This guide highlights some of the top photo editing apps that can elevate your smartphone photography. Editing on mobile devices has become much easier than before, and many of the best apps now rival desktop editing software in terms of capabilities.
You might simply want to apply a trendy vintage filter for Instagram, or you may wish to dive deep into editing RAW files. Regardless of your needs, there’s an app available for you—ranging from mobile versions of renowned tools like Photoshop to specialized apps that excel at specific tasks.
With plenty of choices for both Android and iOS users, I’ve compiled a wide variety of options. Some apps are free, others have a one-time purchase fee, and some are subscription-based. I’ve aimed to clearly outline the costs involved to assist you in making an informed decision.
If you’d like more advice on how to select the right app and my perspective on these options, check out the bottom of this page. Also, be sure to read our in-depth article on how smartphones can enhance your photography, encompassing everything you need to know about taking photos with your phone.
Top photo editing apps for smartphones: quick overview
If you’re looking to dive straight in, here’s a summary of our top choices for photo editing apps currently available, along with links to download them.
Continue reading to discover more about these apps and why I believe they are the best options for mobile photo editing…
Top photo editing apps for smartphones
Here are my recommended apps for editing photos, compatible with both iOS and Android. Each entry provides insights on its features, what it excels at, and reasons to consider them.
Best for quick edits: Photoshop Express
Overview:
- Free to download from www.adobe.com, but advanced features require a Creative Cloud Subscription
- Available for both Android and iOS
As suggested by its name, this app has a wide range of powerful features. It includes layer editing and essential exposure and color adjustments, alongside image healing capabilities. For more advanced edits, Photoshop Express offers tools like Auto Object Selection, Face Contouring, and AI-driven image generation.
In addition to its advanced capabilities, the app features enjoyable tools meant for social media enhancement. It includes text and graphics options, as well as user-friendly collage tools for combining multiple images.
You can choose from a variety of effects and themes for an instant edit, and the Quick Actions feature allows you to complete complex tasks with a single tap—like reducing noise in noisy images or smoothing skin. It’s incredible how much of Photoshop’s power is packed into this mobile app!
Best for presets: VSCO
Overview:
- Free to download the basic version; Plus / Pro versions $2.50 / $5 monthly
- Available for both Android and iOS
- Free and paid subscriptions available at vsco.co
VSCO has been steadily growing in popularity, now recognized for having a fantastic Film Simulation library rivaling that of Fujifilm. If you’re aiming for something like a Kodachrome effect or an ethereal monochrome look, VSCO is one of the best proposals for achieving that.
Geoff Harris, deputy editor at AP, describes it as “one of the best photo editing apps you’ve probably never heard of.” While he initially found the setup a bit challenging due to its reliance on symbols rather than straightforward explanations, he eventually appreciated the editor’s robust capabilities. The blend of well-crafted filters and extensive editing tools offers users both simplicity and depth—allowing for quick retro-style edits or detailed tweaks.
If you tend to travel and want to enhance your photos, VSCO is an excellent choice, available on both mobile and via browser for desktop. However, take note—the free version is quite limited, acting more like a preview for the paid subscriptions, which are quite worthwhile for what you receive.
Read more: VSCO who? It’s one of the best photo-editing apps you’ve probably never heard of
Best for RAW image editing: Photoshop Lightroom
Overview:
- Free to download from www.adobe.com, but premium features require a Creative Cloud Subscription
- Available for both Android and iOS
Photographers familiar with Lightroom will easily navigate the mobile version. The app offers one-click Presets and straightforward sliders, making it an ideal tool for photographers needing to quickly edit on the go.
On exploring the app further, I discovered additional advanced features like the ability to remove Chromatic Aberration and activate Lens Corrections—a fantastic feature for correcting distortions from wide-angle lenses.
Importantly, you can edit both RAW and JPEG files, and there are many options for sharing your images, allowing you to choose the export format (JPEG, TIFF, DNG) or directly upload to social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram.
Photoshop Lightroom is accessible on both Android and iOS, and you can edit further with Photoshop Express.
Best for advanced editing and layers: Adobe Photoshop Mobile
- Free to download from Adobe.com, but premium features require subscription $7.99/£7.99 per month or ($69.99/£69.99 yearly)
- Available only for Apple, with an Android version expected in late 2025
While Photoshop Express provides several advanced editing features reminiscent of its desktop counterpart, its focus is primarily on quick edits. Therefore, Adobe’s latest mobile release…
The Photoshop mobile application is designed to fill a gap and provides more sophisticated tools.
It features a user-friendly and precise selection tool that allows you to simply tap to make a selection. You can manage several layers, create exact selections, layer masks, and use the Spot Healing Brush for edits. Additionally, the app integrates with Adobe Express and Adobe Stock, providing access to the latest Generative Fill and AI tools.
However, some advanced functionalities like Content Aware Fill, Object Select, Magic Wand, Clone Stamp, and the Remove tool are only available through a subscription. If you’re already subscribed to a Photoshop Plan, these features are free; otherwise, you’ll need to pay $7.99/£7.99 monthly ($69.99/£69.99 annually).
Ideal for professional photographers: Snapseed
Quick summary:
Don’t mention it too loudly, but Snapseed, now part of Google, has been around for over ten years. Consider this app your all-in-one solution for image editing since it has a complete set of features.
Available for both Android and iOS, Snapseed provides tools that range from simple exposure and color adjustments to advanced HDR and Mono conversion options. The Head Pose feature offers a Liquify-style solution to modify the gaze angles in your portraits, while the Selective tools enable precise edits for both JPEG and RAW images.
You can alter perspectives and quickly eliminate distractions using the Healing tool. For a creative touch, Double Exposures can be made almost instantly, and vignettes and frames are available to finalize your photos.
The latest update saves edited images in the gallery along with the originals, which may complicate finding your edits.
Photos can be exported as new files or overwrite the original images, conserving space on your device. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better free photo editing app, without a doubt.
Check out our guide for editing photos in Snapseed, or see how to edit black and white photos in Snapseed.
Top Choice for Creative Designs: PicsArt
Summary:
While PicsArt has been around for a while, it has recently rebranded to highlight its focus on AI. In its marketing, you’ll find plenty of references to creating intelligent backgrounds, expanding images, and even generating entirely new images. However, even if this is not your cup of tea, PicsArt remains a robust image editor for both Android and iOS.
The app’s interface provides easy access to all standard tools, including cropping, cloning, and curve adjustments. It also offers numerous attractive special effects, including retro film-like filters. Unfortunately, the Android version restricts screenshotting, making it hard to showcase, but I found the picture styles appealing, and it was generally simple to find designs suited to my image’s tone.
The app is free to use, although it frequently prompts you to upgrade to a premium subscription to unlock most AI-powered features. PicsArt also supports video editing and is available on both Android and iOS.
Best for iPhone and iOS Users: Pixelmator
Here’s a refreshing thought: Pixelmator costs just £9.99/$9.99. This isn’t a subscription fee; it’s a one-time payment for a fully featured editing app. In a time filled with recurring fees, the ability to own an app outright feels delightful. It’s worth noting that Pixelmator’s startup has recently been acquired by Apple, which may indicate that the days of free ownership might be numbered.
Regardless, the app is fantastic. It’s well-optimized for both iPhone and iPad, offering an intuitive interface and a powerful array of tools. It’s perfect for users who want to apply quick filters as well as for those looking to delve deeply into color and tone adjustments. It can also handle PSD files, making it an excellent option for those transitioning from Photoshop.
Additionally, there’s a dedicated quick-editing feature called Photomator – similar to Lightroom to Pixelmator’s Photoshop. We recommend Pixelmator mainly because Photomator operates on a subscription basis, although both could be useful for your editing needs.
Best for Networking and Brand Growth: Instagram
Though Instagram has deviated from its original purpose over time, shifting towards Reels and advertisements, it still holds significant power for promoting your photos to a vast audience. The user-friendly filter function can create dramatic changes and stylized effects, while advanced features allow for exposure correction, color enhancement, and increased contrast.
You can sharpen details using the Structure and Sharpening sliders and add vignettes as finishing touches. Furthermore, Instagram serves as an excellent source of inspiration.
I particularly appreciate the feature that allows you to explore what other photographers have captured in a landscape location by searching #LocationName before your visit. While many people misuse the app for trivial selfies, it fundamentally serves as a wonderful photography resource.
Best for Photo Backup: Google Photos
Quick overview:
It’s no surprise that Google Photos is a highly comprehensive photo application. You receive 15GB of free storage, with more available through payment. I consider the app a home for your pictures, providing many options for quickly storing and locating your visuals.
The app doesn’t skimp on editing features either. You can swiftly enhance images with impressive precision via sliders to adjust values like Saturation, Exposure, and Highlights. If you own a Google Pixel smartphone, you’ll get additional features, including Magic Eraser, which lets you remove unwanted elements from your photos.
There are also ‘wizard’ features like Auto Enhance Lighting that can save you time and improve your results. Finally, the app simplifies the process of completing your edits and sharing them with others.
The ability to edit images and save them to your phone’s contacts is a fantastic feature for creative teams.
Google Photos typically comes pre-installed on Android devices, but you can also download it from Google Play. If you’re an iPad or iOS user, it’s available through the Apple App Store.
Top Choice for Fun Edits: Lensa – AI Photo Editor
Overview:
This editing app is accessible on both iOS and Android, and is well-known for generating stunning avatars (profile images) referred to as “Magic Avatars.” You may have come across these on various social media platforms. You can even create avatars for your pets!
Beyond avatars, it offers an array of effects and photo enhancements with its Magic Retouch feature, perfect for quick portrait improvements. This tool supports background separation and standard edits like brightness, contrast, and saturation.
Upon first opening the app, it suggested a free trial or purchase, but you can skip this to use the app for free. It’s user-friendly, requiring no account setup; just upload your favorite images to start editing. Performance can be somewhat slow, but this may depend on your device and internet speed.
To access key AI features like Magic Avatars, however, you will need to pay, which is a drawback as you can’t test this feature without a cost.
For standard editing, it offers impressive features, such as adjusting the exposure of the sky independently from the foreground. You can also separately modify adjustments for different subjects like people and pets. Besides typical adjustments like saturation and sharpness, the variety of effects and art styles can make your photos really pop.
Top Choice for Built-In Presets: Pixlr
This free app, available on iOS, Android, and Windows, is equipped with user-friendly features that can completely overhaul a photo and allow for a creative touch. Along with typical exposure and color tweaks, Pixlr includes a highly effective Autofix option that enhances pictures and balances the exposure in landscape shots.
The app features a camera function that applies ‘Picture Style’ filters, providing a preview of how your final image will look. The Collage feature lets you display several images simultaneously. One of its standout options is the extensive collection of creative borders that can be added around your image effortlessly, with styles ranging from grunge to modern aesthetics.
Another benefit is the lack of a required account for use—just download the app and get started immediately.
Top Choice for Vintage Film Aesthetic: 1998 Cam
Overview:
As the name suggests, 1998 Cam mimics the look of cameras from 1998. Disposable film cameras were all the rage back then, and this app allows you to achieve that nostalgic look without needing an actual film camera.
You can edit existing photos or take new ones with various film emulations from brands like Kodak and Fujifilm. The app also offers features like film grain, light leaks, and classic date stamps akin to those found on 35mm film cameras. It supports both still images and videos.
If you’re looking to give your photos a vintage vibe, check out our guide on achieving a film look.
Most Highly Rated: Photo Editor Pro (by InShot Inc)
Overview:
Now also available on iOS, Photo Editor Pro has some of the best ratings on the Google Play Store and is a fantastic selection for both photo editing and collage creation on your mobile device. It is intuitive and comes with numerous helpful examples, along with functionalities such as correcting skin imperfections, warming up tones, removing backgrounds, and even creating AI cartoon versions of your images.
Its cropping tools include presets for major social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest, ensuring you have the right dimensions for each site.
Numerous exciting filters are available, including RGB Glitch, and with so many features in this app, it would take ages to cover them all. Nevertheless, it’s comprehensive and warrants its high rating.
Templates are available for quick designs, and the collage feature is straightforward and fast. While some advanced features are just advertisements linking to other products from the same company, overall, complaints are hard to come by.
Best for Instax Users: INSTAX UP!
Overview:
Following the launch of the Instax Mini 12 instant camera, Fujifilm introduced the INSTAX UP! app for both Android and iOS. This app is aimed at instant photographers who want to quickly digitally scan and store their images. You can add the date and location of the photo, along with tags to help organize your collection.
Basic editing options include adjustments for contrast, brightness, saturation, and color temperature. You also have the option to share your photos through messaging apps or directly on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
Top Choice for Coloring Black and White Photos: Colorize
Overview:
If you’ve ever wondered how your old family photos would look in color, this app is designed to convert black and white and grayscale images into vibrant photographs. Simply scan or upload a black and white image, and with a single tap, the app will automatically add color.
You can experiment with the app for free to colorize a few images, but for unrestricted use, you’ll need to opt for a paid plan that provides unlimited black and white colorization, photo saving and sharing, as well as backup access across devices.
and online
Accessible through the App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android.
Searching for top photo editing software for your computer? Take a look here.
Other Handy Photo Apps for Your Smartphone:
Best for Inspiration: 500px
Quick Overview:
Photography apps on your smartphone don’t always have to focus solely on capturing or editing photos. Sometimes, their main role is to ignite inspiration. In this regard, few apps surpass 500px. A staple for over a decade, 500px is perfect for exploring locations, investigating various portrait lighting methods, or simply enjoying breathtaking imagery.
If you explore further, you’ll find numerous resources for photographers, some paid and others free. Example topics include “how to create a photo set on a budget” or “how to capture fine art at home.” You can refine your search with keywords or browse through curated galleries selected by the 500px team.
The app is available for iOS, but the Android version is currently missing from the Google Play Store, and the reason remains unclear.
Best for Digitizing Old Photos: Google PhotoScan
Quick Overview:
This app is available for both Android and iOS and enables users to scan photos using their smartphones without needing extra software. It effectively combines several pictures to eliminate reflections and glare, such as those caused by your phone’s flash or other light sources.
If you’re looking to quickly digitize a printed photo, this app makes good use of your smartphone and is free. For those interested in higher-quality scans, check out our guide on photographing film images at home with a camera.
Best Photography Planning App: PhotoPills
Quick Overview:
Paid apps need to provide significant value to compete with free alternatives. However, PhotoPills truly earns its spot on your home screen. A vital tool for landscape and astrophotography, this comprehensive app aids in planning and capturing your shots. It features a map function that allows you to accurately identify locations. Subsequently, it shows the direction of light throughout the day, including golden hour and moonlight timings.
Additionally, there’s an exposure calculator that factors in ND filters to help achieve balanced exposures. The app also includes a Depth of Field table, Hyperfocal table, Star Trail feature, and an impressive Night Augmented Reality feature. For outdoor photography enthusiasts, this app is a must-have. PhotoPills is compatible with both Android and iOS.
Best for Astrophotographers: SkyView Lite
Quick Overview:
Interested in astrophotography but unsure where to start? The free version of SkyView can guide you, as this innovative app utilizes your phone’s camera and augmented reality to help locate celestial targets for shooting, whether with your phone or a DSLR.
This app eliminates much of the uncertainty involved in astrophotography and is impressively accurate. It’s a fantastic free resource that every photographer should consider downloading; even if you only use it to search while photographing, it’s a valuable tool.
SkyView Lite is downloadable for both Android and iOS.
Best Light Meter App for iPhone: Light Mate
Quick Overview:
Smartphone apps can be extremely useful for film photographers too. Exclusively for iOS, Light Mate is a valuable, free app. You can input variables like shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, point your phone at a subject, and it will read light levels and suggest the appropriate exposure settings.
It works with both the front and rear cameras of your device. This app could save you lots of money by preventing over- or underexposure when using expensive film. Light Mate is only 6MB in size, making it a handy tool that won’t consume much of your storage space.
Best for Calculating Exposures with Filters: Lee Filters – Stopper Exposure
If you use Lee Filters in the field, this app is essential for accurately calculating settings based on the filters you’re using. Simply choose between the Little Stopper (6 stops), Big Stopper (10 stops), or Super Stopper (15 stops). Then input your balanced shutter speed without the ND filter.
The app will promptly provide the recalculated shutter speed to use with the ND filter, eliminating the need for guesswork. Additionally, once your settings are entered, the app features a timer function. If you’re using the Bulb setting on your camera, just start the timer and conclude the exposure when it ends—so simple!
Lee Filters – Stopper Exposure is available on both Android and iOS.
Additional Photography Apps to Consider: ProCam X, Filca, VSCO Cam, and Prisma Art Effect Photo Editor.
How to Select the Best Editing Apps for Your Phone
When selecting an editing app for your device, the first step is determining what you plan to use it for. This
It may seem like a simple question, but mobile photo editing apps vary widely. Some users aim to enhance their phone camera images for a more vibrant look, while others are in search of tools that allow them to edit consistently across devices, enabling a seamless transition from mobile to desktop.
Additionally, some individuals prefer straightforward solutions that enable them to add a touch of flair to their pictures, such as vintage film filters or creative photo frames. For these users, an app that allows for easy social media sharing—like connecting with Instagram—is likely to be very important.
Which photo editing app is best for me?
Depending on your specific needs, here are our quick recommendations for selecting the ideal photo editing app.
If you’re after comprehensive editing features similar to desktop software:
- Lightroom
- Snapseed
- Photoshop Express
- Photo Editor Pro
If you want unique filters and special effects to create standout images:
If you’re interested in AI-enhanced tools to simplify editing:
If you prefer giving your photos a classic film look:
While our list includes other apps tailored for specific uses, these are excellent starting points if you’re after basic photo editing capabilities.
Written by Matty Graham, contributions from Joshua Waller, Hollie Latham Hucker, and Jon Stapley.
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