Hey photo lovers! Looking for the best ways to make your pics pop without breaking the bank? I’ve done the research and compiled this freshly updated guide to the absolute best free photo editing apps of 2025, organized by device and what you’re trying to accomplish. Let’s dive in!
Mobile Apps (Smartphone & Tablet)
For Quick Edits On-the-Go
1. Snapseed Still a powerhouse despite not receiving major updates recently. Google’s editor remains a favorite for its professional-grade tools in a simple package.
- Perfect for: Precision adjustments when you need pro quality on mobile
- Standout feature: Selective adjustments that let you edit specific parts of your photo
- Available on: iOS and Android
2. PicsArt Consistently rated as one of the top photo editors of 2025 by major review sites!
- Perfect for: All-in-one editing with a mix of fun and professional tools
- Standout feature: AI-powered tools that make complex edits simple
- Available on: iOS and Android
3. Adobe Lightroom Mobile The professional’s choice that continues to dominate mobile editing.
- Perfect for: Serious photographers who want desktop-level control
- Standout feature: Cloud syncing that lets you start edits on mobile and finish on desktop
- Available on: iOS and Android
For Artistic & Social Media Content
1. VSCO Still the gold standard for creating that coveted film aesthetic.
- Perfect for: Achieving a consistent visual style for your social feeds
- Standout feature: Film-inspired presets that create perfect moods
- Available on: iOS and Android
2. Lensa The AI portrait specialist that’s been gaining massive popularity.
- Perfect for: Transforming selfies into stunning artistic portraits
- Standout feature: Magic Avatars and Magic Retouch for instant enhancement
- Available on: iOS and Android
3. Apple Photos (iOS only) Significantly improved in iOS 18 with new AI features and interface.
- Perfect for: Apple users who want seamless editing across devices
- Standout feature: New photo grid interface with swipeable collections
- Available on: iOS
For Removing Objects & Background Editing
1. Photoroom The specialist app that’s dominating the background removal space in 2025.
- Perfect for: Clean, professional background removal with zero effort
- Standout feature: One-tap background removal with AI precision
- Available on: iOS and Android
2. MyEdit Mobile The AI powerhouse that makes complex edits simple.
- Perfect for: Removing photobombers or unwanted objects from your pics
- Standout feature: Object removal and background replacement tools
- Available on: iOS and Android
3. Adobe Express Adobe’s accessible editor with powerful background tools.
- Perfect for: Quick social media content with professional polish
- Standout feature: Background removal and replacement with Adobe quality
- Available on: iOS and Android
Desktop & Browser-Based Apps
For Professional-Level Editing
1. GIMP 3.0 Freshly released in March 2025 with a complete redesign!
- Perfect for: Photoshop-level editing without the subscription
- Standout feature: New GTK3 interface with HiDPI support and CSS-based themes
- Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux
2. Skylum Luminar Neo The AI-powered editor that’s making waves in 2025.
- Perfect for: One-click enhancements that would take hours manually
- Standout feature: Accent AI (new for 2025) and Sky Enhancer AI
- Available on: Windows, Mac
3. Pixlr E The browser-based editor with advanced capabilities.
- Perfect for: Detailed editing without installing software
- Standout feature: AI Face Swap, AI Remove Object, and Generative Expand
- Available on: Any web browser
For Generative AI & Creative Tools
1. Adobe Firefly Adobe’s powerful new generative AI platform.
- Perfect for: Creating entirely new images or videos from text prompts
- Standout feature: Text to Video and Image to Video generators
- Available on: Web and integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud
2. MyEdit Web The browser version of the AI editing sensation.
- Perfect for: Complex AI edits without downloading apps
- Standout feature: Text-to-image generation and object removal
- Available on: Any web browser
3. Canva The design platform that’s essential for content creators.
- Perfect for: Creating social media posts, stories, and marketing materials
- Standout feature: Thousands of templates with AI-powered design suggestions
- Available on: Web, Windows, Mac
For Background Removal & Product Photography
1. Photoroom Web The specialist that’s making product photography effortless.
- Perfect for: E-commerce sellers and product photographers
- Standout feature: Free background removal (up to 250 images) without watermarks
- Available on: Web
2. Pixlr BG Pixlr’s dedicated background removal tool.
- Perfect for: Quick background removal for social media
- Standout feature: One-click removal with surprisingly good edge detection
- Available on: Web
Special Purpose Apps
For Creating AI Art
1. PicsArt AI Art Generator The fun, accessible way to generate art from text.
- Perfect for: Creating unique art for social media posts
- Standout feature: Simple text-to-image interface with styles and modifiers
- Available on: iOS, Android, Web
2. Adobe Firefly Generate Adobe’s professional-grade generative AI.
- Perfect for: Creating commercial-safe AI art with specific styles
- Standout feature: Integration with Adobe products for further editing
- Available on: Web
For Photo Organization & Backup
1. Google Photos The smartest way to organize your growing photo collection.
- Perfect for: Finding specific photos in massive libraries
- Standout feature: AI search that can find photos by content (“beach,” “dog,” etc.)
- Available on: Web, iOS, Android
2. Apple Photos Completely redesigned in iOS 18 with improved organization.
- Perfect for: Automatic organization across all Apple devices
- Standout feature: New photo grid interface with collections like “Trips” and “People & Pets”
- Available on: iOS, macOS
2025’s Biggest Photo Editing Trends
AI Dominates Everything
The biggest trend of 2025 is definitely AI-powered editing. Almost every app now offers:
- Intelligent object removal – removing unwanted elements with a single tap
- Background replacement – swapping backgrounds without complex selections
- Portrait enhancement – automatic retouching that looks natural
- Generative tools – creating new elements from text prompts
Text-to-Image Generation
Creating images from text descriptions is now mainstream. Apps like Adobe Firefly, MyEdit, and PicsArt let you type descriptions like “sunset over mountain lake with reflection” and generate stunning images.
Video Generation
The newest trend is generating videos from still images or text prompts. Adobe Firefly’s Text to Video feature is leading this space, allowing you to create short video clips just by describing them.
Tips for Choosing the Right App in 2025
Not sure which app to try first? Here’s my advice based on what you’re trying to accomplish:
- For everyday edits: PicsArt offers the best balance of simplicity and power
- For professional results: Skylum Luminar Neo or Adobe Lightroom
- For removing unwanted objects: Photoroom is the specialist to beat
- For desktop power editing without cost: GIMP 3.0 is finally user-friendly!
- For creating social media content: Canva makes it almost too easy
- For generative AI features: Adobe Firefly is setting the standard
Thoughts
The photo editing landscape has completely transformed in 2025, with AI tools taking center stage and making professional-level editing accessible to everyone. The good news is you don’t need to choose just one app! Most photographers and content creators use different apps for different purposes—maybe Snapseed for basic edits, Photoroom for background removal, and Adobe Firefly when they need something extraordinary.
What’s your favorite photo app combo in 2025? Drop a comment below with your editing workflow!
