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Best Image Editing Software & Background Removers in 2026

Photo editing and manipulation software

148 tools evaluated · 10 top picks · Updated September 2026

Key Takeaways
  • Adobe Creative Cloud is our overall pick for image editing in 2026. GIMP is our free pick.
  • We analyzed 148 image editing tools to create this ranking.
  • 3 tools offer free plans, perfect for getting started.

Image editing has consolidated around Adobe Photoshop (the standard), Affinity Photo (one-time purchase alternative), Canva (template-driven for marketers), and a wave of AI editors (Photopea, Pixlr, AI-powered tools). The right pick depends on whether you're a designer, a marketer, or just need to crop a photo.

7 Top Image Editing Tools Compared

Starting price, average user rating, and our pick for each category.

ToolOur takeStarting priceRating
Adobe Creative Cloud logo
Adobe Creative Cloud
Best overall$9.99/mo4.6
Topaz Labs logo
Topaz Labs
Solid pick$33/mo4.2
Topaz Gigapixel logo
Topaz Gigapixel
Solid pick$29/mo4.3
Canva logo
Canva
Highest rated$10/mo4.7
Snagit logo
Snagit
Most affordable$3.25/mo4.7
Picsart logo
Picsart
Most reviewed$5/mo4.5
Adobe Photoshop logo
Adobe Photoshop
Solid pickContact sales3.0

How the Top Image Editing Tools Compare

The image editing category is highly competitive in 2026, with Adobe Creative Cloud and Topaz Labs both ranking among the top choices on Toolradar's assessment, followed closely by Topaz Gigapixel. The tight competition reflects how mature this market has become.

Pricing varies significantly among the top picks: Canva (freemium (free tier available)) offers free access, while Adobe Creative Cloud and Topaz Labs and Topaz Gigapixel require a paid subscription. Teams on a budget should start with Canva, which delivers strong value despite its free tier.

Computed from live tool ratings, review counts, and editorial scores.Editorial policy

Top Image Editing tools

01
Adobe Creative Cloud logo

The professional creative suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere

Paid4.6/562,845 ratings · Sep 2026

Adobe Creative Cloud is the professional creative toolkit. Photoshop for images, Illustrator for vectors, Premiere for video, After Effects for motion-plus 20+ other apps for every creative discipline. Files sync across devices and save to the cloud. Fonts from Adobe Fonts work everywhere. Updates ship continuously, so you're always on an up-to-date version. Creative Cloud costs more than alternatives, but remains the industry standard. When clients send PSD files or collaborators expect Premiere projects, compatibility matters.

+Complete creative suite
+Industry standard tools
+Regular updates
Very expensive
Subscription only
Fair value

Adobe restructured Creative Cloud in August 2025, replacing the All Apps plan with Standard ($54.99/month) and Pro ($69.99/month).

Watch out

Early termination fee: 50% of remaining monthly payments on annual plans. Cancelling the Pro plan ($69.99/month) at month 6 costs ~$210 in penalties. This was the subject of the March 2026 FTC $150M settlement, Adobe buried the fee during enrollment.

02
Topaz Labs logo

AI photo and video enhancement

Paid4.2/556,442 ratings · Aug 2026

Topaz Labs enhances images and video with AI. Upscaling, noise reduction, and sharpening-AI processing that genuinely improves quality. The quality improvements are real. The algorithms are sophisticated. The results often impress. Creators wanting AI-powered media enhancement use Topaz Labs for quality improvement.

+AI photo enhancement
+Good quality
+One-time purchase
Expensive
Resource intensive
Fair value

Topaz Labs moved to subscription-only in October 2025, ending perpetual licenses.

Watch out

Perpetual licenses were discontinued October 2025. Existing perpetual license holders keep their version, but all new customers must subscribe. If you cancel, you lose access entirely, no fallback version

03
Topaz Gigapixel logo

Super-size and upscale image and photo resolution up to 16x using AI.

Paid4.3/555,021 ratings · Sep 2026

Topaz Gigapixel AI is an industry-leading image upscaler that leverages artificial intelligence to enlarge images up to 16 times their original size while preserving and enhancing detail. Unlike traditional upscaling methods that simply add pixels, Gigapixel AI intelligently creates new, accurate pixels, resulting in larger, sharper images without loss of quality. It's trained on millions of images and offers nine different AI enhancement models to cater to various image types and needs. This software is designed for professional photographers, fine artists, designers, illustrators, and creative teams who need to prepare images for large prints, crop into subjects without losing quality, or restore detail in older or lower-resolution images. It can be used as a standalone desktop application (available for Mac and Windows) or as a plugin for popular image editing software like Photoshop and Lightroom Classic. Users have the flexibility of unlimited local rendering for confidential work or unlimited cloud rendering for faster processing with advanced AI models. Topaz Gigapixel AI is part of the broader Topaz Labs suite of AI-powered image and video enhancement tools. It's ideal for anyone looking to maximize the level of detail and accuracy when upscaling images, ensuring crisp, defined, and bold results for everything from posters to billboards.

+AI image upscaling
+High-quality enlargement results
+Preserves image detail
One-time purchase cost
Processing can be slow
Fair value

Topaz Gigapixel's pricing is expensive for individual users, with the Personal plan costing $29/month or $149/year, which is high for a single-purpose AI tool.

04
Canva logo

Design anything, for anyone, with millions of templates

Freemium4.7/521,089 ratings · Sep 2026

Canva is a graphic design platform that makes design accessible to everyone. Create social posts, presentations, videos, and print materials. Millions of templates and photos included. Brand kit maintains visual consistency. Real-time collaboration for teams. Design tools that anyone can use, not just designers.

+Easy to use
+Great templates
+AI features
Less powerful than Figma
Good value

Canva is the most accessible design tool on the market, and its free tier is genuinely useful, not a crippled trial.

Watch out

AI credits cap: Pro includes 500 credits/month shared across ALL Magic Studio features (image generation, video, Magic Design, Canva Code). Each generation attempt costs credits, iterating on a single prompt (3-5 tries) burns 15-25 credits. Heavy users exhaust their monthly allotment in 1-2 weeks.

05
Snagit logo

Create visual documentation with screenshots, GIFs, and video

Paid4.7/56,491 ratings · Sep 2026

Snagit is screen capture and video recording software for creating visual documentation. Capture screenshots, GIFs, and video walkthroughs. Powerful editor adds annotations, callouts, and effects. Templates create consistent documentation quickly. Library organizes and searches past captures. The tool technical writers and trainers use to create professional documentation and tutorials.

+Powerful editor
+Templates included
+Cross-platform
Expensive
Perpetual license model
Good value

Snagit's pricing is fair, especially the $39/year Individual plan, which offers good value for its feature set.

06
Picsart logo

The AI creative platform for turning any idea into scroll-stopping content.

Freemium4.5/5795 ratings · Sep 2026

Picsart is an AI-powered creative platform designed for individuals, marketers, and businesses to generate, edit, and enhance images and videos. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for everything from basic photo and video editing to advanced AI-driven content creation, such as AI image generation, background removal, and style transfers. The platform aims to make professional-quality design accessible to everyone, regardless of their experience level. Picsart caters to a wide range of users, from hobbyists creating content for fun and personal use (like selfies, birthday invites, and memes) to professional creators and businesses managing multiple campaigns and e-commerce visuals. It provides templates optimized for various social media platforms (Stories, Reels, TikToks), real-time collaboration features, and a vast library of stock assets. With its focus on speed and relevancy, Picsart enables users to quickly turn ideas into engaging visual content, supporting creative workflows from concept to final output across web and mobile devices.

+Extensive suite of AI-powered editing and generation tools.
+User-friendly interface suitable for all skill levels.
+Large library of templates, stock photos, and videos.
Advanced AI features and higher usage limits are locked behind paid plans.
Credit system for generative AI tools might be limiting for heavy users on lower tiers.
Good value

Picsart's pricing is generally fair, especially with the generous Free and Plus tiers at $0 and $5/month respectively, offering substantial value for casual users.

Watch out

Storage limits per tier

07
Adobe Photoshop logo

The industry-standard image editing and graphic design software for creative professionals.

Paid3.0/519,363 ratings · Sep 2026

Adobe Photoshop is the leading software for image editing, graphic design, and digital art. It empowers users to create, enhance, and transform images with unparalleled precision and creative control. From basic photo retouching to complex compositing and digital painting, Photoshop provides a comprehensive suite of tools for professionals and enthusiasts alike. It is designed for photographers, graphic designers, web designers, and digital artists who require powerful capabilities for manipulating raster graphics. Photoshop integrates advanced features like AI-powered Generative Fill for content creation and seamless compositing with Harmonize. It also supports integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications and offers cross-platform accessibility, allowing users to work on desktop, web, and mobile devices. The software is continuously updated with new functionalities to streamline workflows and expand creative possibilities.

+Comprehensive set of professional-grade image editing tools
+Advanced AI features enhance productivity and creativity
+Seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications
Requires a subscription, no perpetual license option
Can have a steep learning curve for beginners due to its vast feature set
08
CloudApp logo

Capture, annotate, and share visual content instantly for faster communication.

Freemium4.6/51,228 ratings · Sep 2026

CloudApp is a visual communication tool designed to streamline workflows by enabling users to quickly capture screenshots, record screen videos, and create GIFs. It's particularly useful for remote teams, product managers, designers, and customer support professionals who need to convey information visually and efficiently. The platform provides instant sharing capabilities through unique, short links, making it easy to embed content or share it across various communication channels. Beyond basic capture, CloudApp offers annotation tools for screenshots and video trimming for recordings, allowing users to highlight key areas, add text, and refine their visual messages before sharing. All captured content is stored in the cloud, providing easy access and organization. This focus on speed and visual clarity helps reduce miscommunication and accelerates feedback loops, ultimately improving productivity for individuals and teams.

+Extremely fast and intuitive capture process.
+Seamless sharing with auto-copied links.
+Versatile annotation and basic video editing features.
Free plan has limitations on recording length and features.
Advanced video editing capabilities are limited.
Good value

CloudApp's pricing is fair, offering a generous free tier and a competitive Pro plan at $9/month for individual power users.

Watch out

No explicit mention of storage limits beyond 'unlimited' for Pro/Team.

09
Adobe Lightroom logo

Photo editing and organization

Paid3.3/59,571 ratings · Sep 2026

Adobe Lightroom is photo editing software for organizing and enhancing images. Cloud-based library syncs across devices so you can edit anywhere. AI-powered tools automatically adjust exposure, color, and detail. Presets let you apply consistent looks across photos. Advanced masking and local adjustments for precise editing. From mobile to desktop, Lightroom makes professional photo editing accessible to everyone.

+AI-powered editing
+Cloud sync
+Professional presets
Subscription required
Learning curve
Good value

Lightroom pricing is straightforward but the plan structure confuses many buyers.

Watch out

Early cancellation fee: 50% of remaining months on the annual plan, all Lightroom plans are annual commitments billed monthly

10
CorelDRAW logo

Professional graphic design software for vector illustration, layout, image editing, and typography.

Paid4.0/52,115 ratings · Sep 2026

CorelDRAW is a comprehensive suite of graphic design tools designed for professionals, enthusiasts, and small businesses. It offers powerful capabilities for vector illustration, allowing users to transform simple lines and shapes into complex artworks with versatile drawing tools and effects. The suite also provides robust page layout features for creating brochures, multi-page documents, and precise object arrangement. Beyond vector graphics and layout, CorelDRAW includes advanced image editing functionalities through Corel PHOTO-PAINT, enabling users to adjust colors, tones, remove imperfections, correct perspective, and enhance image quality with AI. It also boasts a full set of typography tools for precise text arrangement, effects, and font management. The software caters to a wide range of industries including branding and marketing, signage and large-format printing, apparel and textiles, retail and e-commerce, and even engineering for blueprints and schematics.

CorelDRAW screenshot
+Versatile for various design needs, from marketing to engineering.
+Offers different product tiers (Go, Standard, Graphics Suite) for different user levels.
+Includes powerful tools for both vector graphics and raster image editing.
Full professional suite is subscription-based.
May have a learning curve for new users due to its comprehensive features.

Watch out

Potential for add-on features

Why these image editing tools didn't make our top 10.

We evaluated 148 image editing tools and these 20 ranked 11 through 30. They're solid options that fell short on one or two axes (review depth, pricing transparency, feature parity), but worth a look if the leaders don't fit your stack or budget.

Popular image editing comparisons

See how the leading image editing tools stack up head-to-head.

Image Editing pricing, compared

Real plans and the hidden costs for each tool.

Browse all image editing tools

148 tools
Sketchbook logo
Sketchbook
Capture ideas and create finished artwork with a natural drawing experience.
freemium· macOS, Windows, Android, iOS
PhotoRoom logo
PhotoRoom
AI photo editing for product images
freemium· Web, iOS, Android
Photopea logo
Photopea
Powerful Photoshop-like image editor, no installation needed
freemium· Web
Krita logo
Krita
Free digital painting and illustration software
free· Windows, macOS, Linux
Luminar Neo logo
Luminar Neo
AI-powered photo editing software for effortless enhancement and creative control.
paid· Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Lightricks logo
Lightricks
Empowering creativity with next-generation AI technology for visual content creation.
freemium· Web, iOS, Android
Capture One logo
Capture One
Professional photo editing software
paid
Paint.NET logo
Paint.NET
Powerful yet simple image and photo editing software for Windows PCs.
freemium· Windows
DxO PhotoLab logo
DxO PhotoLab
Advanced RAW photo editing software with AI-powered noise reduction and local adjustments.
paid· Windows, macOS
Shortpixel logo
Shortpixel
Compress and optimize images to boost website speed and improve SEO.
free· Web
ArtRage logo
ArtRage
Unleash your creativity with realistic painting and drawing tools on any device.
paid· Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
PaintTool SAI logo
PaintTool SAI
Lightweight painting software for digital artists with amazing anti-aliased drawings.
paid· Windows
Portt logo
Portt
Transform your photos into historically accurate scenes from any era with AI.
free· iOS
Cloudimage logo
Cloudimage
Optimize, resize, and accelerate images and videos for faster websites and better user experience.
paid· Web
Photo Mechanic logo
Photo Mechanic
Accelerate your photography workflow from ingest to export with powerful photo management.
paid· Web
VanceAI logo
VanceAI
AI-powered photo enhancement, generation, and editing for effortless image refinement and restoration.
freemium· Web, Windows, macOS
Clip Studio Paint logo
Clip Studio Paint
Digital art and manga creation software
paid· Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Remove.bg logo
Remove.bg
Instantly remove image backgrounds with AI
freemium· Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Screenpresso logo
Screenpresso
Capture, edit, and share screenshots and HD videos with ease on Windows.
freemium· Windows
RawTherapee logo
RawTherapee
Free, cross-platform raw image processing for photographers of all levels.
free· Linux, macOS, Windows
TinyPNG logo
TinyPNG
Smart image compression and conversion for faster websites and improved SEO.
free· Web
Collov AI logo
Collov AI
Transform real estate listings with AI-powered virtual staging and photo enhancement.
paid· Web
TwicPics logo
TwicPics
Deliver perfectly sized and optimized images & videos in real-time for fast, visual-rich websites.
freemium· Web
ibisPaint logo
ibisPaint
Transform any device into a digital art studio with advanced drawing and manga creation tools.
freemium· Web

Showing the top 24 of 148. Filter to narrow down.

In-depth: why these tools made the cut

Adobe Photoshop logo

Photoshop is the deepest pixel editor ever built — 30+ years of accumulated features for photographers, designers, and retouchers. The integration with Lightroom, Illustrator, and the Creative Cloud is unmatched. For professional photography and design, Photoshop is rational.

The subscription model and learning curve are real costs. For non-professionals, Photoshop is overkill. Modern alternatives (Affinity Photo, Photopea) handle most non-pro use cases at lower cost.

How to choose image editing software

  1. Identify the primary user

    Trained designer: Photoshop (subscription) or Affinity Photo (one-time). Marketer/non-designer: Canva. Casual occasional use: free tools (Photopea, GIMP). The Adobe vs Canva choice is the biggest fork.

  2. Audit file format needs

    PSD is the de facto standard for layered files. Photoshop, Photopea, and Affinity Photo handle PSDs natively. Canva exports to PSD but doesn't fully support the format. For agencies receiving PSDs, the choice narrows fast.

  3. Plan for AI features

    Photoshop's Generative Fill, Canva's AI background removal, and dedicated AI editors (Adobe Firefly, Midjourney for generation) overlap. Test the AI features you'd actually use on real assets.

Honorable mentions

Tools that didn't crack the headline list but deserve a look depending on what you optimize for.

  • Canva logo
    CanvaBest for marketers and template-driven editing

    Canva isn't a pixel editor but covers most marketing image needs without learning Photoshop. Pair with Photoshop for design teams; replace Photoshop for non-designers.

Best Image Editing for

How we ranked these image editing tools

We rank by real-world signal: verified user ratings aggregated from G2, Capterra, and our own community, the volume and recency of media coverage, and hands-on editorial review for the tools we cover in depth. Pricing is re-checked and the ranking refreshed monthly. We do not sell placement in this list.

Tools reviewed
148
With free tier
66%
Last updated
September 2026

Toolradar Research

The data behind image editing

First-party analyses built from our full catalog, methodology published.

All Toolradar research

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best image editing tool in 2026?

Based on our analysis of 148 image editing tools, Adobe Creative Cloud is our overall pick. The next tools on the list are Topaz Labs, Topaz Gigapixel, Canva. Rankings use G2/Capterra review strength, media mentions, and editor-featured picks — the same verdict as /best/free/image-editing and our comparison pages.

What are the top 3 image editing tools?

The top 3 image editing tools in 2026, ranked by Toolradar, are: 1) Adobe Creative Cloud, The professional creative suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere. 2) Topaz Labs, AI photo and video enhancement. 3) Topaz Gigapixel, Super-size and upscale image and photo resolution up to 16x using AI.. Our named overall pick is Adobe Creative Cloud.

Are there free image editing tools?

Yes. GIMP is our free pick (100% free, no paid upgrade path). 3 of the tools on this page offer a free or freemium plan.

How do I choose the right image editing tool?

Start by defining your team size, budget, and must-have features. Adobe Creative Cloud is our overall pick. GIMP is our free pick. Compare all 148 options side-by-side on Toolradar.
Image Editing statisticscatalog size, ratings and pricing data, updated monthly

What Is Image Editing Software?

Image editing software covers a spread that's wider than the category name suggests. At one end: full raster editors with layers, masks, and color science (Photoshop, Affinity Photo, GIMP) for serious retouching and design work. At the other end: single-purpose tools that do one thing exceptionally well, remove backgrounds (Remove.bg, Photoroom), upscale (Topaz, Magnific), restore old photos (Remini), generate from text (Midjourney, Flux). Most users today end up running 3 to 5 of these in combination, not one monolithic tool.

The defining shift over the last three years has been AI. Background removal went from a 20-minute Photoshop mask job to a one-click API call. Generative fill, object removal, and 'reframe' features that used to require expertise now ship as a 'try' button. The traditional editors (Adobe, Affinity) are racing to absorb these capabilities; the AI-native tools (Photoroom, Canva, Topaz) are racing to add the boring-but-essential editing features. Whichever side you start on, you'll meet in the middle.

The biggest practical question isn't which tool is 'best', it's what you're optimizing for. Speed and zero learning curve push you toward web tools (Photopea, Pixlr, Canva). Pixel-perfect control and color accuracy push you toward Photoshop or Affinity. Volume product photography or ecommerce listings push you toward Photoroom, Pebblely, or BG Eraser. The answer depends on which of these matters most.

Editor's Take

“After evaluating 10 image editing software tools, Adobe Creative Cloud stands out as our top pick, ahead of Topaz Labs. For budget-conscious teams, Canva (free tier available) delivers strong value. The competition is fierce, the gap between top tools is narrower than ever, so the best choice comes down to your team's specific workflow and priorities.”

Key Data Points

10+
Tools analyzed on Toolradar
3
Offer free or freemium plans
2026
Last updated

According to Toolradar's analysis across 10+ products, 30% offer free or freemium plans. Adobe Creative Cloud leads the category based on features, user reviews, and overall value.

Key Features to Look for in Image Editing Software

Layer & mask support

Non-destructive editing with multiple layers, layer masks, adjustment layers, and blend modes. This is the difference between editing software and filter apps, and you'll want it the moment you need to revise a decision.

AI background removal

One-click background isolation, including hair and fine edges. The quality gap between free web tools and premium ones (Photoroom, Remove.bg, Adobe) is real, especially on complex edges. Bulk processing matters if you handle product photos.

Generative fill / object removal

Select an unwanted object and have it filled with plausible background. Photoshop's Generative Fill set the bar in 2024; Affinity, Krea, and standalone tools like Cleanup.pictures are catching up. Quality on complex backgrounds varies a lot.

Color management & RAW support

If you shoot photography or need print-accurate output, the tool needs to handle RAW files (DNG, CR3, NEF, ARW), embedded color profiles, and ICC workflows. This is where casual tools stop and serious ones (Lightroom, Capture One, Affinity Photo) begin.

Upscaling & enhancement

AI upscalers (Topaz Gigapixel, Magnific, Upscayl) restore detail when you need to enlarge a small image. Critical for old photos, low-res stock, or ecommerce assets pulled from suppliers. Quality varies dramatically, test on your worst-case images, not the demos.

Batch processing

Apply the same edits, background remove, resize, watermark, format convert, to dozens or hundreds of images at once. Essential for ecommerce, real estate, and any volume work. Most desktop tools handle this; many web tools cap batches at 10 to 100 images per run.

Who Uses Image Editing Software?

The right tool depends a lot on what kind of image work you actually do day to day:

Designers & illustrators: Need layers, masks, vector compatibility, and precise control. Photoshop is still the industry standard; Affinity Photo is the strong one-time-purchase alternative; Photopea is the free browser-based clone of the Photoshop interface.
Photographers: Want RAW processing, color grading, and non-destructive editing on top of editing. Lightroom (Adobe) and Capture One are the two real choices; Affinity Photo handles RAW too. Mobile photographers increasingly stay in Snapseed or Darkroom.
Ecommerce operators: High-volume product photo work, remove background, color-correct, resize for marketplaces, generate lifestyle variants. Photoroom and Pebblely dominate; ShortPixel, Topaz, and Remove.bg fill the gaps. Speed and bulk-processing matter more than features.
Social media & content marketers: Quick edits, templates, AI generation, brand-consistent assets. Canva, Adobe Express, and Figma cover most of this. Pure image editing is often secondary to layout and template work.
Casual users: Need to crop a screenshot, remove a person from a vacation photo, fix red-eye, or share something on social. Free tools (Photopea, Pixlr, Apple Photos, Google Photos) cover all of this. Paying for Photoshop here is overkill.

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