By Ann Young 10 days ago, Software Reviews
Not all photo editing software for PC is created equal. We've got some heavy hitters like Adobe Lightroom, which offers a full set of tools for the pros. However, it might require some training to master.
On the other hand, Fotor is a more beginner-friendly option, perfect for those looking to optimize colors and contrasts without getting overwhelmed.
Verdict: Photoshop is an incredibly powerful Adobe software that allows you to create high-quality graphics and manipulate raster images. It utilizes layers, which support raster image editing and allow for multiple overlays, acting as masks, filters, and shadows. You can also alter underlying colors and textures, making it perfect for digital or scanned images.
Photoshop has stable monthly updates, new photo enhancement functions, and bugs correction. In 1989 Adobe presented the product for the first time, thereby taking the photo industry by storm and offering a huge number of possibilities for professional and amateur photographers to capture the bright moments.
The product remains a standard for many alternative photo editors for PC. As for the disadvantages of this program, it is necessary to point out that Photoshop has numerous complicated functions and features, so beginners may have some problems and need some time to learn how to work here. You can also check out several legal ways to get Photoshop free to retouch images fast and professionally.
Now, let's talk pricing. Adobe offers Photoshop as a standalone product ($20.99/mo) or as part of the Creative Cloud subscription ($54.99/mo).
Recommended For: Whether you're a designer, photographer, artist, techie, business owner, or content creator, Photoshop has got you covered. Its wide variety of tools and features make it a go-to choice for professionals in the field.
Verdict: Adobe Lightroom is suitable for work with color correction and batch basic photo editing in one click. Adobe has admitted that Photoshop is quite weak for color correction, and they created the software from scratch, which wasn’t designed to have a huge number of tools, like Photoshop, but is aimed at one function – image color correction, which is very important for wedding and event shooters.
Lightroom, unlike Photoshop, has an easy-to-learn and user-friendly interface, which makes it the best among its alternatives. The photo editor is the best one for color correction, thanks to a huge number of well-developed tools and the possibility to work with Lightroom presets and enhance the photo in just one click.
Lightroom offers different subscription plans, starting at $9.99 per month, including 1TB of storage. There are other options available, including a 20GB plan or a plan that includes Photoshop and Lightroom CC, but those come at a higher cost. Also, you can learn how to get Adobe Lightroom for free in two legal and zero-virus ways.
In addition, Lightroom allows users to perform basic image retouching and work with many photos at the same time. As for the disadvantages, Lightroom has an inconvenient system for working with catalogs.
Recommended For: Adobe Lightroom is a powerful photo editing software for PC, designed with photographers in mind. It has a wide range of features for organizing, cataloging, and editing your photos.
Verdict: Let me start by saying that Capture One Pro is all about delivering powerful tools in an efficient workflow. It boasts a robust image processor with top-notch color handling, which is definitely a plus for photographers who are particular about getting accurate and vibrant colors in their images.
Being one of the best photo editing apps for PC, Capture One Pro offers a monthly ($24,00/mo) or annual subscription ($179/year), giving you the flexibility to choose the payment model that suits your needs and budget. It's compatible with Sony, Fujifilm, and Nikon cameras, so if you own any of these brands, you're good to go.
Capture One Pro also has layer-based image blending, making it easier to combine shots with different exposures or focus points. This is great if you want to create panoramic shots or composite images.
As for disadvantages, the photo editor is resource-consuming and requires good PC configuration similar to Photoshop. Capture One Pro has a quite complex user interface and few tutorials exist on YouTube.
Recommended For: Capture One Pro is a solid choice for PC users who want powerful editing tools and a flexible workflow. It may have a few limitations, like the confusing user interface, but its features and improvements make it a worthy competitor in the world of photo editing software.
Verdict: Photo Studio Ultimate photo editing app for PC boasts advanced picture editing and organizational capabilities, amazing special effects and top-grade photo projects - all this is available in one software.
With InPixio Photo Editor, cropping, straightening and fixing color, brightness, as well as removing imperfections will become an easy and quick task. Besides, you will be able to make skin smoother, brighten teeth, eliminate dark circles, improve, restore and repair old pictures.
Another useful feature is the software's ability to enlarge small pictures without losing detail. It uses advanced algorithms to detect and enhance the important details in your photos, making them look more vibrant and realistic.
The application is available in two versions: Standard and Pro. You get additional features with the Pro edition ($49.99), so it's worthwhile to upgrade.
Recommended For: InPixio is easy to use, has AI-powered capabilities, and provides a user-friendly interface. While there are a few pricing and realism concerns, overall, it's a solid choice for both beginners and professionals.
Verdict: If you are just learning the ropes of editing images on a desktop but have experience of doing the same in mobile apps, mastering Luminar Neo is won’t pose problems. The UI of the program is stylish yet intuitive, which is a rarity compared to similar software.
Moreover, Luminar Neo sticks out from the crowd with its pack of AI-based tools for non-destructive RAW editing. Thus, even beginners can cope with advanced image editing tasks and achieve amazing results in a quick way using Luminar Neo features. In fact, skin enhancement, background replacement, and other adjustments take up just several seconds.
Given the things it offers, the cost (starting at $4.96 per month) is fair. You may also select a one-time purchase for $199.
Regarded by many as the best photo editing software for PC, Luminar Neo is currently available with a $10 discount. You only need to enter the promo code “FIXTHEPHOTONEO”.
Recommended For: Its user-friendly interface encourages experimentation and learning new techniques. With a wide range of tools suitable for different photography styles, from landscapes to selfies, it's a great choice for those looking to take their photo editing skills to the next level on their desktop.
Verdict: Ribbet is highly popular among beginner photographers. The program supports a range of file formats, offers AI tools and has an intuitive interface.
Ribbet photo editor pleases users with a multitude of cool features. For example, you can use the retouch & restore function to fix any defect visible in a photo once the editing stage is over. Another praiseworthy option is the image overlay. Using it, you can create original collages combining different photos into one attention-grabbing art piece.
In addition to standard instruments, the program offers a slew of effects, which you can use to give your images a special charm. The most popular effect is fade in and fade out. Frankly speaking, you can apply it to any photo and you’ll always get beautiful results.
As for the pricing, Ribbet offers a free trial where you can access all the basic editing tools and effects. If you need more advanced features or additional stickers and overlays, you can opt for the premium version. The monthly plan costs $6.99, while the yearly plan comes out to $3.33 per month.
Recommended For: Whether you're a beginner or a professional photographer, you'll find this photo editor for PC to be quite useful. It has basic and advanced editing tools that allow you to transform your photos just the way you want.
Verdict: PhotoDirector 365 is one of the best photo editing software for PC, using which you can efficiently manage and edit your photos in several mouse clicks. The updated version can stay on par with Adobe Photoshop, as it is fitted with the AI sky replacement tool, masking features, GIF animation, and other cool effects.
The software can also be used for arranging collections, while its most notable peculiarity is non-destructive workflow. As for advanced features, here you can add face tags and use content-aware object removal.
The range of supported formats is amazing – TIFF, JPEG, RAW, to name a few. PhotoDirector 365 is regularly updated, ensuring you have access to the latest features and improvements. Unfortunately, the software lacks an image organizer and resizing tools. So, if you want to crop photos based on the standards set by specific platforms, you should use Calculate Aspect Ratio service.
Moving on to pricing, PhotoDirector 365 is reasonably priced, offering a good value for the features it provides. You can choose between a one-time purchase ($169.99) with a perpetual license or a subscription plan ($14.99/mo).
Recommended For: PhotoDirector 365 is a versatile photo editing app for PC that offers a range of smart editing tools, advanced features, and a user-friendly interface. Its regular updates and access to additional content make it a great choice for hobbyist photographers and even some advanced users.
Verdict: Movavi Photo Editor offers a section with brightness, contrast and sharpness settings, tools for selecting and “removing” needless objects from an image, rotating, as well as adding and customizing text, replacing the “background”, resizing, etc. Once the work on the picture is completed, you can export it by pressing a single mouse button.
Another great feature is the ability to restore old photographs by removing scratches and grains. If you have old family photos that have been damaged over time, this photo restoration software can help you bring them back to their original condition.
Moving on to the latest updates, Movavi Photo Editor 2023 has introduced some exciting features. It now has an automatic object recognition feature, which can be really handy for quickly editing and enhancing your photos. This photo editing app for PC also allows you to create 3D-look images, giving your photos a unique touch.
Movavi Photo Editor is available for $69.95 for a lifetime. Comparatively, a single PC subscription for a year costs $49.95.
Recommended For: Movavi Photo Editor is one of those editors that are designed for users, who don’t want to learn complex programs and master advanced editing techniques.
Verdict: ON1 Photo RAW is one of the best photo editing software, combining Lightroom’s simplicity and some tools from Capture One Pro. The photo editor is equipped with quite powerful tools, allowing users to correct photo defects, perform color correction, and do photo retouching.
ON1 Photo RAW has introduced some exciting new features. Super Select AI is a game-changer, making complex masking tasks a breeze with just a few mouse clicks. There are also text tools for creating banners and cards, and a focus stacking function that blends photos at different focal distances, enhancing the depth of field.
Moving on to pricing, ON1 Photo RAW offers different subscription packages (from $7,99/mo) to cater to your specific needs and workflow.
As for the disadvantages, the software operates slowly and has lags. Compared to Lightroom, ON1 Photo RAW has slower image viewing and slower export in the background mode.
Recommended For: While this AI photo editor may have a few minor drawbacks and occasional performance issues, it's definitely worth considering, especially for photographers looking for an all-in-one solution.
Verdict: One of the great things about Photoshop Elements is that it offers a powerful set of image editing tools, yet it's designed to be user-friendly, making it perfect for beginners.
It even comes with a free photo organizer, which helps you keep track of all your photos and videos. Plus, it's not just for editing photos. You can also create slideshows, video montages, and even scrapbook layouts.
Another advantage is that this photo editor for PC allows you to edit RAW images, which is a must-have feature for professional photographers. You can easily remove red-eye, retouch facial skin, adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation, and even add special effects like blurring or a sepia tone.
When it comes to pricing, Photoshop Elements is a more affordable alternative to the full Photoshop CC. You can purchase it for a one-time fee ($69.99), which is great if you don't want to commit to a monthly subscription.
Recommended For: Adobe Photoshop Elements is a fantastic photo editing software for PC, especially for beginners. It offers a wide range of editing tools, easy photo management, and the ability to create stunning visuals.
Verdict: Leawo PhotoIns is an advanced photo editor with AI-driven tools that can automatically enhance overexposed or underexposed photos, make colors more saturated, add tints, remove blur, fix lighting, etc. This program supports RAW files and allows you to adjust contrast.
Photo Enhancer automatically detects extremely dark or light areas and then adjusts brightness to make a photo look more natural by reducing shadows and highlights.
You can also use this program to enhance colors. It can make colors in your pictures look brighter, fix the color balance, and add tints. After applying the automatic photo-enhancement tools, you will notice that your will photos look more natural.
Now, let's discuss pricing. Unlike many other batch photo editors on the market, Leawo Photo Enhancer offers a wide range of powerful tools at an affordable price ($29.95/lifetime).
Recommended For: Leawo Photo Enhancer is a powerful photo editing app for PC that offers an impressive range of features at an affordable price. It's perfect for both professionals and amateurs alike.
Verdict: First off, one of the things I really appreciate about PhotoWorks is its simplicity. Despite offering pro-grade tools, the software manages to maintain a user-friendly interface. It's perfect for beginners who want to step up their photo editing game without getting overwhelmed.
The range of tools available in PhotoWorks is quite impressive. You can easily retouch your images, removing spots, reducing wrinkles, and even applying a light tan. Plus, there are options to reduce digital noise and add a film-like grain for a more authentic look.
In terms of updates, PhotoWorks photo editing app for PC has been regularly improving its software. The latest updates have brought new features and enhancements to further enhance the editing experience.
After the end of the free trial, you can choose one of three PhotoWorks plans: Standard ($19.25/year), Pro ($39.20/year), and Ultimate version ($79.80/lifetime).
Recommended For: PhotoWorks is an excellent choice for beginner photographers who want a simpler alternative to Photoshop. It offers professional capabilities without the steep learning curve.
Verdict: Achieve a stunning shot for your Instagram page or perform background changes online without much effort using a classic photo editor for PC.
One-click effects will drastically change the portrait shot, making it appealing and eye-catching. Regardless of whether you wish to apply digital makeup or add a pop of color, PhotoDiva will please you with stunning automatic results.
On the bright side, PhotoDiva has been regularly updated, including compatibility with the latest Windows 11 operating system. This means you can enjoy the software's features and improvements without any compatibility issues.
Now, let's talk about pricing. PhotoDiva is a free-to-use program, which is fantastic for those who don't want to invest a lot of money in expensive editing software. Besides, you can download PhotoDiva Pro ($29.40) for more advanced automatic adjustments.
Recommended For: PhotoDiva is a great choice for beginner and amateur photographers who want to enhance their images without breaking the bank. With its intuitive interface, one-click effects, and automatic portrait enhancement capabilities, it's a user-friendly option for those who want to achieve professional-looking results without spending too much time on manual retouching.
Verdict: One of the major advantages of Corel PaintShop Pro is its versatility. It offers a wide range of tools and uses Artificial Intelligence to give your photos a boost that would be difficult to achieve manually. It's great for organizing your images and even offers RAW processing through the After Shot Lab integration.
As one of the best photo editing apps for PC, it supports a wide variety of graphic formats and is compatible with Open Type SVG fonts and emojis, which is crucial for designers who work with text. It offers standard photo retouching tools, adjustment and selection tools, time-saving tools, and various effects.
You can create different styles and textures for your photos, such as HDR and vintage looks. The Object Extractor tool helps in selecting and preserving fine image details, like flyaway hair or wisps of smoke. The Refine Brush tool provides precise selections, and the Stacker allows you to merge multiple images for a larger depth of field.
When it comes to pricing, it is available for $79.99/lifetime.
Recommended For: It's a feature-rich automatic photo editor that caters to professionals, designers, scrapbookers, and home users alike.
Verdict: Photo Pos Pro offers a comprehensive list of tools for editing and enhancing photos. It has an advanced selection tool, recovery brushes, and auto correction functions, which are really handy for retouching images.
Additionally, this photo editing app for PC provides various templates for business cards, photos, and other graphics, making it easier to create eye-catching designs. I also love the fact that there are extension packs available, featuring new frames, styles, textures, and brushes to further enhance your creations.
Photo Pos Pro regularly releases extension packs to expand its functionality. These updates provide new frames, layouts, effects, scripts, styles, and brushes to keep your designs fresh and exciting.
When it comes to pricing, Photo Pos Pro is a great alternative to costly programs like Photoshop. It offers a powerful set of tools for image editing and enhancement without breaking the bank ($49.90/lifetime).
Recommended For: Photo Pos Pro strives to provide the perfect user experience by providing two interface options so that both beginners and experts can work in a comfortable environment.
Verdict: FotoWorks XL 2 is a feature-rich program for improving digital photos and graphics. In addition to standard functions, you can also take advantage of a batch mode. Switching to the preview mode, you can scan original and edited photos to understand whether the changes made look professional.
Thanks to a huge collection of effects, giving your images a unique look won’t take up much time. It makes sense to start with basic color correction, fixing lighting and reflection issues, resizing and cropping photos, and then switching to more sophisticated edits.
I noticed that this photo editor for PC contains similar options to those in Adobe Photoshop, but here they are more user-friendly. Besides, the interface is absolutely intuitive, so novices will easily understand the process.
The FotoWorks XL 2 photo editing software for beginners is reasonably priced ($29.95), considering its extensive set of modifying features and professional-quality results.
Verdict: One of the great things about Fotor is that it's a user-friendly tool that has all the basic editing features like cropping, resizing, rotating, and touch-up options. Plus, there's a huge collection of filters, frames, and effects to choose from.
Another advantage is that Fotor photo editing software for PC offers a free version that is quite comprehensive, with useful tools for enhancing images and creating visual content. This makes it a great alternative to the best photo editor for Mac catering to the needs of marketers, bloggers, and digital content creators who are making a smooth transition to a Windows environment.
Fotor has introduced new AI features that can automatically clean up images and remove unwanted objects from backgrounds. There are also new text and photo overlay effects, as well as a cool double exposure effect for creating surreal art pieces.
When it comes to pricing, this photo enhancer offers different subscription options. The Pro account ($39.99), which is the most expensive, includes unlimited cloud storage and access to all premium features. So, depending on your needs and budget, you can choose the subscription that suits you best.
Recommended For: Fotor is a free and easy-to-use photo editing and graphic design tool, perfect for amateur photographers and design enthusiasts. It has mobile and desktop apps, as well as an in-browser version, so you can access it from anywhere.
While Fotor is excellent for quick and straightforward editing tasks, it may not be the best choice for handling complex design projects.
Verdict: ACDSee is a good photo editing software for PC from ACD Systems to display and manage big collections of images. It consists of many tools, including batch image editing as well. ACDSee Photo Studio is positioned as a semi-professional app to preview, edit and post digital images.
In addition, this photo sharpening software offers direct access to files and folders with the possibility to update their content in real time. Thus, it saves time spent on the images import in a separate library.
As for updates, ACDSee Photo Studio regularly adds new features and filters to inspire your creativity. They also support a wide range of file formats, resize images for web use, etc.
The biggest weakness is the price ($69.95/lifetime). Despite the number of photo editing functions and tools, the cost frightens users.
Recommended For: This software offers a range of features, supports various image formats, and has excellent RAW file support. While there may be a learning curve and occasional glitches, overall, it's a reliable tool for photographers at different levels.
