Pixlr
This is an in-browser photo editing tool, and can also be used for design work on top of this. The tools are basic and easy to use for anyone from beginners to those who know their way around photo editing. Pixlr offers pixlr X, pixlr E, and photomash studio (3 different types of editing studios) all for free. You can use a template if you want, along with preset filters, and no worrying about constantly saving- this handy site will back up your work as you do it!
Pros:
- no watermark
- intuitive interface
- saves progress automatically
Cons:
- less features
- ads
- some features behind paywall
GIMP
GIMP, which stands for “GNU Image Manipulation Program” is a well known and long-standing photo editing tool. It can be installed on most operating systems, including Linux! It has a learning curve that might require time and effort to appreciate fully, but the complexity of this software is part of the appeal- you can change the source code (which has multi-language support such as C, C++, Perl, Python, Scheme, etc) and distribute your changes; GIMP also encourages customisation options and 3rd party plugins, so you can truly personalise your editing experience.
Pros:
- lots of editing tools available
- cross-platform use
- no ads
Cons:
- might take a bit to learn the features fully
Ashampoo Photo Optimiser
The main appeal of Ashampoo Photo Optimiser is, as the name suggests, that it is a fully automatic photo editing tool. The tool in question is an enhancer, which edits the photo with one click using a specially developed algorithm to analyse the photo’s exposure, colour temperature, sharpness, stains, and contrast. Besides this, you can use classic photo editing tools such as cropping, rotating, resizing, etc. This software is ideal for beginners trying to get a sense of editing. Unfortunately, if you’re a Mac OS user, this is not for you.
Pros:
- intuitive interface
- optimises in one click
- no ads
Cons:
- can’t apply one-click presets
- requires signup
- Can’t use on Mac OS
Canva
Canva is an app available both on phone and windows, and while some features are locked behind a paywall, it still offers a lot of bang for its buck. The ui is easy to learn and use, and there’s a wide variety of templates available depending on how you want to edit. This is especially great if you want to edit photos for social media, since a large amount of templates and base canvases are oriented towards mobile formats. Canva also doesn’t force its watermark onto things you create like a lot of other mobile editing apps do- be aware though, you will need to be connected to the internet since it backs things up via cloud.
Pros:
- intuitive interface
- templates available
- cross-platform use
Cons:
- less features
- some features behind paywall
- requires signup
Fotor
Easy to use, Fotor has all the basics you’d need in a photo editing tool. Just like Pixlr, it’s an in-browser tool you can access without needing to install anything. Along with traditional tools like cropping, resizing, filters, Fotor offers advanced tools like background remover, photo enhancer, and removing objects. The exporting options are high resolution, meaning you won’t lose any of the quality of the original photo in the process. You can even do batch photo editing! This is also a cross-platform tool if you decide to download the software on your PC and mobile.
Pros:
- intuitive interface
- high res exporting
- one-click presets
Cons:
- less features
Photo Pos Pro
Photo Pos Pro is a lesser known photo editing tool which provides options for both beginners and experts of the field. Sadly it’s not available for Mac users. Its tools rival that of some of the other softwares mentioned on this list, from photo enhancing to removing image backgrounds to a wide variety of templates. Additionally, this offers the software support of many picture file types including RAW FILES, of images from scanners and digital cameras, all inside a user-friendly interface.
Pros:
- offers expert and beginner layouts
- one-click presets
- intuitive interface
Cons:
- no cross-platform use
- limited max resolution
- not available for Mac users
Pizap
Pizap is accessible cross-platform, both in-browser and as a mobile app, though this requires signup to use. It can simultaneously be used as a design tool alongside photo editing, and its biggest appeal is perhaps the large number of templates the user can access, on top of stock images which can be pricey when bought individually. A significant downside is that quite a few of the features Pizap boasts is behind a paywall, and there’s a max resolution for the images you edit, meaning you may lose some of the original image quality after editing.
Pros:
- templates available
- available in both html5 and flash
- stock images available
Cons:
- some features behind paywall
- limited max resolution
Paint.NET
Though the website for this may be deceivingly simple, paint.net is actually a widely heralded software for systems that run windows. Its layout is similar to Photoshop, so those who have used that software and wish to go for an alternative that’s kinder to the wallet, this is for you. With its intuitive interface, support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools, paint.net asks for no money from you apart from a donation only if you want to.
Pros:
- plugin support
- intuitive interface
- 3D rotate/zoom options for fine editing
Cons:
- Windows only
- less features
Photoscape
Photoscape offers extensive photo editing with lots of tools at your disposal, including batch editing, creating animated GIFs from compositions, RAW file support, a face search feature, and much more. What brings this software down slightly is the interface, which can be unfriendly for those who are new to editing, and the fact that you’ll need a different version of Photoscape, Photoscape X, if you are a user of Windows 10 or Mac. Just like with paint.net, you can donate money if you want to.
Pros:
- file conversion available
- high selection of filters
- lots of editing tools available
Cons:
- unintuitive interface
- forced bundle with google drive app
Adobe Express Free Online Photo Editor
From the creators of Photoshop themselves, Adobe has put out a completely free photo editing tool straight from your browser. If you want to create content for social media, this has a wide range of filters, templates, and the ability to produce an animated design with their tools. The user interface is easy to understand and use, and the tools are advanced without requiring extensive knowledge to use effectively. However, note that to use this you’ll want to remember this only supports JPG files and requires flash.
Pros:
- high selection of filters
- pleasing design
- customisable tools
Cons:
- requires flash
- only supports JPG
