10 Best Photo Editing Software of 2026

This list is for photographers comparing what photo editing software costs over a year or more, from free open source raw editors to Adobe subscriptions and one-time licenses. We compared documented features and published prices for 10 editors and ranked them by value first, then features, then ease of use. Value weighs the free option, the cheapest paid plan, and whether you own a license or rent the software. Prices are in USD as shown on each vendor's page or US App Store listing on the check date. Capture One and DxO showed only euro prices to our checker, so their USD prices are marked pending.

1. 01Top value

   

   Affinity

   8.8/10

   Canva's free all-in-one app for photo editing, vector design and page layout in a single .af file.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free for individuals; AI tools need a Canva premium plan

   “Affinity is free for individuals (seriously).” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.9

   Features (35%)

   8.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.8

   Best forphotographers who want a free layer editor

   Affinity takes first place on a cost-weighted list because it removes the price entirely for individual photographers. Canva's Affinity site says the app is free for individuals, and the same app covers photo editing, vector design and page layout, so a photographer who also makes print pieces or social graphics does not need a second paid tool. PSD files open with layers and structure preserved, which matters if you are leaving Photoshop with years of layered retouches. Edits are non-destructive and the undo history is saved with the file. The trade-off for photographers is workflow: the site presents a pixel and layer editor, not a raw catalog with ratings, collections and sync, so most people pair it with darktable, Lightroom or another library tool. AI tools inside Affinity also need a Canva premium plan. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not install the app.

   • ✓No subscription and no price for individual users
   • ✓Imports Photoshop PSD files, so an existing archive stays editable
   • ✓DxO PhotoLab 10.3 added an Affinity integration for raw round trips

   • ✕AI tools require a paid Canva premium plan
   • ✕Its site does not present a photo catalog or library module like Lightroom's
   • ✕Files save in the .af format, so Photoshop users may still ask for PSD exports

   Price:

   Free for individuals

   License:

   Free download, no subscription

   Imports:

   PSD, AI, IDML, DWG

   AI tools:

   With a Canva premium plan

   Bottom line: Affinity is the best photo editing software for photographers on a budget because it is free for individuals and opens layered PSD files. Pair it with a raw catalog such as darktable if you shoot raw in volume.

   Visit affinity.studio ↗

2. 02

   

   Pixelmator Pro

   8.7/10

   Apple's image editor for Mac and iPad with raw support, AI tools and a one-time purchase option.

   Price

   $49.99one-time

   $49.99 one-time purchase for Mac; also in Apple Creator Studio at $12.99 a month or $129 a year

   “Pixelmator Pro for Mac is also available as a one-time purchase for $49.99.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   9.0

   Features (35%)

   8.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.8

   Best forMac photographers who want to buy once

   Pixelmator Pro is the cheapest paid editor on this list and ranks second on value. Apple's product page says the Mac version is available as a one-time purchase for $49.99, while new Apple Creator Studio subscribers pay $12.99 a month or $129 a year for the suite that also includes Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. The App Store listing claims raw support for over 750 popular cameras, including compressed Fujifilm raw files, and raw photos can be added as layers and edited without converting. Machine learning tools cover Super Resolution, background removal, white balance correction and noise and artifact removal, and the Repair tool removes whole objects. Select and Mask handles hair and fur edges. The limits are platform and workflow: it is Mac and iPad only, and it is a layer editor rather than a catalog, so a photographer with tens of thousands of raw files still needs a library tool.

   • ✓$49.99 one-time price for the Mac app
   • ✓Raw photos can be added as layers without converting first
   • ✓Over 40 presets plus color adjustment layers

   • ✕Mac and iPad only, with no Windows version
   • ✕The iPad version comes through Apple Creator Studio, a $12.99 monthly subscription
   • ✕No dedicated photo catalog with ratings and collections

   Price:

   $49.99 one-time (Mac)

   Subscription option:

   Apple Creator Studio, $12.99/month or $129/year

   Raw cameras:

   Over 750

   Platforms:

   Mac, iPad

   Bottom line: Pixelmator Pro is the best one-time purchase for Mac photographers because $49.99 buys raw editing for over 750 cameras plus AI repair tools. Windows users should look at ON1 Photo RAW instead.

   Visit pixelmator.com ↗

3. 03

   

   Adobe Lightroom

   8.5/10

   Adobe's AI-assisted photo editor and organizer that syncs full-resolution edits across desktop, mobile and web.

   Price

   $11.99per month

   $11.99 per month or $118.99 per year in the US Mac App Store, 7-day free trial

   “Lightroom Monthly Subscription $11.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Free trial

   7 days

   Value (40%)

   7.4

   Features (35%)

   9.3

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.0

   Best forphotographers who edit on several devices

   Lightroom is the most complete organize-and-edit package here, which keeps it in third place despite being subscription only. The US Mac App Store lists the Lightroom plan at $11.99 a month or $118.99 a year after a 7-day free trial. Adobe's listing describes AI Denoise, Super Resolution, one-click subject selection and an AI Remove tool, plus masking, adaptive presets and color grading by hue, saturation and luminance. The main reason to pay is sync: edits on one device apply automatically on mobile, web and desktop, and AI search finds photos without tagging. Video clips accept the same presets and edits. Costs grow with use, since generative credit packs are sold separately from $4.99 a month for 500 credits. Adobe's own plan pages did not load for our checker, so desktop bundle prices on adobe.com are not quoted here.

   • ✓Full-resolution library synced across desktop, mobile and web
   • ✓Yearly plan of $118.99 in the Mac App Store is cheaper than 12 monthly payments
   • ✓Choice of local or cloud storage for images

   • ✕Subscription only; the Mac app needs a qualifying Lightroom plan after the trial
   • ✕Generative credits are extra, from $4.99 a month for 500 credits
   • ✕Adobe.com plan pages did not load for our checker, so only App Store prices are verified

   Monthly (Mac App Store):

   $11.99

   Yearly (Mac App Store):

   $118.99

   Free trial:

   7 days

   Credit add-ons:

   From $4.99/month for 500 credits

   Bottom line: Adobe Lightroom is the best choice for photographers who edit on a phone, tablet and computer because full-resolution edits sync across all three for $11.99 a month. If you edit on one machine, a one-time license costs less over time.

   Visit adobe.com ↗

4. 04

   

   ON1 Photo RAW

   8.4/10

   All-in-one raw editor and organizer for Mac and Windows, sold as a one-time license or subscription.

   Price

   $99.99one-time

   Photo RAW 2027 one-time purchase $99.99; Photo RAW MAX subscription $79.99 per year

   “$99.99 $99.99 Buy Now Includes Complete all-in-one editor for Mac or Windows.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.6

   Features (35%)

   8.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.6

   Best forphotographers replacing Lightroom and Photoshop with one owned app

   ON1 Photo RAW 2027 is the strongest paid option for photographers who want to own their software on both Mac and Windows. ON1's product page lists the one-time license at $99.99, installable on 2 computers with free updates for version 2027, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The app combines raw processing, layers, masks, effects and a file browser that works on folders where they already live, which covers what many people use Lightroom and Photoshop for together. The bundled AI tools include NoNoise AI, Resize AI, Generative Erase, Sky Swap AI and Super Select AI. Photo RAW MAX, at $149.99 one-time or $79.99 a year on subscription, adds Restore AI, the AI Culling Assistant, cloud Gen AI rendering and plugins for Photoshop and Lightroom. The catch is that next year's version is a paid upgrade for license holders, so the low price assumes you skip some releases.

   • ✓Own version 2027 outright with free 2027 updates
   • ✓Install on 2 computers, or 3 with Photo RAW MAX
   • ✓30-day money-back guarantee

   • ✕Restore AI and the AI Culling Assistant need MAX at $149.99 one-time
   • ✕Cloud Gen AI rendering is limited to MAX
   • ✕Major new versions are a paid upgrade unless you subscribe

   One-time license:

   $99.99 (Photo RAW 2027)

   MAX license:

   $149.99 one-time

   MAX subscription:

   $79.99/year

   Platforms:

   Mac, Windows

   Bottom line: ON1 Photo RAW is the best one-time purchase for Windows and Mac photographers because $99.99 buys raw processing, layers and a photo organizer in one app. Lightroom remains better if you need mobile sync.

   Visit on1.com ↗

5. 05

   

   darktable

   8.3/10

   Free, open source raw processor and photo library made by photographers.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free, open source under GPL 3.0

   “darktable is an open source digital lighttable and darkroom.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.8

   Features (35%)

   8.3

   Ease of use (25%)

   6.0

   Best forraw shooters who want a free Lightroom alternative

   darktable is the free answer to Lightroom's raw catalog. The project describes itself as an open source digital lighttable and darkroom, which means a photo library and a raw developer in one program, released under GPL 3.0. Editing is stack-based and scene-referred, and the pipeline is non-destructive, so original files are never modified. Professional color management carries color through to print, and GPU acceleration speeds up processing on a capable video card. Its developers are photographers themselves, and help comes from a forum, a Flickr group and a Matrix room rather than a paid support desk. The trade-off is learning time: the scene-referred approach and module stack feel different from Lightroom's sliders, and there is no cloud sync or official phone app. For retouching with layers, most users pair it with GIMP, which is also free.

   • ✓No price, account or subscription
   • ✓Released under GPL 3.0 with an active community forum
   • ✓Combines a raw editor and photo library like Lightroom

   • ✕Scene-referred workflow takes time to learn for Lightroom users
   • ✕No cloud sync or official mobile app
   • ✕Layer-based retouching needs a second app such as GIMP

   Price:

   Free

   License:

   GPL 3.0

   Editing model:

   Non-destructive, scene-referred

   Acceleration:

   GPU

   Bottom line: darktable is the best free raw editor for photographers because it combines a photo library and non-destructive raw processing at no cost. Expect a steeper learning curve than Lightroom.

   Visit darktable.org ↗

6. 06

   

   Luminar

   8.2/10

   Skylum's AI-heavy raw photo editor with generative, scenery and portrait tools.

   Price

   $8.99per month (Mac App Store)

   Mac App Store subscription from $8.99 a month; lifetime licenses listed from $139.99

   “Luminar Monthly Subscription $8.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.0

   Features (35%)

   8.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.6

   Best forhobbyists who want fast AI edits

   Luminar is the pick for photographers who want AI to do most of the work. The US Mac App Store listing describes generative tools (GenErase, GenExpand and GenSwap), scenery tools such as Sky AI, Atmosphere AI and Water Enhancer AI, and portrait tools such as Skin AI, Face AI and Bokeh AI. It reads raw files from over 1,000 camera types, merges up to 1,000 bracketed images in batch HDR, stitches panoramas, stacks focus and upscales up to 6X. Layers, overlays and presets support repeatable edits. Pricing is where it loses points: the Mac App Store lists a Luminar monthly subscription at $8.99, a Pro subscription at $12.99 a month or $99.99 a year, and several lifetime options from $139.99, which makes comparison harder than ON1's single license price. Skylum's own pricing page showed zloty to our checker, so these are App Store prices.

   • ✓Monthly, annual and lifetime purchase options in the Mac App Store
   • ✓Many one-slider AI fixes, such as Enhance AI, for quick results
   • ✓Panorama stitching and focus stacking included

   • ✕Several overlapping purchase options make the real price hard to compare
   • ✕Skylum's own pricing page showed only zloty prices to our checker
   • ✕Generative tools are aimed at changing images rather than faithful correction

   Cheapest listed plan:

   $8.99/month (Mac App Store)

   Lifetime license:

   From $139.99 (Mac App Store)

   Raw cameras:

   Over 1,000 camera types

   HDR Merge:

   Up to 1,000 images

   Bottom line: Luminar is the best choice for hobbyists who want one-slider AI edits because it bundles sky replacement, generative erase and portrait retouching. Photographers who want faithful raw correction should compare DxO PhotoLab.

   Visit skylum.com ↗

7. 07

   

   DxO PhotoLab

   8.1/10

   Raw editor for Windows and macOS built around DxO's lab-measured camera and lens corrections.

   Price

   Check price

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.6

   Features (35%)

   9.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.6

   Best forimage-quality purists who prefer a perpetual license

   DxO PhotoLab 10 is the raw editor for photographers who care most about clean files and corrected optics. DxO's product page lists DeepPRIME and DeepPRIME XD for noise reduction and demosaicing, DxO Modules camera and lens profiles built from real-world lab measurements, and Lens Sharpness Optimization tailored to each camera and lens combination. Distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting and perspective are corrected automatically. Local work uses AI Masks and DxO's U Point technology, and version 10.3 adds an Affinity integration, which pairs well with the free editor ranked first here. It runs on Windows and macOS and is sold as a perpetual license, so there is no required subscription. We could not verify the USD price because DxO's store showed a different region to our checker, which lowers its value score until the price is confirmed. It also lists no generative or sky replacement tools.

   • ✓Sold as a perpetual license for Windows and macOS
   • ✓Automatic correction of distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting and perspective
   • ✓Free trial available

   • ✕USD price could not be verified from our location
   • ✕No generative fill or sky replacement tools listed
   • ✕No mobile app listed on the product page

   Current version:

   DxO PhotoLab 10.3

   License:

   Perpetual

   Platforms:

   Windows, macOS

   Noise reduction:

   DeepPRIME, DeepPRIME XD

   Bottom line: DxO PhotoLab is the best choice for photographers who prioritize image quality because its lens corrections come from lab-measured DxO Modules. Check the current USD license price on dxo.com before buying.

   Visit dxo.com ↗

8. 08

   

   GIMP

   7.8/10

   Free and open source cross-platform image editor for retouching, restoration and composites.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free, open source

   “It is free software, you can change its source code and distribute your changes.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.6

   Features (35%)

   7.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   6.0

   Best forfree layer-based retouching on any OS

   GIMP is the long-standing free Photoshop alternative and still the default $0 choice for pixel-level retouching. The GIMP site describes a cross-platform editor for GNU/Linux, macOS and Windows, released as free software whose source you can change and redistribute. It covers retouching, restoring and creative composites, and offers color management for consistent output across screen and print. Advanced users can script it in C, C++, Python and Scheme, and community plugins extend it further. The project is active: GIMP 3.2.8 was released on 2026-11-02. For photographers, its gaps are workflow and automation. It has no photo catalog, so raw files are better developed in darktable first, and its site lists no generative fill or AI removal tools of the kind Photoshop, Luminar and ON1 now include. Expect a learning curve if your habits come from Photoshop.

   • ✓Free with source code you can change and share
   • ✓Current release, GIMP 3.2.8, came out on 2026-11-02
   • ✓Pairs with darktable for a full $0 raw and retouch workflow

   • ✕No built-in photo catalog or raw library
   • ✕No built-in AI fill or remove tools listed on its site
   • ✕Menus and terms differ from Photoshop, which slows switchers

   Price:

   Free

   Latest release:

   3.2.8 (2026-11-02)

   Platforms:

   GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows

   Scripting:

   C, C++, Python, Scheme

   Bottom line: GIMP is the best free retouching tool for photographers on any operating system because it is open source and handles restoration and composites at no cost. Use it alongside darktable for raw files.

   Visit gimp.org ↗

9. 09

   

   Adobe Photoshop

   7.7/10

   Adobe's image editor for compositing, retouching and generative fill, on desktop, web and mobile.

   Price

   $7.99per month (mobile and web plan)

   Photoshop Mobile & Web from $7.99 per month or $69.99 per year in the US App Store; desktop plans not checked in USD

   “Photoshop Mobile & Web Monthly $7.99” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   6.4

   Features (35%)

   9.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.0

   Best forretouchers and compositors who need the deepest toolset

   Photoshop has the deepest compositing and retouching toolset on this list, but it ranks last on a value-weighted score because it is rented and usually bought alongside Lightroom. The US App Store lists Photoshop Mobile & Web at $7.99 a month or $69.99 a year, and the mobile app includes a set of free editing tools. Adobe's listing describes Generative Fill for adding, removing and replacing objects and backgrounds, an AI Assistant that carries out edits described in plain text, Tap Select for quick selections and the Spot Healing Brush for blemishes. Adobe Stock images, textures and patterns are available inside the app. What we could not verify is the desktop price: Adobe's plan pages did not load for our checker, so the full desktop Photoshop subscription is not quoted here. For photographers, Photoshop is a finishing tool rather than a library, so the real cost is usually Photoshop plus a raw editor.

   • ✓Photoshop Mobile & Web costs $69.99 a year in the US App Store
   • ✓Free photo editing tools in the mobile app
   • ✓PSD is the format most retouchers and clients exchange

   • ✕Desktop Photoshop plans on adobe.com did not load for our checker
   • ✕No raw catalog, so most photographers also pay for Lightroom
   • ✕Subscription only, with no one-time license

   Mobile & Web monthly:

   $7.99

   Mobile & Web yearly:

   $69.99

   Free tier:

   Yes, on mobile

   License:

   Subscription only

   Bottom line: Adobe Photoshop is the best choice for heavy retouching and compositing because Generative Fill and the Spot Healing Brush cover most object and blemish removal. Photographers who only adjust raw files rarely need it.

   Visit adobe.com ↗

10. 10

    

    Capture One

    7.7/10

    Professional raw editor known for tethered shooting and color, sold by subscription or perpetual license.

    Price

    Check price

    See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

    US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

    Free plan

    No

    Value (40%)

    6.6

    Features (35%)

    9.4

    Ease of use (25%)

    7.2

    Best forstudio and tethered professional photographers

    Capture One is the professional's raw editor, especially in studios that shoot tethered. Its pricing page lists Pro, All in One and Studio subscriptions, a Mobile plan for iPad and iPhone, and a one-time Pro license for photographers who do not depend on the newest updates or hardware support. Every tier highlights its color profiles, raw conversion, tethering and support for 550+ cameras. All in One adds the iOS app, online collaboration, cloud shared settings and priority support, while Studio adds offline collaboration, multiple viewer screens, automated cropping, automatic backup and tool locks for client-facing production. Capture One says subscriptions can be canceled anytime, switched to a perpetual license, and that after 5 years of subscribing the license is free. We could not verify USD prices because the page showed euros to our checker, and its prices sit above most tools here, so it ranks low on a value-weighted list despite strong features.

    • ✓Subscriptions can be canceled anytime with no fees
    • ✓Switch to a perpetual license at any time
    • ✓After 5 years of subscribing, a perpetual license comes at no extra cost

    • ✕USD price could not be verified from our location
    • ✕Mobile app access requires All in One or a separate mobile plan
    • ✕Perpetual license does not include the newest updates or hardware support

    Raw cameras:

    550+

    Plans:

    Pro, All in One, Studio, Mobile, Pro license

    Tethering:

    Desktop and iPad/iPhone

    Cancel:

    Anytime, no fees

    Bottom line: Capture One is the best choice for studio photographers who shoot tethered because tethering and 550+ camera profiles come with every plan. Budget shooters will get more for their money from ON1 or Lightroom.

    Visit captureone.com ↗

Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.