Best Free Photo Editing Software for Beginners and Pros

If you’re new to photo editing you can believe you need expensive software like Photoshop. However, there are various Free Photo Editing Software accessible to assist you in producing high quality images without spending a thing. These tools are perfect for beginners wishing to improve their photography.

You don’t have to spend a lot to edit photos. Free tools like GIMP, Canva, and Snapseed are easy to use. GIMP is great for features like Photoshop, Canva is perfect for creating social media designs, and Snapseed is a simple app for quick edits.

These free tools are easy for beginners to use. You can fix images, adjust colors, add filters, and remove things you don’t want—all for free.

Try out these free tools and see which one works best for you. You’ll be surprised by what you can do with them!

GIMP: Free and Powerful Photo Editing Software

GIMP is a great free alternative to Photoshop. It allows you to open PSD files & alter images without using Photoshop. You may get it for free and even use the portable version. GIMP’s interface is customisable, and you can modify brushes and install additional plug-ins. As open-source software, it is always being updated to improve based on user feedback.

GIMP offers more advanced features like face swapping, intelligent scissors for precise selections, layer masks and the ability to create GIFs. It’s not only great for experts but also helpful for beginners, allowing you to crop photos, apply enhancements and experiment with many filters.

However, GIMP’s interface isn’t the easiest to use, so it may take some time to learn.

Pros:

• Advanced editing features.
• Supports multiple file types and formats.
• Works well on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Cons:

• Cluttered interface.
• Steep learning curve for beginners.

GIMP is a great free photo editor with powerful tools. It might take time to learn but it’s perfect for editing and creating amazing images.

Pixlr E: A Free and User-Friendly Photo Editing Tool

Pixlr E is an excellent photo editor with an interface similar to Photoshop. While having Photoshop experience can make it easier to navigate, it’s not required—you can still enjoy Pixlr E’s tools and features as a beginner.

Pixlr E contains advanced features such as levels and exposure tweaks, layers, and masks. One outstanding feature is the ability to open photos directly from a URL, which is really convenient. It also includes a library of royalty-free pictures and templates, ideal for generating unique designs or graphics.

Though the free version of Pixlr E provides many tools, some features are only available with a Premium subscription. Additionally, you can work on only one image at a time, which might limit productivity for users with large batches of photos.

Pros:

• Open files directly from URLs or your device.
• Includes layers, masks and other advanced tools.
• No installation needed; it works on your browser.
• Offers royalty-free images and templates.

Cons:

• Contains ads in the free version.
• Some features require a Premium subscription.
• You can edit only one photo at a time.

Pixlr E is available on the web and as a desktop app for Windows and macOS. It’s perfect for users seeking high-quality photo editing without the need to install heavy software. Whether you’re editing photos or creating designs, Pixlr E is a versatile and accessible tool for any skill level.

Picsart: A Powerful Free AI Photo Editor

Picsart is one of the best AI-powered photo editors, offering a variety of free tools like expand, style transfer and replace. You can use these features without needing a paid subscription, making it accessible for everyone.

Editing Tools and Features

Picsart has simple sliders for adjusting your photo’s hue, white balance, contrast, shadows, brightness and highlights. Its lighting filters are particularly effective at creating distinctive effects, while its color-toning tools allow you to give a professional touch to your photographs. You may also create a retro look with various stenciler effects.

For those who enjoy creativity, Picsart includes grids and collage templates that make designing fun and simple. Even though some features like HSL sliders and background removal require a Pro subscription, the free version has enough tools to craft impressive edits.

Pros:

• Wide range of free AI editing tools.
• Comprehensive lighting and color filters.
• Great options for creating collages and grids.

Cons:

• Some features, like HSL sliders, are locked behind a Pro plan.

Availability

Picsart works online and as a mobile app for iOS and Android, letting you edit photos anywhere. It’s great for all skill levels and offers AI tools to improve your pictures.

Photopea: A Free Alternative to Photoshop

Photopea is a great free alternative to Photoshop, offering many of the same features like filters, layers and quick selection tools. You can edit many pictures at once and work with PSD files, making it ideal for professional-level editing.

Editing Tools and Features

Photopea lets you enhance your photos with a number of editing tools like filters and layers. The program also allows you to perform advanced modifications such as dealing with PSD files which is often only available in Photoshop. However, some tools can be a little difficult to use. For example, making a background transparent requires more steps and may not always yield the greatest effects.

Easy to Access

One of the best things about Photopea is that it’s web-based, so you don’t need to download anything. You can use it on any computer with internet connectivity, and there is no need to sign up. This allows you to edit your photographs from anywhere. However, because it is online, you can face some difficulties, particularly when performing more sophisticated adjustments.

Pros:

• Opens and edits PSD files.
• No installation needed.
• A large variety of editing tools available.

Cons:

• Performance may slow down with heavy edits.
• Some features are harder to use and may not always work well.

Availability

You can edit multiple photos at once and work with PSD files, making it a great choice for professional-level editing.

Canva: A Powerful Free Design Tool

Canva is more than simply a picture editor; it’s a flexible creative tool. While there is a paid edition, the free version includes many capabilities for creating gorgeous digital graphics. Canva is web-based, so you will need to create an account to use it, but it is compatible with desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Easy-to-Use Design Templates

Canva has many design options, like Instagram posts, presentations and logos. Its easy drag-and-drop tools make it simple for beginners to use. You can customize templates by adding text, changing colors, or uploading your own photos.

Basic Photo Editing Tools

Canva is mostly a design tool, but it does have basic photo editing features. You may improve your images by applying filters, changing the brightness and shadows and adding effects such as blur. However, it is more suitable for rapid adjustments than comprehensive editing.

Perfect for Beginners

Canva is ideal for photographers and designers who want to create digital content easily. It’s simple to use and offers many templates, though it doesn’t have all the advanced tools of other photo editors.

Pros:

Many free design templates.
Easy to use drag-and-drop.
5GB free cloud storage.

Cons:

Limited advanced editing tools.
Some templates and images need a subscription.

Availability

Canva is available on web- desktop (Windows and macOS) and mobile (iOS and Android). It offers free tools to help you create designs for social media, presentations and personal projects.

Adobe Express: A Simple Graphic Design and Photo Editing Tool

Adobe Express is mostly a visual design application, similar to Canva. While photo editing isn’t its primary focus, it does feature a few useful tools for simple adjustments. This makes it an excellent choice for folks who require simple design and editing tools in one spot.

Useful Photo Editing Tools

Adobe Express allows you to change saturation, sharpen or blur photographs, trim and even delete objects. These tools are simple to use and will instantly improve your images. Although it lacks extensive photo editing features, it performs adequately for basic modifications.

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Graphic Design Features

Adobe Express helps you resize images for social media like LinkedIn or Instagram and add layers to designs. It includes a few effects and filters, but not as many as other tools. The free version is useful and upgrading to Premium provides more capabilities.

Pros:

• Simple resize for social networking.
• Works with the Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Allows you to add layers for easier editing.

Cons:

• Limited photo editing tools.
• Fewer filters and effects.
• Accessibility:
• Available on web and mobile, so you can edit on your phone or computer.

A Free Option Worth Exploring:

Adobe Express is great for easy graphic design and light photo editing. It’s free to start and easy for beginners or quick edits.