What is the Best Photography Editing Software in 2024?
Editing software plays an important role in our photography journey.
While it’s perfectly acceptable to take photographs, upload them to Facebook or Instagram, or turn them into a photo book, if you want your photography to stand out and have a more professional edge, editing software is crucial in achieving that.
With this in mind, we wanted to take a moment to run through the best options available in 2024, including the best ‘all-round’ editing software, the best software for novices, and the best software for pioneering new, groundbreaking tech.
Adobe Lightroom Classic
Starting with the best ‘all-rounder’, Adobe Lightroom Classic has been around since 2007, and over the years, it has undergone numerous updates to make it the software it is today.
One of the reasons we describe it as an ‘all-rounder’ is because it’s valued by both professionals and newcomers. Any newcomer can use Adobe Lightroom Classic and immediately know what to do. The UI is friendly, intuitive, and easy to navigate, and some of the tools are as simple as adjusting the exposure or changing the contrast.
On the other hand, there are plenty of more complex, selective editing tools that are perfect for the professional. In terms of workflow efficiency, it’s hard to find anything better.
Corel Paintshop Pro
But we’re going to try! If you’re a novice and you’ve found Adobe Lightroom a little too complicated for your liking, a great alternative might be Corel Paintshop Pro.
Bear in mind, this is not a downgrade. We know that if you’ve taken the time to shoot your best shot and find the best photo book maker, you’ll want to make sure you’re uploading the best photos possible. This software ensures you do just that.
In many ways, Corel Paintshop Pro is just as good as Lightroom. It’s a powerful program with plenty of tools – including 360-degree photo editing, which Lightroom doesn’t have – and its UI feels just as smooth and navigable. But for the newbie looking for something ultra-simple, it really provides, offering everything from one-click adjustments, guided editing mode, and great affordability on top of it all.
Skylum Lunimar Neo
If you’re not fussed about the UI or the process being made easy, we’d recommend checking out Skylum Luminar Neo.
This is the latest version of the Luminar photo editor which has evolved into its own modular software platform, made specifically for photographers who want speedy results rather than lengthy technicalities.
The ‘AI Sky Replacement’ was the first of its kind, and since then, even more generative AI options have been added to the mix. If you want to remove objects from your composition, or you just want to make some enhancements that make your photographs more spectacular, this is the platform for you.
Snapseed
For smartphone photographers, Adobe Lightroom Mobile offers the most comprehensive suite of editing tools, many of which are similar to its desktop counterpart. But to shake things up a little, we’re going to recommend a worthwhile alternative: Snapseed.
Developed by Google, Snapseed is a highly acclaimed mobile editing app that’s known for its intuitive interface, powerful editing tools, and extensive range of photography filters and effects. With options including selective editing, selective blur, HDR tuning, and perspective correction, this is a great app that could be perfect if you’re looking for a free, easy-to-use software that still packs a punch with its tools.
Because it’s developed by Google, it also seamlessly integrates with Google Photos, allowing you to access and edit your photographs directly from the Google Photos app. So if your photos are stored in the cloud, you can quickly make your changes and then sync edits across your devices.
Affinity Photo 2
Another great editing software for the professional is Affinity Photo 2, which is probably the closest thing to an all-round Photoshop alternative.
While it’s not great if you’re looking for generative AI capabilities, it’s software with multiple layers, providing you with powerful adjustment tools, live filters, HDR merge, and focus stacking, and it does all this without asking for a subscription.
It’s technical software – to the point where it should be avoided by complete novices – but it can be learned and the end result certainly makes it worth it. It’s also undergone a recent major update that has brought about numerous new features, which is perfect if you’re looking for a library of use cases.
Conclusion
Any one of these photo editors can be great if you’re looking to boost your photography to the next level, but before you pick any of them, make sure you do your research and find software that has all the traits you’re looking for. It might take a little time, but thankfully, for photographers, patience is a common trait!
