Best Photo Editors in 2026

Scores 75/100 — the highest-rated photo editor, and it is completely free. Professional-grade features rivaling Photoshop including full RAW development, layers, masks, Frequency Separation, and HDR merge. Users consistently report it is more intuitive than Photoshop. Available on Windows, macOS, and iPadOS with no subscription, no watermarks, no feature gates. The best value in photo editing today.

Scores 71/100 — the most capable browser-based photo editor. Supports 50+ file formats including PSD, layers, masks, RAW, and vector editing. Runs entirely in-browser with no installation. Praised as a free Photoshop alternative that is simple and to the point. Ideal for anyone who needs Photoshop-level editing without downloads or subscriptions.

Scores 59/100 — industry-standard RAW editor with superior color science for professional studio workflows. Best-in-class tethered shooting and color grading tools. Premium pricing at $18/month or $299 perpetual. Some users report declining quality in recent versions. The benchmark for color-critical professional work.

Scores 55/100 — free mobile photo editor by Google with professional-grade tools including selective adjustments, healing, curves, and RAW support. Highly intuitive gesture-based interface. Users call it the king of mobile editing. Mobile-only — no desktop or web version. Perfect for photographers editing on the go.

Scores 52/100 — generalist design platform with photo editing as one of many features. Excellent ease of use with drag-and-drop interface and 3.6M+ templates. Photo editing depth is limited compared to dedicated editors. Pro at $14.99/month. Best for users who need design and editing in one tool rather than deep photo editing.

Scores 51/100 — free Windows-only raster editor with layers, effects, and plugin support. Lightweight and fast for basic to intermediate editing. Listed alongside GIMP and Krita as a robust free alternative. Simple interface suitable for beginners. Limited to Windows and lacks RAW development.

Scores 51/100 — free open-source RAW photo developer with industry-leading color science. Non-destructive workflow with filmic RGB, OpenCL acceleration, and module-based editing. The strongest free alternative to Lightroom for serious photographers. Steep learning curve and resource-intensive on older hardware.

Scores 51/100 — AI-powered editor with one-click sky replacement, scene relighting, and automatic object removal. Innovative AI tools for dust spots and power line cleanup. Review platform users rate it highly but community sentiment is low due to frequent paid upgrade cycles and performance issues. $49 perpetual license.

Scores 51/100 — AI-powered web editor with free tier and no watermarks. Best for quick edits within the Adobe ecosystem. Limited photo editing depth compared to dedicated editors. Good free option for users who need basic editing alongside design tasks.

Scores 50/100 — free open-source editor with full layer-based editing, masks, filters, and scripting. Supports 40+ image formats. Cross-platform on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Dated interface and steep learning curve hold it back, but genuinely capable for users willing to invest time. No subscription, no upsells.

Scores 49/100 — the feature benchmark all editors are measured against. Unmatched depth in professional color correction, CMYK print, 3D, and AI generative fill. Largest plugin ecosystem. But $22.99/month subscription is the most expensive in the category and pricing is the dominant complaint. Best for professionals who need maximum capability and can justify the cost.

Scores 49/100 — free all-in-one photo viewer and batch editor for Windows and macOS. Combines viewer, editor, collage maker, and screen capture in one lightweight app. Generous free features that usually require payment elsewhere. More utility than pro editor — best for casual users and batch processing.

Scores 47/100 — browser editor with familiar Photoshop interface, layers, and AI tools. Split into Pixlr X (quick edits) and Pixlr E (advanced). Aggressive paywall limits free tier to 3 saves per day, which is the main drawback. Solid editing capability undermined by restrictive freemium model.

Scores 27/100 — AI-powered editor with object removal, background replacement, and generative tools. Decent AI feature set but confusing credit-based pricing model with frequent billing complaints. Low review sentiment dominated by refund requests. Consider Photopea or Affinity Photo for better free alternatives.

Scores 27/100 — browser editor with photo editing, collage maker, and design tools. Dated feature set compared to AI-powered competitors. Free tier adds watermarks; Plus at $6.99/month. Small user community and limited capabilities. Outperformed by free alternatives on both features and pricing.

Scores 22/100 — basic editor acquired by Shutterstock with templates for social media. No free tier (starts at $7.99/month). Review scores extremely low with 79% one-star reviews dominated by billing complaints. Outperformed by free alternatives on every dimension. Only consider if you specifically need its template style.