Best Photo Editing Software in 2026
Updated
Photo editing software can suit everything from batch adjustments to more detailed image work. Compared on AI retouching, batch editing, layer editing, masking tools, and RAW photo support, these editors offer different capabilities to match against the images you work with. Cloud sync and platform availability help you consider where an editor fits, while free plans and paid-from prices provide cost points. Photopea, RawTherapee, and PhotoDirector are among the options, alongside Evoto AI and darktable. Consider how much control your work calls for, then weigh the listed editing features and platform details against your workflow.
160ranked
17free plans on this page
$2.50/molowest paid tier
12 Oct 2026last checked
Photo Editing Software, ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going.25 of 25 products with recorded free access can be tried for free.
- 1 Adobe Photoshop
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 2 Adobe Lightroom
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 3 Retouch4mePaid from $14.08/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 4 PhotopeaPaid from $37.50/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 5 PhotoFlareFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 6 AirbrushPaid from $8/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 7 ON1 Photo RAW
- Free to practise on: no
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 8 PhotomatorFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 9 RawTherapeeFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 10 PhotoDirectorFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 11 Evoto AI
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 12 HitPaw FotorPeaPaid from $7.53/mo
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 13 BeFunkyPaid from $6.99/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 14 PhotoPadFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 15 darktableFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 16 GIMPFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: no
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 17 VSCOPaid from $2.50/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 18 YouCam PerfectPaid from $4.99/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 19 ShowfotoFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 20 FotoJetPaid from $3.33/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 21 DxO PhotoLabPaid from $159.99/mo
- Free to practise on: no
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 22 Hasselblad PhocusFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 23 Darkroom
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: no
- 24 easyHDR
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 25 PaintFEFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Platform | RAW photo support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adobe Photoshop | 9.0 | No | multi-platform | Yes | |||
| 2 | Adobe Lightroom | 9.0 | Yes | multi-platform | Yes | |||
| 3 | Retouch4me | 8.9 | Free plan | $14.08/mo | No | $14.08/mo | multi-platform | Yes |
| 4 | Photopea | 8.8 | Free plan | $37.50/mo | Yes | web | Yes | |
| 5 | PhotoFlare | 8.6 | Free plan | Yes | multi-platform | Yes | ||
| 6 | Airbrush | 8.6 | Free plan | $8/mo | Yes | multi-platform | Yes | |
| 7 | ON1 Photo RAW | 8.5 | No | No | desktop | Yes | ||
| 8 | Photomator | 8.5 | Free plan | multi-platform | Yes | |||
| 9 | RawTherapee | 8.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | desktop | Yes | |
| 10 | PhotoDirector | 8.5 | Free plan | Yes | multi-platform | Yes | ||
| 11 | Evoto AI | 8.5 | Yes | |||||
| 12 | HitPaw FotorPea | 8.5 | No | $7.53/mo | Yes | $27.99/mo | multi-platform | Yes |
| 13 | BeFunky | 8.4 | Free plan | $6.99/mo | Yes | $6.99/mo | multi-platform | |
| 14 | PhotoPad | 8.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Yes | ||
| 15 | darktable | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | multi-platform | Yes | |
| 16 | GIMP | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | multi-platform | No | |
| 17 | VSCO | 8.3 | Free plan | $2.50/mo | Yes | $2.49/mo | multi-platform | Yes |
| 18 | YouCam Perfect | 8.3 | Free plan | $4.99/mo | Yes | |||
| 19 | Showfoto | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | multi-platform | Yes | |
| 20 | FotoJet | 8.2 | Free plan | $3.33/mo | Yes | $3.33/mo | ||
| 21 | DxO PhotoLab | 8.1 | No | $159.99/mo | No | multi-platform | Yes | |
| 22 | Hasselblad Phocus | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | |||
| 23 | Darkroom | 8.1 | Yes | multi-platform | Yes | |||
| 24 | easyHDR | 8.1 | No | Yes | ||||
| 25 | PaintFE | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | multi-platform | Yes |
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