Products like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom lead the photo editing industry, but they carry a steep learning curve, a subscription price, and more tools than most people ever touch. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the 13 best free photo editing software.
Capturing a scene is only the first step toward a perfect image. You still need to tweak exposure, contrast, and color to get there. Our overall pick is GIMP, and the 13 tools below will get you most of the way without costing you a penny.
What Is the Best Free Photo Editor?
GIMP is the best free photo editor overall. It is a fully free, open-source Photoshop alternative with layers, masks, curves, and clone tools, and it runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Affinity, which Canva made free to everyone in late 2025, is the more polished professional suite if you are willing to make a free account.
© Cotton Bro
What Makes the Best Free Photo Editing Software?
The best free editing software will be an application that provides a wide range of professional photo editing abilities. The most important factor is that these adjustments are accurate and up to a high standard.
Some photo editing software can seem to have endless adjustments, but if they don't make believable edits, they can ruin our photographs. Believable edits will mimic how light and color can change inside the camera through different exposures, film types, or other color management.
So, when looking for the best free photo editing software, we will rate each software based on the adjustments they provide and how effective they are.
© George Milton
13 Best Free Photo Editing Software
Here is our list of the best and most popular free editing programs available. If you’re looking for quality editing software to help enhance your images, look no further.
1. GIMP
| Platforms |
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Fully free and open source, with no paid tier
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
Not native. Open the file in darktable or RawTherapee first, then hand off to GIMP
|
| Layers |
Layers
Yes, including non-destructive layers added in GIMP 3.2
|
| Best For |
Best For
General-purpose photo retouching and image composition
|
GIMP (the GNU Image Manipulation Program) is our list’s best free photo editor. It’s an open-source photo editor and offers powerful image editing. Anyone with a bit of programming knowledge can create features they can use in the future. And people do! Every new release brings something new to the platform.
This photo editing software comes packed with all the image-enhancing features you would expect from other expensive platforms. If you can’t do a photo edit with GIMP, you probably can’t do it anywhere.
The toolkit is full of great features like layers, masks, curves, and levels. And there are Clone Stamp and Healing tools to fix blemishes. The software even allows you to apply changes to isolated areas.
The interface is simple to access and understand. It’s even easier to understand if you’re familiar with premium versions of photo editing software. The single-window mode lays out the toolbars and canvas in an Adobe-style layout.
There is a massive array of plugins to get the best out of your image. And all are free to download! GIMP is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows users. Make sure to read our in-depth Gimp comparison with Photoshop for more info.
Not for: anyone who wants to open the app and start cropping in ten seconds. GIMP's toolset runs deep, and that depth comes with a real learning curve. If you just need quick, simple edits, look further down this list first.
2. Affinity
| Platforms |
Platforms
Windows 10/11, macOS 10.15 or later (iPad announced, not shipped)
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Free in full, with every Pixel, Vector and Layout tool and no export limits; a free Canva account is required, and Canva AI inside Affinity needs a paid Canva plan
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
Yes, it develops raw files directly
|
| Layers |
Layers
Yes, with layers, masks, adjustment layers and live filters
|
| Best For |
Best For
Professional retouching and compositing without a subscription
|
Affinity is the biggest thing to happen to free photo editing in years. Canva bought the Affinity range from Serif, folded Photo, Designer, and Publisher into a single app, and in October 2025 made the whole thing free. It is not a trial and not a cut-down edition. Affinity's own FAQ says you get every tool in the Pixel, Vector, and Layout studios plus all the export options, with no restrictions and no payment.
For a photographer, the Pixel studio is the part that earns its place. Editing is non-destructive by default, so adjustments, masks, and live filters stay reversible, and you can save your undo history inside the file. RAW development handles lens correction, noise reduction, and tone controls. Above that sit unlimited raster, vector, and text layers, non-destructive adjustment and live filter layers, and more than 30 blend modes with live on-canvas preview.
The retouching and automation tools are the ones you normally pay for. Frequency separation and a full liquify set cover portraits. HDR Merge, Focus Merge, and astrophotography stacking cover the composite jobs. Macros and batch processing handle repetitive work. It imports PSD files with their layers intact, so you can hand work back and forth with a Photoshop studio, and it is GPU-accelerated, so big files still pan at full frame rate.
The catch is the account and the platforms. You need a free Canva account before Affinity will run, so this is not the tool for anyone who wants software that never checks in with a server, and Canva's AI features appear inside Affinity but stay behind a paid Canva plan. It runs on Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) and macOS 10.15 Catalina or later, on Apple silicon and Intel, with 4GB of RAM as the floor. There is no Linux build, and the iPad version has been announced but has not shipped.
Not for: Linux users, anyone who refuses to make an account, or a beginner who only wants to crop and brighten. This is a professional suite and the interface is sized accordingly. Take GIMP instead if you want the same power with no sign-in.
3. Darktable
| Platforms |
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Fully free and open source, with no paid tier
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
Yes, it is a dedicated raw developer rather than a general pixel editor
|
| Layers |
Layers
No, it uses a non-destructive module stack instead of layers
|
| Best For |
Best For
Managing and non-destructively developing large RAW shoots
|
Darktable is one of the best photo editors around. You can use it for both simple adjustments and professional editing. It has tools like those you would find in Lightroom and Darktable’s catalog takes ideas from Lightroom as well.
You can import your images into the program via a database. You can then use non-destructive tools to get the most from your pictures. You are not restricted to JPEG images. You can quickly and automatically convert RAW files.
There are some powerful tools to be found. For example, Darktable offers lens and perspective corrections. Beginners may find it slightly technical and not as simple to use as other programs. But you get a lot of features to play with.
Although Darktable may not be as powerful as other paid software, it does the job well. And there are no ads or annoying, locked premium features. Darktable is available in 21 languages. And its open-source download is compatible with Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems. Here is our in-depth comparison of Darktable vs Lightroom.
Not for: complete beginners who just want a quick fix. darktable's database-driven, non-destructive workflow rewards photographers who already think in terms of RAW processing, and it's not the fastest tool to pick up cold.
4. RawTherapee
| Platforms |
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Fully free and open source, with no paid tier
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
Yes, with best-in-class demosaicing and deep raw controls
|
| Layers |
Layers
No, it uses non-destructive sidecar-file raw processing rather than layers
|
| Best For |
Best For
Advanced RAW processing for enthusiasts through professionals
|
RawTherapee is a free, open-source editing software that is a favorite among photographers who prefer free photo editing software. It constantly updates its software to add more relevant and necessary adjustments its users recommend.
RawTherapee puts emphasized support into RAW processing. This is important as free software can often overlook one of the most important steps in photo editing software. On top of this, special attention is paid to color correction. You will find color card abilities. These are crucial for professional photographers and studio shoots.
There is a learning curve in RawTherapee, like most of the free photo editing software on this list. Thanks to its community-oriented approach, there is plenty of information online to find directions to the actions you want.
Not for: anyone who wants a polished, guided interface out of the box. RawTherapee puts RAW processing depth ahead of ease of use, so budget some time with the forums before you're fully comfortable.
5. Photopea
| Platforms |
Platforms
Any device with a web browser
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Free with ads, no account and no install; an optional paid plan removes the ads
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
Yes, it opens DNG, CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RW2, RAF, ORF and FFF
|
| Layers |
Layers
Yes, with layers, masks and blend modes, and it opens and saves PSD
|
| Best For |
Best For
Opening and editing Photoshop files without Photoshop
|
Photopea is the closest thing to Photoshop that runs in a browser tab. Open the site and you are editing. No download, no install, no account. It is the answer when someone sends you a layered PSD and you do not own Photoshop, because Photopea both opens and saves that format as its native one, with the layers, masks, and layer styles intact.
The toolset goes much further than the other browser editors on this list. You get layers, masks, layer styles, smart objects, adjustment layers, channels, and paths, plus Levels, Curves, Gaussian Blur, Liquify, and Puppet Warp. RAW files open directly too, covering DNG, CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RW2, RAF, ORF, and FFF, with exposure, color balance, contrast, and highlight and shadow control on import.
It also reads a long tail of formats nothing else here touches: AI, PDF, INDD, CDR, EPS, SVG, Figma, PDN, HEIC, AVIF, and about forty more. That makes it a useful rescue tool as much as an editor. If a client sends you a file in a format you cannot open, Photopea is usually the fastest way to see inside it.
The important detail is that Photopea runs on your own device rather than on a server. Nothing is uploaded, files open instantly, and you can load the page, disconnect, and keep working offline. The free version is paid for with ads down one side of the window, and a Premium account removes them. Being a browser app, it also leans on your machine: a large multi-layer file on a modest laptop will feel slower than a desktop editor.
Not for: anyone who wants a catalog and a batch workflow for hundreds of raw files, or who finds the Photoshop layout intimidating. It copies Photoshop closely, ads included, so a beginner will be happier in BeFunky or Fotor.
6. Canva
| Platforms |
Platforms
Web browser, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Free plan with the photo editor, templates and stock assets; premium Canva content stays watermarked until you buy it or upgrade
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
No, it reads JPG and PNG only
|
| Layers |
Layers
No pixel-level layers, clone brush or smart selectors, because it is a design tool
|
| Best For |
Best For
Turning photos into social, print and marketing graphics, not pixel-level editing
|
Canva is a free online photo editor. That means you don’t need to download anything to your desktop. But even though it saves you space, it limits your access when away from the internet. There is free cloud storage, but it is limited.
Canva is the best free photo editing software for changing your images into documents for presentations, social media, print products, and marketing. You can easily create cards, posters, and invitations with various templates.
You still won’t find pixel-level retouching tools like layers or clone brushes here (Canva is a design tool first). But its free tier now bundles an AI-powered photo editor alongside the sliders, so basic tint, vignette, sharpening, and brightness adjustments come with one-click AI cleanup too. The heavier AI tools, Magic Eraser, Background Remover, and Magic Edit, sit behind Canva Pro.
Collaboration is the reason Canva sticks in most teams. Designs live in the cloud, so you can share a link, let someone else edit the same file, and comment on it, which none of the desktop editors here can do. There are several paid plan options, but most individuals and small teams get by on the free one. Watch one thing on the free plan: your own photos export clean, but any premium Canva element you drop into a design stays watermarked until you buy that element or upgrade.
Not for: photographers who need real pixel-level retouching. No layers, no clone stamp, no RAW support. Canva is built for turning a finished photo into a graphic, not for correcting the photo itself.
7. Adobe Photoshop Express
| Platforms |
Platforms
Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Free starter plan with the editing tools and unlimited exports on mobile and desktop, plus 2 GB cloud storage; Premium adds finer controls and extra themes
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
Yes, it opens raw from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax and more
|
| Layers |
Layers
No adjustment layers, blending modes or smart objects, even in Premium
|
| Best For |
Best For
Fast mobile photo touch-ups
|
You most likely know Adobe Photoshop as a professional (and expensive) editing software platform. But they have a free version called Photoshop Express, and it is not phone-only: Adobe lists downloads for the Mac App Store, Google Play, and the Microsoft Store. Look for it on Windows and you will find it listed as Adobe Express Photos, the name Adobe now uses there.
The free version of Adobe Photoshop Express is a trimmed-down version of Photoshop. It edits JPEGs, PNGs, and TIFFs, and it opens RAW files directly too. Adobe's own supported-formats list covers Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, and more, so there is no need to convert them first. The free starter plan also gives you unlimited exports and 2GB of cloud storage.
Even with a scaled-back version, you get many editing features you expect from Adobe, like masks and even the Liquify tool. But you miss other essential tools that some of the rivals supply. Apart from that, the Adobe Photoshop Express interface and controls are polished and work well.
Photoshop Express does shine with its simple, one-touch effects. What we find interesting is the Pop Color tool. It allows you to change the hue of any image quickly. And we like to use the Fill Light tool to boost lighting conditions for any photos that fall short.
Not for: anyone who wants the full Photoshop toolset. There are no adjustment layers, blend modes, or smart objects, even on Premium. Reach for GIMP, Affinity, or darktable if you are sitting at a computer with real work to do.
8. Pixlr
| Platforms |
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android, desktop app
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Free tier with ads; Plus/Premium removes ads and adds AI credits
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
Limited, with basic raw opening online rather than a full raw workflow
|
| Layers |
Layers
Yes, Pixlr Editor supports layers, masks and blend modes
|
| Best For |
Best For
Browser-based general editing plus AI background/object removal
|
Two other great photo editing programs are Pixlr Express (for quick, one-click edits) and Pixlr Editor (for advanced, layer-based editing). If you have heard of Pixlr editor, these are the successors of that popular platform, now rebuilt around AI tools. And there are plenty of improvements.
The former software ran off Flash software, but Pixlr Express and Editor work in any modern browser. That means you are not limited to any browser and there are no unnecessary downloads on your end.
This free photo editing software can make detailed changes to color, saturation, and vignette effects. On top of that, sharpening and blurring your images is a breeze. Pixlr Editor gives you layers, masks, and blend modes, which many of these free tools lack, and you can paint and draw on top of your images. These advanced tools are perfect for mixed media and other creative endeavors.
Pixlr Express is nice to play around with due to its sleek design. Those who like Photoshop Express will see similarities in its interface. There is also a desktop app if you want to work offline, plus apps for Android and iOS. Core editing stays free and needs no account, but Pixlr now gates its AI credits and the ad-free experience behind paid Plus and Premium plans.
Not for: anyone who wants Pixlr's AI credits or an ad-free session without paying. Those sit behind the Plus and Premium tiers, and the free editor carries ads.
9. PhotoScape X
| Platforms |
Platforms
Windows, macOS
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Free edition available; PhotoScape X Pro is a paid upgrade for advanced batch/RAW/layer tools
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
Yes, with deeper RAW tools in the Pro upgrade
|
| Layers |
Layers
Basic object/layer editing free; complex layer editing in Pro
|
| Best For |
Best For
All-in-one editing, with raw conversion, brushes, filters and batch tools
|
PhotoScape X is a free photo editor that offers a long list of tools for image processing. PhotoScape does not have as many features as Photoshop. But it’s an all-in-one photo editing software. This editor might look simple, but it comes packed with impressive features. A few of them are RAW conversion, brushes, filters, and clone stamps.
This editing software is a good option for beginners because it enhances your images with just one click. And their website offers video tutorials for anyone who needs a little help.
PhotoScape X is also perfect for creating original content for social media or marketing campaigns. The program offers collage, stickers, text, and photo merging tools.
The free version of this photo editing app does not come with advanced features. But it offers a paid version with unlimited access to more advanced tools. PhotoScape X is available for macOS and Windows users.
Not for: anyone still running Windows XP/7/8 or an older Mac. PhotoScape X needs Windows 10+ or macOS 13+; older machines need to fall back to the legacy PhotoScape 3.7.
10. Photo Pos Pro
| Platforms |
Platforms
Windows (macOS needs a Windows emulator)
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Free for personal and commercial use; a one-time Premium licence is optional and the vendor also gives it away for a public review
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
Yes
|
| Layers |
Layers
Yes, with layers, masks, curves and custom brushes
|
| Best For |
Best For
A full desktop editing suite at no cost, on Windows
|
Photo Pos Pro is a full desktop editing suite that costs nothing. Version 4 is the current release, and the developer states plainly on its own site that the program is free for personal and commercial use. That second half matters. Most free editors on this list restrict commercial work or watermark it, and this one does neither.
The toolset is deeper than the friendly interface suggests. You get tone curves and levels, layers and layer masks, custom brushes, healing and object removal, selection tools, gradients, scripts, and batch operations. RAW files open directly. One-click filters and auto-fix tools sit on top for the jobs that do not need any of that.
This is the classic stepping-stone editor. Photo Pos Pro ships a step-by-step help system with a quick-start guide and tutorials, so a beginner can start with the one-click tools and grow into curves, masks, and scripts inside the same program rather than migrating to a new one later.
There is still a Premium licence, sold as a one-time payment rather than a subscription, and the developer also gives keys away to anyone who posts a public review with a link back. The free program itself is not time-limited and does not expire.
Not for: Mac and Linux users. This is a Windows program, and the vendor's only answer for macOS is running it under a Windows emulator. The interface is also dated next to Affinity or Photopea, so pick one of those if you care how the app looks.
11. BeFunky
| Platforms |
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Free tier with the basic editor, basic batch editing and limited effects; BeFunky Plus and Pro unlock the AI tools
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
No, it reads JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG and AVIF only
|
| Layers |
Layers
Yes in the Graphic Designer, though Smart Image Layer Editing needs a paid plan
|
| Best For |
Best For
Quick photo effects, collages and social graphics
|
BeFunky is an online photo editing tool created for users of all levels. It comes with a user-friendly interface that helps you easily find each editing tool. This app might seem basic, but it allows photographers to achieve professional results.
The program allows you to see editing effects on the photo in real time. And you can find all your edits in the image's history, letting you undo or redo modifications at any time. The photo editing section comes with a wide range of tools for resizing, cropping, and adjusting exposure and contrast. Textures and basic touch-up tools are there too, though the free plan gives you a limited set of each.
BeFunky is also an excellent tool for marketing and social media content. Besides the photo editor, there is a collage maker and a graphic design section. It offers many templates to create cards, flyers, invitations, etc. Also, BeFunky offers access to stock images.
This online editor is also an excellent option for inexperienced users. It offers dozens of tutorials for photo editing and collage-making. Plus, you can also find a section with design tips and techniques. Unfortunately, it doesn't support RAW files. Basic batch editing is free, but the AI tools are not: background removal, object erasing, sky replacement, and photo restoration all need BeFunky Plus, and AI batch processing needs the newer Pro tier on top of that.
The program is also available for download as a mobile version for iPhone and Android devices. You can also access it as a Chrome extension to edit your Google photos.
Not for: RAW shooters, or anyone expecting the AI tools for nothing. Background removal alone puts you on a paid plan, and batch AI work puts you on the top one.
12. Fotor
| Platforms |
Platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Free Basic plan, but every JPG, PNG and PDF export is watermarked and capped below HD; Fotor Pro removes both
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
Yes on the desktop app only, not in the browser version
|
| Layers |
Layers
Limited, and not a full layer-based raster editor
|
| Best For |
Best For
Quick AI-assisted enhancement, background removal and batch editing
|
Fotor is a free photo editing software that easily removes backgrounds, blemishes, and wrinkles in portraits. It also comes with plenty of visual effects. But Fotor’s free Basic plan now exports every image, whether JPG, PNG, or PDF, with a watermark and at standard (non-HD) resolution. You need a paid Pro plan for HD, watermark-free exports.
Fotor’s free plan is fine for quick, casual edits you’re not planning to publish anywhere serious. Overall, Fotor is a fun, free photo editor. But it’s not a program for professional photo editing.
The best thing about Fotor is that you can run it through your browser instead of taking up space on your hard drive. But remember to use Fotor on Google Chrome rather than Safari. Some of the adjustments are limited while using Safari. Fotor has apps available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iPhone.
Not for: anyone publishing finished work straight off the free plan. The Basic tier watermarks every export and caps resolution below HD.
13. Paint.net
| Platforms |
Platforms
Windows
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Fully free download; an optional paid Microsoft Store copy supports development
|
| Raw Support |
Raw Support
Not native, so it needs a third-party LibRaw plugin
|
| Layers |
Layers
Yes, with full layer support
|
| Best For |
Best For
Lightweight general image editing with a Photoshop-like layer workflow
|
The best free photo editor software is often the simplest. With Paint.NET, this simplicity is key. Not only is it free, but it’s also quick and easy to operate. Although the name sounds like Microsoft Paint, it is a dedicated photo editor.
The program has been around for a while. But it’s still a great photo editing tool for minor changes. There’s no need to use advanced software when all your image requires is a crop. What you find are handy photo editing functions. A few of them are layers, filters, and plugins created by their enthusiastic community. You will also notice a great 3D rotation and zoom function.
It doesn’t have every feature you can dream of in a photo editor. But it’s enough for basic edits in an easy-to-use program. Paint.NET is available exclusively for Microsoft Windows.
Not for: Mac or Linux users, or anyone who needs RAW processing or layer-based masking beyond simple edits.
How to Choose the Right Free Photo Editor for You
With 13 options above, the fastest way to decide is by the job you need done, not by feature-count:
- Want a full Photoshop alternative (layers, masks, curves, clone tools)? Go with GIMP, or Affinity if you would rather have the more polished professional suite and do not mind a free Canva account.
- Shoot RAW and want a Lightroom-style workflow? Darktable or RawTherapee are both built around RAW processing first.
- Someone sent you a layered PSD? Photopea opens and saves that format in a browser tab, with no install.
- Editing for social media or marketing, not pixel-level retouching? Canva or BeFunky are faster for turning a photo into a finished graphic.
- Editing from your phone? Adobe Photoshop Express is the mobile-first pick, and it runs on Windows and macOS too.
- Just want the simplest one-click fix, no learning curve? Paint.NET (Windows-only) gets out of your way fastest.
- Want an all-in-one desktop app with RAW, batch, and collage tools, and commercial use included? PhotoScape X or Photo Pos Pro cover the most ground in one download.
- Running Linux? GIMP, darktable, and RawTherapee are the only three here that will install.
If you're still unsure, start with GIMP. It is our top pick overall: it gives you layers, masks, curves and clone tools for nothing, on Windows, macOS and Linux, with no account and no company in the middle, and it is the one you are least likely to outgrow. Affinity is arguably the better-looking, better-built program of the two, so take that instead if signing in with a free Canva account does not bother you. Reach for Canva or BeFunky only if you already know your work is social graphics rather than photo retouching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is free photo editing software as good as Photoshop?
For most everyday edits, yes. GIMP alone covers layers, masks, curves, and clone tools, which is most of what a typical photographer actually uses in Photoshop, and Affinity adds frequency separation, HDR and focus merging, macros, and batch processing on top. What free software doesn't match is Adobe's wider ecosystem (Lightroom sync, Creative Cloud plugins), and tools like Canva, Pixlr, and BeFunky gate their most advanced AI features behind a paid tier.
Which free photo editor is best for beginners?
Canva, BeFunky, and Fotor have the gentlest learning curves, with drag-and-drop interfaces and one-click filters. Photo Pos Pro is the best bridge if you want to grow: it starts with one-click tools and has curves, masks, and scripts waiting behind them. GIMP, Affinity, and RawTherapee are the most powerful tools on this list, but they ask for more patience to learn.
Which free tool works best with RAW files?
darktable and RawTherapee are both built around RAW processing first, and Affinity develops raw files with lens correction and noise reduction inside a full layer-based editor. Photopea and Adobe Photoshop Express both open raw files directly from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and other major brands. GIMP is the exception: it needs one of the others to convert the file first.
Can I edit photos without installing anything?
Yes. Photopea, Canva, Pixlr, BeFunky, and Fotor all run entirely in your browser, with no download required. Photopea is the most capable of the five, and it runs on your own machine rather than uploading your files, so it keeps working if you go offline.
What restrictions should I watch for in the free versions?
A few of these tools cap what you get for free. Fotor's Basic plan watermarks every export and caps resolution below HD. Canva watermarks any premium element you drop into a design until you buy it. Pixlr and BeFunky both gate their AI tools behind a paid plan, and Pixlr and Photopea both put ads in the free editor. Affinity is free in full but will not start without a Canva account.
Do any of these work on a Mac?
GIMP, Affinity, darktable, RawTherapee, Photopea, Canva, Adobe Photoshop Express, Pixlr, PhotoScape X, BeFunky, and Fotor all run on macOS. Paint.NET and Photo Pos Pro are Windows-only, though Photo Pos Pro will run under a Windows emulator.
Conclusion
GIMP is our overall pick. It replaces Photoshop's core toolset, layers, masks, curves, and clone tools included, it runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it asks for nothing in return: no account, no upsell, no company that can change its mind. Download it, and read our GIMP and Photoshop comparison while it installs.
Three of these are genuinely new answers this year, so do not skip them if GIMP is not clicking. Affinity became free in late 2025 and is the most capable program on this page, provided you accept a free Canva account. Photopea opens a layered PSD in a browser tab with nothing to install. Photo Pos Pro 4 is free for commercial work as well as personal, which almost nothing else here allows.
Otherwise, go by the job: darktable or RawTherapee for RAW-heavy workflows, Canva or BeFunky if you're editing for social media rather than pixel-level retouching, or Adobe Photoshop Express if you're working from your phone. Every tool above is free to use today. Install the one that matches what you're actually shooting and editing, and switch if it stops fitting. Match it to your editing style and you won't need to pay for Photoshop or Lightroom to get professional results.
If you decide to pay to use Adobe Lightroom instead, try our Effortless Editing with Lightroom course to make your photos truly striking!
