Phone app or browser editor
Phone apps are quickest for photos you just took. Browser editors need no install and work on any computer:
| Kind | Examples | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Phone apps | Snapseed, Lightroom mobile, Photoshop on mobile, Photoshop Express, VSCO | Light, color, retouching and filters on the go |
| Built into your gallery | Google Photos | Quick fixes without a new app |
| Browser editors | Fotor, Pixlr, Adobe Express, LunaPic | Edits, effects and templates on any computer |
| Open source in the browser | miniPaint | Layers and drawing without uploading the image |
Looking for a full desktop program like GIMP, Krita, Photopea, darktable or RawTherapee? Those are in our list of free design software.
Watermarks, ads and premium tools
Free photo editors make money in different ways. This is what the official pages say:
| App | What the page says |
|---|---|
| Snapseed | No subscriptions, purchases, ads or watermarks |
| Fotor | Free plan edits as many images as you want and exports without watermarks |
| Pixlr | Free without an account; paid plans add an ad-free editing experience |
| Adobe Express | Free plan with core photo editing; files up to 40 MB and up to 32 images per project |
| Lightroom, Photoshop on mobile, Photoshop Express | Free apps; premium features need a subscription |
| VSCO | Free app; the full library of 200+ presets needs a membership |
Pages that say nothing about watermarks do not rule one out. Export one test photo before you edit a whole batch.
Edits that do not need an app
Many everyday jobs are a single step. These free tools on our site run in your browser:
- Image cropper: crop to 1:1, 4:5, 16:9 or any size.
- Image resizer: resize by percent or to exact pixels, in batches.
- Background remover: a transparent PNG or a new background color.
- Add text to image: write on a photo with your font, color and outline.
- Blur image: hide faces or license plates.
- Collage maker: arrange several photos in a grid.
Before you share a photo
- Check the location data. Phone photos can carry GPS coordinates. Our EXIF viewer and remover shows them and saves a clean copy.
- Make it smaller. Large photos upload slowly. The image compressor shrinks JPG, PNG and WebP files.
- Use the right size. Each social network crops differently; see our social media image sizes.
We opened each app's official page on the date in the table and wrote down only what it says. "Not stated" means the page does not say it.
Frequently asked questions
Which free photo editor has no watermark?
Snapseed's App Store listing says it has no subscriptions, purchases, ads or watermarks. Fotor says its free plan exports edited photos without watermarks. The other pages we checked do not mention watermarks, so export a test photo first.
Can I edit photos in the browser without installing anything?
Yes. Pixlr says it is free in the browser without an account, and Fotor, Adobe Express and LunaPic have online editors. miniPaint is open source and says nothing is sent to a server; everything stays in your browser.
Is Lightroom free on a phone?
Yes. Adobe says Lightroom for mobile is a free app for iOS and Android, and you can upgrade to premium features. Adobe does not list on that page which features are premium.
Is Photoshop free on iPhone and Android?
Adobe calls Photoshop on mobile a free, standalone app for iPhone or Android, with premium features available with a subscription. Photoshop Express is a separate free app with free automatic cutouts.
How do I remove a photo background for free?
Photoshop Express offers free automatic cutouts. You can also use the background remover on this site, which removes the background in your browser and saves a transparent PNG or a new color.
Where are GIMP and other desktop editors?
This list covers phone and browser editors. Desktop programs such as GIMP, Krita, Photopea, darktable and RawTherapee are in our list of free design software.