--- title: Best Photo Editing Software canonical: https://saasranked.com/best/photo-editing-software/ facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # Best Photo Editing Software Develop raw files and retouch photos on a Windows PC or in a browser. 9 photo editors ranked by points out of 100 from 18 published rules. Method: https://saasranked.com/best/photo-editing-software/how-we-score/ | # | Product | Points | Systems | Editing tools | AI tools | Workflow | Price and licence | Price per month | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | [ON1 Photo RAW](https://saasranked.com/software/on1-photo-raw.md) | 76 | 8/12 | 31/34 | 13/13 | 11/11 | 13/30 | $7.50/mo | | 2 | [Luminar Neo](https://saasranked.com/software/luminar-neo.md) | 71 | 8/12 | 31/34 | 13/13 | 9/11 | 10/30 | $12.02/mo | | 3 | [Photopea](https://saasranked.com/software/photopea.md) | 66 | 2/12 | 32/34 | 10/13 | 0/11 | 22/30 | $4.66/mo | | 4 | [ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate](https://saasranked.com/software/acdsee-photo-studio.md) | 60 | 2/12 | 31/34 | 13/13 | 9/11 | 5/30 | $15/mo | | 5 | [Adobe Photoshop](https://saasranked.com/software/adobe-photoshop.md) | 60 | 10/12 | 32/34 | 13/13 | 4/11 | 1/30 | $19.99/mo | | 6 | [GIMP](https://saasranked.com/software/gimp.md) | 55 | 6/12 | 19/34 | 0/13 | 2/11 | 28/30 | $0 | | 7 | [Pixlr](https://saasranked.com/software/pixlr.md) | 54 | 6/12 | 13/34 | 13/13 | 0/11 | 22/30 | $2.23/mo | | 8 | [Adobe Lightroom](https://saasranked.com/software/adobe-lightroom.md) | 52 | 10/12 | 17/34 | 13/13 | 9/11 | 3/30 | $11.99/mo | | 9 | [Paint.NET](https://saasranked.com/software/paint-net.md) | 27 | 2/12 | 0/34 | 0/13 | 0/11 | 25/30 | $0 | ## 1. ON1 Photo RAW Best for: Photographers who want raw development, layers and AI tools in one app. ON1 Photo RAW suits photographers who want layers, AI masking, erase and noise tools, and a folder browser without a monthly fee. The one-time licence is shown at $99.99, down from $199.98, while the MAX subscription costs $89.99 a year. The catch: the specs list Windows 11 but not Windows 10, and the features page does not say whether PSD saving keeps layers. ## 2. Luminar Neo Best for: Photographers who want AI tools and a licence with no monthly fee for the editor. Luminar Neo suits people who want AI masking, erase and noise tools without a monthly fee for the editor itself. Desktop Only is €129 once, and a 7-day trial needs no card. The catch: the AI and generative tools need paid Prime after the first 365 days, and the file types page does not say whether PSD layers are kept. ## 3. Photopea Best for: People who want a layered, Photoshop-style editor in a browser without paying. Photopea suits people who want layers, masks, PSD files and raw opening for free, in a browser. Its Learn pages document adjustment layers, local brushes and AI healing tools. The catch: it is web only, its repository says it is not fully open source, and no photo library, HDR or panorama merge, batch run or AI noise tool is documented. ## 4. ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate Best for: Windows users who want an editor and a photo library in one app. ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate suits Windows users who want raw editing, layers, AI tools and a photo library in one program. It lists HDR and panorama merging and batch tools too. The catch: it runs on Windows only, the store states no licence term, and Generative AI tools use credit packs sold separately. ## 5. Adobe Photoshop Best for: People who edit with layers and masks and accept a subscription. Photoshop suits people who want layers, masks and AI retouching in one editor and are fine paying monthly. The cheapest way to get the desktop app is the US$19.99 Photography plan, which also brings Lightroom. The catch: the plans listed are subscriptions only, the trial asks for billing details, and the Photoshop plan includes 25 generative credits a month. ## 6. GIMP Best for: People who want a free layered editor and can do without a built-in library or raw developer. GIMP suits people who want a free, open-source editor with layers, masks and editable filters. It also lists soft-proofing options for print work. The catch: raw files go through plug-ins for darktable, RawTherapee and ART, and GIMP's release notes do not list a photo library, HDR or panorama merging, or generally available AI tools. ## 7. Pixlr Best for: People who want a free, layered browser editor with AI clean-up tools. Pixlr suits people who want a free editor with layers, masks and AI selection, noise and object tools, in a browser or on a phone. Plus at €1.99 a month billed yearly removes ads. The catch: the pages do not list raw or PSD support, a photo library or batch tools, and a 2021 report of leaked Pixlr user records is on record. ## 8. Adobe Lightroom Best for: Photographers who want a library and editing tools in one subscription. Lightroom suits photographers who want a library, selective adjustments and AI retouching for US$11.99 a month, with Lightroom Classic included. It runs on Windows, macOS, mobile and the web. The catch: it is subscription only, and the plan gives 250 generative credits a month. ## 9. Paint.NET Best for: Windows users who want a free editor for everyday photo work. Paint.NET suits Windows users who want a free editor with layers and effects. It reads common formats such as PNG, JPEG, HEIC, AVIF, WebP and TIFF. The catch: it is Windows only, and the vendor's pages list no raw, PSD, mask, library or AI features.