Which is the best photo editing app for Mac?
Yes, it is challenging to give the right answer to that question.
Why?
Well, which is the best photo editing software for MAC depends on a few criteria.
First, what types of editing workflow you are going to do to determine which software you should use.
Apple’s Photos app is included for free on all recently released Macs. It does a good job at organizing your photos, but its collection of photo enhancement tools leaves much to be desired. Hopefully, our selection of the best free programs for photo editing on Mac will help you choose the right app to suit all your creative needs. There are some built-in photo editing apps in mac that offer plenty of editing tools. But honestly, if you want to edit your photo as a professional level Or quality image you need some best photo editing apps. For photo editing, mac is the best choice because it’s faster processors & high memory. You will get an excellent experience using. People everywhere are getting their edit on with Fotor’s solid photo editor for Mac!. #1 free photography app in more than 70 countries. In the top 5 free apps overall in more than 50 countries. 【Batch】 Quickly process dozens of photos to save time and efforts. Easily edit your photos with Canva's photo editor! Add filters, frames, text, and effects with our free online photo editing tool! App To Edit Photos Mac Has Everything Photos for Mac has everything you need to make your pictures look exactly how you want, and whats more, all the edits are non-destructive, so if you dont get something perfect the first time, you can change it again whenever you like or even go right back to the original.
For example, if you need to do basic photo editing including crop, resize, and rotate photos, then the mac photo editor built-in app is perfect for you.
On the other hand, for doing extensive retouching, you need to have a robust photo editing app.
There is a huge difference between robust and basic photo editing app. Robust image editing tools give you more power and precision on every work you do.
Second, the expertise level of you in editing also helps you to select which photo editing app you should use.
For example, a beginner photographer always looks for an editing app that is easy to use.
In contrast, a professional photographer finds an app that allows us to perform extensive photo retouching workflows.
Third, budget is another factor that impacts on choosing photo editing software. Obviously, a beginner including me always looking for a free or affordable photo editing app.
As we are on a budget, it matters a lot to consider what’s in the box.
In this guide, based on your need, I have made a list of photo editing software for mac that includes both the free and paid apps.
The best part of this guide is I personally tested each of the apps. I have also described the features, pros, and cons of each of them.
As a result, you can easily compare each of the software with one another and pick the right tool you need to use.
So, let’s dive in.
Contents
14 Best Photo Editing App for Mac
Here is the list of best photo editing software for Mac.
Related Article: Best PC Photo Editing Software
01. Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is the most used image editing software by professionals around the globe.
Millions of graphic designers and photo editors around the world use Photoshop to create stunning photos and artworks.
There is hardly a thing you can’t do with Photoshop. From basic photo editing to extensive retouching, you can do everything precisely.
The best part of Photoshop is it is the best tool to do core editing workflows including detailed retouching, color correction, and adjustments.
The layer system is the backbone of Photoshop’s power. With it, you can do non-destructive editing workflows without affecting the main photo.
On top of that, you can use layers to blend multiple images to create artistic and sophisticated photos.
However, on this fast-growing online-based world, Photoshop is vastly used to remove background from photos.
The advanced Photoshop pen tool lets you select the objects precisely and remove the background. Note to add that, there are also other automatic background remover tools out there. But the quality Photoshop offers is beyond compare.
For advanced retouching, it offers a healing brush tool, clone stamp tool, patch tool, and color replacement tool.
Using these tools, you can remove blemishes, acne, and other skin defects to give a clean look to your portrait.
The downside of this app is its editing interface is complex. But it is not so messy comparing other photo editor apps.
However, the beginner can find it a little bit difficult to understand. Luckily, there are a million tutorials on the web you can follow to master on it.
Related Article: How Do I get Photoshop for free 2020?
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Operating system: Mac and Windows
Price: $9.99 (photography plan)/ $20.99 (individual plan)
02. Adobe Lightroom
When it comes to choosing the best photo editor, the list will remain incomplete without mentioning Lightroom.
Adobe Lightroom is one of the powerful photo editing apps on this list for Mac. For image editing, it comes with every tool and feature you need.
With it you can blend, merge, adjust color temperature, exposure, and tint of a photo. Also, you can add details, remove the blurry object to give a clean and crystal look to your photo.
On top of that, I love Lightroom for its slider-based tools that let you fine-tune the exposure, color grading, and light of a photo.
Moreover, Lightroom comes with a lot of presets to give an artistic look to your photo with a single click. The best part is you can customize each of the effects and save them for bulk use.
Most importantly, Lightroom is the best photo editing app for photographers who need to manage the biggest photo catalog. If it is the feature you are looking for, then Adobe Lightroom is the best choice for you.
Lightroom doesn’t only manage a large number of photos but also lets you access to the cloud storage. That means you can edit or organize photos from anywhere.
The only cons I find on Lightroom is its subscription-based pricing model. You need to pay Lightroom $9.99 per month.
I recommend you try the 30 days free trial before purchasing Lightroom. After the end of the trial, if you like this app, you can use it. Otherwise, you can cancel the subscription.
Features
Pros
Cons
03. Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is one of the best photo editor apps for Mac on our list. From basic retouching to advance editing, it covers everything you need.
With Affinity Photo, you can develop raw photos, do color correction, enhance portrait images, and apply innumerable effects to your images.
Both for basic and detailed retouching, it gives you a set of tools to help. The frequency separation tool, dodge & burn tool, and blemish removal tools help you to make the portrait skin smooth.
Besides, it has come with a ton of incredible effects and filters to enhance photos with a few clicks. I love the live effects to use as they are non-destructive. That means you can edit, reedit, mask, and blend them anytime.
For creating complex composition, it comes with a group of tools, effects, and layers.
The refine adjustment tool of Affinity gives you extreme precision on selecting, masking, and blending. Even you can select the edge of hair precisely using Affinity.
The surprising fact that you can get such kind of robust photo editing apps at $24.99 for a lifetime using. You can also try the free trial to test it before making a purchasing decision.
Features
Pros
Cons
04. Luminar 4
Are you an amateur photographer? Do you want to give a stunning look to your photo but lack of sufficient editing skills? Then, Luminar 4 is the ultimate solution for you.
With minimum photo editing skills, you can now enhance the look of your portrait or landscape photo. Luminar 4 has come with AI enhancement tools that let you edit photos with a single click.
To give a stunning look to your portrait, it has an AI skin enhancer and portrait enhancer tool.
The Portrait Enhancer has a lot of slider-based tools to remove red-eye, blemishes, dark circle, and whiten eyes. What you need to do is just moving the sliders from left to right to enhance the portrait photos.
Thanks for its AI Skin Enhancer tool that lets you improve the details and make the portrait skin smooth.
Landscape Enhancer is another special Ai tool that lets you improve the landscape photo with a few clicks.
The Landscape Enhancer comes with four different sliders including Dehaze, Golden Hour, Foliage Enhancer, and Foliage Hue.
You can adjust depth and color moving the Dehaze slider left to right. To add a warm look to your portrait photo, just move the Golden Hour slider.
The Foliage Enhancer lets you improve the color of trees, plants, and flowers.
Also, you can remove noise from any part of the images using the Denoise tool.
With Details Enhancer, now you can add depth, details, and warmth to your photo. Moreover, you can edit raw photos, apply batch processing, and so on with Luminar 4.
Features
Pros
Cons
Operating system: Mac and Windows
Price: $89
05. Capture One Pro
Capture One Pro designed to edit photos precisely with ease in mind. It gives you complete control over to do every aspect of editing, recovering, preserving, and organizing photos.
To correct photo color, it comes with exposure, contrast, and saturation tools. To achieve the best result, it also offers curves and clarity tools.
You can also apply pre-designed presets and effects to enhance photo quality with a few clicks. Besides, you can install third-party presets and styles to get the best result.
To make local adjustments precisely, it has come with advanced layers and masks. The layer gives you complete control over every part of an image and lets you enhance it.
It doesn’t only let you perform photo editing workflows but also lets you organize photos. Now, you can store and manage photos perfectly.
If you are a photographer who looking for a photo organizer and photo editing tool, then Capture One Pro is the solution for you.
Let’s check out some special features of Capture One Pro.
Features
Pros
Cons
Operating System: Mac and Windows
Price: $20 (any camera), $9.99 (FujiFilm and Sony Camera)
06. Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro is solely designed for mac users in mind. It accesses you to powerful photo editing tools to create an aesthetic photo.
With a full spectrum of tools, it lets you create a design, draw art and painting, edit photos, add attractive effects to your photo.
The Color Picker tool helps you save and manage color smartly ever you do. Now, you can save colors as well as sample colors from your photo with the eyedropper tool.
Using Pixelmator Pro, you can replace photos smartly preserving their layer, effect, color adjustments, and so on. That clarifies, Pixelmator is a non-destructive photo editing app.
To accelerate the editing workflow, it has come with a lot of keyboard shortcuts. For example, if you need to replace a photo, you can do this pressing Shift + Command + R.
The arrange tool of the Pixelmator is non-destructive. With it, you can resize, rotate, and replace photos with complete freedom.
Therefore, Pixelmator Pro has designed with advanced painting engine that lets you create innovative and beautiful art and painting.
Besides these features, it also offers a wide range of retouching tools, color adjustment tools, stunning effects, and much more to create stunning artwork.
Indeed, it is an all in one photo editing app for photographers and graphic designers.
Features
Pros
Cons
I don’t find any significant cons of this editor. So, if you find the above apps intimidating, then you can try this app.
Operating System: Macs
Price: $39.99
07. Snapheal
Snapheal is a breathtaking photo editing app for beginner mac users. It is the easiest and fastest image editing software on our list to remove unwanted objects.
The process of removing unnecessary elements from a photo is fast that takes merely 30 seconds.
What you need is just upload photos, erase people or other things, and then enhance the photo with advanced photo editing tools.
You can give a clean and crystal look to your photo enhancing the portrait skin and color using editing and color adjustment tools.
Once you complete the retouching workflow, you can export the photos in various file formats including JPG, PNG, and others.
Features
Pros
Cons
Operating system: Mac Only
Price: $8.99
08. On1 Photo Raw
Do you hate subscription-based pricing model? Looking for lightroom alternative? Then, On1 Photo Raw is the ultimate solution for you.
Like Lightroom, you can organize photos smartly, process raw files, retouch portrait, apply effects, and edit layers on On1 Photo Raw.
On1 Photo Raw offers a wide range of image editing tools for doing basic editing workflows with efficiently.
Also, it comes with a spectrum of single-click presets that let you enhance the look of the photo you want to achieve.
The interface of On1 Photo Raw is simpler than Lightroom. On top of the panel, it has four modules including Develop, Effect, Portrait, and Local.
The Develop panel of this photo editing app has all the tools you need to edit photos. You can customize each of the sliders to adjust the color tone efficiently.
Effect module consists of a ton of effects and presets to give a striking look to your photo with a single click.
Thanks for its Portrait module. It helps the portrait photographer to give an aesthetic look removing blemishes, acne, and help to smooth the skin.
For accelerating editing workflow, it has three AI enhancement tools including AI Mask, AI Match, and AI Auto Tone.
The best part I like about On1 Photo Raw is it gives a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Features
Pros
Cons
09. Adobe Photoshop Elements
Adobe Photoshop Elements is one of the simplest photo editing app for mac on our list. The auto-generated and smart tools of this app makes image editing simple but enjoyable.
With Photoshop Elements, you can create fascinating effects, artistic photo collages, slideshows, and so on. Even you can share your favorite photos on social media.
The most important part is it has come with AI technology known as Adobe Sensei that automates photo editing workflow. As a result, you don’t need to do everything and give you enough time to concentrate on artistic editing.
55 Guided Edit helps you to remove blemishes, unwanted objects, and apply lots of pattern to your photo with a single click.
Besides, it has an auto colorize tool that lets you make the photo vibrant.
A smart photo organization is another positive side of Photoshop Elements. Now, you can organize photos using tags and face recognition technology powered by Sensei.
So, if you are a beginner and look for an easy-to-use mac photo editor, then you should use Photoshop Elements.
Noticeably, it is not a subscription-based software. That means you don’t need to pay per month for using it. You can get this software for a lifetime after one-time purchasing.
Features
Pros
Cons
Operating system: Mac and Windows
Price: $99.99
10. Aurora HDR
Aurora HDR is one of the best HDR photo editing apps for mac. It gives 20 plus image editing tools to enhance color, temperature, and look of your HDR photos.
You can add vignette effect, details, remove noise, and adjust color tone using this most advanced HDR photo editor.
Thanks for its AI tools that quicken the editing workflow and let you improve photos with a single click.
HDR Denoise tool of Aurora HDR helps you to detect the noise of your photos and smartly erase them. To get a stunning depth, noise-free result, it has an AI tool called HDR Smart Structure.
With HDR clarity, now you can boost up clarity adding contrast where need to include. Exclusively, you don’t need to touch the entire photo to add the contrast.
Interestingly, it has 80 plus looks that let you give a stunning effect to your photo with a single click.
For professional editing, Aurora HDR offers advanced layer & masking tools, batch processing, and advanced raw processor tools.
Note to include that you get a 30-day money-back guarantee. How to close apps mac pro.
Features
Pros
Cons
Operating System: MAC and Windows
Price: $99.00
Best Free Photo Editing App for Mac in 2020
Here are the top five free photo editing apps for Mac.
11. GIMP
Don’t have enough money? Are you looking for a free photo editing software for mac like Photoshop? Then, you are no longer away from fulfilling your dream.
Gimp is the ultimate solution for you to do basic photo editing to extensive retouching. If you have ever used Photoshop, then you can find no difference between the interface of Photoshop and GIMP.
Like Photoshop, Gimp also offers advanced brush tool, pen tool, layers, and other features. That’s why it is considered as the best free alternative to Photoshop.
Let’s check out some features Gimp includes.
Features
Pros
Cons
12. Photoscape X
If you find GIMP difficult to use and looking for the easiest photo editing software, then Photoscape X is just for you.
With it, you can edit, create collage, add effects, cut out photos, and combine them efficiently and precisely.
Not only that you can also process raw photos and apply batch processing using Photoscape X.
Indeed, it is an all-in-one photo editing software that you get without spending a single buck.
Here what features Photoscape X delivers.
Features
Pros
Cons
Operating System: Mac and Windows
Price: Free and Paid
13. Fotor
Fotor is another free image editing tool both for Mac and Windows users. You can also use this app online.
The interface of Fotor is simpler than any other apps on our list. Fotor categorizes its module into three including Edit, Collage, and Design.
Edit is the backbone of Fotor Photo Editor. In this module, you can find all the tools you need to enhance the photo look.
The Edit module gives you a wide range of tools including 1-tap enhancement, blemish remover tools, crop & resize tools, and so on. Also, it offers a ton of effects to give a stunning look to your photos.
The collage module lets a lot of layouts and grids to create stunning collage photos.
Finally, the design module helps you to create personal projects including birthday cards, business cards, and presentations.
Features
Pros
Cons
Operating System: Mac, Windows, and Online
Price: Free
14. Darktable
Are you looking for free Lightroom alternatives that let you organize, edit photos, and process raw files? Then, Darktable is the ultimate choice for you.
Darktable is a free open-source image editing software. This free image editor lets you organize photos smartly. Also, it lets you process and develop raw files.
To get the stunning look, it offers a plethora of presets to enhance photos with a single click.
With Darktable, you can import photos smartly using tags, folders, and user names. To perform basic editing, it has come with a plethora of image editing tools.
Using these tools, you can crop, cutout, rotate, and resize photos on Darktable.
Features
Pros
Cons
Operating System: Mac
Price: Free
Conclusion
Again, I want to note that the following criteria help to determine which the best photo editing app for mac is.
Script writing apps mac. If you are looking for a software that lets you adjust white balance, level, batch processing, convert raw files, and so on, then Mac photo editor built-in app is best for you.
Based on your requirements, I have listed some free and affordable photo editing apps again here for your convenience.
So, which app on this list you are going to use? Or Have I missed any software that I should include on this list?
Let me know to leave your comment below.
Sohel Rana
Sohel Rana is the founder, content crafter, and SEO's at Pic Editor Review. He has grown his passion over years about writing on software, how-to guide, and product description.
Do you still use a high-end DSLR for clicking pictures and capturing mesmerizing moments? Well with the advancements of smartphones, now everyone can be a photographer. But in the curiosity to get that one perfect click will end up taking hundreds of shots.
In addition to the high-end camera of our smartphones, we still need a good photo editing software to edit and polish our dull shots, and make then Instagram suitable. Mac photo editing apps help you to fix and organize your pictures according to your taste and liking.
If you are looking for a professional photo editing tool to add meaning to your dull pictures and make them aesthetically pleasing then refer to our list of best mac photo editing apps. Learn How to Edit Photos on Your Mac to improve the overall quality and look of your picture.
Fortunately, the market is filled with an ocean of options but to help you pick the best tool in the lot, here we have compiled a well-researched list of some of the best photo editing apps and software for mac. Read ahead to find out the best option according to your needs.
12 Best Photo Editors For Mac in 2020:1. Adobe Photoshop
By far the best photo editing apps for Mac and Windows devices. It is undeniably the most loved tool in the market and commonly known as a synonym to photo editing software.
Loaded with an ocean of features and high-end benefits it is highly popular amongst the fraternity of artists, photographers, designers, and illustrators. In addition to beginners, it is specifically built to suit the high-end requirements of professionals. The key features of this amazing tool listed below, you name it and Adobe Photoshop will have it.
Read More: 15 Best Duplicate Photo Finder & Cleaner Software for Windows
2. Skylum Luminar 4
Known for its array of best filters and HDR, Skylum luminar 4 deserves a spot on our list of best batch photo editing apps. With its affordable pricing structure and image editing capabilities it has gained massive popularity in the last few years.
It is a perfect amalgamation of the features of both Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. Some of the key features of this Mac photo editing tool are:
3. Adobe Lightroom
If you are looking for an online Mac photo editing app, then Adobe Lightroom can be a good pick to start with. With its cutting edge technology and photo editing abilities, it enjoys great popularity in the world of photo editing software. It is a cloud-based tool.
It comes with easy to use yet high-end editing features. In addition to this, its interface is quite user-friendly and simple to use.
4. Skylum Aurora HDR
Next on our list of image editing software for mac is Skylum Aurora HDR. It works well with Windows devices as well and can easily be integrated as an Apple photo extension. With its AI-based neural network, you can create HDR images within seconds.
5. Canva
If your search for the best apps for mac photo editing is still going on then Canva can help you. It is a great tool for designing photo templates for both business and personal use. It comes with a clean interface and easy to use editing tools and graphics.
Use it to add various fonts and graphics to your dull images and make them Instagram ready.
Read More: 10 Best Photo/Image Viewers for Windows 10 in 2020
6. Vsco
Next on our list of Mac photo editing apps is Vsco. Its advanced effects and stylish photo editing abilities make it highly popular amongst the fraternity of professional photographers.
Add life to your dull images with the help of its preset filters. Highlights, white balance, exposure are few of its editing tools with which you can adjust the color, exposure, and sharpness of your images.
7. DesignWizard
Are you still wondering what is the best photo editor for Mac users, then try DesignWizard. This feature-rich tool is packed with advanced controls and is well known for its high-end image design templates.
In addition to this, it also comes with a massive range of images, graphics, illustrations, and high-quality videos. Along with this you also get access to various marketing tools like sale posters, Linkedin Ads, Facebook Ads campaigns, and much more.
It comes with a clean and convenient interface and works seamlessly well with iOS devices.
8. Capture One
If you have been using Adobe Lightroom, then try Capture One now to enjoy a lot of other unique features. With this incredible photo editing software, you can polish your images within seconds.
Use it ‘s advanced color editing features and masking capabilities to add life to your images.
Best Apps To Edit Photos Mac9. ON1 Photo RawBest Free Apps To Edit Photos On Mac
Experience a completely new taste of photo editing with our next pick of Best Mac Photo Editing Apps, ON1 Photo Raw. Its cutting edge capabilities allow you to convert your raw clicks into stunning images without spending too much time and effort.
With its dual-mode feature, you can not only edit but also browse various images. Enjoy live adjustments and preview with this power-packer photo editor software.
Read More: 11 Best Free PDF Editors For Mac in 2020
10. GIMP
Also known as the GNU Image Manipulation Program. GIMP is an open-source mac photo editor app.
Editing Apps For Mac
Use it to retouch your dull images and create stunning pieces of the original artwork. Apart from this it also allows you to create pro-level graphic design elements. It is a free application and comes loaded with several pre-level editing features.
11. Adobe Photoshop Elements
If you are new to the world of photography and image editing. Choose Adobe Photoshop Elements . It comes with a clean interface and easy to use features.
It is powered with an advanced AI- capability. Use its Guided Edit feature to create memes, part-image sketches, and multi-photo texts.
Best Apps To Edit Photo Macbook12. PortraitPro
If you love portrait photography, then Portraitpro is a blessing for you. The software is loaded with all the essential features that you need to create stunning portrait pieces.
Best Photo Apps For Mac
Use its Advanced makeup tool to efficiently transform dull faces. You can also try its wrinkle removing and skin smoothing features.
Wrapping Up
Dive in the world of photography with photo editing apps and software. Each Mac photo editing tool mentioned above has a unique feature to offer alongside the basic features.
Best Photo Editing App Mac
Refer to our list and pick the best-suited tool for yourself depending on your need, photography skills, budget, and preferences.
Comments are closed.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |