18 Best Free Photo Editing Apps for iPhone and Android in 2024

Photo editing apps offer easy-to-use, powerful image editing tools that your iPhone or Android phone's built-in function cannot achieve, like removing unwanted objects, creating collages, generative fill, photo restoration, and more.

But with so many options, how can you find the one for you? In this article, I reviewed more than 20 photo editing software apps and summarized the pros and cons, best features, real user reviews, online editor availability, and also the top 3 options for you to try immediately. Read on to find out!

How I Picked the Best Photo Editing Apps

Undoubtedly, finding the right photo editing app for your needs can be time-consuming and overwhelming.

So, when compiling this list, I decided to focus on certain criteria in the hope of making the decision-making process much easier. The top considerations include:

• The variety of features
• App Store and Google Play store ratings
• Photo editing results
• Real user review
• Subscription plan and cost
• User interface and how easy it is to navigate the app
• Frequency of app updates

If that's also what you are looking for, don't hesitate to start reading this review!

Top 3 Photo Editing Apps for iPhone and Android Snapshot

First and foremost, considering the rating, user review, and photo editing results, here are the top three best free photo editing apps in 2024 for iPhone and Android users:

1. YouCam Perfect: Best Photo Editor With AI Features

YouCam Perfect is a high-rated app that provides all the powerful AI photo editing & beautifying tools you need. You can easily remove unwanted objects, remove and change backgrounds, apply aesthetic effects and filters, edit face shapes, and more.

Read Our Review >

2. Snapseed: 100% Free and Most Recommended on Reddit

Snapseed is the most recommended photo editing app on Reddit. It is a rare, free-to-use, no-subscription photo app with good preset filters.

Read Our Review >

3. Lightroom: Best Photoshop Alternative Mobile App

Lightroom is also the top photo editor app recommended on Reddit and Quora. Loved by professional photographers, it is a good mobile Photoshop alternative for adjusting ISO, and exposure easily, and in high quality.

Read Our Review >

Best Photo Editing Apps Comparison Table

Before jumping into the complete review of all the top photo editors, here is the summary table for all the best photo editing apps with key indicator comparisons.

18 Best Free Photo Editing Apps Summary (With Real User Review)

Below, you can find a complete review of the best free photo editors in 2024, with their top must-try features, subscription pricing details, and the latest app ratings on the App Store and Google Play stores.

1. YouCam Perfect: Best Free Photo Editing App for Object Removal

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*Adjust the size of images ONLY. Please go to Strapi to edit the materials info.

Available: iOS, Android, Online Photo Editor
Store Rating: 4.8 on App Store; 4.4 on Google Play
Pricing: Most functions are available for free; $9.99/month for full access
Overall Rating: 10/10

YouCam Perfect is one of the best photo editors for iOS and Android users, with powerful AI-powered removal tools and an easy-to-use interface.

▲ YouCam Perfect app UI

It provides all the powerful AI photo editing & beautifying tools you need. You can easily remove unwanted objects, remove and change backgrounds, apply aesthetic effects and filters, edit face shapes, and more.

▲ YouCam Perfect AI Removal before and after

If you need to make some natural edits to your body due to bad angles or poor lighting, the YouCam Perfect’s Body Tuner feature can help you. 

Pros

• The best AI object removal result
• The best body shape editing feature
• Equipped with a lot of fun generative AI feature
  

Cons

• Not yet supported LUTs filter for professional photography usage
• Not yet support split tone editing
  

Real User Review Summary

Most reviews for YouCam Perfect on the Apple Store and Google Play Store suggest it's a top-notch photo editing app, especially for its AI object removal results. The complaints mainly about the transparency of the subscription plan, and some UI changes. 

*** Reviews taken from the App Store 

2. Snapseed: 100% Free Picture Editor Without Subscription

▲ Snapseed app UI

Available: iOS and Android
Pricing: Free, no subscription
Store Rating: 3.5 on App Store; 4.3 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 9.5/10

If you want a quick and easy way to edit your pictures that doesn’t require too much trial and error, Snapseed is a great option for iPhone and Android users. This 100% free photo editor app with no in-app purchases is a product of Google, even allowing users to create presets that can then be saved and used for future picture edits.

Pros

• Completely free
• Pro-level editing tools with color curves, RAW editing, de-noise, and more
• Great selection of color filters for photos
  

Cons

• Plain selection of editing elements (i.e. photo frames)
• Lack of photo collage, stickers, and templates. Most decorative elements are absent in Snapseed
  

Real User Review Summary

Users liked Snapseed as it is free, and has an elegant UI. The healing feature is useful, according to some user reviews. There were some personal complaints about the UI design, with font size adjustments or how the toolbar is showing. But overall, it is a very useful photo editing app for users.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

3. Lightroom: Best for Adjusting Color and Tone in Pictures

▲ Lightroom app UI

Available: iOS and Android
Pricing: Free; $4.99 per month for premium features & 100GB of cloud storage
Store Rating: 4.8 on App Store; 4.6 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Professional photographers who are already integrated with the Adobe suite of software — Photoshop, Lightroom, and more — will find no learning curve with the Adobe Lightroom app. If you’re already familiar with Adobe products, this might be a good product for you, but newbies will want to explore one of the previous options.

Pros

• Pro-level camera (manual adjustments for ISO, Exposure, and more)
• Pro-level photo editing features (requires good levels of photography knowledge to make good use of it)
  

Cons

• Beautify and retouching features are absent
• Lack of photo collage, stickers, templates, and backgrounds. Most decorative elements are absent in Lightroom
  

Real User Review Summary

Users loved that Lightroom can be used on both phones and PCs smoothly, making it a good choice for die-hard Adobe Photoshop users. Preset and photo effect features are highly popular among users. There are some complaints about recent UI changes and crash frequency.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

4. Picsart: Best for User Generated Photo Filters and Effects

▲ Picsart app UI

Available: iOS, Android, and Online Photo Editor
Price: Freemium; $7.99 per month for premium features
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 4.0 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 9/10

For those iPhone or Android users who are looking for a bolder and more striking picture editing app, Picsart is a good bet. With over 100 fonts, templates, and stickers available for free, and more than 1,000 with a paid subscription, there is no shortage of ways you can customize your photos.

Pros

• User-generated, pre-made photo templates
• Trendy stickers and font selections
• Great selection of tools for photo editing and portrait retouch
  

Cons

• Need some time to get used to the user interface
• Live retouch is not yet available in camera mode
  

User Review Summary

Users loved PicsArt's photo editing features and its usefulness for graphic designs.  The functionality and variety of tools and effects are wonderful and exciting, to say the least. Most of the complaints is about the increasing presence of the urge for premium subscriptions.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

5. Photoshop Express: Professional Photo Editing Software Made Easy

▲ Photoshop Express app UI

Available: iOS and Android
Pricing: Free; $4.99 per month for premium features
Store Rating: 4.8 on App Store; 4.6 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 9/10

The mobile version of the popular photo editing software packs a lot of features and is a logical choice for frequent Photoshop users. However, to gain access to all of its features, you will need to purchase a PS Express Premium subscription. The mobile editing app offers handy picture editing tools such as selective editing, background replacement, themes for photos and collages, scrapbooks for collages, retouching, and more.

Pros

• Wide selection of professional picture editor tools to enhance your images
• User-friendly interface
  Can edit RAW files
  

Cons

• Limited retouch options
• Need to pay to access a lot of features
  

Real User Review Summary

Users like Photoshop Express as it is very easy to use, and has so many filter options to choose from. It is claimed to be an "awesome and useful app that allows you to tweak, stylize, or correct a picture exactly how you want it". Complaints were mainly about many features have turned into premium subscriptions only,

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

6. Canva: Free Online Photo and Video Editor for Templates and Designs

▲ Canva app UI

Available: iOS, Android, and Online Tool
Pricing: Free; $12.99 per month for premium content
Store Rating: 3.6 on App Store; 4.8 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 8/10

Canva is a free photo and video editor app focused on graphic design. You can create anything from social media posts, videos, flyers, photo collages, etc. Canva features thousands of templates to help you edit your photos. The photo editing feature lets you crop, flip, and adjust details in a few steps. 

Pros

• Several template options to choose from
• Free text, graphic, and photo options
  

Cons

• Limited photo editing options
• Several premium-only features
• The mobile app takes more time to load
  

Real User Review Summary

Canva is loved by users for its "mind-blowing" range of templates, its easy "drag-and-drop" user interface, and it's covering everything from social media posts to presentations and flyers. The newly added AI features like removing backgrounds are also considered useful. Compliments mostly about the glitch when editing multiple projects together.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

7. VSCO: Best Image Editor for Adding Photo Filters

▲ VSCO app UI

Available: iOS, Android, Online Photo Editor
Price: Free; $7.99 per month for premium features
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 3.3 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 9.5/10

While the VSCO app became very popular for the “VSCO girl” vibe, its success came more from the ability to offer editors easy and trendy photo editing options. This best free photo editing app is a good choice for iPhone or Android users who have their unique style, and who know how they want to show it in their photos.

Pros

• Excellent LUT filter support
• Great selection of color filters for photos and videos
• Good split-tone tool
• Include basic video editing features (available for paid users only)
  

Cons

• Lack of other photo editing features like object removal besides color filters
  

Real User Review Summary

Users of VSCO loved its photo-sharing platform and claimed it to be a great alternative to Instagram. The photo filters and "Grain" function are also users' go-to features in the app. Complaints mainly about the membership and some crash issues.

*** Reviews taken from the App Store

8. PhotoDirector: AI Picture Editor for Creative Photo Edits

▲ PhotoDirector app UI

Available: iOS and Android
Pricing: Free; $4.99 per month for premium features
Store Rating: 4.5 on App Store; 4.3 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 8/10

PhotoDirector is a picture editor that has all the basic editing tools you'll ever need like color grading, customizable collage templates, and object removal tools. It has advanced tools including AI-powered sky replacement that lets you add flawless sunsets to your images. Or animate photos by drawing motion lines and placing anchor points for a customized animation or add already animated stickers and decor to delight your followers. PhotoDirector also makes the most popular Instagram effects easy to apply.

Pros

• AI sky replacement and light ray tools       
• Animation tools and animated overlays
• Built-in stock libraries
  

Cons

• No teeth whitening feature 
• No LUTs filter support
  

Real User Review Summary

Users liked Photo Director's massive "Cool features" and the app is "easy to use". With its complete feature list, some users claimed it is a good Photoshop alternative. Complaints mainly about the need for premium subscription for advanced features, and some restart issues.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

9. AirBrush: Best Mobile Image Editor for Photo Retouching

▲ Airbrush app UI

Available: iOS, Android, Online AI Photo Generator
Pricing: Free; $3.99 per month for all features
Store Rating: 4.8 on App Store; 4.1 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 7.5/10

AirBrush is a versatile photo editing app ideal for selfies and portraits. It offers a bundle of picture editing and beautifying tools that will help you create aesthetically pleasing selfies. There are some unique features, such as Relight and Prism, as well as classic retouch tools and even virtual makeup and hair options. 

Pros

• Quick and easy selfie photo editing with retouching and makeup tools
• My Kit option for faster access to favorite editing tools
• User-friendly interface
  

Cons

• Works best for portraits and selfies; general photo editing tools are quite limited
• Many features require a premium subscription
  

Real User Review Summary

For the free version of the AirBrush app, users think it's a good app for quick edits, including a useful "crop" feature, and the "Acne" tool to remove blemishes. Warnings on the app will not be as good to use after several users switched their phones and re-downloaded the app mentioned in the review.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

10. Facetune: Trendy Image Editor for AI Portraits and Photo Retouch

▲ Facetune app UI

Available: iOS and Android
Pricing:  Most functions available for free; $9.99/month for full access
Store Rating: 4.6 on App Store; 4.4 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Facetune is a specialized photo editing app designed for perfecting selfies and portrait photos. It's available on both iOS and Android platforms and offers a range of features to help you enhance your photos.

Pros

• Test out different styles and shades effortlessly using AI Hairstyles and Color Changer
• Selfie tools for smoothing skin, whitening teeth, and reshaping facial features
• Various filters and effects for your selfies
  

Cons

• Paid app with a free trial.
• It's primarily designed for portrait and selfie editing, so it may not be the go-to choice for editing other types of photos
  

Real User Review Summary

Users of Facetune rely on its retouch features and enjoy some fun new features that are continuously released. Complaints mainly from it got a bit fewer features like competitors, also it took a long process if want to cancel the subscription.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

11. Photo Editor Pro: Best Image Editor with Cool Effects

▲ Photo Editor Pro app UI

Available: Android only
Pricing: Free; $7.99 per year for premium subscription
Store Rating: 4.9 on Google Play
Overall rating: 7/10

Photo Editor Pro's free photo editing app is one of the best free photo editors on the market. It has features like one-tap filters, advanced editing tools, and tens of millions of user-created stickers. And the best part? It's completely free, without any payments.

Pros

• Packed with features
  Easy-to-use interface
  Completely free of charge
  

Cons

• In-app purchases can add up
  

Real User Review Summary

Photo Editor Pro's user reviews stand out with how easy to use it is, with several users stating they are over 60 years old but can still use it to produce great photo editing results. Overall reviews on the Google Play Store are positive for this Android photo editor. Minor complaints about the Advertisement's quality.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

12. Prisma: Free Photo Editor App for AI Photo Effect

▲ Prisma app UI

Available: iOS,  Android, Online Photo Editor
Pricing: Free; $2.99 per month for the premium version
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 4.5 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 7.8/10

Prisma Photo Editor has hundreds of unique filters allowing you to transform your photos into works of art with its filters and effects.  The best thing about Prisma Photo Editor is that it has a very straightforward and easy-to-use interface and can be used by both beginners and experienced photographers alike.

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface
  
• Turn photos into paintings with AI
  

Cons

• Some filters include ads.
  
• No before-and-after view while editing
  
• Only supports square images
  

Real User Review Summary

Prisma's users highly praised its artsy photo effects and background. Its digital art-sharing platform is also considered very well-loved by some users. Complaints mainly from the subscription model and some crash issues.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

13. Instasize: Best Image Editor for Photo Resize and Collaging

▲ Instasize app UI

Available: iOS, Android, and Online Photo Editor
Pricing: Free, $4.99 per month for premium features and tools
Store Rating: 4.6 on App Store; 4.8 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Some of you might have used this photo editor app when you were trying to post a full-sized photo on Instagram without cropping it. In addition to resizing options, Instasize offers a variety of filters, common adjustments, beautifying tools, text features, collages, and basic frames.

Pros

• Works equally well for photos and videos simple user interface
• Quick and easy social content creation
  

Cons

• A lot of features require a premium subscription
• No stickers, object removal, or animation features
  

Real User Review Summary

Instasize's user review stands out because the majority of users claimed that they've used this app for years., indicating its good user retention ability. Some users said they've used Instasize for almost everything. Recent complaints mainly on the subscription requirement, and the add text feature user flow.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

14. BeFunky: Fun Picture Editor for Effects and Templates

▲ BeFunky app UI

Available: iOS, Android, Online Photo Editor
Pricing: Free
Store Rating: 4.6 on App Store; 4.3 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 7.5/10

BeFunky is a free photo editing app with unique features that allow you to add color splash effects, design your graphics, and create custom collages. Basic editing is free, but some features require a subscription.

Pros

• Unique editing features
• Customizable collages
• Photo enhancer
  

Cons

• Some features require a subscription
  

Real User Review Summary

User reviews for Befunky are generally nice and praise its collage feature. Some users liked that it supports both mobile and PC.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

15. piZap: Free Online Photo Editor and Collage Maker

▲ piZap app UI

Available: iOS, Android, Online Photo Editor
Pricing: Free; $9.99 per month
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 4.2 on Google Play
Overall rating: 7/10

Pizap is a free photo editing app that's fun and easy to use, perfect for quick edits and one-off projects. It has features, including filters, advanced editing tools, and millions of user-created stickers. And best of all? It's free, with no catch. However, be aware that in-app purchases are required to unlock some of the more premium features.

Pros

• Packed with features.
• Fun and easy to use
• Free (with in-app purchases)
  

Cons

• In-app purchases are required for some features.
  

Real User Review Summary

PiZap's users loved its fun design elements and mentioned it's a relaxing experience when editing with this reliable app. Complaints mainly about sometimes the designs cannot be saved, also failure to move or resize stickers around.

***Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

16. Afterlight: Best for Adding Retro Photo Film Filters

▲ Afterlight app UI

Available: iOS 
Pricing: Free; $2.99 per month for the premium version
Store Rating: 4.7 on the App Store
Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Afterlight is one of the best free photo editing apps available for both iPhone and Android users. It has a wide selection of features and tools to help you edit your photos, from basic color corrections to more advanced image manipulation and aesthetic filters.

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface
• Hundreds of unique preset filters
• No Internet access is required
  

Cons

• May not have as many features as more advanced photo editing apps.
• Need to pay for the premium version
  

Real User Review Summary

Afterlight's users mostly complement its nice UI, smooth user flow, and high-quality photo filters. Some comments provided suggestions on filter refinement, but overall positive reviews.

***Reviews taken from the App Store

17. Polarr - Best for Adding Aesthetic Photo Effects

▲ Polarr app UI

Available: iOS,  Android, Online Photo Editor
Pricing: Free; $3.99 per month for the premium version
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 3.5 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 8/10

Polarr Photo Editor has a wide range of tools to enhance and adjust your images, making it one of the best free photo editing apps on the market. It has an impressive selection of photo editing tools and effects and is equipped with a user-friendly interface. With the mobile version, you can do basic color correction, add text, apply filters, and more.

Pros

• User-friendly interface and design
• Wide selection of features and tools to edit photos
• Ability to create and share your filters
  

Cons

• May have a steep learning curve for those who are new to photo editing.
• Some features may require a paid subscription.
  

Real User Review Summary

Polarr users left reviews that it has been their go-to app for quick photo editing for many years. One user specifically mentioned it's useful to create layer masks (gradient, brush, circular, etc) for different overlays, and the border feature which allows you to make an image the appropriate dimensions for whatever social media platform. Complaints mostly about the subscription requirement.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

18. Fotor: Best for Fun AI Photo Generation and Editing

▲ Fotor app UI

Available: iOS, Android, and Online Tool
Pricing: Free; $8.99 per month for all features
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 4.1 on Google Play
Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Fotor is an all-in-one photo editing app that's available on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced photo editor, Fotor offers a range of tools and features to enhance your images, and also surprise you with new AI image generation features.

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface 
• One-tap enhancement for brightness, contrast, and color.
• AI image generator tool to create professional AI headshots
  

Cons

• Some additional features come at a cost.
• May not meet the needs of professional photographers.
  

Real User Review Summary

Fotor's user review mainly liked how the app provides versatile features and a wide range of effects. Complaints mainly for too many features now need a paid subscription.

*** Reviews taken from the Google Play Store

Why You Should Trust This Review

With over 6 years of experience in technical product review, I have witnessed lots of application evolution and am familiar with all the latest AI photography trends. As a result, I'm confident to share the latest and most easily used photo editor apps with you in this compiled article.

Why You Should Try YouCam Perfect

If you are unsure which photo editing app to use, our pick is YouCam Perfect. With its variety of effects, templates, animations, frames, and more, everyone who wants to jazz up their photos can do so with this all-in-one photo editor.

Perfect for beginners, experts, and everyone in between, this app is the ideal photo editor choice for making your photos the most beautiful they can be. We also collect top 3 benefits as why you should give YouCam Perfect a try.

#1 Remove People from Photo

One of the most popular photo editing features in YouCam Perfect is its "Object Removal" tool. You can use a brush to paint over photobombers and remove them from your photos.

Imagine how much easier it can make your life when taking pictures. You no longer need to avoid crowds; you can simply remove them with just a few taps.

#2 Easy to Use Photo Editing Features

In YouCam Perfect, you can find loads of easy-to-use photo editing features, such as add photo, cutout, and color changing tools. 

You don't need extensive Photoshop skills or design knowledge—all you need is your imagination and to download this app to your phone.

#3 Beautiful Photo Templates to Try

If you want to add different vibes to your photo, YouCam Perfect provides all kinds of photo templates, including:

• Polaroid Template
• Album Cover Template
• Vogue Magazine Template
• Collages

Try them out and see how it will transform your daily photo.

Best Free Photo Editor App FAQs

Is There a Free App to Edit Photos for iPhone and Android?

Snapseed is a 100% free, no subscription required photo editor app.

Which online photo editor is 100% free

The YouCam Online Editor is 100% free. You just need to log in and receive free credits to do all the AI-powered photo editing by uploading your photos.

What free app is closest to Photoshop?

According to 5 Best Free Photoshop Alternative Apps for iPhone & Android in 2024, the YouCam Perfect app is the best free Photoshop alternative with a complete line of photo editing features and powerful AI generative fill and background changing tools.  

How to Edit Photos on iPhone & Android?

You need to install one of the best photo editor apps to edit pictures on your phone. We suggest users first try out the YouCam Perfect app. It's free to download, available for both iOS and Android users, and will suit all your photo editing and creative needs.

Which is the No. 1 photo editing app?

Here are our top picks of the best photo editing apps in 2024:

• YouCam Perfect: Best Object Removal App
• Snapseed: Reddit's Favorite
• Lightroom: Best for Filters

Which app is best for photo editing in 2024?

Check out all of our recommendations for the best photo editing apps:

1. YouCam Perfect
2. Snapseed
3. Lightroom 
4. Picsart
5. Photoshop Express Photo Editor
6. Canva
   
7. VSCO
8. Photo Director
9. Airbrush
10. Facetune
11. Photo Editor Pro
12. Prisma
13. Instasize
14. BeFunky
15. PiZap
16. Afterlight
17. Polarr
18. Fotor

What features should I look for in a photo editing app?

Excellent photo editing apps can upload photos and work with your camera. They should have built-in filters, the option to rotate and change image sizes, and an option to create collages or add frames. Having options to adjust balances, exposure, color vibrancy, saturation, and sharpness is key too. Then, you get premium features like object removal, AI filters, skin retouching, body shaper, etc.

How to choose the best free photo editor for you?

The best free photo editor is the one that does the most for you. You might prefer a makeup editing app if you’re more interested in beautifying tools like face retouching, teeth whitening, and skin smoother. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a photo editor app with features like AI object removal, background removal, filters, effects, etc., you might need a comprehensive app like YouCam Perfect.

What is the best free photo editor for iPhone and Android?

YouCam Perfect is the best free photo editor. Whether you’ve just embarked on the process of photo editing or you’re already a seasoned professional, YouCam Perfect is the ideal free photo editing app.

What is the most common photo editing tool used?

YouCam Perfect is one of the most popular photo editing tools and it’s easy to see why. It offers a versatile editing toolkit that includes such popular editing features as background replacement, animated elements, aesthetic filters, face retouching, body tuner, virtual tattoos, and more.

What Is the best Photoshop app for smartphones?

Here's our top list of the best Photoshop apps for iPhone and Android users:

1. YouCam Perfect
2. Picsart
3. Fotor
4. Darkroom
5. PicMonkey

Is there a free app to edit photos for iPhone and Android?

There are several free apps to edit photos available for both iPhone and Android, including YouCam Perfect, PhotoDirector, VSCO, Picsart, Snapseed, Photoshop, and others. 

How do you edit pictures on your phone?

You need to install the best photo editing app to edit pictures on your phone. We suggest downloading the free YouCam Perfect app. It will suit all your photo editing and creative needs.