11 Best Free Photo Editors

Inkscape, GIMP, and others provide a bunch of features for flexible and top-notch image editing

I've given these awesome free photo editors a go, and I can confirm they hold their own against Adobe Photoshop for most projects. Packed with cool features and tools, they allow you to enhance and adjust your photos in various ways. You can also personalize them to suit your style, making them look and feel just the way you want.

Use an online image editor to work directly from your browser. To edit on your phone or tablet, try a free photo editing app. If you only want to resize some photos, there are resources for that, too.

01
of 11

Inkscape

Screenshot of Inkscape in Windows 10
What We Like
  • Cross-platform compatibility.

  • Large, active community; lots of help and tutorials available.

  • Excels at detailed drawing and line-specific editing.

What We Don't Like
  • No PMS or CMYK color support.

  • Sizeable learning curve.

  • Rendering can take a while.

Inkscape is a vector graphics editor, more akin to Adobe Illustrator as opposed to a photo manipulation package, but still has a lot of useful features. This is my go-to when I need to edit SVG files.

The interface can be a bit cluttered, but that's only evidence of the vast number of tools it includes. Nearly all the tools you'll often be using are planted along both sides of Inkscape for easy access.

Circles, arcs, 3D boxes, ellipses, stars, spirals, and polygons can be created. You can also draw straight or freehand lines.

Tons of file types are supported, both when opening and saving. Among many other useful features, you can work with layers, apply a huge number of filters to a picture, and use spell check along with the text tool. Also, like most photo editing programs, Inkscape supports extensions.

It works with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. The latest version requires at least Windows 7.

This app is filled with features, so it will take some time to learn the ins and outs. We have some guides here on Lifewire if you need some guidance, like this one for working with the Layers palette. Otherwise, check out Learning Inkscape for some tutorials.

02
of 11

GIMP

GIMP in Windows 7
What We Like
  • Similar to Photoshop in interface and capabilities.

  • Add-ons, including those created for Photoshop, add great functionality.

  • Generate files in all common image formats.

What We Don't Like
  • Interface not as sleek or pleasing as Photoshop.

  • Can be a bit buggy.

  • Lacks layer grouping, adjustment layers, and some other common Photoshop elements.

GIMP is likely the most popular free, open source image editor. It's full of professional features and provides a very friendly and flexible interface.

Its toolbox, layers, and brushes panes are separated from the main canvas so that you can truly adjust how you want to work without losing any of the features you need access to.

Various input devices are supported, add-ons can be installed to extend the software's functionality, and file formats like TIFF, PSD, PNG, JPEG, and GIF are supported.

Supported operating systems include Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7, as well as Linux and Mac.

There are tutorials on the GIMP website that I've found super helpful. If you require help along the way, I recommend reading through that list to learn about layer masks, asset folders, brushes, and more.

03
of 11

Adobe Photoshop Express

Adobe Photoshop Express free image editor
What We Like
  • Familiar interface for Photoshop users.

  • Control intensity of tool effects.

What We Don't Like
  • Limited format support.

Adobe has this free program you can use if you don't want to bother with the free Photoshop trial. Of course, it is missing some of Photoshop's features, but it still does a lot.

When you first open the program, you can load a picture from your computer or take a new one directly from your webcam. Once a photo is imported, the menus make it really easy to access all the one-click options like filters, crop tools, image corrections, the red eye remover tool, and more.

I like that some of the features feel similar to what's possible with Photoshop. There are borders, a spot healing brush for one-click touch-ups, effects like grain and fade, and a noise reducer. There's also a button you can click to quickly see the original photo for comparison with your edits.

Something really great about this image editor that you won't find in some similar programs is that with nearly every tool, you have full control over the intensity. This means you can slide a bar left or right to decrease or increase a tool's effect to get it just right.

Windows 11 and Windows 10 users can install Photoshop Express.

04
of 11

Icecream Photo Editor

Icecream Photo Editor
What We Like
  • Supports hotkeys.

  • Includes collage maker.

  • Start with a blank canvas or your own image.

  • Built-in folder viewer for finding your pictures.

What We Don't Like
  • Can't easily duplicate layers.

  • Maximum font size.

  • No eraser.

This program does a great job at being easy to use while still squeezing in lots of awesome features. It supports layers, so you can juggle multiple images, stickers, and shapes on a single canvas. There's a selection tool, pencil, shapes, blur brush, an auto enhancer, and more.

I love that there are zero ads; most apps can't swing that. Everything you see is free to use. A handful of image formats are supported, and when you're ready to save, you can overwrite the original file or save to JPG, BMP, or PNG.

This program runs on Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.

05
of 11

Darktable

A photo open in the Darktable image editing program
What We Like
  • Great for professionals.

  • Supports automation.

What We Don't Like
  • Isn't easy to use.

This one isn't your typical photo editor. Unlike the competition, Darktable, an open-source "photography workflow application," is tough to use right off the bat, but you'll love all the features if you spend some time with it. This app definitely feels more appropriate for professional photographers than someone who just needs to perform a few edits.

One of its standout qualities is non-destructive editing, which ensures your original images remain intact (i.e., not overwritten) throughout the entire workflow. GPU acceleration speeds up image operations, and its filtering and sorting functions help you locate specific pictures through tags and color labels, which is awesome if you have a massive collection to sift through. I also like that Darktable supports automation and RAW image formats.

This free image editor runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

There's a lot to learn, but that also means there's a lot you can do. I suggest looking through the Darktable user manual to learn about everything from the different view layouts to tethering and scripting.

06
of 11

Krita

Krita Desktop
What We Like
  • Quick access to full-screen mode.

  • Particularly well-suited for comics and manga.

  • Lots of well-designed tools and brushes.

What We Don't Like
  • Cluttered interface.

  • Tool settings not easily accessible.

  • Lacks some features of other programs.

Krita is certainly an advanced image editor, but I don't feel like it's too difficult to work with. Like some of these other programs, you can use layers in addition to many other tools located in a floating toolbox off to the side of the program.

There are plenty of other features available as well, such as brushes and blending modes, advanced selection, and masking tools, drawing aids, filters, symmetry tools, and effects.

One tip I want to mention as you jump into using this program involves the Tab key. Press it to maximize the canvas to fit your entire screen, getting rid of all the menus and tools so that you can have a huge space for working without any distractions.

Krita works with Windows 11, 10, and 8; there's also a portable version. It runs on Linux and macOS 10.12 or higher as well.

07
of 11

Paint.NET

Screenshot of Paint.NET in Windows 10
What We Like
  • Lots of plugins available.

  • Clean, easy-to-use interface.

  • Good choice for intermediate users.

What We Don't Like
  • It's for Windows only.

  • Lacks some advanced and commonly used features, such as burn and dodge.

Similar to GIMP, Paint.NET provides the ability to move its window panes around to customize the interface to your liking. It also provides plugins to support new file formats and add new effects.

I like this program because it supports layers, effects, and a whole host of basic and advanced things like a clone stamp, pencil, text maker, and paintbrush tool.

Several image file formats like BMP, JPEG, TGA, and DDS are supported.

Starting with v4.4, only 64-bit versions of Windows 11 and Windows 10 are supported. There's also a portable version available if you'd rather not install it to your PC.

08
of 11

Artweaver Free

Screenshot of Artweaver free in Windows 10
What We Like
  • Full-featured and easy to use.

  • Supports layers.

  • Good variety of brushes and effects.

What We Don't Like
  • Detailed brush control and higher performance aren't free.

  • No Mac or Linux version.

Artweaver manages to include tons of useful image editing tools in an easy-to-use program. It has a tabbed interface to avoid clutter, supports using pen tablets, and works with some of the most popular image file formats, such as JPEG and PSD.

Standard editing tools like a crop, text, paint bucket, and gradient tool, among others, are included. But Artweaver goes beyond your basic editor and also lets you save and replay events, use brushes, create and work with layers, customize the layout of the palettes, and import images directly from a scanner or camera, among other things.

The screen mode can be changed from regular to fullscreen to have even more room to edit images. I love this ability because sometimes I'm working from a smaller screen, and I need all the space I can get.

The website lists the minimum OS requirements as Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7.

09
of 11

InPixio Photo Editor

inPixio Photo Editor in Windows 10
What We Like
  • Broad format compatibility.

  • User-friendly interface.

What We Don't Like
  • Desktop app is for Windows only.

  • Slow installation.

This free photo editor from InPixio is designed for simplicity, but that doesn't mean it's void of helpful features. The program itself is easy to understand and navigate, and you can do everything from add frames and designs to crop, change the brightness, and more.

I like the one-click presets and frames, and easy-to-access editing tools that let me finish editing in no time and share my photos directly to social media.

Lots of image file types can be opened in this program, and if saving to your computer, you can pick from JPG, PNG, and TIFF. 

Some features are only available in the premium version; those are marked off in the program with a large "Premium" banner.

InPixio Photo Editor runs on Windows computers. If you need help using this photo editor, you can refer to their online tutorials.

10
of 11

Pixia

Pixia image editor in Windows 10
What We Like
  • Compatibile with common file formats.

  • Open files directly from clipboard, camera, and scanner.

  • Rich enough in features to satisfy advanced artists.

What We Don't Like
  • Interface is outdated.

  • Windows only.

I don't like Pixia's outdated and unappealing interface, but I have to say, the functions and tools aren't at all undesirable for a free photo editor.

Layers and layer masks are supported, as well as creating shapes, selecting objects, and common photo editing tasks like changing the color adjustment and tone balance, color filling, and selecting from different paint brushes.

All the standard image file formats can be opened with Pixia, and photos can even be imported directly from the clipboard, a camera, or a scanner.

The latest 64-bit version was built for Windows 11, 10, and 8. There's a 32-bit version that works on Windows 7.

11
of 11

PhotoScape

Screenshot of PhotoScape X in Windows 10
What We Like
  • Easy to use.

  • Compatible with both Windows and macOS.

What We Don't Like
  • Lacks functionality typical of other programs.

  • Can be slow.

  • Only PhotoScape X still gets updated.

  • Another program attempts to install during setup.

PhotoScape has several sections at the top of the program where you can open different tools to perform different actions. Viewer, Editor, Combine, and Create GIF are a few.

The editing feature has dozens of frames to choose from, each with the option to round the corners and adjust the margin and frame line settings of the frame.

You can also add objects and text and crop an image freely or use one of numerous presets (e.g., 16:9, Legal Ratio, and US business card ratio).

Some more tools include a red-eye remover, spot remover, paintbrush, and, among others, an effect brush (like grayscale, blur, darken, and brighten). There's also a clone stamp tool, something I've always loved about Photoshop, that's totally free in this program.

PhotoScape is available for Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP, while PhotoScape X is for Windows 11/10 and macOS.

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