Photo Editors

Pixelmator Pro is a polished, Mac-native image editor that pairs an approachable interface with machine-learning features like super resolution and smart selection. It is a one-time purchase popular with Mac users.

✦ Best for mac users seeking a pro editor alternative

Adobe Photoshop is the definitive tool for raster image editing, photo manipulation, and digital painting, used by photographers, designers, and artists worldwide. It now includes powerful generative AI (Generative Fill) via Adobe Firefly.

✦ Best for professional designers and artists

Adobe Lightroom is a photo organization and editing app built around a non-destructive, catalog-based workflow ideal for managing and processing large photo libraries. It syncs edits and originals across desktop, mobile, and web.

✦ Best for pros with large photo libraries

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open-source raster graphics editor offering many Photoshop-like capabilities at no cost. It is fully scriptable and runs on every major platform.

✦ Best for budget-conscious editors and hobbyists

Affinity Photo is a professional raster editor that rivals Photoshop’s core features but is sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. It is known for fast performance and a polished, pro-level toolset.

✦ Best for designers on a budget

Pixlr offers a browser‑based editor that combines classic photo‑editing tools with AI features like background removal, face swapping, and generative image creation. It runs entirely in the cloud, so no download or installation is required, making it accessible from any device with a modern web browser. The platform provides a freemium model, giving users unlimited basic edits while premium subscriptions unlock higher resolution exports, advanced AI models, and priority support. Pixlr is popular among hobbyists, social‑media creators, and small businesses looking for quick, powerful visual content creation without the cost of desktop suites.

✦ Best for social media creators and freelancers on a budget

jspaint brings the classic Microsoft Paint experience to the browser, letting users create and edit raster images without installing any software. It runs entirely online, making it accessible from any device with a web browser and perfect for quick sketches, teaching, or simple graphics work. The tool is open‑source, free, and continuously updated by the community, offering a familiar interface with modern conveniences like layers, custom brushes, and file import/export. It’s ideal for digital artists, designers, educators, and anyone needing a lightweight drawing app on the web.

✦ Best for casual digital artists

Transparent Background is a free online tool that removes the background from images with a single click. It uses AI to detect the background and foreground of the image and automatically removes the background, leaving a transparent PNG image. This tool is useful for e-commerce businesses, graphic designers, and social media marketers who need to remove backgrounds from product images or logos.

Cropiwa is an AI-powered image editing and cropping tool that helps users to automatically crop and edit images. It uses machine learning algorithms to detect the main subject of the image and crop it accordingly.

✦ Best for freelancers needing quick image crops

Photo Editor is a powerful and intuitive image editing software that allows users to enhance, manipulate, and transform their digital photos. With a wide range of features and tools, users can adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation, remove blemishes and imperfections, and apply filters and effects to create stunning images.

✦ Best for casual photographers and graphic design students

Capture One is a professional photo editing software designed for tethered shooting and image editing. It offers advanced tools and features to help photographers achieve high-quality results and streamline their workflow.

✦ Best for high-end photographers and studios