Best Photo Editing Software Of 2024

Adobe Lightroom Classic, by far, has the most user reviews out of any photo editing software we analyzed and manages to maintain high user ratings across platforms. The platform has been the top choice for professional photographers. With features such as masking tools, content-aware removal, plug-in support, Adobe’s Lightroom Classing is a solid pick for small businesses and individuals.

Lightroom Classic is compatible with desktop versions of both Windows and Mac operating systems. Users can try the free version for a period of 30 days, and experience all advanced features before committing to its subscription plan, starting at INR 9,572 per annum.

Who should use it: Lightroom Classic is for professional photographers looking for good customer support.

Essential features

Type of photo editing software: Professional photographers.

CyberLink’s PhotoDirector 365 is one of the best, most intuitive AI-enabled photo editing software on the market. It strikes an ideal balance of photo editing features and guidance that benefits users of all skill levels. Features include AI-supported tools to unblur images and remove background objects, lens correction, layer editing, AI face recognition, create panoramas from videos, as well as edit and create 360 degree photos, and many more.

PhotoDirector 365 is compatible with Windows versions 7 and above, and Mac OS X version 10.11 or higher, to install the photo editing software. Users can try the free version of PhotoDirector 365 for a period of 30 days, and experience all advanced features before committing to its subscription plan, starting at INR 1,199 per month. However, one can save quite a bit with a one-year plan at INR 3,369 per annum, which converts to INR 281 per month.

Who should use it: Those who want a photo editing software that allows them to edit photos every way possible for free before spending a dime.

Essential features

Type of photo editing software: Personal.

With a 30 days free plan and excellent photo editing features, ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate has drawn many photo enthusiasts. The free version comes with all features of a premium plan: AI editing tools, RAW photo editor, layer editing, to name a few.

Should you decide to continue using ACDSee Photo Studio, the one-off paid plan clocks in at roughly INR 7,424 (USD 89.95). ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate is limited to users of Windows operating system only; however, Mac users can download ACDSee’s Photo Studio for Mac 9, which comes at a reduced price of INR 5,771 (USD 69.95) with all advanced features.

A “ACDSee Ultimate Pack 2023” at INR 8,168 (USD 99) includes top-five products of ACDSee for photo and video editing, which can also be used simultaneously on three devices per product.

Who should use it: Those who are looking for quick tools to stitch photographs.

Essential features

Type of photo editing software: Personal.

With a solid list of AI-enabled features and customizable tools, Corel’s PaintShop Pro 2023 Ultimate is one of the best photo editing software on the market. It has a straightforward UI, beginner-friendly editing tools to adjust, select, and correct photographs, with expected capabilities to edit RAW files, create masks to hide or show parts of a layer, and add special effects that can be helpful when editing, compositing, and graphic design.

Finally, Corel PaintShop Pro Ultimate boasts the use of AI-powered tools to enlarge an image without distortion, denoise, and replace background. It also allows users to organize projects in PaintShop Pro’s managed workspace, and even add keyword tags, review metadata and file information. Should you need it, there are photo editing learning materials with the latest stylus, as well as plugin support across platforms.

Who should use it: Individuals and small businesses looking for a straightforward, beginner-friendly photo editing solution.

Essential features

Type of photo editor: Personal and professional.

With features such as advanced color editing, smart adjustments, heal and clone brushes, culling and selection, Capture One Pro is a solid pick for small businesses and individuals. Its speed edit lets you work on multiple photos seamlessly to make rapid edits.

Its price point is a bit steep for what you get. Though it supports both Windows and Mac OS, a yearly subscription plan costs INR 18,399 per annum, while the one-off payment costs INR 30,733. However, you can decide to continue using the software before the 30-day free trial period ends. Should you require, Capture One offers a multi-user or enterprise license for a team of up to 50 professionals, with subscription starting at INR 36,900 per annum.

Who should use it: Professional and small businesses looking for an advanced photo editing software.

Essential features

Type of photo editing software: Professional.

DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite Edition has almost everything you could want in a photo editing software: features to stitch RAW images, denoise, enhance, repair, lens correction, to name a few. On top of that, it is easy to set up, and has a user-friendly interface.

We really loved DxO PhotoLab 6 Elite Edition’s optical modules designed specific to your gear, camera bodies and lenses. The photo editing software can be purchased for a one-off payment of INR 18,077 (USD 219), and supports up to three devices, both Mac and Windows operating systems.

Who should use it: Freelancers and small businesses looking for a professional photo editing solution should give this a try.

Essential features

Type of photo editing software: Personal and professional.

Software developer Serif launched the second version of the photo editing software, Affinity Photo 2, in Nov. 2022, with a complete overhaul of the user interface. It added new features including vector image warping, import and edit DWG or DXF CAD files, X-Ray view, stitch RAW images, among others. Affinity’s page layout design application for desktop allows users to convert large documents into pages, chapters, or even books.

Unlike its peers offering subscription-based photo editing plans, Affinity Photo 2 can be purchased for a one-off payment of INR 6,900 each for Mac and Windows OS users. The photo editing plan for iPad costs INR 1,999, and includes features such as touch-focused UI, as well as performance boost to work on large documents. Users may also choose to purchase plans for all three devices for INR 17,900, which is reasonable considering it’s a one-off payment.

Should you need it, Serif offers a team subscription for businesses, which comes with a full suite of Affinity Photo 2, Designer 2, and Publisher 2, under a customizable pricing.

Who should use it: Those who have a flexible budget to edit and create professional projects.

Essential features

Type of photo editing software: Professional.

Skylum Luminar New is a popular photo editing software, and for good reason. It uses AI-enabled editing tools to enhance images, such as adding rays of sunshine to a landscape image, to give an example. Its user-friendly interface (UI) allows even beginners to adapt to photo editing easily. Moreover, it has all advanced features including tagging, lens correction, editing RAW images, etc.

It provides affordable photo editing subscription plans on the market, starting from 4,499 to INR 4,999 per annum. If you want to purchase it forever, it costs a one-off payment of INR 7,999, which is reasonable considering the features it provides. However, there’s no free trial, which means that you have to directly purchase it to use it.

Who should use it: Those who have a flexible budget to edit and create professional images.

Essential features

Type of photo editing software: Personal

Movavi Picverse is an upgraded version of its photo editor and has drawn many photo enthusiasts, especially beginners, to try out the smart photo editing tools for free of cost. The free version comes with all features of a premium plan: AI auto enhance, custom sharpness adjustment, object removal, light and color correction, noise reduction, text insertion, RAW image support, and other basic editing tools.

It offers one of the cheapest subscription plans than its competitors for what you get. The basic subscription plan costs INR 1,699 per annum, though it lacks certain features like watermark. Its most popular plan costs INR 2,269 per annum, which includes a slideshow maker. The photo editing software is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.

Who should use it: Beginners looking for an effective photo editing software with value for money.

Essential features

Type of photo editor: Personal