photography

Best photo editing apps for photographers

This list is curated to help photographers find the best photo editing apps available. Whether you're a professional photographer or an enthusiast, these apps offer a range of features to enhance your images, including powerful editing tools, filters, and effects to make your photos stand out.

11 Apps
4.5 ★ Avg Rating
Photography Category
Last updated December 2024
Adobe Lightroom Mobile

Adobe Lightroom Mobile

4.8 ★ Free

Adobe Lightroom Mobile is a powerful photo editing app that offers comprehensive editing tools including exposure, color adjustments, and advanced retouching capabilities. It syncs seamlessly with the desktop version, making it ideal for photographers who need robust editing on-the-go.

Best for: Photographers needing detailed editing capabilities.

Pros:

  • Robust editing tools
  • Syncs with desktop version
  • Supports RAW files

Cons:

  • Requires Adobe subscription for full features
Available on
iOS Android
Visit Website
Pixelmator

Pixelmator

4.8 ★ $9.99

Pixelmator offers a blend of powerful features like layer-based editing and a clean interface, appealing to photographers who require desktop-level editing on their mobile devices. It's known for seamless performance and wide toolset.

Best for: Photographers who need advanced editing tools on mobile.

Pros:

  • Layer-based editing
  • Wide range of tools
  • Robust performance

Cons:

  • Paid app
Available on
iOS Android
Visit Website
Snapseed

Snapseed

4.7 ★ Free

Snapseed is a professional-grade photo editing app created by Google. It offers a wide array of tools, including selective adjust, brush features, and an intuitive interface that makes photo editing accessible to both amateur and professional photographers.

Best for: Photographers looking for free, comprehensive editing tools.

Pros:

  • Free to use
  • Wide array of tools
  • User-friendly interface

Cons:

  • Learning curve for beginners
Available on
iOS Android
Visit Website
Darkroom

Darkroom

4.6 ★ Free

Darkroom is a premium photo editing app that provides powerful tools such as curves, color adjustments, and advanced portrait editing. It's tailored for portrait photographers seeking precise control over their image editing process.

Best for: Portrait photographers seeking precision tools.

Pros:

  • Advanced editing tools
  • Intuitive design
  • Excellent portrait features

Cons:

  • More advanced features require in-app purchases
Available on
iOS Android
Visit Website
Photoshop Express

Photoshop Express

4.6 ★ Free

Adobe Photoshop Express is a mobile version of the popular Photoshop software, providing convenient and efficient editing tools for photographers on-the-go. It supports basic and advanced adjustments needed for quick edits.

Best for: Photographers requiring both quick and advanced edits.

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use
  • Integrated Adobe ecosystem
  • Good for quick edits

Cons:

  • Advanced features require in-app purchases
Available on
iOS Android
Visit Website
VSCO

VSCO

4.5 ★ Free

VSCO combines camera, editing, and online sharing features, offering photographers a platform to edit and share their creative work. With advanced filters and a community of users, it's perfect for photographers who want to enhance their visuals and connect with others.

Best for: Photographers looking for a creative community and advanced filters.

Pros:

  • Advanced filters
  • Strong community
  • Editing and camera features

Cons:

  • Limited features in free version
Available on
iOS Android
Visit Website
TouchRetouch

TouchRetouch

4.5 ★ Free

TouchRetouch is an app concentrating on removing unwanted objects from photos. Its simplicity and effectiveness make it a go-to tool for photographers wanting to clear distractions from their shots without a complicated workflow.

Best for: Photographers needing efficient object removal.

Pros:

  • Effective object removal
  • Simple to use
  • Time-saving

Cons:

  • Limited to object removal
Available on
iOS Android
Visit Website
Facetune

Facetune

4.4 ★ Free

Facetune is a mostly portrait-focused photo editing app that allows users to retouch their photos with powerful editing features like skin smoothing, blemish removal, and more. It is popular among photographers who specialize in portraits and fashion.

Best for: Portrait photographers looking for quick retouching tools.

Pros:

  • Easy portrait retouching
  • Blemish removal
  • Various filters

Cons:

  • Paid app
  • Not ideal for non-portrait photos
Available on
iOS Android
Visit Website
Prisma

Prisma

4.4 ★ Free

Prisma is a distinctive photo editing app that transforms photos into artworks using styles of famous artists. It is suitable for photographers seeking a creative and artistic output for their photos, enabling them to add a unique visual style.

Best for: Photographers aiming for creative art transformations of their photos.

Pros:

  • Unique artistic styles
  • Easy to use
  • Creative output

Cons:

  • Requires internet connection for processing
Available on
iOS Android
Visit Website
PicsArt

PicsArt

4.3 ★ Free

PicsArt is not just a photo editing app but a creative platform where photographers can edit photos, create collages, and participate in a creative community. It's ideal for photographers looking to explore their creative sides with numerous tools and features.

Best for: Photographers exploring creative editing.

Pros:

  • Creative platform
  • Collage making
  • Strong community

Cons:

  • Free version has ads
Available on
iOS Android
Visit Website
Afterlight

Afterlight

4.2 ★ Free

Afterlight is an easy-to-use photo editing app that offers a range of features including textures, filters, and basic editing tools. It is well-suited for photographers who need quick and easy editing options without complex controls.

Best for: Photographers who prefer simple and fast editing.

Pros:

  • User-friendly
  • Variety of filters
  • Texture options

Cons:

  • Limited advanced editing tools
Available on
iOS Android
Visit Website

Comparison Overview

App Rating Price Best For
Adobe Lightroom Mobile 4.8 ★ Free with in-app purchases Adobe Lightroom Mobile is a powerful photo editing app that offers comprehensive editing tools including exposure, color adjustments, and advanced retouching capabilities.
Pixelmator 4.8 ★ Paid Pixelmator offers a blend of powerful features like layer-based editing and a clean interface, appealing to photographers who require desktop-level editing on their mobile devices.
Snapseed 4.7 ★ Free Snapseed is a professional-grade photo editing app created by Google.
Darkroom 4.6 ★ Free with in-app purchases Darkroom is a premium photo editing app that provides powerful tools such as curves, color adjustments, and advanced portrait editing.
Photoshop Express 4.6 ★ Free with in-app purchases Adobe Photoshop Express is a mobile version of the popular Photoshop software, providing convenient and efficient editing tools for photographers on-the-go.
VSCO 4.5 ★ Free with in-app purchases VSCO combines camera, editing, and online sharing features, offering photographers a platform to edit and share their creative work.
TouchRetouch 4.5 ★ Paid TouchRetouch is an app concentrating on removing unwanted objects from photos.
Facetune 4.4 ★ Paid Facetune is a mostly portrait-focused photo editing app that allows users to retouch their photos with powerful editing features like skin smoothing, blemish removal, and more.
Prisma 4.4 ★ Free with in-app purchases Prisma is a distinctive photo editing app that transforms photos into artworks using styles of famous artists.
PicsArt 4.3 ★ Free with in-app purchases PicsArt is not just a photo editing app but a creative platform where photographers can edit photos, create collages, and participate in a creative community.
Afterlight 4.2 ★ Paid Afterlight is an easy-to-use photo editing app that offers a range of features including textures, filters, and basic editing tools.

Quick Tips

  • Explore various apps to find the one that best fits your style and workflow.
  • Consider apps like Snapseed and VSCO for free editing options with rich features.
  • Use Adobe Lightroom Mobile for professional-grade editing and syncing with desktop.
  • Experiment with unique styles using Prisma for artistic transformations.
  • Join communities within apps like VSCO and PicsArt to gain inspiration and collaboration.

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