GIMP is our top free photo editor for retouching and working with layers. Choose darktable or RawTherapee for a RAW photo workflow, Photopea for Photoshop files in a browser, and Canva for turning photos into graphics.
You do not need a subscription to Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Lightroom for every editing job. These 13 options cover different needs. Some are fully free desktop programs. Others have a free plan with paid tools, ads, or export limits. The distinction matters before you spend time on an edit.
What Is the Best Free Photo Editor?
GIMP is our overall pick because it combines layers, masks, color adjustments, and retouching in a free, open-source app for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Affinity is another option for advanced editing on Windows and Mac, with a free Canva account required for activation.
For a memory card full of RAW files, start with darktable or RawTherapee instead. They focus on developing camera files. A layer editor is a better fit when you need to combine images or retouch one photograph.
© Cotton Bro
What Makes the Best Free Photo Editing Software?
Choose an editor by the files you shoot and the result you need:
- RAW development: Check support for your exact camera. Sharing a file extension does not guarantee that every camera model is supported.
- Retouching and composites: Look for selections, layers, masks, and healing or cloning tools.
- Photo collections: Consider how you will sort a shoot and apply edits to several pictures.
- Finished exports: Check the output size, watermark rules, and whether the tools you used require payment.
Before moving a whole project, try one photo from opening to export. Keep the original and save an editable working file where the program supports one. A free editor only meets your needs if you can finish the job with its free tools.
© George Milton
13 Best Free Photo Editing Software
These 13 editors range from RAW processors to tools for photo-based graphics. Read the limits alongside each recommendation.
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 first choice for editing individual photos and building composites. Layers and masks let you keep parts of an edit separate, while curves, levels, cloning, and healing cover common color and retouching work.
It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its open-source code and plugin support also make it adaptable, though you do not need programming skills to edit a photograph. Our Gimp comparison with Photoshop explains the differences between the two programs.
RAW processing needs a separate step. GIMP's own documentation describes plugins that use darktable or RawTherapee to develop camera files before passing the image into GIMP.
Not for: someone who needs a guided, one-click editor or an integrated RAW library. GIMP has many controls to learn; start with cropping, exposure, and layers rather than trying every tool at once.
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 brings photo editing, vector design, and page layout into one desktop app. Its Pixel tools suit photographers who need RAW development and retouching alongside work with layers.
The free app includes non-destructive adjustments and live filters, lens correction, healing tools, HDR merging, and batch processing with macros. It also imports Photoshop documents. Check a complex PSD before using it for a client handoff; format support does not guarantee that every effect will transfer exactly.
A free Canva account is required to download and activate Affinity. After activation, the developer says it can work offline, including for extended periods. Online integrations still need a connection, and Canva AI tools require a premium Canva plan.
Not for: Linux users or anyone who does not want an account. The current desktop downloads are for Windows and macOS. Its range of tools also makes it more to learn than a simple crop-and-brighten app.
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 the choice here for managing and developing a RAW shoot. It keeps image records in a database and edits non-destructively, so the original files stay unchanged and the processed image is created at export.
Its catalog serves a similar organizing purpose to Lightroom's: you can sort and filter a collection rather than open each picture as an unrelated project. Editing modules handle changes to tone and color, with masks for local adjustments. They are a different way of working from stacking separate image layers.
The open-source download is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. Mac users should read the current installation notes: official Mac builds currently target Apple silicon, with no official Intel release. Our comparison of Darktable vs Lightroom looks at the workflow differences.
Not for: a beginner who only wants a fast crop, or someone who mainly needs to combine several photos in layers.
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 RAW processor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its main strength is control over the development of a camera file, including tone, color, and fine detail.
It uses non-destructive processing, so you can work on an interpretation of the RAW data without replacing the camera original. It is an option when you want to spend time adjusting individual photographs before exporting them for sharing or further editing.
The controls take time to learn. The project's RawPedia documentation and community forum explain the tools, which is more useful than moving sliders without knowing what they change.
Not for: someone who wants a guided interface or a layer editor for composites. Our RawTherapee review helps you judge its editing approach before you commit to learning it.
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 a browser editor for the times you need to open a Photoshop document without installing another app. PSD is its main working format, and it can both open and save those files.
Its tools include layers, masks, adjustment layers, smart objects, curves, and retouching controls. It also opens several RAW formats. For a supplied design or layered image, check the imported result before assuming that it matches the original application exactly.
Photopea's documentation says local editing runs on your device. Once the editor has loaded, you can disconnect and continue ordinary editing offline. That does not make optional online services available without a connection. The free editor has ads; a paid account removes them.
Not for: someone who wants a photo catalog as the center of their workflow. It also benefits from a large screen, keyboard, and precise pointer, especially when you are editing layers.
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
RAW is not listed among supported uploads. Supported uploads include JPG, PNG, WEBP, HEIC, SVG and PSD.
|
| Layers |
Layers
Design element layers and selection-based photo tools. Advanced tools depend on the plan.
|
| Best For |
Best For
Turning photos into social, print and marketing graphics, not pixel-level editing
|
Canva is the option for turning a photo into a social post, invitation, presentation, or poster. It combines photo adjustments with text, graphics, and templates in a browser or app.
You can crop a picture and adjust brightness, contrast, and color before placing it in a design. The free photo editor does not add a watermark to your own edited photo. Premium content and some advanced tools have separate plan restrictions, so check those before building a design around them.
Canva is broader than a JPEG-and-PNG editor. Its official upload list also includes WEBP, HEIC, SVG, and PSD. Some AI features and tools such as Magic Eraser require a premium plan; limited trials of individual tools do not mean they are free without limits.
Not for: a photographer whose main job is developing a RAW shoot. Choose it when the finished deliverable is a designed graphic and you want the photo, text, and layout in one place.
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
|
Photoshop Express is Adobe's choice here for quick mobile touch-ups, filters, and collages. It has free features and an optional Premium subscription; installing it does not give you the full desktop Photoshop application.
Think of a trimmed-down version of Photoshop as a rough comparison of purpose, rather than a promise that the apps share the same tools. Photoshop Express has its own interface and feature set. Its Reshape controls change parts of an image in a similar way to Photoshop's Liquify tool, but the controls and access can differ.
Adobe lists JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and several RAW formats as supported, with exceptions for some Fujifilm and Hasselblad files. Check your own file and the tools marked Premium before choosing it for a particular edit.
Not for: someone who expects a desktop Photoshop replacement. The mobile app is the reason to choose Express from this list; platform editions and their tools should not be assumed to be identical.
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
|
Pixlr Express focuses on quick browser edits. Pixlr Editor provides the more advanced workspace for working with layers and combining images. Choose the workspace by the edit you need, rather than assuming they are the same interface.
For basic adjustments, Pixlr gives you a way to edit without a large desktop installation. Its free access has limits: paid plans remove ads and include unlimited saves and AI credits. Do not assume that a tool promoted on the home page is unlimited on the free plan.
There is also a desktop app, which Pixlr advertises for offline editing, plus apps for Android and iOS.
Not for: someone who needs an ad-free editor with unlimited saving at no cost. For repeated jobs, check the free limits before editing a whole set.
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 groups photo editing with batch tools, collages, image combining, and RAW support. It covers several small jobs that otherwise send you between apps.
The editor includes cropping, color adjustments, text, brushes, and retouching tools. It does not need to match Photoshop feature for feature to suit a photographer who wants to adjust a picture and put it into a collage.
There is a free edition and a paid upgrade. The developer's feature list covers the product as a whole, so do not treat every listed advanced tool as part of the free edition. On a Mac, the current App Store listing requires macOS 13 or later.
Not for: someone who needs a dedicated RAW development workflow or assumes that every advanced tool is free. Try the exact operation you need, then export a sample before using it for a full project.
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 Windows editor whose developer explicitly permits free personal and commercial use. It is an option for photographers who want editing and graphic design tools in the same desktop program.
The current product page lists layers, masks, curves, scripts, RAW support, and batch operations. A step-by-step help system supports beginners who want to move beyond one-click adjustments without immediately switching programs.
The developer also offers a separate Premium licence. That means “free” should not be read as a promise that every premium feature is unlocked. Check the tools and output you need in the free program first. Nor is commercial use unique to this editor: GIMP also permits it.
Not for: someone who needs a native Mac or Linux application. The vendor lists Windows and describes its Mac route as a Windows-app emulator, which adds another setup step.
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 suits quick adjustments and photo-based designs. Its editor brings cropping, resizing, and exposure controls together, while the collage maker and graphic design section cover finished layouts.
The free plan has a limited selection of tools, effects, and templates. Previewing a premium feature is different from being able to use it in a free finished project. Plus unlocks premium editing and design tools; Pro adds workflows such as batch AI editing and batch background removal.
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 open web images in the editor.
Not for: someone who expects the whole AI toolset at no cost. Choose your free tools before starting an edit, especially when the job depends on background removal or processing several images.
12. Fotor
| Platforms |
Platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
|
| Free Tier |
Free Tier
Free Basic plan. Downloads using only free features and assets are free. Paid features, effects or assets require Pro or Pro+ to download. Check the output options for your edit.
|
| 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 an option for quick adjustments, effects, and designs. Its Basic plan is free, but that does not make every feature or export option free.
Fotor's current help says you can download work made only with free features and assets. If you use paid effects, tools, or assets, you need an upgrade to download the result. Its plan comparison lists standard JPG, PNG, and PDF output for Basic and HD options on paid plans. Check the download panel for the output available to your edit.
Before committing to Fotor, make one sample edit and check its download panel. Fotor may suit a small casual job; a finished file's size and any plan restrictions still need to meet your needs.
You can use Fotor in a browser. Fotor has apps available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iPhone.
Not for: someone who needs unrestricted exports or wants to use paid tools without a subscription. Check the output before spending time on a long edit.
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
|
Paint.NET is a Windows editor for someone who wants more than a crop tool without starting with GIMP's full workspace. It supports layers, effects, adjustments, and an undo history.
It also has a community that makes plugins. These can extend the program, but the core app is the better starting point when you only need a crop, a color correction, or a few image layers.
The direct download is free. A separate paid Microsoft Store version supports development, so a Store price does not mean the free official download has disappeared.
Not for: Mac or Linux users, or someone choosing a program primarily for RAW development. It is a better fit for working on an already viewable image than for organizing and developing a whole camera shoot.
How to Choose the Right Free Photo Editor for You
Pick the task you repeat most often:
- Want a full Photoshop alternative for layers, masks, and retouching? Start with GIMP, or Affinity if a Canva account suits you.
- Shoot RAW and want to develop a whole shoot? Try Darktable. RawTherapee is another option for control over individual RAW files.
- Need to open a layered PSD in a browser? Choose Photopea.
- Making a social post, invitation, or poster? Try Canva or BeFunky.
- Editing from your phone? Look at Adobe Photoshop Express.
- Need a straightforward Windows editor for a crop or a few layers? Try Paint.NET.
- Want editing, collage, and batch tools in one desktop program? Compare PhotoScape X and Photo Pos Pro, including their free-versus-paid limits.
- Need a native Linux program? GIMP, darktable, and RawTherapee are the desktop choices here.
You can also use two programs. Develop a RAW photo in darktable or RawTherapee, then export a TIFF for retouching in GIMP. Keep the RAW original and an editable working copy so the final JPEG is not your only saved version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is free photo editing software as good as Photoshop?
Free software can cover many everyday editing jobs. GIMP provides layers, masks, curves, cloning, and healing; Affinity combines RAW development with work in layers. Choose by the operation you need to finish. File compatibility, automation, and linked services can differ, so a familiar tool name does not guarantee an identical workflow.
Which free photo editor is best for beginners?
For a quick crop or adjustment on Windows, try Paint.NET. For a photo with text and a layout, Canva or BeFunky is a better starting point. Choose GIMP when you want to learn retouching and layers, accepting that it takes longer to learn. Finish one sample before moving a project into an unfamiliar app.
Which free tool works best with RAW files?
Start with darktable or RawTherapee for a RAW-centered workflow. Affinity and Photopea also open RAW files. GIMP uses an external RAW processor: you can use darktable or RawTherapee to convert the file first. Check your exact camera model, not just the extension printed at the end of the filename.
Can I edit photos without installing anything?
Yes. Photopea, Canva, Pixlr, BeFunky, and Fotor have browser editors. Photopea is the choice here for a layered PSD, while Canva and BeFunky suit photo-based designs. Photopea's documentation also says ordinary local editing can continue offline after the app has loaded. Online integrations still need a connection.
What restrictions should I watch for in the free versions?
Check ads, saving limits, output size, premium assets, and whether the tools you used are paid. A free preview does not guarantee a free finished download. For example, Fotor requires an upgrade when paid tools or assets are used. Affinity requires a free Canva account, and its Canva AI tools need a premium plan.
Do any of these work on a Mac?
GIMP, Affinity, RawTherapee, and PhotoScape X have Mac editions. darktable has a Mac build too, but its current official downloads target Apple silicon rather than Intel Macs. The browser editors are another route. Check both your macOS version and processor before downloading. Paint.NET and Photo Pos Pro are Windows choices.
Conclusion
GIMP remains our overall pick for free photo editing with layers. It covers retouching, color adjustments, and composites on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Read our GIMP and Photoshop comparison if you are deciding whether its tools fit your work.
Choose darktable or RawTherapee when your main job is developing RAW files. Use Photopea for a PSD in a browser, Affinity for a desktop suite with a Canva account, and Canva or BeFunky for photo-based graphics.
Start with one image you actually need to finish. Open it, make the edit, save a working copy, and export the result. That short trial will tell you more about whether an editor fits than a long feature list.
If you decide to pay to use Adobe Lightroom instead, try our Effortless Editing with Lightroom course to make your photos truly striking!
