Best 10 FREE Photo Editing Software in 2021 for Windows, Mac & Linux

If you're looking for a free photo editor and you don't want to purchase expensive software like Photoshop, you have many choices today I will show you the top 10 photo editing software that you can use for free on your computer. 

Each of these programs can perform the basic tasks of enhancing your photos to make them look amazing and some of these include advanced features similar to Photoshop that should satisfy your image creating and editing needs.

1. GIMP

GIMP is the absolute best free image and photo editing software that you can get. This open-source program was initially released in 1996 and is packed with features often found inexpensive software. 

There's a massive set of tools on the left in the toolbox on the right you can find your layer and brush options in the menu bar there are a lot more settings that you can mess with. 

It's advised when learning to use that you watch tutorials there are some available on their site and several good ones can be found on YouTube.

• GIMP is available on Windows, Linux, and Mac.

For Windows - CLICK HERE

For Mac OS - CLICK HERE

For Linux - CLICK HERE

2. Paint.net

Paint.net was created many years ago as a more powerful alternative for Microsoft Paint even though it's not as feature-rich as Photoshop it does feature a solid set of advanced tools including layers, filters, and effects that will give your image a whole new look. You can also download plugins - add new effects, adjustments, and file types to paint.net that were created by the community.

Paint.net is available for windows 7 or newer it can be downloaded for free with the option to donate to the developer on their site. You can also support the developer by purchasing it from the Windows Store.

• For Windows - CLICK HERE

3. Pixlr

Pixlrwithout the need to install a program on your computer. Two of their web apps that I recommend are our Pixlr Editor and Pixlr Xpress. 

Pixlr Xpress is an easy-to-use photo editor like Photoshop Xpress. Along the bottom, it offers several adjustments including crop, resizes, color, red-eye, and several others. There are some cool effects, overlays, borders,s stickers, and the ability to add text to your image. If you want to quickly edit your photos I would recommend using Pixlr Xpress over Pixlr editor but if you want more tools at your disposal and I would recommend Pixlr editor.

If you prefer to work with server-based programs Pixlr editor and Xpress are both excellent choices for editing your images without the need to download any software.

• For Pixlr Editor - CLICK HERE

• Pixlr Xpress - CLICK HERE

4. Krita

This free and open-source program is designed primarily for digital painting and animation purposes. So it has a higher learning curve than the others mentioned. There are plenty of features available for image editings such as brushes, masking tools, filters, effects, and many more. 

With the program open you'll find most of the tools you'll be working with along the left side. On the right is the advanced color selector along with the ability to quickly add new layers. Pressing the tab key on your keyboard enlarges your image getting rid of the sidebars giving you more space to work with. If you need help learning how to use their program they offer tutorials on their side. 

• Krita is available for Windows Mac and Linux

For Windows - CLICK HERE

For Mac OS - CLICK HERE

For Linux - CLICK HERE

5. PhotoScape

PhotoScape has tons of features to enhance your photos, there are filters, effects, and tools to transform your image. You can also create animated gifs collages and has several bad options for working with multiple images.

When you launch photoscape it shows you most of the tools that you can use along with tutorials. When editing your photo you'll find all the tools in the upper right, just like the other programs that I'll show you it's just a matter of trying out the different tools to make everything perfect.

Photo Escape is free and they do offer a pro version with extra features for around $40 but for most people, the toolset available in the free version will be all that they need.

• PhotoScape is available for Windows and Mac

For Windows - CLICK HERE

For Mac OS - CLICK HERE

6. Adobe Photoshop Express

For those of you wanting a quick and easy solution for editing your photos. In Photoshop Express you will find tools along the left including filters, cropping options. including those for your social media accounts several lighting effects, along with red-eye, border effects, and a spot heal tool. 

• Adobe Photoshop Express is available for Windows and Mac.

For Windows - CLICK HERE

For Mac OS - CLICK HERE

7. Inkscape

This open-source vector editor has a huge toolset for graphic and web designers. It's so feature-packed it can do just about everything that an illustrator can and best of all it's completely free. 

There are tools for object creation and manipulation of various filters including overlays, textures, and bevels, and it's perfectly compliant with the SVG file format including support for pdf, eps, cdr, and the AI Adobe illustrator file types.

• Inkscape is available for Windows, Linux, and mac os.

For Windows - CLICK HERE

For Mac OS - CLICK HERE

For Linux - CLICK HERE

8. Canva

Canva is free graphic design software that can be used by anyone with basic computer skills. It includes templates for social media posts, presentations, flyers, posters, invitations, cards, and more. 

The program has a drag-and-drop tool that allows users to customize designs to their own needs without needing any previous experience with design programs.

Canva's photo editor makes it easy for users to edit their photos by choosing different filters or adding text or shapes over them before exporting the picture onto social media platforms such as  Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram.

• For Canva - CLICK HERE 

9. Photo Pos Pro

With specific versions for professional and novice photo editors alike, Photo POS Pro is a free photo editing software that you download to your computer. Remove backgrounds and unwanted objects, apply color correction, and create borders and overlays.

With specific versions for professional and novice photo editors alike, Photo POS Pro is a free photo editing software that you download to your computer. Remove backgrounds and unwanted objects, apply color correction, and create borders and overlays.

• Photo Pos Express is available only for Windows

For Windows - CLICK HERE

10. Fotor

Fotor is a free photo editor that's ideal for giving your pictures a boost quickly. Fotor is a photo editor that can both edit and create pictures. It gives you a diverse set of tools to edit your photos with different effects.

• Fotor is available for Windows and Mac.

For Windows - CLICK HERE

For Mac OS - CLICK HERE

 If you'd like to recommend a photo or image editor not mentioned let us know about it in the comments.