Category · 24 tools · 7 comparisons
Photo editing software
Tools for editing, retouching, and enhancing photos for creative and business use.
At a glance
- Tools tracked
- 24
- Entry plans
- $1–$249.95/mo
- Typical entry plan
- $6.67/mo
- Free plan
- 10 of 24
- Cheapest paid
- Polarr, $1/mo
- Best value score
- Photopea, 9/10
Every tool we cover
Price tracker →| Tool | Score | From | Top listed plan | Free plan | Trial | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 PhotopeaPhotopea | 7.8 | €4.17/mo* | €6,000/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Capture OneCapture One | 7.8 | $18/mo* | $24.67/mo | No | 7 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Pixelmator ProPixelmator Pro | 7.8 | $2.50/mo* | $10.75/mo | No | 7 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 DxO PhotoLabDxO PhotoLab | 7.8 | Custom* | — | No | 30 days | Review |
 Affinity PhotoAffinity Photo | 7.5 | Free* | — | Yes | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 PhotoScissorsPhotoScissors | 7.5 | $4.99/mo | — | Yes | — | Review |
 ImagenImagen | 7.4 | $7/mo | $129/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 ACDSeeACDSee | 7.3 | $6.67/mo* | $8.33/mo | No | 15 days | ReviewAlternatives |
 Cleanup.picturesCleanup.pictures | 7.2 | $3/mo | $3/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricing |
 PolarrPolarr | 7.2 | $1/mo* | $3.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Review |
 PicsartPicsart | 6.8 | $10.50/mo | $60/mo | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 AftershootAftershoot | 6.8 | $7.50/mo* | $30/mo | No | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 PicWishPicWish | 6.7 | $4.99/mo* | $22.00/mo | Yes | 3 days | Review |
 PixlrPixlr | 6.5 | €1.99/mo | €39.99/mo | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Luminar NeoLuminar Neo | 6.5 | €89/mo | — | No | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 inPixio Photo StudioinPixio Photo Studio | 6.5 | $4.17/mo* | $8.33/mo | Yes | 5 days | ReviewPricing |
 PicMonkeyPicMonkey | 6.3 | Custom* | — | No | 7 days | ReviewAlternatives |
 AcornAcorn | 6.3 | Custom* | — | No | 14 days | ReviewAlternatives |
 PaintShop ProPaintShop Pro | 6.3 | Custom* | — | No | 30 days | ReviewAlternatives |
 Evoto AIEvoto AI | 6.2 | $6.99/mo* | $100.99/mo | No | 7 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 ON1 Photo RAWON1 Photo RAW | 6.2 | $6.67/mo | $15/mo | No | — | Review |
 Img2GoImg2Go | 6.2 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 PortraiturePortraiture | 6.0 | $249.95/mo | — | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
| Color.ioColor.io | 2.4 | $4.08/mo* | $4.08/mo | Yes | 7 days | Review |
* Lower confidence: the vendor's pricing page couldn't be read directly or didn't list every price, so the figure was compiled from other public sources and may be incomplete. Check the vendor's page before you buy.
Head-to-head
AftershootvsImagenAftershoot vs Imagen
Affinity PhotovsPixelmator ProAffinity Photo vs Pixelmator Pro
DxO PhotoLabvsCapture OneDxO PhotoLab vs Capture One
PicsartvsPhotopeaPicsart vs Photopea
PicsartvsImagenPicsart vs Imagen
PhotopeavsImagenPhotopea vs Imagen
DxO PhotoLabvsON1 Photo RAWDxO PhotoLab vs ON1 Photo RAW
Highest scored
PhotopeaPhotopea
Photopea offers a lot for free, as long as browser-based editing fits your workflow.
Capture OneCapture One
Strong color and studio tools, but check the subscription price and your editing pace before switching.
Pixelmator ProPixelmator Pro
A strong Mac-first Photoshop alternative, but check which version gets the features you want.
Photo editing software: quick answers
How much does photo editing software cost?
Paid plans for the 24 photo editing tools we track start between $1 and $249.95 a month, and the typical entry plan is about $6.67 a month. 10 of them have a free plan. DxO PhotoLab, PicMonkey, Acorn and PaintShop Pro don't publish a starting price. Prices are the vendors' own, checked Nov 7, 2026; most quote the per-month price when billed annually.
Which photo editing tool is the cheapest?
Polarr has the lowest paid entry plan at $1 a month, followed by Pixelmator Pro at $2.50. If you can live with limits, Photopea, Affinity Photo, PhotoScissors and Imagen have a free plan.
Which photo editing tools have a free plan?
Photopea, Affinity Photo, PhotoScissors, Imagen, Cleanup.pictures, Polarr, PicWish, inPixio Photo Studio, Img2Go and Color.io have a free plan. Capture One, Pixelmator Pro, DxO PhotoLab, ACDSee and Aftershoot offer a free trial instead. Free plans are usually capped on usage, seats or features; each review lists the limits.
Which photo editing tool scores highest in our reviews?
Photopea scores highest at 7.8/10. Photopea offers a lot for free, as long as browser-based editing fits your workflow.