10 Best Free Photo Editing Software For Mac and PC

Photography has become an integral part of our lives in today's digital age. Whether you are a professional or an amateur exploring photo retouching, access to the right image editing tools is paramount. However, most common editors are unaffordable for most users. Does this mean one should give up the hobby of photography? Not at all! It is possible to get the best photo editing software free. 

This article will help you choose the best free photo editing software, and I will guide you in understanding what defines the best free photo editing app and the key criteria to consider when selecting the best free photo editor.

10 Free Image Editing Software

And here we come to the promised part, below you will get acquainted with the candidates for the title “best photo editing software for beginners free.” Let's see if any of them can conquer your boundless creator's heart or if paid editors pay for themselves and are worth a look.

1. Luminar Neo (Free Trial)

Before I tell you about free image editing software, I'll introduce you to a great AI-based application. Luminar Neo, despite positioning itself as a professional editor, also welcomes beginners with a user-friendly interface and clear icons, making it easy to master. 

It will replace the sky and, at the same time, take care of reflections on the water and complex details, allowing for rearranging the virtual light source and adding realistic atmospheric phenomena. If all this is boring for you, you can add objects to the photo, such as UFOs. Of course, it's not free, but the abundance and quality of its features may convince you to give it a try.

2. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Free photo editing apps for pc. A powerful photo editor is known for its versatility. Completely free, with no hidden or direct fees, and requiring no license, the functionality is expandable if desired, thanks to plugins, providing good functionality for professional work, as well as tools for retouching and painting. Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and an active community provides access to numerous tutorials and free add-ons.

3. PhotoCat

Advanced mobile editor (iOS/Android) combining AI tools, professional retouching functions, and a simple interface. It can offer you creative effects and styles, removal of unnecessary objects, face correction, curves, and levels. The program has a user-friendly and simple interface, and although it is free with limitations, a subscription is still available.

4. RawTherapee

A cross-platform photo editor with advanced editing capabilities including color correction, noise reduction, and sharpening. Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, emphasizes advanced RAW file processing, and gives you full control over editing. Has unique tools for fine-tuning and is completely free.

5. LightZone

RAW converter and photo editor that uses non-destructive Styles instead of layers and works on the Zone System principle. Gives you access to quality color work and easy photo organization through a built-in file browser and batch processing. Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and is completely free.

6. PhotoFiltre

A simple and fast editor that will run even on an old computer. It features basic editing tools, supports color and graphics, offers format options, and enables batch processing. Works on Windows, there are unofficial builds for Linux (via Wine), free basic tools, and a subscription.

7. Photoshop Express

A simplified mobile and desktop version of Photoshop. It is a mobile application with an intuitive interface. Has basic retouching tools, creative filters, and effects. It also features some unique tricks, such as background blur, blemish removal, and double exposure. Basic features are available for free, while the advanced version requires a subscription.

8. PhotoDirector

A versatile editor combining AI automation and manual professional tools. It features professional tools for manual processing and a range of effects and stylization options for your photos. Flexible terms of use complement convenient organization and batch processing. Free basic features, but watermarked.

9. Photo Pos Pro

A flexible and customizable editor with professional tools, a great balance between customizability and simplicity. Effects and filters, format support, and batch processing are also present. Conditionally free, meaning a free version but with limited features.

10. Photopea

You will remember it because its functionality is very similar to Adobe Photoshop. You won't have to take up disk space, as it works directly in the browser, and autosave will prevent you from losing projects that have already started. Basic features are available without a subscription, but it is still present. Tools like Photoshop and the program itself will even run on a very weak laptop. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, and iPad, and can save your work locally or in the cloud.

Top Free Photo Editing Software in 2025: Full Breakdown

We have briefly analyzed the main features of each of our candidates for the title of “best free photo editing app.” However, for an accurate result, this will not be sufficient. Therefore, for convenience, we will present the information in a table, which will include the pros, cons, main features, and technical specifications. In addition to the options discussed above, the table will also include Luminar Neo for clarity.

Here are the criteria by which I evaluated these programs: 10—Perfect balance of price/features, 8-9—Professional level with minor drawbacks, 6-7—Good for narrow tasks, 4-5—Limited functionality. And our undisputed winner is Luminar Neo, but it is a paid program, so it shares the first place with GIMP.

What Determines the Best Free Photo Editing App?

There are several points that will help you figure out the best free photo editor among the many options. Here are a few things to look out for. Just answer these questions for yourself, and the conclusion will follow.

1. How intuitive is the interface? It should allow you to navigate among the many features easily.

2. Is it versatile? A good editor should be able to handle the diverse goals and tasks of a photographer.

3. Is the selection of tools wide? This is the backbone of any photo editor, and the stronger this backbone is, the more chances it has to perfect your photos.

4. Efficient performance? Smooth performance ensures that you can complete editing without annoying glitches.

5. Is there non-destructive editing? There should be an option to modify the image.

A checkmark against each of the 5 items is the answer to the question, “Which editor on this list is the best?”

2 Winners and Some Tips

We held a small competition among 10 apps, one of which was paid, the rest partially or completely free. Despite the paid Luminar Neo taking first place, it had to give it up to another winner. GIMP and Luminar Neo shared the honorable first place because the former was the best among the free options. 

Also, now you know 5 cherished questions, answering which, you will find the best photo editing software free. We hope you have definitely found the right companion on the path of photo art.