Creative types tend to favor Macs over Windows PCs, and photographers are no exception. When it comes to the best photo editing software for Mac, users have plenty of options — so many that it can be hard to pick the right app for your particular needs.
Apple no longer produces its own pro-level photo software, having abandoned the outstanding Aperture program years ago. However, the Apple Photos app that comes with Macs is both easy to use and powerful. But you can get even more features and editing prowess by installing other photo editing apps from imaging powerhouses like Adobe, Capture One, and CyberLink, among others.
Photoshop has always been the king of the photo-editing market. The sheer depth and range of Photoshop’s editing tools are still unrivaled, with the latest version boasting new artificial intelligence features that can actually change the expression on a person’s face, or even make them look older.
However, Adobe’s decision to move its professional software products to a subscription payment system a few years ago antagonized many users. This opened the door to rival photo-editors that still just require a simple one-off payment, without committing you to a long-term subscription.
Some of the best photo editing software for Mac, such as Pixelmator Pro and Affinity Photo can provide impressive editing tools for less. And while they may not match the sheer scope of Photoshop, they will be more than adequate for many professional users and more serious amateur photographers.
And don’t forget that most of these professional-level editing programs also provide a free trial – ranging from one week to a whole 90 days in some cases. This lets you take your time deciding which program best suits your needs and your budget.
Best Photo Editing Software For Mac
Adobe Photoshop
Back in the mists of time, Adobe’s Photoshop was the killer app that gave the Mac credibility in a world of Windows PCs and established the Mac as the favored tool of creative users. Therefore, it is apt that Adobe was quick to release a native version of Photoshop designed for M1 or Apple Silicon Macs. It also gives the new Macs its seal of approval by stating at the time that many filters and other effects run up to 50% faster on the M1 models.
And, of course, Photoshop’s selection of filters and creative tools is unrivaled. It has the ability to quickly and easily select and replace objects within an image, versatile masks, and layers for creating composite images. Also, following the advent of AI technology, a number of neural filters can alter color within scenes, repair blemishes and even alter someone’s expression or make them look older.
You can even remove the sky from a scene if you don’t like it and drop a new sky into the background.
Admittedly, Adobe’s insistence on monthly subscription fees for using Photoshop and other Adobe software has opened the door to rivals that simply charge a one-time fee. However, Photoshop still remains the best photo editing software for Mac when it comes to the sheer depth, precision, and creative freedom that it provides, and with plans starting at $9.99/£9.98 per month, it is pretty competitive.
There’s also a free 7-day trial available. Read more below for our guide on how to get Photoshop for Mac.
Related: How To Download Photoshop For Mac: Quick & Easy
Adobe Photoshop Elements
If you want some of the features of Adobe Photoshop without the monthly subscription outlay, you can consider Adobe Photoshop Elements. It isn’t the cheapest photo editor available for the Mac, but, thanks to the inclusion of professional Photoshop features and powerful editing tools, it is good value for money. The user-friendly interface also makes it easy for amateur photographers to achieve impressive results.
The Sensei artificial intelligence tools help users automatically perform editing tasks that might normally require hours of work. The new edits in Elements 2023 mean that as well as applying animated overlays to a photo, you can now create moving elements that animate a specific section within a photo and then save the result as a video clip.
Photoshop Elements also includes Guided Edits to help use some of the powerful tools. Also, a new Search tool introduced in the 2023 edition helps you to quickly locate the Guided Edits you need by searching for keywords such as crop or sky. There’s also a guided edit for refining photos of animals, including removing glare from their eyes.
Some guided edits introduced in earlier versions include the Perfect Landscapes guided edit that helps you change the sky or background on a landscape photo for greater dramatic effect. There is also one that can be used for a group shot with one person standing off to the side – you can select that person and bring them closer to the rest of the group. You can even adjust the angle and tilt of their face.
There are also connected mobile apps for iOS (and Android) and a web app. The mobile apps allow you to upload photos and videos from your smartphone or tablet, and also provide you with 2GB of free online storage.
Pixelmator
Pixelmator shows up in just about every conversation about the best image editing software for Mac. This software is powerful and versatile, with layer-based functionality that empowers users to create graphics as well as edit photos.
With the latest version, Pixelmator Pro 1.4 Hummingbird, you will get access to a rich array of features and tools. Our favorites include machine-learning-enabled color matching, a sleek new Free Transform tool, and new templates sized for iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch. As a true free Mac photo editing software (i.e., one built from the ground up for macOS), Pixelmator is right up there with the best of them.
However, only the trial is free. You will need to purchase the full version of Pixelmator to use it beyond the first 30 days. The effects and filters are impressive but not as intuitive as some other options, so there might be a bit of a learning curve for those who are new to the free photo editing app for Mac.
Affinity Photo
Affinity is jam-packed with professional-grade features: focus merge, photo stitching, PSD file format import and export, masks, filters, and non-destructive editing — the whole kit. The Affinity brush engine is also stunning, although not every photographer will have a use for it.
Affinity Photo is a powerful graphics package for professionals. It works with RAW files and supports all common color spaces – RGB, CMYK, LAB, and Grayscale. It uses exclusive macOS technologies such as OpenGL, Grand Central Dispatch, Core Graphics, and more, and its speed is respectable.
Admittedly, though, the “free” part of this “free photo editor” is only a trial. But try it out, and you might find it hard to let go. It can still be considered one of the best photo editing software for MacBook Pro and other Apple devices.
However, the learning curve is pretty steep here, as Affinity Photo is not for the easily intimidated. But if you’re willing to put in the time to get comfortable with the less-than-intuitive interface, the rewards can be great.
Photomator
Photomator is the latest app from the Pixelmator Team who are also the developers of the Pixelmator for the Mac (above). If Pixelmator is a rival to Adobe Photoshop, with its powerful and precise editing tools, then Photomator is more like Adobe’s Lightroom, which focuses more on quick and easy adjustments to the overall look of your photos.
The app is available for the Mac, iPhone, and iPad, although the Mac version only runs on macOS Ventura. It’s designed to link to the Photos app on your Apple devices and then shows your photos in its own Browser window. This allows you to further organize photos in folders and albums for different projects.
You can just double-click on any photo to switch to editing mode. There’s an automatic Enhance tool that applies quick adjustments to lighting and color, a Clone brush, a Crop tool, and a Repair brush that can remove blemishes or tidy up the background of an image. Photomator also has a number of AI tools, such as its Super Resolution option, which can increase the resolution of an image.
These automatic tools are quick and easy to use, but if you need more fine control, there’s a Colour Adjustment menu that provides a long–and rather daunting–scrolling list of controls for settings such as brightness, contrast, and exposure. The Workflows menu allows you to apply a series of commands to a photo all at once, such as a color adjustment followed by cropping and then converting the photo into a particular file format. It’s also possible to batch-edit photos by applying workflows to an entire group of photos simultaneously.
Photomator is free to download, though, with a demo mode that allows you to edit and save a limited number of photos before you buy the full version.
Luminar Neo
Luminar Neo is a creative photo editor based on Artificial Intelligence. This photo editing software comes with all the photo editing features standard in any software, such as color correction, light and contrast adjustments, black&white converter, vignette, noise reduction, and many more. Luminar Neo also provides more complex tools, including layer functionality, transforming and cloning, and a collection of versatile AI enhancers.
Luminar Neo is the only photo editing software with a minimal learning curve. Photo processing is straightforward and enjoyable, even if you’re a beginner, thanks to the award-winning intuitive interface and implementation of AI features. To visibly improve the image, you only need to perform two steps:
- Go to the Edit tab, click the Enhance AI tool, and move the Accent AI slider. It automatically analyzes your image and improves all basic adjustments, like color, details, lights and shadows, and contrast.
- Get to the Presets tab and give AI a few seconds to offer you the most suitable Presets for your photo. Adjust the intensity of the applied Preset, and your image is good to go!
Mobile users might consider a mobile-specific app for an on-the-go photo editor since Luminar Neo is desktop-only. Also, it doesn’t quite qualify as a Mac freeware photo editor, but you have a trial period to try it out risk-free.
Apple Photos
You thought we’d forget about the classic? The OG of Mac photo editors? Of course not.
Photos made its first appearance in 2015, on OS X Yosemite 10.10.3. Since then, it has cemented its reputation as the best photo editor for Mac in the free range.
This is a great option if you need basic editing. The tools are intuitive and simple to navigate, and the integration with iCloud Photo Library is seamless. Plus, as a built-in Mac app, it is genuinely, totally сomplimentary.
If we have a complaint about Apple Photos, it’s that the photo editing options are relatively limited. Only the simplest image manipulation is available here. The app works well as a basic photo editor, but for more complex creative work, you’ll want to look into some of the options above.
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