Photo editing apps are staples for mobile phone users nowadays, offering easy-to-use, powerful photo editing tools that your iPhone or Android phone's built-in function cannot achieve yet, 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, we reviewed more than 20 photo editing software apps and summarized the top 3 options for you to try, and also some more for you to discover for different functions,
Read on to find out!
Why You Should Trust Our Review
We are a group of photo software and app product writers, ranging from professional photographers, and social media enthusiasts, to mobile phone users that only need everyday basic editing.
With more than 6 years of experience in technical product review, we have witnessed lots of application evolution and are also familiar with all the latest AI photography trends. As a result, we are confident to share the latest and most easily used photo editor apps with you in this compiled article.
What Defines a Good Photo Editing App
Depending on your level of expertise, the best free photo editing app should make it easy to edit your photos exactly the way you want.
- For the beginner editor, that might mean preset filters and fun animations.
- For aspiring professionals, it might mean more advanced settings and the ability to store your photos in the cloud.
Regardless of one’s aptitude and experience, the best photo editing app will cater to photo enthusiasts of all levels.
How We Pick the Best Photo Editing Apps
Undoubtedly, finding the right photo editing app for your needs can be time-consuming and overwhelming. So, when compiling our list, we decided to focus on certain criteria that we hope will make the decision-making process much easier. We took into consideration such indicators as:
- User interface and how easy it is to navigate the app
- Ratings
- AI-Powered or not
- The variety of features
- User photo privacy
- Cost
If that's also what you are looking for, don't hesitate to start reading our review!
Top 3 Must-Have Photo Editing Apps
Check out three of our top picks for the best free photo editing apps in 2024 for iPhone and Android users:
1. YouCam Perfect: Google's Editor-Choice
YouCam Perfect 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.
2. Snapseed: Free and Most Recommended on Reddit
Snapseed is the most recommended photo editing app on Reddit. It is a rare completely free-to-use photo app and also has 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 >
20 Best Free Photo Editing Apps for iPhone & Android in 2024 (Tested and Reviewed)
Here’s our top list of the latest best photo editor apps for image editing in 2024, available for iPhone and Android.
You can find the editing experience we have with these apps, their top must-try features that stand out from competitors, the pricing details of their free and premium versions, also their latest app rating on the App Store and Google Play stores.
1. YouCam Perfect: Best for Removing Unwanted Objects
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 10/10
Store Rating: 4.8 on App Store; 4.4 on Google Play
Key Features:
- AI Object Removal
- AI Background Remover
- AI Body Tuner
- Photo Collages & Templates
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 interface
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, YouCam Perfect’s Body Tuner feature can help you with that.
▲ YouCam Perfect Body Tuner before and after
Additionally, you can effortlessly transform your photos into adorable cartoon-like images using the AI Selfie filter styles.
▲ YouCam Perfect generative AI filters
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 support LUTs filter for professional photography usage
- Not yet supports split tone editing
Pricing
Most functions available for free; $9.99/month for full access
2. Picsart: Best for User Generated Photo Filters and Effects
▲ Picsart app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 9/10
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 4.1 on Google Play
For those iPhone or Android users who are looking for a bolder and 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 portraiting retouch
Cons
- Need some time to get used to the user interface
- Live retouch is not yet available in camera mode
Pricing
Price: Freemium; $7.99 per month for premium features
3. Photoshop Express: Best Photo Editing Software Made Easy
▲ Photoshop Express app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 9/10
Store Rating: 4.4 on App Store; 4.3 on Google Play
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
Pricing
Free; $4.99 per month for premium features
👉Read more: Best Photoshop Express Alternatives in 2024
4. Fotor: Best for Fun AI Photo Generation and Editing
▲ Fotor app interface
Available: iOS, Android, and Web
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 4.3 on Google Play
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.
Pricing
Free; $8.99 per month for all features
5. Pixlr: Free Image Editor for Online and Mobile Editing
▲ Pixlr app interface
Available: iOS, Android, Online
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Store Rating: 3.6 on App Store; 4.1 on Google Play
Pixlr (formerly Pixlr Express) is one of the top free picture editors available for iOS, Android, and online tool users. It offers a wide range of features, including an auto lighting controller and blur tool. The app can provide quick and easy editing results while also preserving image quality.
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Auto lighting adjustment
Cons
- Infrequent updates to app content
- Need to pay for the premium version
Pricing
Free; $1.99 per month for premium features
6. Canva: Free Online Photo and Video Editor for Templates and Designs
▲ Canva app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 8/10
Store Rating: 4.9 on App Store; 4.8 on Google Play
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
Pricing
Free; $12.99 per month for premium content
👉 Read more: 4 Apps Like Canva for Photo Collage
7. VSCO: Best Image Editor for Adding Photo Filters
▲ VSCO app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 3.4 on Google Play
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
Pricing
Price: Free; $7.99 per month for premium features
8. Adobe Lightroom: Best for Adjusting Color and Tone in Pictures
▲ Lightroom app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Store Rating: 4.8 on App Store; 4.5 on Google Play
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
Pricing
Free; $4.99 per month for premium features & 100GB of cloud storage
👉Read more: Best Free Lightroom Alternatives in 2024
9. Snapseed: Free Picture Editor Without Subscription
▲ Snapseed app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Store Rating: 3.6 on App Store; 4.4 on Google Play
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
- 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
Pricing
Free
10. PhotoDirector: AI-Powered Picture Editor for Creative Photo Edits
▲ PhotoDirector app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 9/10
Store Rating: 4.6 on App Store; 4.4 on Google Play
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
Pricing
Free; $4.99 per month for premium features
11. AirBrush: Best Mobile Image Editor for Photo Retouch
▲ Airbrush app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Store Rating: 4.9 on App Store; 4.3 on Google Play
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
Pricing
Free; $3.99 per month for all features
12. YouCam Makeup: Best Selfie Camera for Adding Makeup on Photos
▲ YouCam Makeup app interface
Price: Free; provides trendy makeup looks & retouching tools
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 9/10
Store Rating: 4.8 on App Store; 4.4 on Google Play
YouCam Makeup is a virtual makeover and selfie retouch editing app. You can change your hairstyle and hair color, and use tools for a complete makeover, including lip plumpers, teeth whitening, airbrush skin, etc.
YouCam Makeup is also an AR makeup camera app and selfie editor more than it’s a photo editing app. If you’re looking to retouch your photos like celebrities, this app is excellent.
Pros
- Several instant filter options
- Detailed editing options for all facial features
- Easy-to-use interface with little to no learning curve
Cons
- Mainly focus on selfie editing
Pricing
Most functions available for free; $9.99/month for full access
13. Facetune: Trendy Image Editor for AI Portraits and Photo Retouch
▲ Facetune app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Store Rating: 4.6 on App Store; 4.3 on Google Play
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
Pricing
Most functions available for free; $9.99/month for full access
14. Photo Editor Pro: Best Image Editor with Cool Effects
▲ Photo Editor Pro app interface
Available: Android only
Overall rating: 7/10
Store Rating: 4.9 on Google Play
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
Pricing
Free; $7.99 per year for premium subscription
15. Prisma: Free Photo Editor App for AI Photo Effect
▲ Prisma app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 7.8/10
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 4.5 on Google Play
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
Pricing
Free; $2.99 per month for the premium version
16. Instasize: Best Image Editor for Photo Resize and Collaging
▲ Instasize app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Store Rating: 4.6 on App Store; 4.3 on Google Play
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
Pricing
$4.99 per month for all features and tools
17. BeFunky: Fun Picture Editor for Effects and Templates
▲ BeFunky app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Store Rating: 4.6 on App Store; 4.3 on Google Play
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
Pricing
Free (with in-app purchases); basic editing is free
18. piZap: Free Online Photo Editor and Collage Maker
▲ piZap app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall rating: 7/10
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 4.3 on Google Play
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.
Pricing
Free; $9.99 per month
19. Afterlight: Best for Adding Retro Photo Film Filters
▲ Afterlight app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 3.7 on Google Play
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
Pricing
Free; $2.99 per month for the premium version
20. Polarr - Best for Adding Aesthetic Photo Effects
▲ Polarr app interface
Available: iOS and Android
Overall Rating: 8/10
Store Rating: 4.7 on App Store; 3.6 on Google Play
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.
Pricing
Free; $3.99 per month for the premium version
Best Photo Editor Apps in 2024 At a Glance
Photo Editing App | Main Feature |
YouCam Perfect | AI-powered editing tools for removal & avatars |
YouCam Makeup | Real-time makeup filters |
PhotoDirector | Portrait photo enhancement tools |
Adobe Lightroom | Professional-grade editing tools |
Snapseed | Lightweight without previous learning curve |
VSCO | Aesthetic photo effects & presets |
Picsart | Templates & filters for personal content creation |
Photoshop Express | Beginner-friendly among the Adobe family apps |
Pixlr | Colorful effect overlay |
Afterlight | Vintage filters & image presets |
Polarr | Trending picture filter styles |
Canva | Aesthetic pre-made templates |
Prisma | Hundreds of photo-to-art effects |
BeFunky | Picture templates for social media curation |
Instasize | Size adjustment for social media posting |
AirBrush | Face retouching & beautifying tools |
Facetune | Trendy AI photo transformation for selfies |
Fotor | AI art effect tools & filter styles |
piZap | Meme & animated picture templates |
Photo Editor Pro | Personal photo polishment |
Conclusion
If you find yourself unsure of which photo editing app to go with, 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 the YouCam Perfect app.
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. Start creating amazing photos today by downloading the YouCam Perfect app for mobile photo editing.
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.
How to Edit Photos on iPhone & Android?
To edit pictures on your phone, you need to install one of the best photo editor apps. 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.
After you install the photo editor app:
- Step 1. Tap "Photo Edit" on the launcher page
- Step 2. Upload the photo you want to edit
- Step 3. Locate Effects in the menu bar for photo filters
- Step 4. Locate Adjust to manually adjust exposure, lighting, color, or contrast
- Step 5. Locate AI Removal to remove unwanted objects or people in photos
- Step 6. Press AI Selfie, AI Scene, and AI Room for AI filters
- Step 7. Press Cutout to turn your images into original stickers
If you're looking for portrait retouching tools, first press "Beautify" for photo retouching interface:
- Navigate to AI Enhance for one-tap picture enhancement
- Navigate to Reshape to adjust chin length, jaw lines, and forehead
- Navigate to Body Tuner or Body Shaper to edit full-body pictures
- Navigate to Eye Bag to get rid of puffy eyes