1. ON1 Photo RAW
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.
Best for: Photographers who want raw development, layers and AI tools in one app. Prices, facts and sources
2. Luminar Neo
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.
Best for: Photographers who want AI tools and a licence with no monthly fee for the editor. Prices, facts and sources
3. Photopea
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.
Best for: People who want a layered, Photoshop-style editor in a browser without paying. Prices, facts and sources
4. ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate
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.
Best for: Windows users who want an editor and a photo library in one app. Prices, facts and sources
5. Adobe Photoshop
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.
Best for: People who edit with layers and masks and accept a subscription. Prices, facts and sources
6. GIMP
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.
Best for: People who want a free layered editor and can do without a built-in library or raw developer. Prices, facts and sources
7. Pixlr
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.
Best for: People who want a free, layered browser editor with AI clean-up tools. Prices, facts and sources
8. Adobe Lightroom
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.
Best for: Photographers who want a library and editing tools in one subscription. Prices, facts and sources
9. Paint.NET
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.
Best for: Windows users who want a free editor for everyday photo work. Prices, facts and sources