Best Mac Photo Editing Software Applications to Use in 2025!

Mac photo editing software application opens endless possibilities for photographers, designers, enthusiasts, etc. These software applications are capable of providing you with extensive features that can help control numerous aspects of the image at your disposal. Read More

Best Photo Editing Software Applications For Mac - From Basic Features to Advanced Functionalities!

What Puts it On the List

Affinity Photo 2 is known for its quality. Currently, it showcases a redesigned interface, powerful non-destructive features, and a vast library of customizable tools.
Top Features
- Powerful new features to control aspects like luminosity, compound mask, etc.
- Works with all the basic image formats
- Productivity tools like unlimited layer, layer groups, etc.
- RAW image processing
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Elevate your photo editing experience with Affinity Photo 2. The MacBook photo editing software has been a top choice for many creatives around the world. The award-winning app has redefined the image editing domain with exceptional quality and value.

Affinity Photo 2 has a freshly redesigned UI. It includes revamped tools and button icons making the app easy to use and navigable. Plus, there are new features added to this best free photo editor for Mac. For example, non-destructive RAW develops, luminosity masks, compound masks, and more.

It delivers robust productivity features. Features that provide unlimited layers for editing, savable undo history, and recordable macros. With a vast library of brushes, customizable effects, and pattern layers, it is a great tool to download. So, go for it!

What Puts it On the List

Photoscape X is chosen for its comprehensive editing tools like batch editing and AI background removal. Also, with a user-friendly interface, it is ideal for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Top Features
- Editor with features like rotation, color adjustment, 3D effects, etc.
- Merge multiple photos to create collages
- Image merge capabilities to turn multiple images into a single
- Photo slicing into several pieces
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Want to fix a blurry shot, create a collage, or more, well, Photoscape X is the best photo editing software for Mac.

With its user-friendly interface, the tool makes photo editing a breeze. It has all the basic functionalities like rotation, resizing, cropping, and adjusting color. In fact, it even works similarly to many AI background remover tools, effectively erasing unwanted elements.

But, that's not all! PhotoScape X offers batch editing capabilities. So, if you apply the same edit to multiple shots, it will apply them at once. Also, it has other features like a color picker, screen capture, and macro recording. It basically fills up the entire catalog of things you'll need to unleash your creativity.

So, you can be a professional photographer or someone who loves taking pictures, and this app can sort you out. It can help you enhance your photos and unleash creativity in ways never imagined.

What Puts it On the List

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom delivers powerful editing and organizing capabilities. Plus, it can seamlessly sync across devices, has an extensive preset library, and beginner-friendly tutorials.
Top Features
- Offers quick actions to instantly improve image quality
- Blur effect to get the perfect portraits
- Correct HDR, texture, and grains on the image
- Multiple AI features to remove, blur, mask, etc.
- Pro mode for your Android phone
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I have been a hobbyist photographer for more than a decade. So, to get the right tonality for my image and make it look more impressive, I have dabbled with a few Instagram photo editing apps to get my posts right. However, Adobe Lightroom is something that I have been using for more than 5 years, and I can tell you it is the best app to color grade anything.

Lightroom offers you a gallery of images that you have edited or simply uploaded to the tool. You get all the essential features like crop and edit that are so multifaceted that they will let you manipulate every grain on your image. For instance, for cropping, you can rotate, change the angle to meet the guiding lines, change the aspect ratio, etc. And, for editing, you get features to control brightness, contrast, whites, blacks, temperature correction, texture, and a lot more.

In fact, the tool offers a plethora of presets for choosing default image settings. You also get to fix the optics of an image. But the great part is that each of the things that I mentioned is completely free. Adobe Lightroom also offers a premium subscription that brings you more control to completely transform your initial image/video. Also, if you are still adamant about using it for free, I have been using it for years, and you can too.

What Puts it On the List

Movavi Photo Editor has an intuitive interface, powerful AI tools, seamless background removal, and extensive retouching options. Also, it delivers a plethora of advanced features that can transform your photos.
Top Features
- Advanced and basic photo editing filters
- Hosts a set of user-friendly tools for beginners
- Supports multiple and popular graphic formats
- Supports image restoration with neural networks
- Automatic photo enhancement in just one click with AI
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Black-and-photos and videos are timeless and hold a special memory of our past. However, filling them with vibrant colors will add to their visual appeal and aesthetics. If you are a beginner looking for a simple tool for restoring photos, Movavi is the perfect solution for you. Its robust set of tools enables professional-quality editing and restoration in the most convenient manner.

It is suitable for removing all the unnecessary tools from the frame and is among the best AI photo editing apps available for mobile devices. With its simple yet extremely powerful tools for image editing and colorizing, Movavi makes for the top choice of many consumers worldwide.

What Puts it On the List

Fotor is selected for its ease of use, versatile editing features, extensive template library, and more. It is a suitable tool for both professionals and beginners making it a top choice on our list.
Top Features
- All-in-one photo editing and graphic design platform
- Professional-grade editing tools and filters for stunning visuals
- Versatile templates for social media, banners, and more
- Artistic effects and textures to elevate creativity
- You will get effortless photo enhancement
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Fotor is an all-in-one photo editing and graphic designing platform that empowers creativity. It is a user-friendly online tool that caters to photographers, designers, and visual storytellers of all skill levels.

The app helps businesses create cards, invitations, and fliers and add special effects to images. Fotor empowers professionals to adjust colors, crop and resize photos, apply filters, modify lighting, and blur backgrounds via a unified platform.

One of the best photo editing apps, Fotor, provides a collection of stickers, allowing you to apply them to images or cards and use images as sticker backgrounds in designs. It offers a variety of other features, such as a drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, data import/export, an image library, and more.

Lastly, if you are a designer, you can add custom text to designs and share them across multiple social media platforms. The app facilitates the creation of photo collages with custom borders, effects, text, and automated resizing or positioning of elements.

What Puts it On the List

Adobe Photoshop Elements has a vast library of Adobe Stock photos and incredible offerings. For example, user-friendly interface, powerful editing capabilities, guided edits, and more.
Top Features
- Over 62 guided edits to learn
- Sky or background with a simple click
- Access to free Adobe stock photos
- Sync work between mobile and web
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Looking to take your photos from ordinary to extraordinary? Adobe Photoshop Elements is the best Mac photo editor to create stunning images. It can be your go-to tool to produce results that can be easily shared with friends and family.

Photoshop Elements delivers an intuitive interface along with powerful features. Using it is comparable to using a professional photo editor on your computer. But, the tool is ideal for both seasoned and beginner photographers because of the features. For example, color adjustments, different tones and backgrounds, stylish text overlays, etc.

The photo editor for Mac provides guided edits. These edits help you learn new techniques and improve your skills along the way. Also, with access to thousands of free Adobe Stock photos, the possibilities are endless. So, embrace this best photo editing software for Mac and create images that blow everyone's mind.

What Puts it On the List

PhotoDirector is more of an AI photo editing software. Its powerful AI-driven capabilities offer effortless enhancements, object removal, and generative AI effects.
Top Features
- AI image enhancer to restore facial details
- AI deblur to remove motion and camera blur
- Auto color enhancement
- Generative AI for AI sketch, AI anime, AI scene, etc.
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Cyberlink has always been a popular company in creating photo and video editing apps. So, meet PhotoDirector, an AI-powered photo editing software to generate incredible results.

The image editor for Mac is ideal for both beginners and a pro. With just a few clicks, you can add effects, retouch portraits, remove objects, or enhance the quality of the photos. Furthermore, there are plenty of enhancements to elevate the image quality.

PhotoDirector can be called the best photo editor for Mac because of its AI image enhancer. This enhancer removes blur, enhances colors, and tones using its AI features. Plus, the tool offers AI Object Removal and Background Removal & Effects.

PhotoDirector also offers powerful retouching features. For example, AI Face Reshape, Skin Tone adjustment, Body Reshape, etc. It also offers a generative AI that provides effects like AI Sketch and AI Anime. With PhotoDirector and its incredible AI tools, you get an incredible editing experience. An experience that helps you turn your vision into reality.

What Puts it On the List

Luminar Neo delivers cutting-edge AI capabilities, comprehensive tools, and flexible workflow options. It empowers photographers of all levels to achieve professional-quality results on Mac.
Top Features
- Raw photo editor for image manipulation
- Generative AI tool for automated enhancements
- Landscape tools to create interesting sceneries
- Portrait tools for skin correction in images
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Looking to enhance image quality, retouch portraits, and use filters, Luminar Neo has got you covered. Powered by cutting-edge AI tools, the Mac photo editing software application enables professional-quality results. In fact, Skylum Luminar Neo also offersone of the best AI photo colorizers to add vibrant colors to black and white photos.

It is a tool ideal for both beginners and experienced photographers. It delivers GenAI features. These features remove unwanted elements, expand photo frames, and help you explore creativity.

Furthermore, you receive a comprehensive set of tools. These tools help you enhance landscapes, portraits, and more. From automatic sky replacement and realistic weather effects, the photo editing software for Mac for beginners delivers all. You get flexible workflow options. For example, multiple layers, and photo overlays.

These incredible features can be unlocked using one of the subscription plans. There’s a 7-day trial as well to give you a taste of the paid features. Finally, it is a tool that can help you discover endless possibilities for transforming your photos.

What Puts it On the List

Seashore is chosen for its simplicity, open-source nature, and compatibility with macOS. It supports various file formats, essential editing features, and smooth operation. Also, it is completely free.
Top Features
- Supports XCF format
- Delivers layers and layer merging effects
- 6-gradient effects
- Plug-in filter for a variety of options
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Seashore is the only completely free open-source image editor in this list. The photo editing software is developed specifically for macOS. The tool boasts a simpler Cocoa user interface, which makes it easy for anyone to edit images without complexity. Basically, the software prioritizes user-friendliness and smooth operation of macOS devices.

Seashore supports a variety of file formats. For example, XCF, TIFF, PNG, JPEG, JPEG2000, HEIC, BMP, PDF, etc.

The tool comes packed with essential features like layers, alpha channel support, gradients, etc. Also, it offers additional functionalities. For example, editing layer channels, text layers, and graphics table support.

Seashore has already been revitalized and now it runs on all the latest versions of macOS. So, whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, Seashore has the capability to provide a straightforward experience.

What Puts it On the List

Picktorial offers a seamless blend of editing and organizing features. Plus, its ease of use, non-destructive capabilities, and ability to elevate photo creativity make it a credible choice.
Top Features
- Pro Tools to enhance photo quality
- Magic smooth brush for magazine-type smooth skin
- Professionally designed presets and filters
- Support for RAW
More about product

Looking for an awesome Mac photo editing software application? Well, Picktorial is an app that is both an editor and a photo organizer. In fact, it delivers the experience of using two apps combined in one. The experience of using it is close to using two apps in one.

Picktorial can help you make your photos look amazing with ease. It can help you adjust colors, smooth out skin, remove things in the background, and more. Plus, it is very easy to use.

The best part about this photo editing software for Mac is its capability to execute cool ideas. You can change the way the original click looks without affecting the original copy. Also, it saves everything you do. So, the user can always go back and make changes later. Finally, it is a credible Mac photo editor that can help you take your images to the next level.

How Did We Choose the Best Photo Editing Software Application for Mac?

There are no single best options in terms of photo editing software apps for Mac that fulfill the requirements of every person. Therefore, creating a list should focus on covering entries that cater to a larger audience. For that, we divided our research into three facets. Let’s explore them to unveil our criterion:

Your Skill Level:

Beginner: It prioritizes user-friendly interfaces and basic editing tools. There are several free options like Apple Photos, GIMP, or Photoscape X that can be a great starting point.
Intermediate: This category of software apps looks for a balance of user-friendliness and powerful features. A common example in this category is Fotor. Furthermore, these apps deliver a gentler learning curve compared to professional tools.
Advanced/Professional: These software applications prioritize on extensive editing capabilities like RAW image support and precise control. It is where industry standards like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Classic shine.

Budget:

Free: These options lack several capable free options. These lack advanced features. Common examples are Apple Photos or Photoscape X.
Paid one-time purchase: These deliver all the features forever at a one-time cost. Affinity Photo is a popular choice in the category.
Subscription: These are tools that offer multiple editing options for a monthly fee. For example, Photoshop and Lightroom.

Specific Needs:

Batch Editing: Photographers and other associated professionals process multiple images in a single go. Therefore, the app needs to have strong editing features.
Social Media Integration: Some of the software applications cater to social media users. These deliver quick editing tools and easy sharing options ideal for social media executives, influencers, etc.
RAW Image Editing: The majority of photographers shoot in RAW format. This is because RAW format is lossless and gives the photographer extensive capability to control every aspect of the image. Therefore, the capability to process RAW became a major point for our selection criteria.

How to Test the Best Free Photo Editing Software App for Mac?

To test a photo editing software application for Mac, we need to test it at all levels be it our skills or the capability of the tool. So, let’s begin:

1. Define Your Needs:

Skill Level: It is important to factor in your skill level, i.e., beginner, intermediate, or advanced. Based on that determine the complexity of the software application features, you need.
Editing Tasks: Understand the type of edits you make to your images. Some people are happy with applying filters while others need extensive tools to create composites or controlling colors.
File Format: While formats like JPEGs are popular & compatible with almost every photo-sharing or photo-viewing app, they are lossy. On the other hand, RAW delivers major editing capabilities to control aspects of an image on a much more micro-level.

2. Research and Shortlist:

Review Sites: Look for review sites like MobileAppDaily for their recommendations. These websites can help you share your overall impression and features of the app. This will help in determining apt tools as per your requirements.
Focus on Features: Create a list of your favorite apps and compare their features together. Also, create a list of features that you prioritize. This will help you find an app that solves the majority of your editing problems.

3. Hands-on Testing:

Download and Install: The majority of free software provides easy download options from either their website or the Mac App Store.
Import Sample Photos: Grab different types of images such as landscape, portrait, low-light images, etc., and check the results post-editing.
Test Key Features: Try out basic adjustments like cropping, exposure, and contrast. After that try out the advanced features and test the tool’s capabilities. For example, noise reduction, color correction, etc.
Explore Interface: Check whether the interface is intuitive and easy enough to use.
Performance: It is important to determine the performance of the app on your Mac. Check whether it lags or runs smoothly during editing.

4. Refine Your Choice:

Compare Results: Review edited images from each software. This will help understand a relevant software application that matches your preferences.
Identify Limitations: It can be a feature or anything else that can stall your creative endeavors.

Bonus Tips:

Start with Free Trials: If a free trial is available for paid software, consider using that extensively first. Paid tools ideally deliver more professional results, therefore, try to use them against free options to estimate the advantage.
Online Tutorials: Multiple photo editing options for Mac deliver online tutorials. This will help you learn the ropes of that tool.
Online Communities: Join online communities or forums that are dedicated to photo editing. These communities will tell you about some popular tools share tips and help you troubleshoot issues.

Best Free Photo Editing Software Application for Mac - Comparison Chart!

A listicle can not be completed without comparing its top contenders with each other. We have picked three capable photo editing software applications for this comparison.

These apps are selected based on their capabilities and the skill levels required by the user. It will also help you determine the difference between a beginner app, intermediate, and advanced tool So, let's begin:

Feature	Affinity Photo 2	Fotor	Seashore
Price	One-time purchase	Free & In-App Purchases	Completely Free (Open-Source)
Skill Level	Intermediate - Advanced	Beginner - Intermediate	Beginner
Ease of Use	Moderate	Easy	Easy
Features	Powerful non-destructive editing, RAW image processing, vast library of tools	Versatile editing tools, extensive template library, batch editing	Essential editing features, layers, and alpha channel support
Pros	Powerful, feature-rich, handles RAW images, one-time purchase	User-friendly, great for beginners, templates	Free, open-source, simple to use
Cons	A steeper learning curve, expensive compared to free options	Lacks advanced features of professional software	Limited features compared to paid options

Conclusion

Finding the best photo editing software for Mac depends strictly on your requirements. While some people only want to make basic edits, there are people who want to create composites.

This entire range of editing requires basic features like cropping, color adjustment, etc., to advance requirements like blending, background removal, etc. So, finding an apt photo editing partner is tricky. But, the list of Mac photo editing software mentioned above offers plenty of options for both domains. With this list, we aim to provide tools that cater to each level of users. So, we hope that you may have found something dependable.

Also, do you have a similar photo editing software for Mac? Or any other digital product that can help people? If yes, list your product. Our team of MAD experts will review your product and place it in a relevant listing. This can potentially help you with more downloads, branding, and higher credibility in the market.