Download Photo Editing Software for Mac
You want your photos to await their best. And ideally, you want to make that happen without spending a lot of time learning a new programme or dropping a lot of money on software. We go information technology.
To aid you out, we've put together this list of the all-time complimentary photo editing software for Mac. Take a wait and get those JPEGs and RAW files queued up.
(Don't worry, PC devotees — nosotros won't go out you loftier and dry when it comes to the best costless image editors. Many of these volition work for Windows, too. Nosotros'll let you know which platforms each app or program is compatible with in the "Where yous can utilize information technology" section.)
The Best Gratis Photo Editing Software for Mac
Some of the winners on our list are available as desktop apps, while others are strictly available every bit online photo editors. Some are free trials of paid programs, and others are genuine, no-strings-attached gratis photo editors.
Cull any of the options on this listing and you'll take yourself one of the best photograph editors for your next project.
Free photo editing software for Mac: 11 of our favorites
- Apple Photos
- Luminar
- Adobe Photoshop Elements
- darktable
- Pixelmator
- GIMP
- Fotor
- Picktorial
- Affinity Photograph
- Google Photos
- Pixlr X
1. Apple Photos
Where you can employ information technology: Mac
Why we love information technology: We thought we'd beginning with the OG of Mac photo editors. Photos made its start appearance in 2015, on Os X Yosemite 10.x.3. Since then, information technology's cemented its reputation as the best free photo editing software for Mac. The tools are intuitive and simple to navigate, and the integration with iCloud Photo Library is seamless. Plus, every bit a built-in Mac app, it's genuinely, totally gratis — which is why we're more than than happy to name it the all-time free prototype editor. Learn more most what this Mac photograph editor can do for yous.
What could be improved: If we have a complaint well-nigh Apple Photos, it'south that the photo enhancement features are relatively limited. The app works well as a bones photograph editor, but for more complex creative work, yous'll desire to look into some other options.
ii. Luminar
Where you lot can use it: Mac and Windows
Why we dear it: Luminar boasts 60-plus filters for maximum results with minimum fourth dimension and tinkering. The app comes with all the photo editing tools standard in professional-grade software, including layer functionality, transforming and cloning, and a collection of versatile brushes. It's available equally a standalone app or as a plugin for Lightroom and Photoshop. Luminar has been ranked among the best photo editing software for Mac by CleverFiles and Photolemur, among others.
What could exist improved: Mobile users might consider a mobile-specific app for an on-the-go photo editor, since Luminar is desktop just. Also, information technology doesn't quite authorize as a free photograph editor, just y'all take 7 days to try it out risk-gratuitous. Curious about what Luminar can do for your photos? Start your gratis trial now.
3. Adobe Photoshop Elements
Where you tin use it: Mac and Windows
Why we love it: While not truly a free photo editor, Photoshop Elements does have a gratuitous trial, and information technology's far and away among the all-time photo editing software for Mac and Windows. The suite of automated editing tools — including for exposure, color balance, and reducing the effects of camera shake — make brusk work of the most common photo issues. This program allows you to motion well beyond basic image editing into more than artistic work, and then it comes as no surprise that Photoshop Elements is close to the top of our listing of the best gratis photo editors.
What could exist improved: Elements is not as powerful as the total version of Adobe Photoshop (which, of course, is exactly the indicate). At about $100 for the 2021 version, it'due south also amidst the priciest options on our listing of Mac photo editors.
4. Darktable
Where you can utilise it: Mac, Windows, and Linux
Why we love it: While many online photo editors are streamlined and fairly basic, Darktable is costless photo editing software that can hold its own against professional tools. Its cataloguing and photo organization features are comparable to Lightroom (which is a major compliment). It works with JPEGs as well equally RAW files, and the perspective baloney and lens correction features are impressive. Darktable as well offers non-destructive editing, which is a huge plus.
What could be improved: The interface isn't quite as polished as it could exist, so it's not every bit easy to pick up equally some of our other contenders for the championship of best costless epitome editor. But because it'southward free photo editing software, that'southward about all we tin can complain about.
five. Pixelmator
Where you lot can use it: Mac
Why we honey it: Pixelmator shows up in just about every chat about the best free photo editing software for Mac. This software is powerful and versatile, with layer-based functionality that empowers users to create graphics every bit well equally edit photos. With the latest version, Pixelmator Pro 1.four Hummingbird, you'll get access to a rich assortment of features and tools. Our favorites include machine-learning-enabled colour matching, a sleek new Free Transform tool, and new templates sized for iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch. Equally a true Mac photograph editor (i.e. 1 built from the ground upwardly for macOS), Pixelmator is right up there with the best of them.
What could exist improved: It'south only the trial that's free — you'll need to purchase the full version of Pixelmator to use information technology beyond the starting time 30 days. The furnishings and filters are impressive, simply non as intuitive equally some other options, so at that place'due south a bit of a learning curve for those who are new to Mac photo editors.
6. GIMP
Where you can employ it: Browsers for Mac, Windows, Linux
Why we love it: GIMP — brusque for GNU Image Manipulation Program — has long been a contender for the best free epitome editor. In fact, it'southward been consistently ranked the best costless photo editor for Mac, or close to it, since not long after its debut in 1996(!). Originally developed for Linux, this open-source online paradigm editor provides a rich array of tools, with capabilities for everything from paradigm retouching to image format conversion to drawing and graphics creation. The interface echoes Photoshop in many ways, and so if you're used to Adobe software, y'all'll find it easy to switch to GIMP.
What could exist improved: Because of the open-source, volunteer-run nature of the program, there are occasional bugs that you wouldn't encounter in professionally developed software. But that's non nearly enough to knock information technology off our list of the best complimentary photo editing software for Mac.
vii. Fotor
Where you can utilise it: Mac, Windows, Linux
Why we love information technology: Fotor is designed to exist a straightforward, piece of cake-to-use photo editing platform with one-bear on results. At that, information technology succeeds brilliantly. The filters are designed to dial up your photos with a single click, and they yield impressive results. What really secures Fotor's identify on our list of the best photo editing software for Mac is the batch processing. Use information technology to apply the same filter to a big group of photos — maybe those beach shots that all came out and so darn overexposed — and do all the color correcting y'all demand in 1 savage dive. (Techradar has all the nitty-gritty details on Fotor in their review.)
What could be improved: There's a downside to Fotor existence every bit sleek and intuitive as it is, and that's a lack of high-end features. If y'all need to do highly detailed retouching with a clone castor, for instance, y'all'll demand to look to another Mac photo editor. Nosotros're besides not crazy about the ads in this free photo editor, but you lot can pay for the Pro version for a cleaner experience.
8. Picktorial
Where you can use information technology: Mac
Why we honey it: Now on version four.0, Picktorial is free photo editing software with a suite of impressive features. The built-in photo arrangement tool is a nice affect, and the filters and furnishings hold their own confronting more expensive photograph editing programs. Picktorial can fifty-fifty be used as an extension to Apple Photos, then you can utilise it to complement one of our other picks.
What could be improved: To really get the about out of this Mac photo editor, y'all'll need to shell out for the Premium version (currently $9.99/month, or a one-time fee of $69.99). And although this is a ranking of the best costless photo editing software for Mac, we do hate to leave our Windows brethren backside. We have to dock some points for the lack of cantankerous-platform compatibility.
ix. Affinity Photograph
Where you can use information technology: Mac, Windows, iPad
Why we love it: Affinity is jam-packed with professional-grade features: focus merge, photograph stitching, PSD import and export, masks, filters, non-destructive editing — the whole kit and kaboodle. (And, although not every lensman will have a use for it, nosotros have to mention that the Affinity brush engine is stunning.) Admittedly, the "complimentary" role of this "free photo editor" is only a trial. But effort it out and y'all might find it hard to let become.
What could be improved: Nosotros'll be honest: The learning curve is pretty steep here. Every bit a Mac photo editor, Affinity Photo is not for the easily intimidated. If yous're willing to put in the fourth dimension to get comfortable with the less-than-intuitive interface, though, the rewards can be great.
x. Google Photos
Where you can use it: Browsers on Mac and Windows, and equally an app for Android and iOS
Why nosotros love information technology: Google Photos is a straightforward but efficient online photograph editor. The cloud-based photograph arrangement arrangement is a huge plus, as is the 15GB of free storage. Nosotros're too impressed by the limited, but still useful, filters and basic editing tools.
What could exist improved: For an online image editor, it'due south a shame that the size limit on images is relatively small (only 16 MP). And it would be nice to have a desktop version instead of being restricted to the browser. Nonetheless, Google Photos still ranks amid the best free photo editors out in that location.
eleven. Pixlr X
Where you can utilise it: Browsers on Mac and Windows, and as an app for Android and iOS
Why we love information technology: This easy informal fiddling online photo editor is surprisingly powerful, considering that it's about as beginner-friendly as they come up. The slider-based adjustments and filters make it easy to tinker with your photos and get the right expect without a lot of technical know-how. Pixlr X is somewhat unique among online image editors in that it doesn't use Flash, which is both a expert thing (in terms of security) and a not-so-good thing (in terms of the more limited functionality).
What could be improved: Wait a pretty significant corporeality of downsizing when you save your file with this online photo editor. You lot shouldn't have whatsoever bug if you just program to share your images on social media, just y'all won't want to rely on this costless photo editor for full-size prints.
What's the best photograph editor for Mac?
To find the right mage editor for yous, yous'll need to consider a few things:
- What do you need to do with your photo editing software for Mac — simple image retouching or an intensive creative overhaul?
- How much are you lot willing to spend? Does it need to be truly complimentary photograph editing software, or are you lot willing to put some coin down if you're happy with the complimentary trial?
- What's your skill level? Exercise you need something simple and streamlined, or are yous an image tech whiz?
Once you've got a handle on these three primal questions, yous'll exist well-equipped to notice the Mac photo editor of your dreams.
We hope our list has helped you select the best free image editor for your next project. If you want to learn more about Skylum software, we invite you to detect out whether Luminar is the picture editor for you. Or if you lot're prepare to spring right in, kickoff your trial of Luminar iii at present.
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No matter which online paradigm editor or photograph editing software for Mac yous cull, nosotros wish yous the best in your photography ventures. May you never need to fix it in mail service.
Download Photo Editing Software for Mac
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