Looking for the best free photo editing app? Whether you’re aiming to enhance your social media presence or simply improve your photography skills, this list of top photo editing apps will help you find the perfect tool for your needs. Here are eight standout apps that offer comprehensive tools to make your photos shine.
- Darkroom
The Ultimate All-Purpose Photo Editor
If I had to choose one app for general-purpose photo and video editing, it would be Darkroom. It’s been featured by Apple multiple times and remains one of the top photo apps for a reason. Darkroom offers everything you need, from RAW photo editing to adjusting highlights, shadows, saturation, curves, and more. It even supports batch editing, allowing you to apply the same edits to multiple photos at once.
For Instagram enthusiasts, Darkroom offers custom framing options and the ability to save hashtag groups for easy posting. The app also excels in intricate editing for Portrait Mode photos, letting you separately adjust the foreground and background. Simply put, Darkroom is a must-have for anyone serious about photo editing.
- Pixelmator
A Layer-Based Powerhouse
Pixelmator is a full-featured editor that excels in versatility. This app allows you to create images from scratch or enhance photos with a range of effects, including light leaks and miniaturization. The user interface is intuitive, with controls organized in a horizontal toolbar for easy access.
Beyond basic adjustments like brightness and contrast, Pixelmator offers powerful tools for those looking to do more. Whether you’re a professional or a hobbyist, Pixelmator is a great option for elevating your photo editing game.
- VSCO
The King of Filters
VSCO is a go-to app for filter lovers, offering over 200 beautifully crafted filters categorized for easy discovery. Whether you’re editing a portrait or a landscape, there’s a filter to suit every shot. VSCO also provides essential editing tools for tweaking exposure, brightness, contrast, and more.
The app’s popularity on social media speaks volumes about its capabilities. If you want your photos to pop with color or exude a specific mood, VSCO is the app to try.
- Photoshop Camera
Surreal Effects at Your Fingertips
Photoshop Camera by Adobe offers “lenses” that apply unique effects to your photos. These lenses can transform a bland sky into a vivid blue one or add animated effects like fireworks or a time-lapse of clouds. The app intelligently alters different parts of your image to create extraordinary results.
With a wide variety of lenses available, from analog effects to mixed media and pop art, Photoshop Camera is an impressive tool that pushes the boundaries of mobile photo editing.
- Lens Distortions
Retro Effects with a Modern Touch
Lens Distortions allows you to add light leaks, fog, steam, rain, and other effects to your photos, mimicking the imperfections that were once considered flaws in photography. The app offers a range of light hits, overlays, and nature effects that can be refined to look natural.
These effects are so well-crafted that they blend seamlessly with your images, adding a touch of nostalgia or drama without appearing artificial.
- Lightroom
Adobe’s Flagship Editing Tool
Lightroom is a powerful photo editing and storage tool that is nearly as capable on mobile as it is on desktop. It offers all the essential editing tools, including exposure, contrast, highlights, and shadows, along with advanced features like selective adjustments and batch processing.
For those already familiar with Adobe’s ecosystem, Lightroom on mobile is an essential tool for managing and editing photos on the go.
- RTRO
Authentic Retro Effects
RTRO, created by Moment, is a unique app that applies retro effects to your photos and videos. Unlike other apps where effects look the same each time, RTRO generates a unique appearance with every use. This makes the retro effects feel more authentic and less repetitive.
The app also supports video editing, allowing you to capture and enhance clips up to 60 seconds long. If you’re after a vintage aesthetic, RTRO is the app to explore.
- Afterlight
Filters and Textures for Creative Expression
Afterlight offers over 130 filters, along with the ability to create “fusion filters” by combining adjustments, textures, and effects. The app also supports double exposure, advanced curve editing, and color-shifting glitch effects.
What sets Afterlight apart is its ease of use combined with powerful features, making it a standout choice for those looking to create vivid and complex images effortlessly.
