Choosing the right photo editing app can make a big difference to your pictures. Some apps are excellent for basic adjustments, while others offer professional colour controls, AI editing, background removal, and creative filters.
But not every photo editor is right for everyone. A beginner may want an easy app with free tools, while a photographer may need RAW support and more control over image details. Online sellers may need a different type of editor for product photos.
In this guide, we compare 10 of the best photo editing apps for iPhone and Android. You’ll find their main features, advantages, limitations, public user ratings, and our recommendations to help you choose the right one.
Best Photo Editing Apps at a Glance
| App | Best For | Webseotrends Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Snapseed | Free photo editing | 4.9/5 |
| Adobe Lightroom | Advanced photo editing | 4.8/5 |
| Adobe Photoshop Express | Quick edits and retouching | 4.5/5 |
| Picsart | Creative edits and AI effects | 4.5/5 |
| VSCO | Filters and film-style photos | 4.3/5 |
| Google Photos | Everyday editing and photo organisation | 4.5/5 |
| Apple Photos | Built-in iPhone editing | 4.4/5 |
| Luminar Mobile | AI-powered photo enhancement | 4.4/5 |
| PhotoRoom | Product photos and background removal | 4.7/5 |
| Remini | Portrait and old-photo enhancement | 4.1/5 |
Our ratings are editorial scores, not app-store ratings. Public ratings are shown separately in each review and may vary by country and platform.
1. Snapseed – Best Free Photo Editing App Overall
Webseotrends rating: 4.9/5
Snapseed is one of the strongest choices if you want a powerful photo editor without paying for a subscription. Developed by Google, it offers a wide range of editing tools, including selective adjustments, healing, curves, perspective correction, and RAW photo editing.
Its 2026 updates have also made the app more interesting. The newer editing experience includes refreshed tools, film-inspired effects, masking features, and batch editing options.
You can use Snapseed for everyday pictures, travel photography, portraits, landscapes, and more detailed adjustments.
Main features
- More than 30 editing tools and filters.
- Selective adjustments and masking.
- RAW photo support for compatible files.
- Healing and perspective correction.
- Curves, colour, brightness, and contrast controls.
- Film-inspired effects and custom Looks.
- Batch editing features.
Advantages
- Free to use without a paid subscription.
- Offers advanced editing controls.
- Suitable for beginners and experienced users.
- No need to pay to access its main editing features.
Limitations
- Does not offer the same cloud-based workflow as Lightroom.
- Some advanced tools may take time to understand.
- Not designed for extensive graphic design or product catalogue work.
Public user rating: Apple App Store 4.7/5, based on approximately 10,000 ratings.
Our advice: Start with Snapseed if you want a genuinely useful free photo editor. It is particularly suitable for people who want to improve their photos manually instead of relying on automatic AI effects. You probably do not need a paid editing app if Snapseed already covers your requirements.
Download Snapseed for Android | Download for iPhone
2. Adobe Lightroom – Best for Advanced Photo Editing
Webseotrends rating: 4.8/5
Adobe Lightroom is a strong choice for photographers who want more control over how their images look. It combines basic editing features with advanced colour adjustments, presets, RAW editing, masking, and AI-assisted tools.
Unlike simple filter apps, Lightroom gives you greater control over exposure, highlights, shadows, white balance, colour grading, and image details.
It is useful for photographers, content creators, travel bloggers, and people who want a consistent editing style across multiple pictures.
Main features
- Exposure, contrast, and colour adjustments.
- RAW photo editing.
- Presets and custom editing styles.
- Selective adjustments and masking.
- AI-powered editing tools.
- Photo organisation and cloud synchronisation with eligible plans.
Advantages
- Powerful editing controls.
- Suitable for professional and enthusiast photographers.
- Good for maintaining a consistent photo style.
- Offers useful editing features without immediately requiring a subscription.
Limitations
- Some advanced features require a paid plan.
- New users may find the interface complicated.
- Subscription costs can become expensive over time.
Public user ratings: G2 4.6/5 for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, based on approximately 3,252 reviews. Apple App Store 4.7/5, based on approximately 123,000 ratings. Google Play 4.3/5, based on approximately 3.58 million reviews.
Our advice: Choose Lightroom if you regularly edit photographs and want more control than basic filters can provide. It is especially useful for photographers who work with RAW files or need a consistent visual style. Try the free features first and upgrade only if you need its premium tools.
3. Adobe Photoshop Express – Best for Quick Photo Editing
Webseotrends rating: 4.5/5
Adobe Photoshop Express is designed for people who want to improve pictures quickly without learning a complicated editing workflow.
It offers one-touch adjustments, filters, retouching tools, collage creation, and other features for everyday photo editing. It is a practical option for social media users who want to prepare images before sharing them.
Photoshop Express is different from the full desktop version of Adobe Photoshop. It focuses on convenient mobile editing rather than advanced layer-based image manipulation.
Main features
- One-touch photo adjustments.
- Filters and effects.
- Portrait retouching.
- Collage creation.
- Cropping and image corrections.
- AI-assisted editing features.
Advantages
- Easy for beginners to understand.
- Good for quick edits.
- Includes useful retouching and collage tools.
- Familiar Adobe editing experience.
Limitations
- Some features require a premium subscription.
- Not a replacement for full Photoshop.
- Advanced photographers may find its controls limited.
Public user ratings: G2 4.5/5, based on approximately 507 reviews. Apple App Store 4.6/5, based on approximately 61,000 ratings.
Our advice: Photoshop Express is a good choice if you mainly edit selfies, social media pictures, and everyday photos. If you need detailed colour grading and RAW editing, Lightroom is a better option. If you want complex layers and professional image manipulation, consider desktop Photoshop instead.
Explore Adobe Photoshop Express
4. Picsart – Best for Creative Photo Editing and AI Effects
Webseotrends rating: 4.5/5
Picsart is more than a basic photo editor. It combines photo editing, filters, collages, stickers, templates, background removal, and AI-powered creative tools.
It is particularly useful for social media creators, small businesses, and people who want to create eye-catching visuals without using several separate applications.
You can use Picsart to edit a photograph, add text, create a collage, remove a background, or make a creative design.
Main features
- Photo filters and effects.
- Background removal.
- AI-powered editing and image tools.
- Collage maker.
- Stickers, fonts, and templates.
- Photo retouching.
- Creative design tools.
Advantages
- Large collection of creative tools.
- Useful for social media content.
- Combines editing and design features.
- Suitable for people who enjoy experimenting with images.
Limitations
- Some useful tools and content require a subscription.
- The number of features can feel overwhelming.
- Not as focused on traditional photography workflows as Lightroom.
Public user ratings: G2 4.5/5, based on approximately 799 reviews. Apple App Store 4.6/5, based on approximately 252,000 ratings. An independent Google Play data listing reported approximately 3.91/5.
Our advice: Choose Picsart if you want to do more than adjust brightness and colours. It is a good option for social media posts, creative images, collages, and promotional graphics. However, check which features are included in the free plan before building your regular workflow around them.
5. VSCO – Best for Filters and Film-Style Photos
Webseotrends rating: 4.3/5
VSCO is popular among people who enjoy a consistent visual style, especially film-inspired photography. Its presets help users create a particular look without manually adjusting every image.
The app also includes editing controls for contrast, saturation, crop, perspective, grain, and other adjustments. It supports RAW photo editing on compatible devices.
VSCO is especially useful for travel photography, lifestyle pictures, portraits, and social media content.
Main features
- Film-inspired presets.
- Colour and exposure adjustments.
- Grain and fade effects.
- RAW photo support.
- Custom editing recipes.
- Photo and video editing features.
- Creative community features.
Advantages
- Attractive film-style presets.
- Useful for building a consistent visual style.
- Simple editing experience.
- Good for creative photographers.
Limitations
- Many presets and advanced features require membership.
- Some users may find the free version restrictive.
- Not the best choice for detailed professional retouching.
Public user ratings: Apple App Store 4.6/5, based on approximately 8,700 ratings. Google Play 3.6/5, based on approximately 1.33 million reviews.
Our advice: Choose VSCO if you care more about the overall mood and appearance of your photographs than complex editing controls. Before subscribing, try the available free presets to see whether its style matches your needs.
6. Google Photos – Best for Everyday Editing and Photo Organisation
Webseotrends rating: 4.5/5
Google Photos is useful for people who want to store, organise, search, and make quick changes to their pictures in one place.
Its editing features include basic adjustments, filters, cropping, and selected AI-powered tools. Available features can depend on your device, country, account, and eligibility.
One of its biggest advantages is that it combines photo management with editing. You can find old pictures, organise memories, and make simple improvements without opening a separate editing application.
Main features
- Photo and video backup.
- Basic photo editing.
- Filters and image adjustments.
- AI-assisted editing tools on supported devices.
- Photo organisation and search.
- Sharing and album creation.
Advantages
- Convenient for everyday users.
- Combines photo storage and editing.
- Useful search and organisation features.
- Available across different devices.
Limitations
- Advanced editing controls are limited compared with Lightroom.
- Cloud storage is shared with other Google services.
- Some AI tools have device or regional restrictions.
Public user rating: Apple App Store 4.7/5, based on approximately 269,000 ratings.
Our advice: Google Photos is a good everyday option if you want to manage and lightly edit your pictures in the same place. However, do not choose it as your main professional editor if you need detailed colour grading, advanced masking, or a specialised photography workflow.
7. Apple Photos – Best Built-In Photo Editor for iPhone
Webseotrends rating: 4.4/5
Apple Photos is the built-in photo library and editing application on iPhone. You do not need to install another app to make basic changes to your pictures.
It offers tools for cropping, adjusting exposure, brightness, contrast, colour, and applying filters. Some newer editing capabilities depend on the iPhone model and iOS version.
Its biggest advantage is convenience. You can take a picture, open it in Photos, make adjustments, and save the result without moving between different applications.
Main features
- Built-in photo editing.
- Cropping and straightening.
- Exposure and colour adjustments.
- Filters.
- Photo organisation and search.
- Additional editing features on supported Apple devices.
Advantages
- Already included with supported Apple devices.
- Easy for beginners.
- Convenient integration with the iPhone photo library.
- Good for everyday photo corrections.
Limitations
- Fewer advanced editing tools than Lightroom.
- Some features are limited to newer devices.
- Not designed for complex graphic design.
Public user rating: G2 lists Apple’s Photos product at approximately 4.5/5, based on 814 reviews. This is a software listing and should not be interpreted as a direct iPhone App Store rating.
Our advice: If you use an iPhone and only need basic photo improvements, start with Apple Photos. You may not need another application at all. Install Lightroom or Snapseed when you want more control over your images.
Learn about editing photos on iPhone
8. Luminar Mobile – Best for AI-Powered Photo Enhancement
Webseotrends rating: 4.4/5
Luminar Mobile is designed for people who want to improve photographs using a combination of traditional editing controls and AI-assisted tools.
Its features include AI-based image enhancement, sky replacement, portrait adjustments, background blur, object removal, and colour controls. The exact tools available depend on the device and subscription.
It can be useful for landscape photographers, portrait creators, and people who want to make noticeable changes without manually adjusting every setting.
Main features
- AI image enhancement.
- Sky replacement.
- Portrait and skin adjustments.
- Background blur.
- Object removal.
- Colour and tone controls.
- RAW photo support on supported devices.
Advantages
- Useful AI-assisted editing tools.
- Good for creative photo enhancement.
- Combines automatic and manual controls.
- Suitable for landscape and portrait editing.
Limitations
- Many features require a paid plan.
- Some AI edits can make photographs look artificial.
- Not every feature is available on every device.
- AI results may need manual correction.
Public user rating: Apple App Store 4.8/5, based on approximately 664 ratings.
Our advice: Choose Luminar Mobile if you want AI to help improve photographs, especially landscapes and portraits. It is not essential for basic editing, so compare its subscription cost with the features you actually intend to use.
9. PhotoRoom – Best for Product Photos and Background Removal
Webseotrends rating: 4.7/5
PhotoRoom is particularly useful for online sellers, e-commerce businesses, and people who regularly create product images.
Its main strength is background removal. You can upload a product photograph, remove its original background, and create a cleaner image for an online store or advertisement.
It also offers batch editing, background replacement, product templates, and AI-generated lifestyle images.
Main features
- Automatic background removal.
- Background replacement.
- Product photo editing.
- AI-generated backgrounds.
- Batch editing.
- Product image templates.
- E-commerce image creation.
Advantages
- Saves time when preparing product photographs.
- Useful for online shops and marketplaces.
- Simple background removal workflow.
- Suitable for creating consistent product images.
Limitations
- Some exports and advanced tools may require a paid plan.
- AI-generated backgrounds can sometimes look unrealistic.
- Not designed as a complete professional photography editor.
Public user ratings: Apple App Store 4.7/5, based on approximately 36,000 ratings. Google Play’s India listing reported approximately 4.0/5, with around 3.94 million reviews.
Our advice: PhotoRoom is worth considering if you sell products online and need clean, consistent product photographs. It is more specialised than Snapseed or Lightroom, so casual users may not need it. Always check the final image carefully to ensure AI changes have not altered the actual product.
10. Remini – Best for Enhancing Some Blurry or Low-Detail Portraits
Webseotrends rating: 4.1/5
Remini is an AI-powered photo enhancement app that focuses on improving portraits and older photographs.
It can help make some blurry, pixelated, or low-resolution images appear sharper. This can be useful when restoring old family pictures or improving a portrait before sharing it.
However, AI enhancement is not the same as recovering original photographic detail. The app may generate details that were not clearly present in the original photograph.
Main features
- AI photo enhancement.
- Portrait sharpening.
- Old-photo restoration.
- Face enhancement.
- AI-generated portrait features.
- Image quality improvement.
Advantages
- Easy one-tap enhancement.
- Useful for some old and blurry photographs.
- Focuses on portrait improvement.
- Suitable for people who do not want manual editing.
Limitations
- Results can look artificial.
- Free usage may be restricted.
- Subscription and advertising requirements can be frustrating.
- AI-generated details may not be historically accurate.
Public user ratings: Apple App Store 4.6/5, based on approximately 508,000 ratings. Google Play 4.1/5, based on approximately 5.87 million reviews.
Our advice: Use Remini when you want to improve an old or blurry portrait, but always compare the result with the original. Avoid treating an AI-enhanced face as an accurate restoration of someone’s original appearance. For normal photo editing, Snapseed or Lightroom is a more versatile choice.
Best Free Photo Editing Apps
If you do not want to pay for a subscription, you still have several useful options. The best choice depends on how much editing control you need.
| App | What You Can Use It For | Free Option |
|---|---|---|
| Snapseed | Detailed photo adjustments | Yes, core tools are free |
| Lightroom | Basic and selected advanced editing | Yes, with premium features |
| Photoshop Express | Quick edits and retouching | Yes, with paid features |
| Picsart | Filters, effects, and creative edits | Yes, with paid features |
| VSCO | Basic presets and adjustments | Yes, with limited tools |
| Google Photos | Everyday editing and organisation | Yes, with storage and feature limits |
| Apple Photos | Basic iPhone photo editing | Yes, built in |
Our recommendation: Snapseed is the strongest starting point if you want free editing tools without committing to a subscription. Lightroom is worth considering if you need more advanced photography controls.
How to Choose the Right Photo Editing App
The best photo editing app depends on what you want to achieve. Instead of installing several applications, identify the type of editing you do most often.
For Beginners
Choose an app with a simple interface and easy adjustments. Google Photos, Apple Photos, Snapseed, and Photoshop Express are good starting points.
For Professional Photography
Look for RAW support, selective adjustments, colour grading, presets, and non-destructive editing. Lightroom is a strong option for this type of workflow.
For Social Media Content
If you regularly create Instagram posts, stories, and creative images, Picsart and VSCO are worth considering.
For Product Photography
Choose an editor that can remove backgrounds, create consistent product images, and process multiple pictures. PhotoRoom is particularly useful for this purpose.
For AI Photo Enhancement
Luminar Mobile and Remini offer AI-assisted enhancement, but they serve different purposes. Luminar provides broader editing features, while Remini focuses heavily on portrait enhancement and restoration.
Basic Photo Editing Tips for Better Results
A good editing application cannot automatically make every photograph look professional. The way you edit also matters.
- Start with cropping: Remove unnecessary areas and improve the composition.
- Adjust brightness: Make sure the subject is clearly visible without making the image too bright.
- Improve contrast: Use moderate contrast to give the image more depth.
- Correct colours: Adjust white balance and saturation to keep colours natural.
- Avoid excessive filters: Too many effects can make a photograph look unrealistic.
- Check image quality: Avoid exporting at unnecessarily low resolution.
- Keep the original: Save a copy before making major changes.
If you publish photographs on a website, also pay attention to image dimensions, file size, descriptive filenames, and alt text. Our guide to SEO for photographers explains how to optimise photography websites for search engines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best photo editing app overall?
Snapseed is our top choice for most people because it offers a wide range of useful editing tools without requiring a paid subscription. Lightroom is a better option for people who need more advanced photography controls.
Which photo editing app is completely free?
Snapseed is one of the strongest free choices. Its main editing tools are available without a paid subscription. Other applications, such as Lightroom, Picsart, and VSCO, offer free versions but reserve some features for paying users.
Which photo editing app is best for Android?
Snapseed and Lightroom are strong options for Android users. Snapseed is better if you want free editing tools, while Lightroom offers a more advanced photography workflow.
Which photo editing app is best for iPhone?
Apple Photos is convenient for basic edits, while Snapseed and Lightroom provide more editing options. The right choice depends on whether you need simple corrections or advanced controls.
Which app is best for removing photo backgrounds?
PhotoRoom is one of the strongest choices for background removal, especially for product photographs and e-commerce images.
Which app is best for blurry photos?
Remini can improve some blurry portraits and older images using AI enhancement. However, it may generate details that were not present in the original photograph.
Is Lightroom better than Snapseed?
Lightroom is better for advanced editing, RAW photography, and a more complete photography workflow. Snapseed is better for people who want a powerful free editor with a simpler approach.
Are paid photo editing apps worth it?
Paid apps can be worth the cost if you regularly use advanced features, premium presets, AI tools, or professional workflows. If you only need cropping, brightness adjustments, filters, and basic corrections, a free app may be enough.
Final Verdict: Which Photo Editing App Should You Choose?
There is no single photo editing application that is perfect for everyone. The right choice depends on the photographs you edit and the features you actually need.
Here is our final recommendation:
- Best free option: Snapseed
- Best for advanced photography: Adobe Lightroom
- Best for quick editing: Photoshop Express
- Best for creative effects: Picsart
- Best for film-style filters: VSCO
- Best for everyday photo management: Google Photos
- Best built-in iPhone option: Apple Photos
- Best AI editing experience: Luminar Mobile
- Best for product photography: PhotoRoom
- Best for portrait enhancement: Remini
If you are unsure where to start, try Snapseed first. It gives you a strong set of editing tools without requiring a subscription. If you later need more advanced controls, Lightroom is a sensible next step.
The best app is not necessarily the one with the most features or the highest public rating. It is the one that helps you create the photographs you want without making your editing process unnecessarily complicated.
