Best Photo Editing Software For PC [Free + Paid]

Photo editing software has become an essential tool for everyone from casual photographers to professionals. With the photo editing software market set to reach nearly $1.5 billion by 2026, it’s clear that people are investing more in tools that can enhance their photographs.

In this guide, we’ll review the top free and paid photo editing software available for PC. You’ll learn about the features that matter most, like layer support, advanced filters, and non-destructive editing techniques, which allow you to tweak your photos without permanently altering the original files. Whether you’re on a budget or looking for the most advanced tools, we’ve got you covered. Join us to discover the perfect photo editing software for your needs!

Adobe Photoshop is the best PC photo editor software that is used by almost everyone for editing purposes. It is a widely known editing software that contains many features from general editing to retouching, graphic designing, etc. This app is used by artists beginners to professional photographers for editing and is available in both free and paid versions.

Features:

• Filters and Effects: Apply different styles to enhance your images.
• Auto-Fix: One-click adjustment to improve overall photo quality.
• Blemish Removal: Easily erase small imperfections.
• Text Overlay: Add text to your photos with customizable options.
• Collage Maker: Combine multiple photos into one.
• Perspective Correction: Fix skewed or tilted angles in your images.
• Adobe Creative Cloud: Access and sync your photos across devices.
• Sharing Options: Share your edited photos directly to social media.
• RAW Photo Support: Edit high-quality RAW photos for better results.

Supported OS:

• Windows, Mac

Pricing:

• Plans start at Rs.1675.60 / month.
• 7-day free trial package. 

It is a free editing software for PC that is popular in the market for being an AL generative tool, which makes normal editing to the next level advance editing. It has pre-made templates and many features that make editing quite easy. You can do multiple editing features with ease as it makes even complex editing very easy to perform. It is also available in both free and paid versions.

Features:

• Filters and Effects: Apply various filters and effects like vintage, color adjustments, blurs, and overlays.
• Layers: Work on different parts of your image separately and merge them seamlessly.
• Text Overlay: Add text with different fonts, sizes, colors, and styles.
• Selection Tools: Precisely edit specific areas of your image using tools like lasso and magic wand.
• Drawing Tools: Draw and annotate directly on your images with brushes, pencils, and shapes.
• Collage Maker: Create collages from multiple photos with customizable layouts and borders.
• Retouching Tools: Fix imperfections and blemishes with tools like clone stamp and spot heal.
• Cloud Integration: Easily import and export images from cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox.

Supported OS:

• Windows, Mac

Pricing:

• Plans start at USD 4.99 / month.
• 30 days free trial package.

Affinity software, developed by Serif, is one of those software whose performance has majorly been compared to adobe photoshop. Not only it has rich library tools but it is also known for its high speed quality in applying changes with precision. It is highly recommended for beginners as it has an amazing UI interface to work with.

Features:

• Professional Tools: Offers a range of tools for editing, retouching, and manipulating photos.
• Non-destructive Editing: Make changes without altering the original image.
• Layers: Work on different elements of your image independently.
• RAW Editing: Edit high-quality RAW image files directly from your camera.
• HDR Merge: Combine multiple exposures for high dynamic range images.
• Panorama Stitching: Create seamless panoramic photos from multiple images.
• Selection Tools: Precise selection with tools like lasso, magic wand, and selection brush.
• Masking: Selectively apply edits to specific areas of an image.
• Blend Modes: Control how different layers interact with each other.
• Filters and Effects: Apply various artistic enhancements to your photos.
• Export Options: Export in popular formats like JPEG, PNG, and PSD.

Supported OS:

• Windows, Mac.

Pricing:

• One-Off payments required of rupees 4,900. 
• 30 days free trial package.

It is one of the most known PC photo editors. GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is available in almost all operating systems which makes it quite reliable and has various photo manipulation techniques and tools, etc. It has many animation filters.

Features:

• Edit Photos: You can edit and enhance your photos with tools like color correction, brightness adjustment, and more.
• Create Art: Make digital art with drawing tools like paintbrushes, pencils, and shapes.
• Layer Editing: Work on different parts of your image separately and then combine them together seamlessly.
• Filters and Effects: Add special effects or touch-ups with a wide range of built-in filters and effects.
• Text: Add text to your images with various fonts, sizes, and styles.
• Easy to Use: It’s designed to be user-friendly, with a customizable interface to fit your needs.

Supported OS:

• Linux, MacOS, Windows, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris

Pricing:

• Free of cost

Krita is almost quite similar to GIMP in terms of its features but it’s mainly known for its art creation rather than its editing features and is a little bit complex to work in compared to GIMP.  Krita is mainly used for the purpose of digital art as it has various graphic tools and art tools but what many users miss out on is its editing features.

Features:

• Brushes: Lots of customizable brushes for different styles.
• Layers: Easy layer management for organized editing.
• Drawing Tools: Tools like grids and symmetry for precise drawing.
• Resource Manager: Organize and share brushes, gradients, etc.
• Vector Tools: Create scalable artwork.
• Animation: Make simple animations or animatics.
• Color Management: Ensures accurate colors across devices.
• Filters and Effects: Apply effects like blur and sharpen.
• Wrap-around Mode: Seamless painting across canvas edges.
• Customizable Interface: Arrange panels and shortcuts to your liking.
• Cross-platform: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Supported OS:

• Windows, Mac, Linux

Pricing:

• Free of cost

If you are looking for an app that can perform simple editing as quickly as possible Photoscape X is the recommendation for you. It also has both free and paid versions available and is quite known for having amazing user-friendly features. It is a photo editing software made for beginners only as it handles editing tasks so easily.

Features:

• Basic Editing Tools: Crop, rotate, resize, and flip photos.
• Filters and Effects: Apply various filters and effects to enhance photos.
• Batch Editing: Edit multiple photos at once for efficiency.
• Retouching Tools: Remove blemishes, red-eye, and clone areas.
• Collage Maker: Create collages with different layouts.
• RAW Image Support: Work with high-quality RAW image formats.
• Text and Stickers: Add text and stickers to photos.
• Brushes and Drawing: Use brushes and drawing tools for artistic touches.
• Batch Rename/Convert: Rename and convert multiple files together.
• Printing and Sharing: Print photos and share on social media.
• Photo Viewer: Browse and organize photos easily.

Supported OS:

• Windows, Mac

Pricing:

• Plans start at $39.99.
• 7 days free trial package.

Luminar is another AI-generated photo editor software for PC that contains a wide range of editing features with AI-powered tools. It can perform editing in all types of photos and enhance and retouch them beautifully. It is very simple to work with and has good system support.

Features:

• Automatic Enhancements: It automatically improves your photos by adjusting colors, details, and tones.
• Sky Replacement: Change the sky in your photos easily with just a few clicks.
• Portrait Editing: Enhance portraits with features like skin smoothing, teeth whitening, and eye enhancement.
• Templates: Use pre-made templates to quickly apply different looks to your photos.
• Composition Assistance: Get suggestions on how to crop or adjust your photos for better composition.
• Selective Editing: Edit specific parts of your photo without affecting the whole image.
• RAW Editing: Edit RAW files for maximum control over your photos.
• Batch Processing: Edit multiple photos at once to save time.
• Integration: Use Luminar AI as a standalone app or with other editing software like Photoshop.

Supported OS:

• Windows, Mac

Pricing:

• Plans start at $ 14.90 / month.
• 7 days free trial package.

Fotor is another photo editing software that can be easily used and is made for beginners. It is widely used by those who use social media as it allows sharing images on social media and also various beautification features that will enhance the beauty of your face with a wide range of filters.

Features:

• Basic Editing: Crop, rotate, resize.
• Filters & Effects: Instantly change the look and feel.
• Adjustments: Fine-tune brightness, contrast, etc.
• Retouching: Remove flaws, red-eye.
• Collage Maker: Create photo collages easily.
• Text & Stickers: Add captions, fun stickers.
• Social Sharing: Share directly to social media.

Supported OS:

• Windows, Mac

Pricing:

• Plans start at  $ 4.99/ month.
• 3 days free trial package.

Adobe Lightroom is a photo editing and organizing software. It helps you enhance your photos and keep them organized. You can adjust things like brightness, colors, and sharpness without permanently changing your original photos. It’s great for both beginners and professionals and works well with Adobe Photoshop.

Features:

• Editing: Adjust and enhance your photos without altering the original image.
• Organization: Easily sort and find your photos with tags, ratings, and collections.
• Presets: Apply ready-made styles to your photos for quick edits.
• Integration: Seamlessly move photos between Lightroom and Photoshop for advanced editing.
• Cloud: Access and sync your photos across devices with cloud storage.
• Fixes: Automatically correct lens and camera issues.
• HDR and Panorama: Combine multiple shots for enhanced images.
• Sharing: Export and share your photos easily, even to social media.
• Mobile: Edit and organize photos on the go with the mobile app.

Supported OS:

• Windows, Mac

Pricing:

• Plan starts at $ 9.99/ month
• 7 days free trial.

More Related articles:

• 10+ Best Free Photo Editing Apps in 2024
• Top 10 AI Photo Editing Tools for Beginners in 2024
• 8 Best Photo Editing Apps free for Android and iOS

Remember, it’s not just about choosing software, it’s about the passion and vision you bring to your editing process. Explore the features, experiment with different techniques, and let your imagination run wild. Whether you opt for the industry-standard Adobe Photoshop, the streamlined workflow of Lightroom, the professional-grade capabilities of Capture One Pro, or the budget-friendly options like Affinity Photo, you’re sure to find the perfect match for your unique style and preferences.

So, don’t hesitate! Dive in, have fun, and let your creativity soar. With the right photo editing software by your side, there are no limits to what you can create. Happy editing, and may your photos tell stories that captivate hearts and minds!

What is the best editing software for pc?

The best editing software for pc is adobe photoshop. Almost all advanced feature that today’s professionals are looking for is available in its pro version and as it has its own cloud system the images are stored safely.

What is a photo editor?

Photo editor is a tool or software in which we can perform simple editing in our photos which has minor issues like blur or any issue. It helps in creating an image that is exactly how you wanted with simple modifications and enhances the beauty of the photo.

What software do most photographers use?

Most photographers commonly use Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for editing and organizing their photos.

What is the best AI photo editor?

Luminar AI offers an intuitive AI-powered photo editing experience, perfect for simplifying complex editing tasks.

Which photo editor is 100% free?

Canva and Adobe Express are the top free photo editing software.