset dynamic effects. While there aren't as many tools as the pro version, they have been polished to perfection and provide a good user experience. The Express version of Adobe photo editing software also includes a decorative category that allows users to easily add text and create fully customizable collages.
You can edit the pictures stored on your device or share them directly from Adobe Creative Cloud, Dropbox, Facebook or Google Photos. All edits made in Adobe Photoshop Express are non-destructive, which means you can always go back to the original photo.
The + : Advanced filters, minimalist user interface, professional effects.
The - : only output format available is JPG, which runs in Flash and has limited tools.
Platform: Web and mobile (iOS, Android, Windows)
Paid version: Adobe Photography, including Photoshop and Lightroom, starts at $ 9.99 / month
02. GIMP
Suitable for: Advanced users
GIMP is widely recognized as the best free photo editor out there. The software includes a wide range of tools, from basic operation to professional-quality functions. Beginners will benefit greatly from the selection and installation, cropping, color matching, and automatic image enhancement tools. On the other hand, advanced users will find many tools for them such as: B. Content-Aware Resizing, Face Swap, Animated GIFs, Layer Masks, Curves, and Customizable Brushes.
All of these features make GIMP an amazing free Photoshop alternative for those already familiar with Adobe's flagship software. In addition, the user interface is fully customizable and there are plenty of plug-ins that can be added for free.
GIMP is open source software with a large active community behind it. This means that the platform will continue to be updated and improved, and users will continue to be able to use it for free.
This image editing software can be installed on a desktop device with any operating system or downloaded as a portable version that can be added to a USB stick for greater flexibility of use.
If you want to try this advanced photo editor but are unfamiliar with the terminology on the subject, then you should check this glossary of photography terms first.
The + : Professional tools and features, open source programs, developer support
The - : Steep learning curve, no mobile version, messy interface
Platform: Desktop only (Linux, OS X, Windows)
Paid version: No.
03. Paint.NET
Suitable for: Beginners and limited equipment
Paint.NET was originally developed by a Washington State University student as an alternative to Microsoft Paint. But the original drawing program has become free and intuitive photo editing software for those looking for free and easy-to-use photo editing software that will produce high quality results.
The software has a clean and simple interface and supports hotkey functions and is a good choice for inexperienced users who do not want to spend a lot of time figuring out how the program works. In addition, this simplicity allows Paint.NET to run smoothly on weaker devices like laptops.
Although it is aimed at beginners, Paint.NET offers a wide range of photo editing tools including unlimited brightness, contrast, tones, curves, layers, layers, gradients, and undo. The software also supports plug-ins created by a growing community of developers in software forums. These plug-ins can be used to access advanced features such as: B. popular 3D zoom / rotate tools for image resynthesis.
The + : Intuitive user interface, very suitable for slow devices, full access to the history
The - : Limited tools, not as powerful as other alternatives, no advanced features
Platform: Desktop only (Windows)
Paid Version: No, but you can support the project by buying Paint.NET for $ 6.99
04. Pixel E.
Suitable for: Professional online editing
Many people consider Pixlr E to be the best free photo editor online and think that it is almost as powerful as the best desktop editing software. From the moment you open the image its competent functions begin as you can do it with Pixlr E from your device, your url or even directly from Facebook. This is especially useful for non-photographers who want to edit existing images for new purposes.
The program's user interface is very similar to Adobe's editor, which leads people to believe that Pixlr E is the best version of Photoshop online, even better than Photoshop Express itself. The long list of professional features included in this program , is not matched by most of the other free photo editing programs on the market. These include exposure, color levels, automatic enhancement tools, sophisticated color pickers, customizable brushes, layers, and masks. In addition, Pixlr E allows users to browse and edit hundreds of royalty-free images.
Pixlr E can also be used on mobile devices with native Android and iOS apps. In addition, a simpler version of this free image editing program is also available online under the name Pixlr X, which we will present in detail below.
The + : Powerful, no download required, multiple loading options
The - : No batch processing function, display ads, advanced paid functions
Platform: Web and mobile (iOS, Android)
Paid Version: Premium Pixlr E starts at $ 7.99 / month
05. Pixel X
Very suitable: Online quick processing.
Although Pixlr E is considered to be the best online photo editor like Photoshop, Pixlr X is considered to be the best photo editor for beginners. The software was originally developed as the HTML successor to Pixlr Express to avoid the obsolescence of Flash (1996-2020). Unfortunately, the migration from the Flash platform to the HTML platform imposes a significant limitation on the functionality of the original editor.
Although this feature has been minimized, Pixlr X has grown to be one of the best free photo editing software out there. The program retains the stylish design of its predecessor while focusing on one-click tools that cover all of your basic editing needs as well as some. You can edit the color and saturation of the image, crop and resize it, use the retouch tool to remove unwanted elements, and adjust the white balance. Other more specific tools, like red-eye correction and fill light, take your portrait photography to the next level.
In general, Pixlr X is an excellent online photo editor for beginners and non-professional photographers who recognize all of their media needs. Those looking for more advanced tools (like brushes or layers) can simply use Pixlr E to continue their editing process.
The + : One-click editing, simple user interface, no download required.
The - :Limited tools, no advanced features, not as powerful as Pixlr E.
Platform: desktop network..
Paid Version: The premium version of Pixlr X starts at $ 7.99 / month.
06. PhotoScape X
Best for: Beginners looking for impressive features
The list of PhotoScape X tools seems almost endless. The software is described as "all-in-one photo editing software" that mainly focuses on one-click improvements and allows beginners to easily turn their ideas into reality.
The program includes thousands of filters, frames, brushes, shape cuts, intelligent cutting tools, color pickers, and clone stamps. Photographers can take full advantage of the RAW conversion feature, and those who need to process a large number of images will be delighted with the various batch editing tools included in the software, such as reformatting, resizing, and resizing. .
PhotoScape X's features also include more creative options like collage, blending, stickers, effects, text, and brushes. These tools are specifically aimed at users who want to create original content for their social media profiles or email marketing campaigns.
To ensure that users take full advantage of the tens of thousands of creative options in PhotoScape X, the Image Editor website has a long list of video tutorials that show how to use each tool to achieve the desired effect. If you're interested in more advanced tools, please check out the paid version of the software, which includes a variety of manual editing tools.
The + : Generate thousands of filters and effects with one click, support for multiple file formats, creative templates
The - : The user interface may be confusing, laggy, and there are no advanced tools
Platform: Desktop only (OS X, Windows)
Paid version: PhotoScape X Pro (Windows only) for $ 39.99
07. Fotto
Suitable for: Simple image enhancement.
Fotor offers a long list of basic tools and features, from simple editing (like brightness and saturation) to more complex concepts (like wrinkle removers and teeth whitening). Fotor also offers a large number of effects, frames, stickers and text options, mainly for sharing on social networks.
In addition to the photo editor, Fotor also contains collage and layout parts. In these market segments, users can choose from a wide variety of ready-made templates to create their own works. These templates are categorized by purpose, e.g. B. general collages, social media posts, marketing resources, documents, and announcements. This makes it easy for inexperienced users to create high quality content that will meet all of their needs without worrying about anything other than visual appearance. Some high-end templates and other tools are only available in the paid version of the software.
In general, Fotor can be defined as an image intensifier rather than image editing software. Photographers and other media creators are likely to require more complex features than those provided by Fotor. However, the program product contains everything small businesses need to get the most of their online business.
The + : Creative synthesis tools, batch processing of images, user-friendly creative templates
The - : No manual editing function, no plug-in support, display ads
Platform: web, desktop (iOS, Windows) and mobile (iOS, Android)
Paid Version: Fotor Pro starts at $ 8.99 per month
08. Photo Pos Pro
Suitable for: Beginners who want to expand their post-processing skills.
The development goal of Photos Pos Pro is ambitious: to create the perfect image editing software for beginners and experts. For this purpose, the program offers users two different interfaces to choose from.
The advanced layout includes a wider range of tools for more complex manual edits, including layers, brushes, masks, gradients, actions, textures, and RAW conversion. All editors can process images in batches, which can save a lot of post-processing time.
On the beginner's surface, Photos Pos Pro's layout is very neat and focused on automatic editing which can produce beautiful results quickly. These image enhancements are mainly achieved through creative filters and effects that users can select.
Users have 21 days of free access to the advanced features of Photos Pos Pro Premium, so they can get a full sample of the program before deciding which option best suits their needs.
The + : User interface for beginners and advanced users, numerous filters, batch image processing
The - : Export resolution is limited to 1024 x 2,014 pixels, no advanced tools, steep learning curve
Platform: Desktop only (Windows)
Paid Version: Lifetime Photos Pos Pro Premium License, now priced at $ 49.90
09. InPixio
Ideal for: Quick and creative editing for online sharing.
Essentially, InPixio offers an easy-to-use program that allows people with minimal photo editing skills to create beautiful pictures to share on social media or with loved ones. The software's most notable features include hundreds of filters, blur effects, creative frames, textures, tone controls, preset creation, and automatic online sharing.
InPixio's free photo editing software is only available for Windows and iOS mobile devices, but the premium version of the software can also be used on Mac computers. This professional version is called inPixio Photo Studio 10 and offers a wider range of manual editing functions as well as professional photo repair tools and advanced features. .
The + : One click social sharing, easy to use, supports all image formats
The - : Limited manual version, free version contains watermarks, not fully available on OS X
Platforms: Desktop (Windows) and Mobile (iOS).
Paid Version: InPixio Photo Editor PRO, now $ 19.99.
10. Befunky
Suitable for: Online creative image enhancement.
BeFunky offers easy-to-use photo editing tools that allow users of all skill levels to get professional results. The interface is clean and easy to use, you can easily find the right tool and see the effect on the image in real time. All edits are visible in the image history and users can undo or redo changes if necessary.
As with Fotor, the BeFunky program is divided into three parts: image editing, collage maker and graphic designer. In fact, it's easy to see how similar the two shows are when you watch them side by side. In terms of image editing features and the number of layout synthesis templates, BeFunky seems like the clear winner, but most of them are for advanced users only.
Photo editor functions include a wide range of tools, from basic editing like exposure and contrast to portrait retouching functions, artistic effects, creative overlays and textures. Each of these sections offer free and advanced features that users can try out in advance.
The collage and layout parts all show a long list of fully customizable templates that users can choose from. All three products are available on BeFunky mobile devices and are also available as a free or paid subscription.
The + : Drag-and-drop synthesis function, access to archive images, many creative templates
The - : Limited free editing tools, display ads, most templates require paid subscription
Platform: Web and mobile (iOS, Android)
Paid Version: BeFunky Plus starts at $ 4.99 per month
11. Reward: Wix Photo Studio
Best for: Easily edit with professional effects.
Wix Media Editor offers in-house developed solutions to redefine the way users view content. Wix Photo Studio allows you to make small adjustments to images right on your website. This saves you the time it takes to choose a free photo editor, upload images, make edits, export images, upload them to your website, and re-run them for each image you want to share. In short, that's a long time.
Wix Photo Studio's minimalist approach makes it very useful for users of all skill levels, from those without photo editing skills who want to enhance their images to professional photographers who need short-term corrections. In addition to basic tools like cropping, mirroring, brightness, saturation, and sharpness, this free online photo editor also has a long list of filters to enhance any image with one click. Most importantly, any edits you make are saved as new images to ensure that your originals are always safe.
In addition, Wix Photo Studio enables face detection to activate the cropping feature, so you can easily change the background of any portrait. You can use it on the team page to enhance the image of the About page, modify product photos for display on your ecommerce website, and even make a great addition to your family portrait creative list.
If you don't need full photo editing and just want to prepare images for social media or other formats, you can use Wix's free image resizer to easily resize and crop images without any loss of quality.
The + : Professional filter, no download required, simple user interface
The - : For Wix users only - why not?
Platform: Network.
Paid version: No.
