If you're not handling professional workloads that call for all the essential pro-level editing capabilities, the top best free photo editing software for PC should be just what you need. You'll be astonished by the sheer number of free photo editing programmes for Windows that are just as effective at removing unattractive flaws and adjusting colours as their premium alternatives. Some even have premium features that can be used to improve your photo-editing abilities.
We'll provide you with several options to pick from and the advantages of utilizing each one. Let's embark on this adventure and identify the top choice so you may begin working, because it is a best free photo editing software for windows 10.
Why Do You Need Best Free Photo Editing Software?
The software you use to retouch, crop, and improve photos might have a bigger impact on how your photographs turn out than your camera, whether you take pictures for a living or simply for fun.
Even though some software gives customers a large variety of excellent editing tools, they could not have enough organizational functions. On the other hand, a free version can have a simple, straightforward interface but restrict your access to more sophisticated capabilities like object removal, artificial intelligence-powered sky replacement, and other high-end tools without charging you a costly subscription charge.
The only way to determine which of these solutions is best for you is to spend some time investigating your possibilities.
10 Best Free Photo Editing Software That is Perfect For Beginners:
What is Windows's finest free photo-editing tool, if you've ever wondered? You are in the proper place. This post will discuss the top qualities and unexpectedly inventive components of the top ten free picture editing software. Each option will improve workflow and let you edit more quickly. Now let's get started and explore best photo editing software for pc free download!
1. GIMP
Overview of GIMP
GIMP is a powerful open-source software for image editing, retouching, and creating digital artwork. It comes with advanced editing features such as layers, masks, filters, customisable brushes, and selection tools to enable its users to achieve professional-level results. It is an amazing platform for creating digital work art and is used by millions of professional and amateur photographers.
Features of GIMP
GIMP Offers you a wide range of editing tools including layers, masks, filters, and customisable brushes.
It supports many formats, including JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and RAW.
As open-source software, users can create personalised workspaces, customise toolsets, and make shortcuts.
This photo editor is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
It supports non-destructive editing techniques, allowing users to change images without permanently altering the original data.
Pros
Extensive file support
Advanced Editing Capabilities
Free and Open Source
Cross Platform Availability
Cons
Limited Raw Processing
It may be hard to learn for beginners
2. WPS office
Overview of WPS Office
Although WPS Office is a comprehensive office productivity suite and not a typical photo editing software, it offers basic editing options like adjusting brightness, contrast, saturation, cropping and rotating images, applying filters, and adding text or shapes to images. It has a collection of filters and effects that can instantly transform the look and feel of your photos. You can use this software for text and shape overlay that allows you to add text and shapes directly onto your photos, giving you the flexibility to create captions, labels, or annotations.
Features of WPS Office
With WPS Office, you can make basic level images adjustments like brightness, contrast, and saturation, making your photos visually appealing.
It lets you crop, resize, and rotate images which are very handy in focusing on specific elements within the photo.
By default, WPS Office has an array of filters that adds an artistic touch to your photos and change the mood of your photos.
With its transparency and layering feature, you can overlay or combine multiple images to create composite visuals.
The best thing about WPS Office is it's free, and you don’t have to pay anything to use it.
Pros
Easy to Use
Filters and Effects
Text and Shape Overlay
Cons
Limited Editing Capabilities
File Format limiation
3. Photos app for windows 10
Overview of Photos App
Photos App is a pre-installed application in the Windows operating system that serves as a hidden gem that packs a punch for photo editing and offers a simple and intuitive platform for basic photo editing needs. It has a user-friendly interface, and basic editing tools let you crop, rotate, and straighten images to achieve the desired composition. Additionally, you can adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and colour balance to improve the overall look of your photos.
Features of Photos App for Windows
It comes with a versatile pack of filters including vintage, black and white, sepia, and more, to give your photos a unique and personalised touch.\
Intelligent algorithms power this app to enhance your photos by adjusting to optimise exposure, colour balance, and other parameters, helping your photos look their best effortlessly.
You can effortlessly add text captions or annotations to your photos using the text tool in the Photos app.
You can use it for Red-Eye Removal and Blemish Retouching, which is very handy in portrait photography.
Images App seamlessly integrates with OneDrive to save your pictures and easily share them with others.
Pros
Filters and Effects
Automatic Enhancements
Integration with OneDrive
User-Friendly Interface
Cons
Lack of Specialized Editing tools
Limited file format support
4. Adobe Lightroom
If you don't want to start with Photoshop immediately, this software will be helpful. Adobe Lightroom is a fantastic option if you're trying out new things, including finding the right look for your photos or performing the necessary touch-up with less work than learning a difficult application.
Overview of Adobe Lightroom
Lightroom is a product of Adobe, and it is a professional-grade photo editing software used by professionals across the globe. It has powerful features to enhance, edit, and manage digital photographs. Lightroom is known for its versatility, user-friendly interface, and comprehensive features tailored specifically for photographers.
Features of Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom is a complete photo editing software from basic adjustments like exposure, colour, and tone to more advanced features such as selective editing, gradient filters, and precise retouching.
Its non-destructive editing workflow keeps your original image untouched while all the edits and adjustments are stored as metadata.
It has one of the best and most efficient photo organisations using keywording, tagging, and rating systems.
It also allows your photos and edits across multiple devices, including Android and iOS smartphones, making it convenient to edit, share, and showcase your work wherever you go.
It seamlessly integrates with other Adobe products, allowing a seamless workflow between editing, retouching, and further enhancing your images.
Pros
Comprehensive Editing Tools
Raw Imaging Processing
Efficient Photo Organization
Non-Destructive Editing
Cons
Subscription-based model
Requires high-end PC
5. Fotor
Most people know the advantages of utilizing Fotor and how it may help you get the greatest outcomes. To help you achieve the finest outcomes, the Fotor provides both fundamental and sophisticated editing requirements.
Additionally, Fotor offers an online editing option. This will enable you to access quick editing choices from various devices or your PC. The Fotor picture editing tools are quick to use and don't require much time.
Overview of Fotor
Fotor is a versatile and comprehensive photo editing and design software that caters to the needs of both beginners and advanced users. It has stunning features offering a wide array of adjustments, filters, effects, and retouching options, allowing users to fine-tune every aspect of their images. Moreover, it comes with a batch-processing feature that will enable users to simultaneously apply edits or effects to multiple photos, saving time and effort.
Features of Fotor
Fotor has many editing tools, including basic adjustments, filters, effects, retouching options, and more.
It offers one-click enhancement features that allow users to enhance their photos with just a single click quickly.
With its collage tool, you can create stunning photo collages with customisable templates and layouts.
It supports batch processing allowing you to edit multiple photos in one go saving you time and effort.
It has pre-designed templates for social media posts, posters, invitations, etc.
Pros
Batch Processing
Easy Collage creation
User-friendly interface
Cons
Watermark in the Free version
Limited Advanced Editing Features
6. Darktable
The Darktable supports a variety of formats. You can even support a wide variety of image formats while editing photos. Darktable makes filtering and sorting much simpler, and editing photos is incredibly quick. One factor that enables you to have a fantastic experience is zero latency. Darktable additionally offers a variety of tone image settings for a fantastic working experience.
Overview of Darktable
Darktable is a free, open-source photo editing software very commonly used by photographers around the globe. It is designed with a non-destructive editing workflow, allowing users to precisely adjust their photos without altering the original image data. It has powerful RAA image editing capabilities and efficient image organisation features. From exposure adjustments and colour correction to lens correction and noise reduction, it equips its users with the best possible tools. It provides a flexible image management system, allowing you to organise, rate, and tag your photos for efficient workflow management.
Features and Benefits
Darktable offers comprehensive editing tools, including exposure and tone adjustments, colour correction, noise reduction, lens correction, and advanced masking options.
Its RAW image processing is powerful and lets you enhance RAW files with precision and control.
One of the best features of Darktable is the flexible and customisable image management system, allowing users to organise, rate, and tag their photos for efficient workflow management.
It features a non-destructible workflow in various formats while retaining the non-destructive editing history, providing flexibility for further adjustments.
Pros
Open Source
Potent Raw Editing
Supports Non Destructive Workflow
Cons
Requires GPU
Limited Plugin Support
7. Photopea
It is a free designing software called Photopea. It is excellent for both amateurs & experts. Since the application is entirely online, you won't have to install software on your computer to test it. To start, go to the website and generate a new project or open a file from your computer.
Overview of Photopea
Photopea is a powerful and versatile web-based image editing tool that has gained significant popularity among graphic designers, photographers, and digital art enthusiasts. It is equipped with an intuitive and familiar user interface. It offers a wide range of tools and functions, empowering users to accomplish various tasks related to image editing, manipulation, and design. Photopea is more than just a photo editor because you can work with vector graphics, create animations, and handle RAW files.
Features of Photopea
Vector graphics editing capabilities, including shape creation, path manipulation, and text editing.
It supports working with layers, masks, blending modes, and advanced selection tools.
Extensive filters, effects, and adjustment layers exist for enhancing and stylising images.
It also supports integration with various cloud storage services, enabling seamless file management and collaboration.
Using the web-based software, you can work on Photopea on different platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Photopea supports non-destructive editing techniques, preserving the original image and facilitating easy revisions.
Pros:
Since the application is entirely online, and your computer doesn't need to be downloaded.
The tools are many of the same, and the interface is comparable to Photoshop.
Cons:
It won't be easy to use if you aren't already accustomed to the accessible tools.
It's not the ideal choice for novices because of this.
8. Coral PaintShop Pro
You can think about Corel PaintShop Pro if you're extremely ambitious. It's a fantastic software application with many features that will enable you to achieve your professional goals. This application requires some initial learning, but if you're the sort to practise until there's nothing left to learn, you'll quickly become proficient.
Overview of Coral Painshop Pro
Corel PaintShop Pro is a powerful and feature-rich image editing and graphic design software providing a comprehensive set of tools and functionalities for users to edit, enhance, and manipulate photos and create stunning visual designs. It has a wide range of editing tools, including cropping, resizing, retouching, and colour correction, allowing users to make precise image adjustments. One standout feature is the RAW editing directly from various camera models.
Features of Corel Paintshop Pro
It offers decent editing tools, including image manipulation, cropping, resizing, retouching, and colour correction.
PaintShop Pro allows users to import and edit images directly from various camera models with maximum control and flexibility.
Corel PaintShop Pro will enable you to work with layers and masks, providing advanced editing capabilities and the ability to create complex compositions.
Some advanced features like High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging and panorama stitching enable users to create stunning, immersive visuals.
It supports batch processing, where you can edit multiple images simultaneously.
Pros
Integration with Corel products
Impressive RAW file processing
Extensive feature set
Support HDR and Panorama Stitching
Cons
Supports Windows only
Difficult to use for beginners
9. Coral AfterShot Pro
This software's capacity for multi-version editing makes it ideal for beginners. With such a tool, you can experiment with various effects and editing options without compromising the integrity of your original photograph.
Overview of Corel AfterShot Pro
Corel AfterShot Pro is a powerful application for photographers seeking efficient and flexible photo editing and organisation capabilities. Unlike other photo editors, AfterShot features an advanced non-destructive workflow where custom edits are applied to a separate layer, leaving the original image intact and allowing for easy adjustment and experimentation. Its photo management tool will enable photographers to organise, tag, and search for images using customisable metadata.
Features of Corel AfterShot Pro
Utilising its utter support for RAW processing, it allows editors to work with maximum data and flexibility, ensuring optimal image quality during the editing.
It has advanced adjustment tools, including exposure adjustments, white balance correction, noise reduction, sharpening, tone and colour adjustments, curves, and more.
Like its competitors, AfterShot Pro supports batch processing, saving time while minimising efforts.
It offers excellent plugin support that lets photographers customise and enhance their editing capabilities based on their specific needs and preferences.
It supports multiple languages, ensuring accessibility and ease of use for photographers from various regions.
Pros
Advanced Non Destructive workflow
Third-party plugin availability
Efficient photo Management tool
Supports batch processing
Cons
Not available for Linux
Limited content creation features
10. Pixlr
It is another excellent free graphic creation programme. Pixlr X is a choice and more sophisticated photo editor for instant and simple graphic creation. It has all the important tools for graphic design, such as text, effects, filters, and other aspects.
Overview of Pixlr
Pixlr is a feature-rich and accessible photo editing software that caters to beginners and advanced users. It is a full fledge editing software offering comprehensive editing capabilities, cropping and colour correction to advanced features such as layers and blending modes. It has an eye-catching user interface that a beginner can easily navigate and start using instantly. In short, Pixlr empowers you to create captivating visuals that will leave a lasting impression.
Features of Pixlr
It offers 360-degree photo editing services, from basic adjustments like cropping and colour correction to advanced features such as layers, blending modes, and retouching.
One amazing feature is the On-the-go editing on your smartphone, allowing you to seamlessly edit, save, and share your photos across all your devices.
It seamlessly integrates with cloud storage like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, making it easy to work with your files without hassle.
Pixlr is designed with an intuitive interface that caters to beginners and experienced users.
It offers a free version with impressive capabilities and a premium version with additional features.
Pros
Mobile Accessibility
Cloud Integration
User-Friendly Interface
Cons
Requires Internet
Performance issues with large files
FAQs
How does free photo software compare to paid options?
The choice between free and paid photo software depends on individual requirements, budget, and the level of functionality and support needed. Free software can be suitable for basic editing needs, while paid options are preferred for professionals or those seeking advanced features and comprehensive support.
Can free photo software handle professional-level editing tasks?
While free photo software can offer a wide range of editing tools and capabilities, they may sometimes provide different functionality and precision than professional-grade paid software. Free options often have limitations regarding advanced features, specialised tools, and workflow efficiency that professional photographers or designers may require for complex editing tasks.
Is it legal to use free photo software for commercial purposes?
It depends on the specific software's terms and licenses. If the free software is released under open-source licenses like GNU, it generally allows commercial usage as long as you comply with the terms of the license.
Summary
Photo editing might be a profession for some but a hobby for others. Therefore, having a reputable photo editor on your PC is mandatory. While there are tons of paid tools, we have explained some of the best Free Photo Software you can use to enhance your images. Some of these free photo editing software for PC is free, while others are paid. If you are starting your photo editing journey, we recommend you use a free tool like WPS Office.
WPS Office is a free Office Productivity software that lets you perform basic level photo editing like crop and resize images, use pre-defined filters and effects, adjust brightness and exposure, change the saturation or apply grayscale effects, and add image borders and frames. Try this free tool and you will enjoy using it.
