Apps for both the iPhone and Android that do all common photo editing tasks are included in our list of the top mobile photo editing programmes.
Some also provide cloud storage, organising tools, and even private social photo areas.
Gimmicky programmes that solely perform one type of manipulation, like face beautification or collage building, are not included in our collection.
Here are the top 5 mobile picture editing applications based on those criteria.
Adobe Photoshop Express (Android/iOS/Web)
This streamlined version of Adobe’s flagship Photoshop programme is yet another success.
Photoshop Express is a freemium app like Lightroom Mobile, however its subscription plan costs less than Lightroom’s at $2.99 per month or $34.99 per year.
Photoshop Express is frequently used more for collages, blemish removal, text overlays, masks, and compositing than for photo restoration and enhancement, just as the comparable desktop product.
However, Photoshop Express has all of those features plus, like Lightroom Mobile and Snapseed, it handles raw camera files.
The most recent update expanded the app’s extensive library of effect filters by including skin smoothing, content-aware mending, face-aware liquify, and a caricature filter.
Apple Photos (iOS)
Only Apple devices support the Apple Photos app.
It is preloaded on Mac computers, iPhones, and iPads; the desktop version is a little more sophisticated.
With images taken on iPhones and iPads, the mobile edition of Apple Photos enables you to apply some really amazing changes, such as Long Exposure and balancing effects for Live Photos.
You can shoot in Apple’s ProRaw format if you have a more recent iPhone Pro, which combines the benefits of raw camera formats with Apple’s computational photography prowess.
You now have more editing options, including the ability to enhance shadows and modify white balance. The programmes’ user interface is sleek, as you would expect from any Apple device, and you have access to every possible exposure and colour setting.
Using on-device AI to help you discover particular things and people, it also excels at organising and finding specific photographs.
Shared Albums and iCloud connections have recently improved sharing.
Google Photos (Android/iOS/Web)
The ability to store your images in the cloud is Google Photographs’ main selling point, but the mobile app also offers a wide range of traditional and cutting-edge photo editing tools.
More features are available in Google Photos for subscribers to the company’s Google One storage plan than for free users, including numerous filters that are especially good at what they do, like Dynamic, HDR, Luminous, Radiant, and Airy.
A recent update included useful new collage templates, and free users continue to have access to the complete set of editing tools for changing the exposure, contrast, cropping, and adding text and drawing overlays.
Assuming that’s not enough, you can transmit a photo to another photo software, such as PicsArt, if you have it installed, using one option. The app is one of the best for categorising and locating images based on locations, subjects, and objects, and the AI-powered Memories function helps you remember the good times.
The Google Photos mobile apps can open raw camera files for viewing, but they cannot be edited.
Adobe Lightroom Mobile (iOS)
Even if you don’t use the desktop version of Lightroom, Adobe’s industry-leading photo workflow software, Lightroom Mobile is a fantastic photo app.
Deep post-shot editing is available on the mobile app, as well as a camera option that allows you to shoot in raw format on the iPhone (This gives you additional control over exposure, white balance, and other aspects of your images on Android devices (if they have a native camera).
When capturing images, even filters like black-and-white can be employed.
The content-aware object removal, automatic people and object selection, and adaptive settings for skies and portraits were all implemented in the October 2022 release.
Prior to that, there were basic visual effects and cutting in the July update.
Paid customers receive cloud storage for their photographs, a lot more effects, including masking, healing, and suggested presets, while free users get a respectable variety of editing tools and even filters—now with an Amount slider to increase or reduce the effect’s strength.
The app is bursting with tips on how to take stunning pictures.
You can even upload your work to Lightroom Mobile and have other photographers in the Discover community try their hand at modifying it.
The monthly subscription fee for the mobile-only apps is $4.99 and includes 100GB of cloud storage for synchronisation.
Full access to the programme and 1TB of storage are included in the regular Lightroom Creative Cloud Plan ($9.99/month).
PicsArt Photo Studio (Android/iOS/Web)
PicsArt has long marketed itself as a multi-purpose photo app.
It has an almost limitless number of editing and improvement tools.
It also has a social element thanks to photo sharing.
The software now has an AI text-to-photo image creator and Discord integration.
Members get access to challenges, hashtags, and creators.
Portrait backgrounds can be easily removed and replaced with textures or other elements of your choice.
A premium subscription, which costs $8.99 per month or $4.66 per month with a yearly commitment, is necessary to get the finest editing features.
