The Best Free Photo Editors in 2023
With these high-end, free photo editors, you can get results that are comparable to those you would get with Adobe Photoshop.
You can achieve just as good results using these premium-caliber free photo editors as you would with Adobe Photoshop.
There are several features and tools available among these choices that enable you to alter or improve your images pretty much whatever you choose. Many of them also let you alter their user interfaces to create the ideal workspace for you.
This collection contains both well-known programs and some undiscovered treasures that are well worth exploring.
GIMP
Professional features and a highly user-friendly, adaptable interface are offered.
To really adapt how you want to work without sacrificing any of the tools you require access to, its toolbox, layers, and brushes windows are divided from the primary canvas.
There are several input devices supported, add-ons that can be added to expand the capabilities of GIMP, and support for file types including TIFF, PSD, PNG, JPEG, and GIF.
If you need assistance along the way, tutorials are available on the GIMP website. Layer masks, asset directories, brushes, and other topics are covered.
Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 are among the supported operating systems, in addition to Linux and Mac.
Paint.NET
Similar to GIMP, Paint.NET lets you reposition its window panes to create an interface that suits your preferences. Additionally, it offers plug-ins that add new effects and handle new file types.
Layers, effects, and a variety of simple and sophisticated tools including a clone stamp, pencil, word creator, and paintbrush tool are all included.
The supported image file types are BMP, JPEG, TGA, and DDS.
Windows 11 and Windows 10 are only supported in their 64-bit iterations as of version 4.4. GitHub hosts the portable version of Paint.NET.
Inkscape
Inkscape is a vector graphics editor that is more comparable to Illustrator than a picture editing program, although it still contains a ton of helpful tools.
The UI might appear a little disorganized, but that's merely a reflection of the enormous amount of tools it has. Almost all of the tools you'll frequently use are positioned for accessibility along both sides of Inkscape.
It is possible to generate polygons, circles, arcs, 3D boxes, ellipses, stars, and spirals. You may also draw lines freehand or in a straight line.
Numerous file formats are supported for opening as well as storing. You may work with layers, add a vast variety of filters to a photo, and utilize spell check alongside the text tool among many other helpful tools.
Inkscape accepts extensions, like the majority of picture editing software.
Operating systems for Windows, Mac, and Linux are compatible with it. The most recent version needs Windows 7 or later. A portable version for Windows users is also available and is ideal for editing directly from a flash drive.
Adobe Photoshop Express
If you don't want to shell out money for Adobe's complete software, you may use the free Photoshop Express tool as an alternative to Photoshop. It obviously lacks some of Photoshop's capabilities, making it less effective, but it still does a lot.
You may upload a photo from your computer or capture a brand-new one straight from your webcam when you first use this image editor. The menus make it incredibly simple to access all the one-click features, including filters, crop tools, image adjustments, the red eye removal tool, and more, after a photo has been uploaded.
Borders, a spot healing brush for one-click touch-ups, grain and fading effects, and a noise reducer are further features of this picture editor. You may also easily view the original photo to compare with your adjustments by clicking a button.
The fact that almost every tool in this picture editor gives you complete control over the intensity is something that you won't find in some apps that are similar. This implies that you may adjust the effect of a tool by swiping a bar left or right.
Users using Photoshop Express on Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Android, iPhone, and iPad shouldn't have any issues.
Krita
Krita is an extremely user-friendly and sophisticated image editor. In addition to many additional tools found in a floating toolbox off to the side of the software, you can work with layers much as in some of these other programs.
Other features abound as well, including brushes, blending modes, complex selection and masking tools, drawing assistance, filters, symmetry tools, and effects, among many more.
One feature worth mentioning is the ability to maximize the canvas to fill your entire screen by pressing the Tab key. This will hide all menus and tools and leave you with a sizable workspace free of any interruptions.
Windows 11, 10, and 8 are compatible with Krita; a portable version is also available. It's also available for Linux and macOS 10.12 or later.
InPixio Photo Editor
This InPixio free picture editor is simple to use, but that doesn't mean it's devoid of useful features. You can do everything from add frames and decorations to crop, modify the brightness, and more with this simple-to-use application.
You can quickly complete editing with the one-click presets, frames, and simple-to-use editing tools, and you can even post your image immediately on Twitter or Flickr from the Share menu.
This tool supports opening a wide variety of image file formats, and when exporting a picture to your computer, you may choose between JPG, PNG, and TIFF.
There are several features that are exclusive to the premium edition; they are denoted in the application by a big "Premium" banner.
The iPhone, iPad, and Windows desktops all support InPixio Photo Editor. You may use their online lessons if you need help using this picture editor.
Via: Lifewire