Whether you’re all about selfies, showing off delicious gourmet meals, or you're creating a digital scrapbook of your life, a good photo editing app can take your pictures to the next level and really make them pop. Luckily, there's a vast array of options available from intuitive and easy-to-use beginner blogging apps to complex, multi-faceted software for pros.
The difficult bit is finding the app that is going to work best for you! To help you in your pursuit of the perfect candid holiday snaps and Instagram aesthetic, we’ve set about creating a buying guide as well as a ranking of our top ten favourites to download paid or for free on iPhone or iPad, Android, PC, and Mac.
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of photo editing app available and understand how our ranking was determined.
Image | 1 ![]() Adobe | 2 ![]() Serif Labs | 3 ![]() Google LLC | 4 ![]() Adobe | 5 ![]() Pixelmator Team | 6 ![]() Adobe | 7 ![]() Visual Supply Company | 8 ![]() Merek David Com, LLC | 9 ![]() ADVA Soft GmbH | 10 ![]() PicsArt |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Lightroom Photo Editor | Affinity Photo | Snapseed | Photoshop Mix - Cut Out, Combine, Create | Pixelmator | Photoshop Express Photo Editor | VSCO: Photo & Video Editor | Mextures Photo Editor | TouchRetouch | Photo & Video Editor |
Features | The Best Choice for Anyone Looking to Get Serious About Their Photography | For Those Who Want to Commit Without Spending Big | A Free App From Google That Has Functions for Everyone | A Nice Introduction to Adobe Photo Editing Software | Still Learning the Ropes? This App Does the Work for You | A Scaled-Down Photoshop for Both Artists and Social Media Users | Popular Among Influencers Thanks to Its First-Rate Filters and Presets | A Tool That Allows You to Edit Away From Polished Perfection | A Valuable Retouching Component in an Editing Arsenal | Straightforward and Fun With Beginner-Friendly Tutorials |
Price | £0.00 | £8.99 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £4.49 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £1.79 | £3.49 | £0.00 |
Skill Level | Intermediate-pro | Intermediate | Intermediate | Beginner | Intermediate | Pro | Beginner | Intermediate | Beginner | Beginner |
Features | Advanced tools | Advanced tools | Advanced tools | Creative, semi-pro | Advanced tools | Advanced tools | Basic | Basic | Basic | Intermediate creative |
Fees and Subscriptions | Free (in-app purchases) | One off payment, £19.99 | Free | Free | One off payment, £4.99 | Free option, subscription £9.99/month | Free option, subscription £19.49/year | One off payment, £1.99 | One off payment, £1.99 | Free option, subscriptions £9.09/month |
App Marketplace | iOS, Android | iOS | iOS, Android | Android | iOS | iOS, Android | iOS, Android | iOS | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
Device Availability | Smartphone, tablet, mac, PC | Tablet, mac, PC | Smartphone, tablet | Smartphone, tablet | Smartphone, tablet, mac | Tablet | Smartphone, tablet | Smartphone, tablet | Smartphone, tablet | Smartphone, tablet |
Desktop Version Price | £9.98/month | One off payment, £46.85 | N/A | N/A | One off payment, £22.70 | N/A | N/A | Texture packs sold individually | N/A | Free option, subscriptions £2.99/month |
Link |
The first factor to consider is how much experience you have using this kind of software, because your proficiency level will determine what kind of app is best suited to you. Editing apps for social media are usually on the simpler side and are easy for complete beginners to use. They're also likely to be free, or at least fairly cheap.
Intermediate apps step it up a notch with a greater array of editing tools and features, which might appeal if you're interested in learning more about digital photography. Luckily, these apps will still be intuitive and quite manageable if you’ve used other photo apps previously.
Finally, professional-grade applications. These tend to be the most expensive but give the most control, providing the scope to do almost anything to your photos. However, these aren’t programs that you can simply open and start doodling around on, and require previous knowledge and experience before you get going.
If you like the idea of printed pictures, check out our instant cameras article!
Entry-level photo editing apps are aimed at those who are mainly just looking to take their social media game to the next level. This kind of app will have filters or presets that allow you to get a particular look for the 'gram, or basic convenience functions like merging photos.
Compared to the basic editing tools you will find on platforms like Instagram or even on your phone, these apps will offer that little bit more. For example, there will also be less common sliding editing tools to play around with such as white balance, vignette and shadows, as well as stickers and other fun effects.
Creative apps will provide you with a bit more freedom. These will typically let you add text or borders, change certain skin tones, and possibly even remove red eye and other undesired aspects of the photo. They may also focus on artistic aspects like making photo collages and editing videos as well as photos.
These apps are useful if you want to start a blog or social media account that you would like to be taken seriously, but you’ve not quite got the cash to pay a professional – or the skills to do it yourself. The more creative-themed will appeal to budding graphic artists or even those studying photography.
And finally, advanced editing apps. These will have all of the above features alongside more technical tools like image cutting, multiple layer editing, and advanced image healing with pristine precision. Some allow you to create your own presets based on these adjustments, too.
Again, using these features will require some knowledge on your part, either that or you must be prepared to undergo a steep learning curve. Apps with these tools are aimed at those who will be using the programs for work, study, or any sort of professional use.
If you're all about getting the right shot or angle, then our action cameras might interest you.
The next thing to consider is how much you want to pay, if anything! There are three typical payment types, the first being free versions of apps. Try to find out exactly what's involved with these, as some are free to download but require payment after a trial period, or in order to get access to more than the basic editing tools.
The second option is to buy the app with a one-off payment. With photo editing apps this is usually quite a reasonable figure, costing from £1.99 to around £5, though they can be as much as £20 for more professional software.
Lastly, paid subscriptions. These tend to be left to the more complex systems such as Photoshop and are either paid per month or per year. You’ll usually get a better price if you pay annually, but you should be confident the app is right for you before you commit – no one likes wasting money on an app they don't use.
Looking for a budget smartphone that doesn't break the bank?
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£0.00
Skill Level | Intermediate-pro |
---|---|
Features | Advanced tools |
Fees and Subscriptions | Free (in-app purchases) |
App Marketplace | iOS, Android |
Device Availability | Smartphone, tablet, mac, PC |
Desktop Version Price | £9.98/month |
£8.99
Skill Level | Intermediate |
---|---|
Features | Advanced tools |
Fees and Subscriptions | One off payment, £19.99 |
App Marketplace | iOS |
Device Availability | Tablet, mac, PC |
Desktop Version Price | One off payment, £46.85 |
£0.00
Skill Level | Intermediate |
---|---|
Features | Advanced tools |
Fees and Subscriptions | Free |
App Marketplace | iOS, Android |
Device Availability | Smartphone, tablet |
Desktop Version Price | N/A |
£0.00
Skill Level | Beginner |
---|---|
Features | Creative, semi-pro |
Fees and Subscriptions | Free |
App Marketplace | Android |
Device Availability | Smartphone, tablet |
Desktop Version Price | N/A |
£4.49
Skill Level | Intermediate |
---|---|
Features | Advanced tools |
Fees and Subscriptions | One off payment, £4.99 |
App Marketplace | iOS |
Device Availability | Smartphone, tablet, mac |
Desktop Version Price | One off payment, £22.70 |
£0.00
Skill Level | Pro |
---|---|
Features | Advanced tools |
Fees and Subscriptions | Free option, subscription £9.99/month |
App Marketplace | iOS, Android |
Device Availability | Tablet |
Desktop Version Price | N/A |
£0.00
Skill Level | Beginner |
---|---|
Features | Basic |
Fees and Subscriptions | Free option, subscription £19.49/year |
App Marketplace | iOS, Android |
Device Availability | Smartphone, tablet |
Desktop Version Price | N/A |
£1.79
Skill Level | Intermediate |
---|---|
Features | Basic |
Fees and Subscriptions | One off payment, £1.99 |
App Marketplace | iOS |
Device Availability | Smartphone, tablet |
Desktop Version Price | Texture packs sold individually |
£3.49
Skill Level | Beginner |
---|---|
Features | Basic |
Fees and Subscriptions | One off payment, £1.99 |
App Marketplace | iOS, Android |
Device Availability | Smartphone, tablet |
Desktop Version Price | N/A |
£0.00
Skill Level | Beginner |
---|---|
Features | Intermediate creative |
Fees and Subscriptions | Free option, subscriptions £9.09/month |
App Marketplace | iOS, Android |
Device Availability | Smartphone, tablet |
Desktop Version Price | Free option, subscriptions £2.99/month |
Written and researched by Lewis Clark
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications