By Ann Young 7 days ago, Software Reviews
Image editing on mobile devices has become very popular. It is very convenient for those who prefer staying mobile, and post many photos in Instagram or Twitter. Modern smartphones are fitted with advanced cameras with impressive optics, which allows you to take high-resolution images with great sharpness.
You can install a variety of free or paid apps on your phone. Some of them are designed only for taking pictures whereas others also support pro-level photo editing. With them, you can take photos, enhance and organize them on your smartphone or laptop. If you need a professionally edited photo, address FixThePhoto image editing service and get your photos edited fast, from $5-10 per photo.
Choosing the best free photo editor for this purpose is rather challenging, but I tried to make it easier for you and here are the best photo editing apps for iPhone and Android that are FREE.
Verdict: Fix The Photo app is sure to become your go-to app for all types of quick photo edits. Unlike AI-based apps, this application will amaze you with fantastic, realistic results, since all the changes are made by skilled retouchers.
The list of services is very long – you can order face slimming, makeup corrections, object removal, hair recoloring, and more. The entire working process is straightforward. You need to upload your images, specify requirements, and wait several hours till the experts complete the task. The team works non-stop to bring your boldest ideas to life, preserving the high quality of photos. If you aren’t sure whether the app is really worth trusting, you can use a trial version first.
Verdict: Photoshop Express is the most confusing application on this list. On the one hand, the popularity of Photoshop and other Adobe photo restoration software do not allow doubting their quality, on the other hand, the application puzzles and shows not the best results. When you start processing RAW files in Photoshop Express, it turns into a solid endurance training.
Each action takes 10 seconds or longer if you want to retouch your skin, be sure to have a considerable amount of time and peace of mind - every touch to the photo causes a lag and stops the program for at least thirty seconds.
The same is true if you need to cancel the action even using a tablet for photo editing. Of course, if this was the only offer on the market, users would call it as one of the best photo editing apps, but Fotor, Polarr, Enlight and similar photo editing apps guarantee instant work with RAW files on phones.
When it comes to JPEG or PNG format image editing, Photoshop Express provides a fairly good set of tools. Still, Adobe reduced the number of filters and, as a result, there are only ten available. Frankly speaking, I don’t understand what is the difference between Photoshop Express and Lightroom CC Mobile. These image editing apps differ only in interface and name. I believe that it’s better to download Photoshop for free and install it on your PC than try using this version.
Verdict: I suppose that only a small percentage of users have heard about this free photo editing app before and this is very bad, as the photo editing app is really worth studying and discussing. Ribbet is an application that is available both on the desktop and for gadgets, as actually, many users consider it to be the best photo editing software for PC. The application has a basic set of tools for color correction and filters applying.
If you’ve previously happened to work with Snapseed photo editing controls, you will immediately recognize them here. The team of developers seems to just copy the interface design and the controls – swipe sideways to activate the tool, swipe up and down to select the tool. Using this photo enhancer, you can work with filters.
This is the fastest and most convenient usage of filters that I have ever seen. All filters are activated and applied instantly without delays in performance.
In terms of post production, you can whiten teeth, partially correct the skin, eyes, but the application does not provide a tool for correcting significant skin defects. If you prefer to work on a tablet with the Android OS, then I think that Ribbet is one of the best free photo apps.
Verdict: VSCO is a multipurpose automatic photo editor for mobile photography enthusiasts. Considering photo post processing, it is somewhere between Instagram and more advanced Snapseed. VSCO specializes in the development of image processing tools for programs such as Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Camera RAW, and Aperture.
Years of experience in this field and the growing popularity of the best free HDR software have played a role in shaping VSCO functionality, the number of filters and photo processing tools, which are perfectly balanced.
The idea of the service resembles Instagram. You can edit your images and post them in your profile, so you can use it as a picnic photo edit application. However, complementing the Instagram functions, VSCO allows you to create personal albums in addition to saving photos of other users to the collection and share all this content in other social networks.
All publications are also available in the web version with a stylish minimalist design. VSCO filters are deservedly considered the most popular when it comes to editing photos for social networks. A lot of celebrities use VSCO to edit their photos.
For photo editing, the program is not so good, for everything else - the best choice. Now VSCO offers video editing, though, this feature is available only for VSCO X.
Verdict: Luminar Neo is a powerful AI-based editor. It is packed with an abundance of features, using which, you can speed up photo editing workflow. The toolset includes multiple options that can be adjusted based on user’s needs.
It is great that developed have added a high-speed core to the software. Therefore, you can handle even complex tasks in the shortest time possible. Thanks to the powerful "modular" engine, you can achieve the desired photo editing outcome in a jiffy. Furthermore, the software receives regular updates, so you can explore and experiment with new features as soon as they are released.
Verdict: The app is positioned both as an editing program and as a software for preparing your pictures for posting on Instagram. You probably know that Instagram significant compresses the images while uploading, and the quality of the “before” photo can be much higher than the one published. InstaSize allows you to upload photos to Instagram without resizing.
If a picture is rectangular, after publication, a white background appears above and below (or left and right). The background color can be changed. You can also create collages, apply layers, select a picture from the gallery, or take a picture in the application.
After the image has been processed, you can post it directly on Twitter, Facebook or continue with Instagram. This application is enough to prepare quality content for Instagram – the rest are not needed.
Verdict: PicsArt is a picture editor app designed for mobile platforms and it stands out among other free editing apps. The program offers many useful tools for image processing and can be even used as a teeth whitening photo editor.
The application has an intuitive interface: there are settings to adjust transparency rate and turn off layers display independently. If you used to work in Photoshop and similar editors, then in PicsArt Photo Studio you will feel at home at first sight.
I want to emphasize a unique option – you can use the picture from the camera in real time as a new layer. This allows you to combine a frame that has not yet been shot while seeing other preselected layers and pictures.
This enables you to experiment with multi-exposures, collages, and other interesting things. Like in most modern programs of this category, there is also a set of presets to work with colors like in Instagram and a set of various effects like other apps for pictures provide.
The software has its own camera application, which allows you to see in real time the result of the effects from the library combined with a frame that hasn’t been shot yet. Besides, you can adjust the image settings before shooting.
The application is an element of a creative social network. In this space, artists, photographers, and illustrators share their images, created with the help of this powerful editor, which makes it possible to get inspired from the digital art of other authors and upload your works without closing the application.
Verdict: CutOut.Pro is a great program if you need to remove objects, people, and background from your photos, as well as fix skin blemishes and other defects. Photo uploading is performed in a drag-n-drop manner and then you can proceed with enhancements. The software allows removing background both from photo and video files. Besides, you can perform changes in real-time absolutely for free.
There is also a powerful CutOut.Pro desktop app, which stands out with an accurate Face Cutout feature. Using it, you can cut out the face and hair of humans (kids and adults) and pets (cats, dogs, etc.) with hair-level fine details. No matter how experienced you are, removing background and objects in this program won’t cause problems.
Verdict: It is one of the best free photo editing apps of professional level from Google. It contains a great number of editing options to enhance even the most ordinary photos.
Being created as an alternative to Photoshop for iPad, it allows you to take full control of your photos, including a variety of tools for changing the vignette, blur, temperature and other elements.
A very useful feature of the app is the capability to overlay effects on top of each other for the creation of completely new ones. Snapseed supports many advanced features, such as double exposure, curves control, support of DNG.
Working with the tools is surprisingly easy, as you drag them up and down and then choose the strength of the effect by flipping left and right. Create a completely new custom effect just by saving all your settings.
As the best offline photo editor app, it supports the RAW format. White balance is easy to work with, similar to Lightroom. You'll be pleased with the Selective Color tool which allows adjusting a certain color in only one area with ease.
Many users call the program a clone of VSCO, because in terms of performance they are very similar (like all editors), but the advantage of Snapseed over VSCO is that it determines on its own the genre of the picture (portrait, landscape, etc.) and points to the user the possible tools for work.
Verdict: Adobe Lightroom is a classic program for working with RAW files, color correction and professional editing. Fortunately, you don't need to have continuous access to a computer or laptop to edit images in Lightroom, because due to the release of a simplified version – Lightroom CC, developers were able to adapt it for mobile devices.
Lightroom CC is one of the best photo editing apps that you can download for free. It is a full-featured photo manager and editor completed with support for RAW images, Lightroom mobile presets, exposure settings, watermarks, etc.
The best part consists in the fact that this program is totally free, you only need to register Adobe ID. Of course, if you wish to sync photos across various devices and use special features, you'll have to pay for it by signing up for an Adobe Creative Cloud plan, which costs $10 a month and gives access to Photoshop and Lightroom Classic.
It is not only the best photo editing app for PC, but a simple yet effective Facebook cover photo maker. Both beginners and advanced users can process images in the app.
A very useful feature is the Camera, as it gives an ability to change the focus point, ISO settings and shutter speed. I use it for product photography on my iPhone.
Verdict: Lens Distortions is known for its impressive plug-ins and desktop applications and has developed a mobile photo editing app for Android and iOS which provides its set for image editing on mobile devices.
Whether it's a color filter you are looking for or an overlay effect such as a light leak or flash, Lens Distortions offers a variety of realistic effects which you may add to your photos. There are several sections with the sets of effects, only 5 of them are available from each section. If you want to get access to all 250 premium effects, you will have to pay a dollar a month.
It is one of the best apps for photographers, as it can control weather effects due to the qualitative overlays for photos which include sunlight, rain, flash, fog and snow. There are also glass elements and glitter effects for adding shine or blur to an image.
You may also combine several effects for a singular look. The app is a godsend for all fans of shooting landscapes and urban environment. You can't apply a filter and make a color correction in the app, but you may add such elements to a picture in just a couple of clicks.
Verdict: Enlight has available a set of different free applications to work with, among which the only one is paid, Enlight itself. In fact, every program deserves separate consideration, but I enjoyed Enlight Photofox most of all.
Of course, when you open it for the first time, the number of menu items and sub-items may confuse you.
Pop-up tips on the entire display when you start using any of the functions really turn off. But you only need to try to edit a couple of pictures and the app will show you what it is capable of.
I would like to mention a convenient and simple function, which, for some reason, is not even present in the most well-known services – the capability to undo one last modification and also redo it. You may also increase a photo to the level of pixels.
Sometimes it is useful to look at the details of the edited picture. With one of the best photo editing iPhone apps, you may begin to edit several photos at the same time and save them as unfinished sessions. If you don't save them, up to 10 items will still be kept open.
If you are happy with your result – it is convenient to share a photo directly from the app in social media, messengers, e-mail, and, of course, Instagram!
Aside from the full set of tools for photo post processing, which is available in the free version, the new app now offers the ability to work with layers.
Layers allow you to combine multiple images in one photo, create an original collage, apply different photo overlay effects and so on. You may edit the layers individually, erase objects from the background, modify the transparency of any of the layers, transform their shape, size and perspective.
Verdict: Moldiv is one of the best free photo editing apps for creating collages from images. When you open the app, you will see the main screen with a huge selection of collage templates. The areas in a future image can be separated for 2, 4, 5 or 6 photos. After several swipes, you will be able to look through the entire selection of templates and pick the most suitable one.
As one of the best photography apps, it allows you to process multiple photos on one canvas, apply images in layers and professionally modify the resulting photos, apply effects and decorative elements.
The app uses an innovative system of creating collages, according to which users can choose a frame and photos, and the system will select the position, size and color of the border, depending on the overall tone, size and saturation of the added images!
The app features the function of creating thematic collages, color correction and filters, change of signatures and stickers, export and import photos to social media.
What I really like about this image editor is that you can modify the internal boundaries of the collage. One of my favorite tools is "Scissors".
With its help, you can create a collage with clippings. It is very convenient when you wish to insert not an entire photo into a collage but some specific element. "Scissors" allow you to cut out a fragment from any image and insert it into your collage.
Verdict: Bonfire Photo Editing App offers every tool a good image editing app should have, so you can make your images look amazing without addressing expensive photo enhancement services. But the biggest advantage of the app is the presence of a large number of filters. It is one of the best photo editing apps due to its stunning effects that can be applied in image post processing. The user gets 110 unique filters and effects that can improve even the failed shot.
The app's thoughtful interface allows you to quickly adjust and apply the desired filter. Apart from the basic feature set, Bonfire photo editing app pro has an array of very interesting effects, for example, the Fancy filter that imitates watercolor painting.
Automatic photo editing allows you to obtain a high-quality picture instantly, even if the original file had flaws. You may use the preview function, compare the original and edited photo, then post it to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Verdict: If you are engaged in retouching or painting without color correction, I would recommend using this particular photo edit app. In Pixelstyle, the toolkit and the style are very similar to Paint.NET, as it focuses more on drawing and offers a set of brushes and other relevant tools that work very well.
There also many useful tools provided for post production. Be ready for the quest when you want to do color correction - these functions were hidden by developers deep among the rest of the settings.
The main drawback of these functions is the lack of a real-time preview with the slider movement. You will have to wait a couple of seconds while the change is processed and applied.
Together with the high sensitivity of all settings, the picture processing turns into a series of irritable clicks on Cmd + Z to cancel actions. Still, unlike similar editors, it supports RAW images processing, though not in the fastest way.
Verdict: Fotor is a treasure among other photo editing apps because it features amazing capabilities. The main Fotor advantage is the fast RAW image editing and color correction, white balance adjustment, and similar tasks with colors and tints. By the number of functions.
Fotor is on the same level with professional programs, but still does not reach Lightroom, although it is better than Camera RAW, and it works much faster. We can even call it best photo editing app for PC. I don’t understand why Fotor filters and scenes are separated into two different sections for image processing. They provide approximately the same result, only the scenes are more focused on contrast and exposure, and filters on color regulation. I like the fact that Fotor has no advertisement except for a small banner offering to download the full version.
As one of the best apps for photo editing, Fotor provides basic image editing and color correction tools. It features the majority of basic effects and filters that could be useful for photography enthusiasts. Very simple and nice interface will help you get a hang of all the capabilities of the program. What I really enjoy is the ability to work with RAW images, because not every application offers this feature. The "Fotor HDR" function significantly helps in image enhancement.
The number of free photo editing apps for computers rapidly grows. Usually, people are looking for the best beginner photo editing software for beginners like Photoshop or Lightroom. With the advent of app stores for desktop operating systems, many developers have rapidly begun to create new or adapt existing good photo editing apps.
Verdict: Polarr is, unfortunately, an underestimated application for image editing on Mac, although it deserves as much attention as all other programs. At first glance, this product is like a standard photo editing app in a minimalist style. For unpretentious users who are satisfied with just basic tools for their needs, there are automatic photo editing tools. I want to highlight such features as automatic detection of faces and even their features in the photo, which raises the automatic photo editing to a new level.
To enhance the image, there are more familiar tools, such as skin whitening, changing its tone, the possibility to subtly and accurately change the face shape, remove defects, glares, etc. The more familiar you get to Polarr functionality, the more useful features you will see. The application offers a full view of information from EXIF. Advanced users can create and save their own filters, manage brushes and color masks.
Of course, the application cannot be compared with professional software, and it should not. Its target audience is advanced amateurs and professionals interested in fast and accurate, not deep, photo processing. Polarr proves that free photo editing apps can be effective.
Verdict: If you are interested in a full-fledged and free Lightroom alternative, Photoscape X seems to be designed just for you. The program is one of best free photo editing apps and is available in the App Store. Its key advantage is that developers took into account all the drawbacks and shortcomings of Lightroom.
As a result, it is known as one of best photo editing apps for Mac. The software includes several sections – Viewer, Editor, Cut Out, Batch, and others. It provides full RAW files support, with comprehensive data for each image when it’s viewed.
Most of all I like the function to view the images. There is no need to move photos from the folder to the application or endlessly search for photos after clicking “File-Open”, and even no more endless directories that work in a strange way.
Here you can look for photos right in the application using the familiar folder hierarchy. It works impressively fast. For example, a SD-card with 650 RAW photos is loaded in less than 30 seconds.
Everything related to the color work, magically transforms the original photo, especially the preset filters that are done very carefully, so as not to shift the balance of light or saturation in your photo to the extreme. Although, I haven’t found white balance adjustments. If that is a big issue for you, have a look at Spyne AI software instead.
Verdict: This is a very useful program for beginners, as its main feature is auto image correction. Movavi photo editing app is the easiest one for beginners. Here you will not find any layers, 3D objects, masks, filters or other specialized functions - this is not Photoshop alternative. The focus is made specifically on photo processing and is suitable for users with any level of knowledge.
In this software, a huge number of incomprehensible and complex tools has been replaced by a user-friendly interface and very understandable features. If you are afraid that a standard photo edit app is a program with a tremendous number of functions and most of them are burdensomely complex, then the free version of Movavi photo editing app Lite is right for you. It is more like Camera RAW than LightStream: open the photo, edit it, and save it.
