If you have a Mac computer and want to edit your photos online but don’t know which free online photo editing tool to use, then this article is for you. You will find some great free online photo editing tool reviews that make it easy for you to decide which is the best one for your needs. Some of these tools are very similar and allow you to do very much the same things so you need to choose the one that is most user friendly for you.
In this review, I will guide you through the best software for Mac.
GIMP
Where you can use it: Browsers for Mac, Windows, Linux
Why we love it: GIMP — short for GNU Image Manipulation Program — has long been a contender for the best free image editor. In fact, it’s been consistently ranked the best free photo editor for Mac, or close to it, since not long after its debut in 1996(!). Originally developed for Linux, this open-source online image editor provides a rich array of tools, with capabilities for everything from image retouching to image format conversion to drawing and graphics creation. The interface echoes Photoshop in many ways, so if you’re used to Adobe software, you’ll find it easy to switch to GIMP.
What could be improved: Because of the open-source, volunteer-run nature of the program, there are occasional bugs that you wouldn’t see in professionally developed software. But that’s not nearly enough to knock it off our list of the best free photo editing software for Mac.
Fotor
Where you can use it: Mac, Windows, Linux
Why we love it: Fotor is designed to be a straightforward, easy-to-use photo editing platform with one-touch results. At that, it succeeds brilliantly. The filters are designed to punch up your photos with a single click, and they yield impressive results. What really secures Fotor’s place on our list of the best photo editing software for Mac is the batch processing. Use it to apply the same filter to a big group of photos — maybe those beach shots that all came out so darn overexposed — and do all the color correcting you need in one fell swoop. (Techradar has all the nitty-gritty details on Fotor in their review.)
What could be improved: There’s a downside to Fotor being as sleek and intuitive as it is, and that’s a lack of high-end features. If you need to do highly detailed retouching with a clone brush, for example, you’ll need to look to another Mac photo editor. We’re also not crazy about the ads in this free photo editor, but you can pay for the Pro version for a cleaner experience.
Picktorial
Where you can use it: Mac
Why we love it: Now on version 4.0, Picktorial is free photo editing software with a suite of impressive features. The built-in photo organization tool is a nice touch, and the filters and effects hold their own against more expensive photo editing programs. Picktorial can even be used as an extension to Apple Photos, so you can use it to complement one of our other picks.
What could be improved: To really get the most out of this Mac photo editor, you’ll need to shell out for the Premium version (currently $9.99/month, or a one-time fee of $69.99). And although this is a ranking of the best free photo editing software for Mac, we do hate to leave our Windows brethren behind. We have to dock some points for the lack of cross-platform compatibility.
Affinity Photo
Where you can use it: Mac, Windows, iPad
Why we love it: Affinity is jam-packed with professional-grade features: focus merge, photo stitching, PSD import and export, masks, filters, non-destructive editing — the whole kit and kaboodle. (And, although not every photographer will have a use for it, we have to mention that the Affinity brush engine is stunning.) Admittedly, the “free” part of this “free photo editor” is only a trial. But try it out and you might find it hard to let go.
What could be improved: We’ll be honest: The learning curve is pretty steep here. As a Mac photo editor, Affinity Photo is not for the easily intimidated. If you’re willing to put in the time to get comfortable with the less-than-intuitive interface, though, the rewards can be great.
Google Photos
Where you can use it: Browsers on Mac and Windows, and as an app for Android and iOS
Why we love it: Google Photos is a straightforward but efficient online photo editor. The cloud-based photo organization system is a huge plus, as is the 15GB of free storage. We’re also impressed by the limited, but still useful, filters and basic editing tools.
What could be improved: For an online image editor, it’s a shame that the size limit on images is relatively small (only 16 MP). And it would be nice to have a desktop version instead of being restricted to the browser. Nonetheless, Google Photos still ranks among the best free photo editors out there.
Pixlr X
Where you can use it: Browsers on Mac and Windows, and as an app for Android and iOS
Why we love it: This easy breezy little online photo editor is surprisingly powerful, considering that it’s about as beginner-friendly as they come. The slider-based adjustments and filters make it easy to tinker with your photos and get the right look without a lot of technical know-how. Pixlr X is somewhat unique among online image editors in that it doesn’t use Flash, which is both a good thing (in terms of security) and a not-so-good thing (in terms of the more limited functionality).
What could be improved: Expect a pretty significant amount of downsizing when you save your file with this online photo editor. You shouldn’t have any problems if you just plan to share your images on social media, but you won’t want to rely on this free photo editor for full-size prints.
GIMP Photo Editor
GIMP – also known as the GNU Image Manipulation Program – features a surprisingly well-rounded amassing of complex and basic photo editing tools that rival those of Photoshop and similar paid programs.
Unlike other editing products, GIMP software doesn’t offer tiered features or subscriptions to the platform. Simply download the free version of the photo editing platform to access a vast assortment of high-quality editing tools, including:
- Adjustable brushes
- Auto-enhanceable features
- Custom color adjustment and gradient tools
- Advanced animation capabilities
While the base software comes well-stocked with flexible features like layer editing functions, masking, and effects, you can also download free plugins created by other GIMP users. Further, the software’s customizable layout and ongoing developments ensure that it stays on pace with rival platforms like Photoshop.
That said, while you can access the platform’s wide array of tools, GIMP falls short in one significant area: user optimization. The loaded interface often feels overwhelming, while beginners and intermediate editors may struggle to find solutions for complicated editing techniques.
Navigating the cluttered editing platform may prove difficult as well, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the whole gamut of editing features available to you. Additionally, GIMP offers very little help for their users outside of the community discussion panels.
Best Features:
- Comprehensive line-up of editing tools
- Quick interface customization
- Easy expansion using community-created plugins or written code
Movavi Picverse
Movavi Picverse has built its reputation on one key function: quickly and easily removing unwanted objects from your pictures. While beginners can cut distracting or disruptive elements from their photos, even the most inexperienced users may feel that Movavi’s actual editing features fall short of expectations.
The minimalistic interface makes it easy to clear the background of your photos. Simply select the object you want to remove, then click “Remove” for a flawless finish. The software also offers a simplified alternative to AI-powered background removal: Users can upload images into the platform then clip and insert elements from one photo into another.
Beyond object removal and element movement, however, the software features a limited array of tools. You can adjust the size and orientation of your photo using the crop, rotate, level, and resize features or apply stylistic filters such as sepia, black and white, and oil painting.
Movavi also provides users with a few photo adjustment options. It allows you to manually tweak the color, brightness, contrast, and saturation of your photo, apply Magic Enhance for one-click edits, or add text, titles, and captions for fully customized photos.
Movavi’s focus on object removal has limited its offerings, at least in the basic Photo Editor software. While you can upgrade to the Photo Studio package for more options, you will have to pay a monthly subscription for that premium version. Additionally, the software features limited sorting and organization tools that don’t measure up with AI-powered processing technology like PhotoDirector’s.
Best Features:
- Powerful element removal features
- Beginner-friendly editing capabilities
- Simplistic, compact design without an overwhelming number of options
BeFunky
When considering the best free photo editing software, Windows users can’t forget BeFunky. The free version of the photo editor offers many of the tools, features, and functions beginners need to enhance photos, adjust color and lighting, and create customizable collages or graphics.
With ten photo editing modules from which to choose, you can quickly browse through the software’s editing interface to alter template layouts, upload images, and make minor tweaks. While the free version will only allow you to access about one-third of the platform’s tools, novice users may enjoy the simplified functionality. However, proficient editors will likely wish for more options – and far fewer advertisements.
BeFunky organizes its tools into three different tabs – Essentials, Blur & Smooth, and Miscellaneous – with the most commonly used editing tools in the “Essentials” menu. Upgrading to BeFunky’s premium subscription will unlock features such as cutout tools, background replacement, color replacement, and other highly impactful editing functions. Still, the free software will allow you to manually adjust elements such as:
- Exposure
- Fill light
- Vibrance
- Clarity
- Blur edges
- And more!
BeFunky does lack many useful features and the functionality of a fully-loaded editing suite like PhotoDirector.
Best Features:
- Streamlined drag-and-drop interface
- Customizable collage templates and presets
- Full integration with Unsplash and Pixabay for free stock images
Conclusion
As we can see, there are many excellent alternatives to Adobe’s Photoshop CC, and all of them boast a variety of tools to help you achieve professional-looking results. Not only that, but some of the best photo editing software for Mac comes free with your Mac OS X. Take a look at the other options and see which ones would work best for you.