1. Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is the industry-leading image editing software used by professionals for photo retouching, digital painting, and graphic design. It offers advanced layering, selection tools, AI-powered features, and vast plugin support. Photoshop’s content-aware fill, liquify tool, and neural filters enable precise image manipulation. With integration into Adobe Creative Cloud, it seamlessly works alongside Illustrator, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro.

2. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

GIMP is a free and open-source image editor with a powerful suite of tools for photo retouching, image composition, and graphic design. It supports plugins and scripting for extended functionality. GIMP offers layer masks, customizable brushes, and an extensive collection of community-driven plugins, making it a strong alternative to paid software.

3. Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo is a high-performance image editor with professional tools for retouching, color correction, and digital painting. It is known for its speed, affordability, and powerful features similar to Photoshop. The software supports HDR merging, focus stacking, and non-destructive layer-based editing, making it a great choice for photographers and designers.

4. Corel PaintShop Pro

Corel PaintShop Pro is an image editing software that provides professional photo editing tools, AI-powered enhancements, and creative design capabilities. It is a cost-effective alternative to Photoshop. PaintShop Pro includes AI-based upscaling, background removal, and automatic photo adjustments to enhance workflow efficiency.

5. Canva

Canva is an easy-to-use online design tool that allows users to create graphics, social media posts, and marketing materials. It offers drag-and-drop functionality, templates, and collaboration features. Canva provides a massive library of free stock images, fonts, and elements, enabling users to design professional-looking visuals without advanced skills.

6. Pixlr

Pixlr is a web-based image editor that offers a simplified interface for quick photo editing. It includes AI-powered background removal, filters, and essential retouching tools. Pixlr X and Pixlr E cater to different user needs, providing an accessible option for both casual users and professionals.

7. Fotor

Fotor is a user-friendly online photo editor that includes batch processing, filters, and design templates. It is widely used for quick edits and social media graphics. Fotor’s HDR imaging, retouching tools, and AI-driven portrait enhancement make it a convenient tool for influencers and content creators.

8. Krita

Krita is a free, open-source digital painting and illustration tool designed for artists. It features advanced brush engines, layers, and animation support for creating digital artwork. Krita’s support for HDR painting, perspective grids, and Python scripting makes it a top choice for concept artists and illustrators.

9. Paint.NET

Paint.NET is a lightweight and free image editing software with essential editing tools, layers, and a vast range of plugins to extend its functionality. It offers a user-friendly interface with powerful effects, blending modes, and an active community providing third-party enhancements.

10. Luminar Neo

Luminar Neo is an AI-powered photo editing tool that provides automatic enhancements, sky replacement, and advanced lighting effects, making it ideal for photographers. With AI-driven tools such as portrait bokeh and relighting features, Luminar Neo simplifies complex edits while maintaining high-quality results.

11. Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor that provides powerful tools for creating illustrations, logos, and scalable designs. It supports SVG editing, node-based path manipulation, and extensive typography controls, making it a strong alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

12. DxO PhotoLab

DxO PhotoLab is a professional image editor known for its advanced noise reduction, RAW processing, and optical corrections for high-quality photo enhancement. With its DeepPRIME AI technology, DxO PhotoLab ensures superior detail recovery in low-light photography.

13. Capture One

Capture One is a professional RAW photo editor used by photographers for its superior color grading tools, tethered shooting support, and fine image adjustments. It offers customizable workspace options, powerful masking tools, and excellent lens corrections, making it a favorite among high-end photographers.

14. Photopea

Photopea is a free, web-based alternative to Photoshop that supports PSD files and offers a familiar interface with advanced editing tools. It runs directly in a browser, making it accessible on any device without installation.

15. Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom is a photo editing and management tool designed for photographers. It features non-destructive editing, AI-based enhancements, and cloud syncing. Lightroom’s mobile version ensures that photographers can edit on the go, with AI-powered sky selection and subject masking enhancing workflow efficiency.

16. ON1 Photo RAW

ON1 Photo RAW is a photo editing software that combines RAW processing, AI-powered masking, and creative effects to enhance images quickly. It offers robust preset options, HDR merging, and noise reduction, making it an all-in-one solution for photographers.

17. Snappa

Snappa is an online image editor focused on social media and marketing content creation. It offers pre-made templates, graphics, and one-click editing features. With its intuitive drag-and-drop design process, Snappa is an excellent tool for small businesses and content creators.

18. PicMonkey

PicMonkey is a web-based image editor that provides easy-to-use design tools, templates, and photo retouching features for non-designers. It features AI-driven background removal, social media templates, and batch editing for streamlined content creation.

19. Darktable

Darktable is an open-source photography workflow application and RAW developer with powerful color grading, masking, and editing tools. It supports a non-destructive editing process, allowing photographers to work with RAW files efficiently.

20. PhotoScape X

PhotoScape X is an all-in-one photo editor that includes batch editing, filters, collage creation, and GIF-making tools. Its built-in tools for resizing, renaming, and color adjustments make it a versatile option for quick edits.

21. BeFunky

BeFunky is an online image editor with a user-friendly interface, providing basic photo retouching, filters, and design tools for quick edits. It includes AI-based portrait enhancement, customizable templates, and a collage maker, making it a great choice for bloggers and social media influencers.