The 14 Best Free Photo Editing Apps For Mac

While professional photographers may want to invest in editing software, paying to edit great photos isn’t always necessary. There are plenty of free photo editing apps for Mac you can download or access online. These programs allow you to edit, organize, and store photos and graphics, though they won’t all suit everyone. Let’s look at the best free editing software and the best uses for each.

The Best Free Photo Editing Software For Mac

Image	Product	Features	Price
Best Overall	Darktable	Allows non-destructive editing Familiar and simple interface A good amount of adjustments and tools Easy batch editing	Download Now
Runner Up	Raw Therapee	Advanced raw file processing Allows for precise adjustments Decent batch editing capabilities	Download Now
	Polarr	User-friendly interface A wide array of filters and adjustments Simple and efficient editing experience Convenient export options	Download Now
	Photoscape X	Versatile editing tools Additional creative adjustments Great batch processing capabilities	Download Now
Best For Beginners	Pixlr	User-friendly interface An impressive amount of editing options Great for beginners and social media Familiar interface for Photoshop users	Download Now
	Fotor	Sleek, easy-to-use interface Wide range of filters and templates Great for both beginners and intermediate users	Download Now
	Canva	Versatile design tools Extensive template and graphic library User-friendly interface	Download Now
	Adobe Express	Simplified interface Basic editing tools Suitable for beginners and casual users Familiar to Adobe users	Download Now
Best Advanced Tools	Photopea	An extensive array of adjustments and tools  Familiar interface for Photoshop users Supports various file formats Advanced editing features such as layers and masking	Download Now
	GIMP	A vast array of adjustments and tools Advanced editing capabilities such as layers and masking Supports various file formats Decent batch editing abilities	Download Now
Best For Casual Use	Apple Photos	User-friendly interface Seamless integration with Apple devices Basic editing options Great for personal use	Download Now
	Google Photos	Simple and intuitive interface Cloud-based storage and organization A few photo editing options Excellent for personal use	Download Now
	Krita	Simple and intuitive interface Cloud-based storage and organization Some photo editing options Extensive digital painting capabilities	Download Now
	Movavi Photo Editor	Simple and intuitive interface Cloud-based storage and organization A good amount of standard editing options Old photo restoration and colorization	Download Now

1. Darktable

Darktable allows users to make basic edits like exposure and color correction, as well as a few more advanced edits. You can apply filters or add effects like grain, vignette, or graduated density. The interface is simple enough, and beginners won’t have much trouble locating what they need.

You can access and edit a large set of metadata for your photos. Batch editing is straightforward, and users can easily edit multiple images at once by applying filters or edits. While there is no way to work with layers, you can make localized edits using the brush, radial, and gradient masks. This makes Darktable a solid option for amateur and more advanced photographers looking for a free photo editing alternative. 

2. Raw Therapee

Raw Therapee provides users with basic adjustments and more advanced options, such as color grading and noise reduction. The program allows batch editing of multiple raw files efficiently and even provides a way to save settings to apply to photos later on. 

Raw Therapee’s user interface can be overwhelming or unclear for newcomers. However, advanced photographers will appreciate how well Raw Therapee works with raw files (the name doesn’t lie!) and offers more precise adjustments than other free apps, such as in-depth color editing capabilities. Raw Therapee also provides the interesting ability to take snapshots of your image as you’re editing so that you can return to different points in the editing process history.

Raw Therapee is a solid alternative to paid editors, particularly with amateur photographers or even more advanced editors looking to make advanced edits to raw files.

3. Polarr 

Polarr provides a wide array of tools and filters that can be applied easily to improve photos. While it lacks some advanced features that are available in other editing programs, Polarr provides a straightforward interface with a sleek and intuitive work experience for beginners and casual photographers.

Polarr has a size limit, so you may struggle to upload larger raw files, meaning Polarr might not be the best option for professional photographers. Polarr’s batch editing abilities are also limited compared to other programs, but the program does offer convenient export options. 

Overall, Polarr is best for users who want a simple and intuitive editing experience but don’t need many advanced editing options. You can access Polarr directly on the web, but you won’t find a mobile version.

4. Photoscape X

Photoscape X offers many basic editing features, filters, effects, retouching options, and even additional tools for creating collages and GIFs. The interface is user-friendly and relatively easy to navigate, with everything well labeled. The program offers simple batch editing, allowing users to quickly process multiple photos simultaneously. 

Photoscape X may not offer the same level of precision as some other programs, especially regarding advanced editing, as the controls are pretty basic. The program’s size limits also may mean that raw images must be resized before uploading. Therefore, Photoscape X is best for users who want various editing adjustments and additional creative tools but won’t need to make professional edits to photos.

5. Pixlr

Pixlr is a free photo editing program for Mac that offers a range of tools and effects to edit images directly on the web. You can use the different editors Pixlr offers to edit photos or create graphic designs. The simple interface is accessible to beginners and casual users and will be familiar to users who have worked with Photoshop before.

Pixlr offers a decent amount of options for standard editing tasks, such as cropping, resizing, color adjustments, and filters. You can even work with layers in Pixlr and upload and apply basic edits, filters, and adjustments to multiple images simultaneously. Pixlr also offers an additional Animation section with tools to create gifs and animate your pictures. 

You can use Pixlr for photo editing, social media graphics, making gifs, and animating photos and graphics. Furthermore, more experienced photographers will enjoy the number of advanced editing functions Pixlr offers.

6. Fotor

Fotor is a web-based editor providing a variety of editing tools and effects as well as a wide range of preset filters and templates. Fotor offers a sleek, user-friendly interface that makes it easy for beginners and intermediate users to learn and use. There are many options for making basic edits, such as exposure adjustments, cropping, and retouching. You can also batch edit in Fotor.

However, Fotor may not offer the same advanced editing capabilities as professional software. You cannot edit photos beyond the exposure, detail, and basic color adjustments. Fotor is best used for making basic photo edits, creating collages, and retouching or enhancing pictures for social media.

7. Canva

Canva is a versatile program offering in-app and online versions primarily used for graphic design and content creation. It provides a wide range of templates, fonts, graphics, editing tools, and an intuitive, user-friendly interface that requires no prior experience.

Canva’s photo editing options are pretty basic compared to most photo editing programs, but it offers some tools for adjustments and enhancements to color and exposure. Canva’s batch editing abilities are limited as the program primarily focuses on creating graphics, and there are limits to the import and export size.

Canva is an excellent program for beginners and professionals looking to create beautiful graphics. However, photographers should look elsewhere, as Canva won’t provide everything needed when editing photos.

8. Adobe Express

Adobe Express, also known as Adobe Photoshop Express, provides users with a simplified version of Adobe Photoshop. It offers a straightforward and intuitive interface and a decent amount of options for making fundamental photo edits, making it accessible to photographers and editors of all skill levels.

However, it does lack the advanced features and precise control level found in the full version of Photoshop. Its batch editing abilities are minimal as well. Adobe Express is best used for quick and simple edits and for preparing images for social media. Photographers looking for more control over the appearance of their pictures will likely prefer a program with more editing tools.

9. Photopea

Photopea is a free online photo editor offering a wide range of editing tools and features that is often compared to Adobe Photoshop. It provides a similar interface and functionality, making it easy for anyone familiar with Photoshop. The program supports various file formats and sizes and offers an impressive amount of more advanced editing options, such as layers, masks, and filters. 

The learning curve for Photopea can be high for beginners without prior experience with Photoshop. Photopea has some solid batch editing options, allowing you to save actions to apply to other photos and edit multiple images directly from their online interface. Therefore, Photopea is best for more experienced photographers looking to make in-depth edits to their pictures.

10. GIMP

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is another free program offering a comprehensive set of tools for image retouching, editing, and making creative adjustments to photos. GIMP supports layers, masks, filters, and a wide range of file formats and offers decent batch editing capabilities.

However, the workspace and interface can overwhelm beginners and aren’t sleek or straightforward. The learning curve with GIMP can be steep as many advanced adjustments and tools exist. GIMP is best suited for more advanced users interested in high-level photo editing and graphic design.

11. Apple Photos

Apple Photos is the default photo organization program that comes with Mac operating systems. The program offers basic editing options, such as cropping, filters, basic adjustments to exposure and color, and many photo storage and sharing options. The interface is clean and user-friendly. Apple Photos integrates easily with other Apple devices and iCloud, allowing seamless syncing and access to photos across your devices. 

Apple Photos lacks many of the basic and advanced editing capabilities, and most photographers will likely prefer to use a program with more options. Apple Photos is best used for organizing and performing quick edits on personal photos.

12. Google Photos

Google Photos is a cloud-based program that lets you store, organize, and make simple edits to your photos. The workspace and storage interface is simple and intuitive, making it easy to upload, organize, edit, and share pictures. 

Google Photos editing options are sparse; you won’t find much more advanced than cropping tools, filters, and exposure adjustments. Still, the cloud-based feature allows you to access and share photos across devices. 

Google Photos is best used for photo storage, organization, and making quick edits. Most photographers, even beginners, will likely need a program with more options to edit their photos.

13. Krita

Krita is a free program primarily made for creative editing and digital painting. It offers a wide range of brushes, layers, and advanced editing tools suitable for professional artists and illustrators. 

Krita has a user-friendly interface, but its wide variety of tools and customization settings may have a high learning curve for beginners. While Krita features a decent amount of options for editing photos, including simple adjustments, filters, and effects, Krita is best used for digital painting, artistic editing, and creating illustrations.

14. Movavi Photo Editor For Mac

Movavi Photo Editor for Mac is a user-friendly editing program that provides various tools for basic photo enhancements with a straightforward interface, making it easy for beginners to navigate and learn. It offers standard features like cropping, rotating, retouching, and applying filters and more advanced tools that more experienced photographers will appreciate, such as object removal and background changing tools.

Movavi lacks advanced capabilities featured in other photo editing software, such as working with layers, so professional photographers and those looking for more control over their photos might prefer another option. Movavi is best used for quick and simple edits, enhancing photos, and retouching images for social media.

With so many free options, be sure to try out a couple of programs that catch your eye and see what works best for you. Some of these programs can be quite complex if you’re a beginner, which might be overkill for what you need. Using Adobe Express, Canva, Apple Photos, or Google Photos is likely your best bet if you want a simple get-it-done photo editor. However, if you want more control over your adjustments with some better options to organize files, Darktable should be your pick.

Happy editing!