The Best Free Photo Editing Software For Mac



The Mac is still the best device for serious photo editing, so you need some serious photo editing apps to make an impact. The built-in Photos app on Mac offers several useful photo editing tools. You can crop, adjust lighting and color, set the white balance, add filters, remove unwanted blemishes, and a few more things. Darktable is an open-source, free RAW photo editor available for Linux, Mac / macports, BSD, Windows, and Solaris 11 / GNOME. It’s designed to be a virtual darkroom and allows you to view negatives through a zoomable lighttable. Verdict: The licensed version of Pixelmator is widely perceived as of the best photo editing apps for Mac from third-party developers.It features an easy-to-navigate interface with a set of basic features that will make your workflow easier. An amazing feature that Pixelmator Pro offers is the naming of layers imported from external files by their content.

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.

  • It comes with incredible retouching capabilities and cloning.
  • It can polish your dull images in seconds including the large size images.
  • It includes a great list of selection and masking tools.
  • Adobe Photoshop can support images of multiple formats including PNG, JPG, GIF, and many more.
  • With this incredible tool, you get access to almost 360 editing tools and map support for HEIF files.
  • It uses a non-destructive editing mechanism to enhance the overall appearance and look of your images.

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:

  • For better user experience it offers 24/7 sales and technical support.
  • It is powered with fast editing tools and functionalities.
  • Loaded with an array of adjustment masks and layers.
  • With its clever editing shortcuts and capabilities, you can effortlessly manage your photographs.
  • It comes with multiple viewing options including a single image view, filmstrip view, and gallery view.
  • Sun rays, AI-powered sky enhancers, and accidental AI are few of its other offerings.

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.

  • Lightroom can easily sync with several devices.
  • It comes with customizable sliders along with brush adjustment tools and gradients.
  • You also get access to multiple preset filters and professional filters with it.
  • Fixing tools, lens-based correction capabilities, and blurring tools are few of its other offerings.
  • Manage your photo gallery more efficiently with its face detection feature.

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.

  • It is loaded with an array of 20+ editing tools to create HDR images.
  • It offers a great way to polish your raw images and leverage their appearance with its 80 unique presets.
  • Enhance the clarity and optimize the contrast of your images with its HDR clarity feature.
  • It can add depth and details to your photo and can also clean noise.

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.

  • Works well on both computer system and smartphones,
  • It comes with image cropping, image straightening features along with a speech bubble maker.
  • It is packed with a massive library of graphic designs and images and also supports cloud storage.
  • With Canva you get access to over 8000+ photo templates, icons, photos and pre-designed cards to create visually stunning content.

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 Free Photo Editing Software For Mac Reddit

9. ON1 Photo Raw

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.

The Best Free Photo Editing Software For Mac

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.

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.

Best Photo Editing Apps For Mac

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.

12. 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.

Use its Advanced makeup tool to efficiently transform dull faces. You can also try its wrinkle removing and skin smoothing features.

The Best Free Photo Editing Software For Mac Os

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.

Refer to our list and pick the best-suited tool for yourself depending on your need, photography skills, budget, and preferences.