This page started as a short article in which I shared what I believed to be the best Photo Editing software on the market. Since then, I’ve revised it a few times as photo editing software has developed and improved. Today, the list is quite extensive, and this latest update was produced in May 2024
Before we look at my recommendations for the best photo editing software, I want to stress that all the photo editors mentioned are software packages I’ve purchased and used. This isn’t a list put together blindly to promote software. I purchase and regularly use the photo editors I recommend for my photography (unless stated otherwise).
I also realise that photographers looking for the best Windows PC photo editor probably don’t want to read through Mac-only recommendations and vice versa. Therefore, I’ve tried to keep to software that can be used on both platforms. I’ve also done my best to categorise the photo editors logically in the listing at the bottom. This will help you find the best photo editor to meet your needs without reading the entire article. If you think there is a better way to do this, please let me know using the Contact page on this site. I would be happy to hear from you.
As a photography enthusiast, having the right photo editing software is essential for bringing your images to life. With the latest advances in technology macOS users now have access to some incredibly powerful and user-friendly options when it comes to editing their photos.
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the best photo editing software available for Mac in 2023. We’ve researched and tested the top contenders to help you find the perfect app to suit your needs, skill level, and budget
How We Chose the Best Photo Editing Software for Mac
When compiling our list of recommendations, we looked at several key factors
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Features: The best photo editors provide a robust set of editing tools while maintaining an intuitive interface. We favored apps with features like layer editing, RAW support, and AI-powered tools.
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Performance: Speed and stability are vital for a seamless editing experience. We tested each app’s responsiveness and resource efficiency.
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Value: Paid software can get pricey, so we made sure to include top-notch apps with affordable one-time or subscription fees. We also highlight some excellent free options.
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Beginner-friendliness: Photography beginners should be able to get great results without needing to be editing experts. We looked for apps with guided edits and built-in learning resources.
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Professional use: For pro photographers, sophisticated workflows and output options are a must-have. Our recommendations include apps trusted by working professionals.
With these criteria in mind, we spent time hands-on testing the leading photo editors for Mac to identify the very best options across different needs and skill levels.
The Best Photo Editing Software for Mac in 2023
1. Adobe Photoshop (Best Overall)
For over 30 years, Photoshop has reigned supreme as the industry standard for image editing and manipulation. While it comes with a steeper learning curve, Photoshop offers an unparalleled depth of tools that both amateurs and professionals rely on.
Key features include:
- Layer editing with masks and adjustments
- Content-aware editing like object removal
- Advanced retouching and compositing
- Typography and vector tools
- RAW image processing
- Intelligent AI-powered filters
- Cloud document syncing
Photoshop is unmatched in terms of features and performance. Though it requires a Creative Cloud subscription, it’s a worthwhile investment for serious photo editing.
Cost: $9.99–$79.49 per month subscription
2. Affinity Photo (Best Photoshop Alternative)
Affinity Photo is a one-time purchase photo editor that’s emerged as a powerful alternative to Photoshop. It provides professional tools and effects without the subscription fees.
Standout features:
- Layer-based editing workflow
- RAW processing and editing
- Retouching tools like blemish removal
- HDR merge and panorama stitching
- Lenticular halftone patterns
- Compatibility with Photoshop files
Affinity Photo offers incredible value. For under $55, you get a pro-grade editor minus the monthly costs. It’s an excellent option for photographers at any skill level.
Cost: $54.99 one-time purchase
3. Skylum Luminar (Best for AI Editing)
Skylum’s Luminar utilizes artificial intelligence to provide quick, automated enhancements to your photos. If you want to save time and effort, Luminar’s preset AI edits based on image content are a game-changer.
Notable AI features:
- AI Sky Enhancer
- Automatic object removal
- Portrait background editor
- Automatic image relighting
- AI photo enhancer
- Human video rendering
With its beginner-friendly interface and innovative AI tools, Luminar lets you easily transform your photos in just clicks. It’s available as both a standalone app and Photoshop/Lightroom plug-in.
Cost: $89 annual subscription
4. Pixelmator Pro (Best Value)
Pixelmator Pro impressively manages to pack professional-grade photo editing tools into an affordable Mac app. If you want high-end features without the high-end prices, it’s a terrific option.
Key features:
- Nondestructive editing workflow
- RAW support
- Layer-based compositing and image editing
- Photo repair and touch up tools
- Brush tool with ML-enhanced strokes
- Pro-level color correction tools
At just $40 for a perpetual license, Pixelmator Pro offers outstanding capabilities well beyond its reasonable asking price. It’s a great choice for intermediate users looking to step up their editing skills.
Cost: $39.99 one-time purchase
5. Adobe Lightroom Classic (Best for Workflow)
Serious photographers need software that can efficiently manage the entire editing workflow. That’s where Lightroom Classic shines. It streamlines importing, organizing, and exporting large photo libraries.
Key workflow features:
- Intuitive file management with Collections and Smart Collections
- Effective batch editing
- Tailored print and web exporting
- Facial recognition for photo organization
- Integration with Photoshop
- Mobile app syncing
Lightroom Classic combines smooth performance with customizability. For photographers working with high volumes of images, it’s an indispensable tool.
Cost: $9.99–$79.49 per month subscription
6. Apple Photos (Best Free Option)
For Mac users, the built-in Photos app provides capable photo management and editing without any added costs. While it lacks some of the features of paid software, it covers the basics for everyday users.
Notable features:
- Intuitive organizing with Memories and manual Albums
- Easy photo corrections like lighting and color adjustments
- Selective editing like cropping, filters, and red-eye removal
- Sharing to social media, email, and cloud storage
- Create photo books, calendars, prints, and slideshows
For free software, Apple Photos has a surprising depth of utility. It’s a convenient choice for Mac owners who want to organize their picture library and make quick edits without extra fees.
Cost: Free with Mac
Which Photo Editor is Right For You?
With the premier photo apps available for Mac, choosing the right software boils down to your individual needs and budget.
Casual users are well-served by the free Photos app. For hobbyists looking to level up their skills, Pixelmator Pro and Affinity Photo offer pro-tier tools at a bargain.
For photographers and creative professionals who need maximum editing power, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom remain the gold standards, though the subscription fees might deter some users.
Those wanting AI-boosted editing should try Luminar’s creative presets. And Mac users with large libraries will benefit from Lightroom Classic’s robust asset management.
The best photo editor is the one that fits your proficiency level and editing style. By matching your needs to the capabilities of the leading Mac software, you’ll find an app that feels like it was designed just for you.
Photo Editor Review List
Below is the list of the photo editors reviewed in this article. The links in the list take you to that section of the document, or go to the start of my suggestions.
I’ve also produced a section summarising the different photo editors by their purpose or features. For example, if you are interested in sharpening or noise reduction software and don’t know what your options are, start with my summary list of photo editors.
The reviews are also arranged in company order. If you would like to jump to a company to review their products, use the following list:
Adobe Photo Editing Software
Adobe Inc. is a multinational software company renowned for its creative software products and digital experience solutions. Established in 1982, Adobe has become a leader in the digital media industry, offering tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro, which are widely used by professionals and enthusiasts alike for editing, graphic design, and video production. Many of its products are the industry standard, so no review of photo editors would be complete without including Adobe. That said, many users strongly dislike its move to a rental model for much of its software.
Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics photo editor developed by Adobe. It is considered the industry standard for digital editing. Photoshop offers a wide array of powerful tools and features for retouching, compositing, and enhancing s.
More recently, Adobe has been releasing a significant number of AI-based tools that aim to make photo editing easier. Depending on your view, their AI generation can be considered revolutionary but equally worrying for traditional photographers.
In addition to Photoshop Desktop, there is a mobile version that can be used on phones and tablets, though the range of applications is constantly evolving. I have struggled to keep up with the developments in this area, so I recommend reviewing the Adobe website for full details.
When it comes to editing RAW photography, Photoshop uses a separate application called Adobe Camera RAW (ACR). However, because ACR is integrated with Photoshop, many users mistakenly think it is part of Photoshop. ACR is a powerful editor that can also be accessed as a filter from within Photoshop and provides the same editing features as Lightroom.
I personally use Adobe Photoshop for most photos I edit and have for many years. I also make extensive use of Photoshop extensions and plugins, many of which are listed in this article.
The Photographers Plan provides rental licenses for Photoshop and Lightroom, and you can no longer purchase a perpetual license for these products.
You will find a library of free Photoshop tutorials on the Lenscraft website.
Adobe Lightroom is a comprehensive software suite designed for organising, editing, and managing digital photography. It offers powerful tools and features tailored for photographers of all levels, from hobbyists to professionals. Lightroom provides a streamlined workflow that enables users to import, organise, and search their photo libraries, making it easy to find and access s.
The Lightroom Library module is a centralised hub for managing photos. It offers tools for keywording, rating, and categorising s, as well as powerful search capabilities to find the photo you need.
In addition to organising your photos, Lightroom provides powerful editing tools for enhancing and retouching them. The Develop module offers a wide range of adjustment controls for adjusting exposure, colour, tone, and detail. All editing is non-destructive and stored in a database called the Lightroom Catalog.
I have personally used Lightroom since the first version was released and use it to manage my entire photo library. Most of its tools are excellent, but I have found that it performs poorly with some types of RAW files. Those from my Fuji X-Trans cameras are a particularly good example, and so I like to pre-process these using either DxO PhotoLab or DxO PureRAW. This produces a DNG file, which I can process in Lightroom to produce excellent quality.
The Photographers Plan provides rental licenses for Photoshop and Lightroom, and you can no longer purchase a perpetual license for these products.
You will find a library of free Lightroom tutorials on the Lenscraft website.
Adobe Elements is a user-friendly software suite designed for photo and video editing. It offers a simplified, yet powerful set of tools tailored for enthusiasts and hobbyists. The suite consists of two main applications: Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Premiere Elements, and individual product licenses can be purchased.
Adobe Photoshop Elements provides an easier photo editing alternative to Photoshop, which it’s loosely based on. With features like Guided Edits, users can achieve professional-looking results with step-by-step instructions for various effects and techniques.
Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements come with Elements Organizer, a hub for managing media files. Elements Organizer allows users to tag, rate, and categorise photos and videos, making it easy to find and access them.
I personally only use Adobe Photoshop Elements occasionally, but I decided to include it in the review for two reasons:
- It offers a viable alternative to Photoshop for those who don’t like to rent their photo editors. In fact, you can only purchase a license, and there is currently no rental option.
- It is significantly easier to learn to use than Photoshop, in my opinion, although it can still be challenging.
Visit the Adobe website to learn about the latest features and download a trial.
Capture One is a professional-grade photo editor developed by Phase One. It offers a comprehensive suite of features for importing, organising, editing, and exporting digital photography.
Capture One offers an excellent RAW processing engine that delivers exceptional quality and colour accuracy. Before DxO offered support for Fuji X-Trans RAW files, Capture One was my go-to solution for Fuji RAW processing. The software offers extensive control over exposure, colour balance, contrast, and sharpness. Its intuitive interface and customisable workspace allow for an efficient workflow.
In addition to its editing capabilities, Capture One offers advanced features for tethered shooting. This feature allows photographers to capture s directly into the software and instantly preview and adjust settings in real-time. This feature is particularly useful for studio photographers who require precise control over their shooting environment.
There is extensive support for colour grading and colour management, with tools for creating custom colour profiles, applying film simulations, and fine-tuning colour adjustments with precision. It also offers an integrated workflow with Adobe Photoshop and other third-party applications, so it should be able to support your existing workflows.
Overall, Capture One is a versatile and powerful solution for professional photographers seeking uncompromising quality and efficient workflow management. My only reservation with the product has been the way Phase One (who developed it) changed its pricing model. I now find this quite expensive and haven’t upgraded my software since version 21.
Visit the Capture One website to download a trial of the latest software.
Boris Optics is a comprehensive plugin suite of photographic and cinematic effects for Lightroom and Photoshop. Although I don’t currently use these plugins, I am evaluating them to decide whether to purchase them. So far, I’ve been extremely impressed by the range of effects and the editing tools.
There is a huge library of filters and presets, including lens effects, lighting effects, colour-grading tools, and creative overlays. These filters are designed to replicate the look and feel of real-world optical effects, allowing you to add depth, atmosphere, and visual interest to your photos.
My only reservation about Boris Optics is the sheer number of options that are available. I often find myself feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the choice of filters. Even after choosing a filter, many offer many adjustment options. It’s entirely possible my overwhelm results from my lack of familiarity with the software, and where I have used it, I do like the results.
You can download a free trial of Boris Optics from the website if you would like to test it yourself.
If you are still unsure which photo editor to invest in, read my article discussing how to choose photo editing software.
Best Photo Editor for MAC in 2023
What are the best photo editing apps for Mac?
Lightroom may be more suitable for everyday photo editing, while other alternatives can be simpler to use and more affordable. There are also some great apps for specialized use cases, like editing HDR images. We’ve rounded up some of the best photo editing applications for Mac to find out how they compare and what makes them so great.
Are there free photo editors for Mac?
Paid photo editing software usually contains much more advanced and latest functions that fit professional photographers. But that is not to say that free photo editors for Mac have no advanced functions. Paid or free to use, is totally your choice, depending on what your needs. Here are some free photo editors for Mac.
What is the best photo editing software?
Best all in one editor ON1 Photo RAW combines image browsing and cataloging, raw processing, extensive preset image effects and filters, and even image composites via layers and masks. It also uses AI extensively for masking and enhancement. 4. Adobe Photoshop
Can you edit photos on a Mac?
The default Photos app allows you to edit photos on a Mac professionally with some surprisingly powerful new tools launched in iOS 16. It’s not nearly as powerful as Adobe Photoshop for graphic manipulation, but it can handle most image editing tasks. Here are some photo editing basics in Photos on Mac:
