Photo editing software has come a long way in the past few years. There are many different options to choose from now, making it difficult for anyone looking for the best photo editing software for Mac.
Studies show that 71% of people edit their selfies before posting, and 90% of young women who take photos edit them before posting the images online. These figures depict just how high the demand for photo editing software is.
Buying a device that can accommodate photo editing software goes a long way into making your life easier. For Mac users, professional photo editing software comes with admirable features like:
- A simple interface.
- Powerful editing options.
- Customizable photo effects.
- World-class cloning and retouching abilities.
- 360º image editing capabilities.
- In-built library of media assets and more.
You can always check out these features when picking your best Mac photo-editing software.
What is the Best Photo Editing Software for Mac?
Picking a photo editing tool is a challenging task and time-consuming one, especially if you have no clue what you’re looking for.
Here is a list of the best photo editing software for Mac that you can try on your device today.
1. Adobe Photoshop
The #1 photo editor for both Mac and PC.
Adobe Photoshop is, without doubt, the best overall photo editor you can find in the market today.
It’s not just the best photo editing software for Mac but also one of the most widely used by professional photographers worldwide.
This comprehensive package is loaded with various tools, making it ideal for both beginners and professionals alike.
Its key features include:
- Faster Copy-Pasting Abilities – You can now paste your Adobe Illustrator vector content to Adobe Photoshop faster than before.
- Advanced Image Management – You can now rename layers to have faster, easier access.
- Better Layer Comps Functionality – Now, you can save the visibility of different layers as a preset for later use.
- Enhanced Auto-Align Feature – The new “Auto” align feature makes it easy to combine multiple photos into one without any manual effort or frustration.
- Quick-Click Selection allows you to easily select a portion of your image by simply drawing your brush over the area you want to select.
- Improved Crop Tool – The crop tool now has an added feature that allows users to see a ghosted overlay of what will be cropped before actually cropping it.
Pricing
Adobe has enticing pricing plans that are customized into different payment plans. You can go for the monthly $31.49 plan, which you can cancel anytime without incurring an additional fee.
There’s also the yearly plan which is billed monthly at $20.99/month. You incur some fee if you cancel this plan after a week of purchasing. The other option is the yearly plan billed upfront at $239.88/year. You won’t get refunds if you cancel the plan after a week of payment.
Adobe offers a free trial so you can experiment with the tool before deciding if it fits your needs.
2. Skylum Luminar
Best AI photo editor for Mac and Windows.
Skylum Luminar comes out as the best AI photo editor with impressive AI photo editing tools for all and sundry. This comprehensive set of tools can help you to add different effects and shapes to your photos.
With AI, the software can suggest the perfect template for each image you want to edit.
The software is faster in both macOS and Windows applications and offers an ideal blend of both Photoshop and Lightroom.
Its key features include:
- AI-Powered Sky Enhancer – A new intelligent tool that scans the image and enhances its relevant details.
- Adjustable Vibrance – A powerful slider to enhance color saturation for a more vivid photo.
- Creative Filters – These are the best tools to give your photos an artistic touch, such as drama or retro looks.
- Customizable Presets – Get access to over 100 customizable presets that you can save and adjust to fit the look of your photo.
- Post-Processing Abilities – These tools help leave room for creativity like cropping, rotating, or removing red eyes from photos.
- Easily Accessible Adjustments – The best filters include exposure, contrast, shadow, and highlight adjustments with a simple click.
Pricing
Luminar is available at a one-time payment plan for $47 with a 30-day money back guarantee. With this lifetime license, you don’t have to worry about recurring payments anymore. Technical support is available 24/7.
Skylum Luminar works as a standalone application but also as a plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom.
3. Corel PaintShop Pro
Excellent photo and graphic editor for beginners.
Despite being a simple-to-use photo editing software, Corel PaintShop isn’t playing second to its rival competitors.
It is designed to give amateur editors an easy time while exploring their creativity.
Corel PaintShop Pro is equipped with advanced editing tools and filters to help you quickly transform your photos into stunning visuals.
Best of all, it’s also used as a graphics editor, and you can use it to design and create logos, business cards, and flyers.
Key features include:
- Intuitive Interface – The interface is designed to be simple and easy to use.
- Advanced Photo Editing Tools – The software is equipped with a wide range of editing tools like brushes, vector instruments, textures, and color pellets to help you achieve professional results.
- It’s also best for Resizing Photos – It has an ‘Auto-Blur’ option that allows you to resize photos without losing quality.
- Tutorials and User Support – The tutorials available on their website cover various topics from basic to advanced concepts.
Pricing
The New PaintShop Pro 2022 Ultimate goes for $79.99, with a 30-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. DxO PhotoLab
The revolutionary photo editor for Mac for incomparable image quality.
First launched in 2004, DxO PhotoLab is the first photo editor based on DxOMark, an industry-standard for measuring camera and lens image quality.
DxO PhotoLab has been consistently upgraded to develop the latest DxO PhotoLab5 that unveils impressive features.
Its key features include:
- Easy Management of Metadata in PhotoLibrary – Organize your photos into custom collections, rate them and tag the ones you want to keep.
- Demosaicing and Denoising Technologies – Achieve the best image details and colors through deep-learning AI technology.
- Advanced Image Correction Tools – Adjust exposure, contrast, white balance, color saturation for more balanced images with richer hues.
- Customizable Presets – Apply professional presets quickly without having to play around with every setting manually.
- Adaptive Wide Angle Correction – Fix warped-looking images caused by wide-angle lenses.
- Superior Noise Reduction – Best suited for low light photos with high ISO.
- Lens Calibration Profile Creator – Create lens profiles to fix the distortion of your image, or even create a virtual camera that can be used in Photoshop and Lightroom together with DxO PhotoLab for perfect lens correction.
- Red-Eye Correction – Remove the red-eye effect caused by flash photography with just one click.
The software is best for professional photographers who need high-quality edits and beginners who want to learn to edit efficiently.
Pricing
DxO PhotoLab comes in two editions:
- Essential Edition: $139 for key features.
- Elite Edition: $219 for maximum features.
5. CyberLink PhotoDirector
A leading creative photo editing platform with powerful AI tools.
Among the leading photo editing apps for Mac, CyberLink PhotoDirector stands tall with remarkable photo-editing features.
This software is known for its advanced editing tools and a unique AI Style Transfer feature that can transform your selfie into an artistic masterpiece with just one click.
Its key features are:
- Pro Level Effects – With an extensive collection of unique effects and filters, CyberLink PhotoDirector lets you unleash your creative side to give your photos a professional touch.
- Real-time Sharing – Share edited images in real-time with friends & family or on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram directly from the app itself.
- Customizable Interface – Edit photos easily using the intuitive interface that lets you organize your workspace the way you like it.
- Multiple Projects – Manage multiple projects with ease and work on different tasks simultaneously without compromising editing speed or quality.
- LUTs Color Presets – Apply predefined color presets or creates custom LUTs with the color grading feature to make your photos stand out.
- Multiple Editing Tools – Edit your images easily using a range of editing tools like exposure, saturation, sharpness, and more available on PhotoDirector.
CyberLink PhotoDirector is an ideal choice for professional photo editors looking for powerful photo editing software that lets you organize your workspace the way you like it.
Pricing
The payment plans vary; you can buy the software for a lifetime or go for the subscription options.
There are two options for the lifetime license:
- PhotoDirector 13 Ultra goes for $79.99.
- PowerDirector 20 Ultimate + PhotoDirector 13 Ultra goes for $169.99.
For a subscription license, you can choose either:
- PhotoDirector 365, which goes for $14.99 per month.
- Director Suite 365, which goes for $29.99 per month.
6. Capture One Pro
Uniquely powerful software for everyday creatives.
If you’re looking to unleash the power of the photos you take every day, then Capture One Pro is your go-to photo editing software.
It is designed to provide the best RAW image editing experience possible.
The software has over 500 presets, tools, and other resources that are available officially from Phase One’s online store.
Its key features include:
- Advanced Color Editing – Color grading tools are at your fingertips to make color corrections, add effects, and enhance the colors in your images.
- Advanced Batch Editing – You can process multiple RAW files all at once with batch editing for an efficient workflow experience.
- Define Custom Presets – Save custom preset templates that you often use so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you want to apply them.
- Easy Adjustments – Take control of the tonal range in your images to make global or local adjustments using Exposure, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, and Blacks.
Capture One Pro stands out as an ideal Mac photo editing software for professionals.
Pricing
The subscription plan starts at $19/month, or you can pay $149 yearly. You can equally opt for a license, which starts at $199 for lifetime access.
7. Skylum Aurora HDR
The world’s most advanced HDR photo editor.
As an award-winning PC and Mac photo editing software, Skylum Aurora stands out as the most decorative and reliable editor for most HDR photographers globally.
Another reason it stands out is that it’s compatible with Adobe Photoshop and may be used as a standalone program.
Its key features include:
- 20+ Essential Tools for HDR Editing – The over 20 editing tools allow users to create amazing HDR images.
- Powered by Artificial Intelligence – The application is powered by AI technology, which allows it to deliver high-quality results in the quickest time possible.
- High-Quality HDR Algorithm – This feature enables users to merge up to 32 frames taken at different exposures into one image.
- 80 Unique Presets – Leverage the 80 unique presets to create and edit RAW images.
- Effortless Workflow – The improved workflow allows users to complete tasks easily and speed up the editing process.
Pricing
The license costs $99.00 for lifetime access for a single computer.
8. Exposure
The #1 image editor for the art of photography.
Since 2005, Exposure has been transformed from a plugin to a standalone photo editing software known as Exposure X.
With the latest version being Exposure X7, you can trust to find excellent features that will transform your photo editing experience.
It works both as a standalone and a plugin for both Photoshop and Lightroom.
Its key features include:
- Complete RAW Photo Editing – Exposure X offers complete RAW photo editing capabilities for easy editing of high-quality photos.
- Adaptive Exposure Technology – This tool provides users with the best exposure results for their photos. It is especially effective when photographing high-contrast scenes.
- Precise Color Adjustments – The exposure tool offers a range of color adjustment options that allow users to create vivid or muted images.
- Adaptive Smoothing – This technology automatically adjusts for image noise introduced during the brightening process to help produce a smooth, clean final result.
- Adjustable Luminance Gradients – This feature provides users with multiple sliders they can use to fine-tune luminance gradation adjustment in both shadows and highlights.
- Easy Workflow and Customizable Presets – The software simplifies workflow thanks to its customizable presets and scene detection abilities, which help organize images in a way that makes sense for each photoshoot or project.
Exposure X7 is one of the best programs to edit photos on Mac and is used majorly by professionals.
Beginners can equally have an easy time using the customizable presets and easy-to-use interface.
Pricing
Exposure X7 BUNDLE costs $149 and $99 to upgrade, while the Exposure X7 option costs $129 and $89.
9. Adobe Lightroom Classic
Best photo editing app for on-the-go photographers.
You already know about the dominance of Adobe in the photography industry. Adobe Lightroom is a brilliant photo-editing software for Mac and other devices that lets you organize and edit images.
One of the best features of this app is its seamless compatibility with other Adobe apps.
It’s also perfect for mobile editing since you can sync your photos from any device, even remotely when on the go.
Its key features include:
- Updated Healing Brush – You can now remove any unwanted objects/blemishes on your photo with greater ease.
- Clarity – You can now enhance the clarity of your images with a single click.
- Dehaze – Best used in foggy or hazy scenarios, this feature lets you eliminate any weather-related effects from an image and restore its original quality.
- Compatible with Every Device – Adobe Lightroom is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux. You can also choose to purchase the mobile app which works on iOS or Android devices.
- Face Detection Capabilities – You can now apply face-specific adjustments to your images.
- Exposure Bracketing is best used in scenarios where you need more than just one exposure setting. This feature lets you shoot a series of exposures at various levels and then choose the best option for that particular situation.
Pricing
The monthly subscription of the basic plan starts at $9.99/month and goes up to $19.99/month, with all options offering a free trial.
10. Adobe Photoshop Elements
The best photo editing platform for creative beginners.
Whether you’re a beginner photographer, graphic designer, videographer, or illustration enthusiast, you can never go wrong with Adobe Photoshop Elements.
While it’s not as advanced or feature-packed as its big brother, Photoshop CC, the Elements version of this photo editing software is still one of the best in the market.
It provides you with an intuitive interface that makes digital image processing easy and fun for beginners while also giving them access to a host of powerful tools that more experienced users will find helpful.
Its key features include:
- Auto Curate – Automatically finds and displays your best photos in your gallery.
- Guided Edits – Lets you do more with images in a snap, thanks to step-by-step tutorials.
- Elements Organizer – Keeps all of your creations organized for quick access and easy sharing.
- AI-Capabilities – Allows you to create the unexpected using Photoshop elements.
Even better is that the software allows users to create their customized workspaces, making accessing the tools and features they use the most a breeze.
Pricing
You can buy Adobe Photoshop Elements for individuals starting at $9.99/month.
11. ON1 Photo RAW
The best all-in-one software for RAW photo editing.
If you loved the previous versions of ON1 Photo RAW, then you’ll have more to cherish in the latest 2022 version.
All the previous features in the earlier versions are present or may be upgraded in the new version, and professionals love everything in this newest version.
Browsing and cataloging are now possible in this editing platform, plus you can easily go beyond other photo editors with its state-of-the-art raw processing abilities.
Its key features include:
- AI-Powered Features and Integrations – You can now enjoy the best photo editing experience with smart file browsing, plus it’s compatible with Photoshop and Lightroom.
- Real-Time Photo Editing – Enjoy live previews when you are working on edits to have a better feel of how your image will look after applying changes.
- Face Detection Technology – Apply effects to human faces easily as this feature automatically detects faces on your images.
- Updated Filters – Upgraded filters are now available to help you achieve the best possible look of subjects in your photos.
- Image Size Enhancement Tool – Easily adjust image size without affecting its resolution so that you can have a better view while editing images for different purposes, whether it’s web or print media.
Pricing
Previous owners of ON1 Photo RAW will only pay $79.99 to upgrade to the new version.
New customers will buy at $99.99 for lifetime access. If you wish to go for a subscription instead, you can pay $89.99/year.
12. Topaz Studio
The best platform for creative photo post-processing.
While many professional photographers know Topaz Studio for their endless release of powerful photography tools, Topaz Studio 2 is a force to reckon with.
The software makes it easier for users to get as creative as possible and optimize their editing skills with its numerous top-ranking features.
Topaz Studio is a platform you must consider if you have the time and the motivation to create unmatched photos.
Its key features include:
- Non-Destructive Layers – Users can create, view, and modify layers without damaging the original image.
- Depth of Field – Allows users to add bokeh or blur effects in various shapes and sizes for a more artistic-looking photo effect.
- Focus Mask – Great for masking any part in an image that is supposed to be in focus using a brush tool and other available tools.
- Color Shift – Lets users shift color hue, saturation, and luminance on various parts of an image. This feature is equally great for portraits where you can easily emphasize eyes or lips, etc.
- Focal Blur – This feature has a similar function as Focus Mask, creating a more dramatic effect. You can use it to achieve that shallow field look or blur out the background to create an artistic-looking photo effect.
Topaz Studio is a perfect fit for professionals who already know what they want in photo editing software.
It works excellently on Mac and Windows, so you can easily access it from anywhere.
Pricing
Topaz Studio license costs $99.99. You can also add the tools Mask Ai and Adjust Ai as a Creator Bundle for an additional $50.
13. Apple Photos
The leading photo editing platform for iPhone and iPad with powerful tools for fine-tuning your photos and videos.
Apple Photos is a very easy-to-use photo editing software that comes preinstalled on every Mac. It lets you edit and organize your photos, as well as share them with iCloud storage or other Apple devices.
With Apple Photos, you can easily create and relive the great moments of your life without paying a fortune for the same services offered by other unreliable software.
It’s also a great platform to put your photos in the picture and make them pop. Apple Photos comes with 20 great filters, including Vivid, Dramatic, and Black & White; 14 photo enhancer tools like Curves and Red Eye Removal for fine-tuning your photos.
It also has 25 graphic design effects such as shadows or lighting to create stunning images you can share on social media platforms.
Other key features include:
- Intelligent Search Suggestions – You can quickly look for your photos and videos by location, album name, or date with intelligent search suggestions. It helps save time when searching through thousands of images on your Mac.
- Photo Editing Extension – An easy-to-use photo editing extension allows you to edit photos from other apps.
- RAW Editing Capabilities – RAW editing capabilities will allow you to edit photos in their original formats. You can quickly change exposure, white balance, colors, and more without altering the photo’s quality.
This software is ideal for both beginners and advanced users.
Pricing
Apple iCloud storage has paid plans that start at $0.99/month for 50 GB of storage space up to $9.99/month for 1TB storage space.
14. Pixelmator Pro
The best platform for professional image-editing tools for anyone.
Pixelmator Pro has made work easier for both professional and amateur photo editors. It brings together all the powerful and admirable professional image-editing tools and techniques in one single package.
You can use Pixelmator Pro to edit and retouch images and create amazing compositions with the help of layer styles that are compatible with Adobe Photoshop.
The best part is that you don’t have to buy any third-party tools or plugins to work on Mac photos.
Pixemator’s newest version now includes 28 image editing actions and full support for macOS Monterey and the powerful new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.
Its key features include:
- Split Comparison View – You can easily compare your image before and after making edits.
- Merge Images – You can also merge two images to create one file with multiple layers (including RAW files).
- Easy Batch Processing for Mac – You can now adjust the settings of multiple images at once.
- Effortless RAW Editing – You can easily edit RAW images from more than 600 of the popular digital cameras available.
- It also comes with new tools like the Clone Stamp, Paint Bucket, Gradient Fill, Magic Eraser, Repair Selection Tool that allow you to remove unwanted objects, and more.
Pricing
You can buy the Pixelmator Pro license at $39.99 from the Mac App Store for lifetime access to the editing services.
15. Affinity Photo
One of the leading first choices for world-class photographers and creative professionals globally.
Whether you’re using macOS, Windows, or iOS, Affinity Photo’s flexible and professional photo editing tools will help you achieve the creative look you want.
It is well known as the best alternative for Photoshop, and this is true because of its numerous advanced editing features.
Affinity Photo offers an abundance of tools to take your photo editing skills to a much higher level.
Its key features include:
- Live and Real-Time Editing – With Affinity Photo, you can see the changes in real-time as you edit your photo. You don’t need to guess what it’s going to look like before actually applying any adjustments. This is possible because of its fast processing speed and GPU acceleration (if available).
- Powerful Selection Tools – We all know that perfecting the selection of an object in a photo is one of the most challenging tasks to do. This type of editing requires specific tools such as Magic Wand and Lasso, which Affinity Photo has.
- Adjustment Tools – To make your photos stand out, you need to add color corrections, lighting changes, and many more adjustments that can be applied to your photo. Affinity Photo does this with great ease by using Adjustment tools such as Levels, Curves, Exposure, and White Balance.
- Creative Filters – If you are trying to achieve a specific creative look for your photos, applying effects or filters is the way to do it. With Affinity Photo’s creative group of filter tools, you can create interesting effects.
Pricing
Mac users can get Affinity Photo at a $54.99 one-time payment. You can equally try the free option before you pick your preferred plan.
What is the Best Free Photo Editing Software for Mac?
If you’re operating on a budget, going for a free photo editing app for Mac can be a great idea. But you can’t just settle for any free software out there. Here are five ideal options you should consider.
1. GIMP
One of the leading free and open-source image editors.
GIMP is a cross-platform image editor available for macOS, Linux/GNU, Windows, and other operating systems. It’s also free, open-source, and equipped with many admirable features.
You can also enable Photoshop’s keyboard shortcuts by replacing a configuration file, making it easier for users to switch to this open-source photo editing software.
Its key features include:
- Original Creation of Artwork – GIMP is a high-quality photo editor, and it also supports creating new images from scratch. It includes tools for drawing shapes, adding text to an image, painting with brushes, cloning objects in photos while removing other areas that you don’t need anymore.
- Image Adjustments – With GIMP’s powerful filters and color adjustments features, you can adjust the hue, saturation, and lightness. You can also apply effects on images using gradient mapping or adjusting levels to make an image look more dramatic with monochromatic color schemes while balancing out colors in it too.
- On-Photo Text Editing – With GIMP’s text feature, you can add different fonts to your photos and switch them up whenever you want to. You can also apply effects like drop shadow and outer glow, adjust the opacity of your texts, and even add special characters to them.
GIMP is ideal for beginners who want to perfect their photo editing skills.
2. Fotor
Free photo editor for online Mac users.
In just a few clicks, you can edit your photos to a perfect look without paying or downloading software.
Fotor photo editor has more than 100 different filters and effects that you can play with your pictures and discover new looks that suit your taste every time.
With Fotor, it’s easier to create personalized photos in a snap, thanks to its easy-to-use interface.
Its key features include:
- Powerful Online Photo-Editing Tools – Edit your photos with online graphic design tools. With just a few clicks, create artistic effects that transform ordinary images into stunning photographs.
- Easy-to-use Photo Collage Maker – Create cool photo collages in seconds and share them on Facebook or Twitter to impress everyone you know.
- Amazing Photo Effects – Add dramatic flair to your pictures with one-click effects like Lomo, Retrolux, and Grunge.
- Wrinkle and Spot Remover – Get rid of wrinkles and spots on a face with this easy-to-use tool. It’s the perfect solution for those who want to keep their images looking young.
Fotor qualifies as a perfect tool for amateur photo editors.
3. Darktable
Free open-source photography software with RAW developing abilities.
Created by photographers, Darktable is a free, open-source photography software that allows users to manage their images.
Using it, you can import RAW image files and process them with the right tools. Then save your edits in JPG or TIFF formats so you can share them on social networks or print them out at home.
Best of all, Darktable is free, open-source software, so you can download it for Mac or Windows and use it as much as you want.
Its key features include:
- GPU Accelerated Image Processing – Process large RAW files (like Canon CRW/CRD, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW & SRF) at high-speed, thanks to GPU processing.
- RAW File Format Support – Darktable supports more than 20 RAW file-formats, including all the common ones like Adobe DNG, Apple Photos DNG, Hasselblad Halda, Leaf Valeo, Pentax PEF, and Sony SRF.
- Non-Destructive Editing – Darktable’s editing power is based on a non-destructive editing environment. The original photo stays unchanged until you decide to save your changes into a new file or print them out.
- 21 Language Translations – Darktable is available in English and comes with 21 translations with notable languages like Spanish, Swedish, Danish, Polish, Japanese, and more.
Darktable can be a perfect choice for both amateurs and professionals looking for multiple languages in a photo editor.
4. Photopea
Free online photo editor that supports CDR, PSD, XCF, Sketch, and XD formats.
You can easily create a new image or open an existing one on your device and edit it with Photopea.
With its extensive list of options and features, this excellent photo editor is worth trying out.
Its key features include:
- PSD Templates – This fantastic photo editing software comes with various templates to help you create your unique images. It has a clean and intuitive interface and the ability to open most standard image formats within it.
- Works with sRGB Color Space – Photopea supports the sRGB color profile, commonly used for web and other digital applications.
- Export Size – This software lets you add custom sizes to your exported images without altering their proportions.
- Vector Drawing Tool – This wonderful photo editing software comes with a vector drawing tool that lets you create and edit images in various file formats. It also has many pre-built shapes for efficient design implementation, such as arrows, borders, etc.
Beginners can use this software with ease as it is exceptionally user-friendly and comes with learning, making it a perfect fit for beginning photographers.
5. PhotoScape X
The leading ‘fun and easy’ free photo editor for Mac.
PhotoScape X is a free photo editor that comes with all the editing tools necessary to retouch your images.
It also has many pre-built shapes for efficient design implementation, such as arrows, borders, etc.
The all-in-one photo editor provides unique photo editing features that both professional and amateur users can find useful.
These features include:
- Unique Film Effect and Light Leak – You can now optimize these film effects to get a personalized analog feeling on your pictures. The light leak will help you brighten up a dull photo.
- Fun Sticker Effects – Add stickers to your images for a unique look with this wide variety of fun sticker effects such as frames, arrows, dots, and so much more. These stickers can help you highlight and emphasize your pictures.
- Easy to Use – No need for Adobe Photoshop or expensive software. This app is very user-friendly and easy to use, with a straightforward interface that even beginners will understand.
- Batch Editing – Batch editing allows you to edit multiple photos in one go, saving a lot of time and effort.
- Photo Effects – This app also comes with 60 different photo effects that range from vintage to modern, along with 20 filters for your pictures. These photo effects can change the whole look of your picture.
Best Photo Editing Software for Mac FAQs
Here are some of the common questions photographers have concerning photo editing software for Mac.
What is the best program to edit photos on a Mac?
Each photo editing software has its unique abilities and features that set it aside from the other.
However, I would vouch for Adobe Photoshop and Skylum Luminar. These two stand out as an industry standard and have the features I would pay to access as a photographer.
I would use Photoshop for its great editing tools that are easy to use, allowing me to create clean images with fine details.
I would choose Luminar as it is best for beginners and comes packed with unique filters, making it easier to achieve the desired look in minutes.
What do professionals use to edit photos?
The most common software professionals use to edit photos in Adobe Photoshop. It is estimated that over 90% of the world’s creative professionals use Adobe Photoshop.
What should I look for in a Mac photo editing software?
When choosing the best photo editing software for Mac, it is essential to look at your needs and requirements.
For example, if you want a tool that will allow you greater control over layers, Adobe Photoshop would be ideal.
I’d use Affinity Photo as it has unique functions such as non-destructive multi-layering, Mac’s best raw processing engine, and a native file format with no proprietary or unusual formats to worry about.
Is there a free version of Photoshop?
Yes, Adobe Photoshop is available with a seven-day free trial version, which includes all the features of Adobe Photoshop and updates into the full version upon upgrading.
What’s the difference between Photoshop and Lightroom?
Adobe Photoshop is a photo editor that manipulates, creates, and enhances pictures for a greater end product.
Adobe Lightroom, on the other hand, is a photo organizer and processor. While both can be used for editing photos, they have different purposes.
Is Photopea as good as Photoshop?
Photopea is a browser-based tool that lets you edit photos, design graphics, and create images in your browser without downloading any software.
It’s free and open-source. On the other hand, Adobe Photoshop is a paid photo editor with better editing tools and is much more reliable than Photopea.
Conclusion: What Photo Editing Software Should You Choose for Your Mac?
The best photo editing software for Mac depends on what you want to do with it.
However, Adobe Photoshop is still a better choice from a professional angle because it’s more reliable and has the best overall editing tools.
Skylum Luminar is also a significant consideration if you’re an AI enthusiast as it comes with numerous useful AI-powered photo editing tools.
To summarize my list for Mac’s best-paid photo editing software, I would equally recommend Corel PaintShop. Its intuitive interface and ability to edit graphics ideally make it a perfect choice for any professional photographer.
If you’re looking for a free alternative, PhotoScape X comes with many features such as photo effects, filters, masking & selections, RAW converter, and more. It also lets you add text to images or create unique collages in addition to adjusting colors and retouching portraits.
I hope this list of top photo editing software for Mac was helpful to you. Let me know in the comment section what’s your preferred tool.
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