My recent article, 3 Alternative Post-Processing Applications that Challenge the Adobe Throne, presented just three of the many post-processing software packages available (both free and paid) that provide excellent post-processing capabilities. In this article, I’ll give you a much longer list of post-processing software. To be impartial, I’ll list the titles in alphabetical order.
DXO Photolab 2
A few of the titles added by readers in the Comments section of the “3 Alternatives” article impressed me with their power and innovative design. I’ve been editing digital images with every software package available since late 1986, and I thought I’d seen most of them. However, it seems that the list of capable editing software grows weekly.
As you will notice, I do not mention ALL the software available for download or online use. Those that made the cut will be actual production titles with a minimum set of well-designed editing functions.
To be honest, I’ve looked at a significant number of offerings that are little more than public domain routines. They are not fully implemented or even adequately defined. These were considered but not listed.
Listed below is a wide variety of packages on both mobile and laptop/desktop platforms; a true variety pack that covers the field from hobbyist to professional users. No matter what your preference, you’ll find something here to tickle your fancy and meet your demands.
ACDSee Photo Studio Professional
As was welcomed in my first article, additional post-processing software titles should be added to this list by readers who have discovered (and used) them.
It is important to recognize all such products in a desire for fairness and sharing information. Because this list includes many more titles, I will not mention individual features of these titles, only a brief mention of the product’s most notable features.
This is where you can really contribute…
I’ll rely on you to describe your favorite features and benefits of your favorite titles. Let’s make this a very collaborative group effort BUT with one important request: please be brief and succinct with your comments. Limit your comments to one or two of the features that make your favorite app stand out from all others. That way, we learn from each other without monopolizing the mutual pulpit.
Skylum Luminar 3
List of photography post-processing software
ACDSee Photo Studio
Publisher: ACDSee Systems International
Website: https://www.acdsee.com/en/index/
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $60 Mac/Win/Mobile
Afterlight 2
Publisher: Afterlight Collective
Android Website: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fueled.afterlight&hl=en_US
Apple Website: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1293122457
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $60 Mac/Win/Mobile
Affinity Photo
Publisher: Serif
Website: www.affinity.serif.com
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $50 Mac/Win/iPad
Capture One
Publisher: Phase One
Website: https://www.phaseone.com/en/
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $299 or $20/month Mac/Win
Darktable
Website: www.darktable.org
Price: Free
Exposure X4.5
Publisher: Alien Skin
Website: https://www.alienskin.com
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $119 Mac/Win Computer
Fotor
Publisher: Fotor
Android Website: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.everimaging.photoeffectstudio&hl=en_US
Apple Website: https://apps.apple.com/app/id440159265?referrer=click%3D8cd7ac09-77a3-42f6-9005-ed622bd3e17f
Price: Free
Gimp
Publisher: Gimp
Website: https://www.gimp.org
Price: Free Mac/Win Computers
Google Photos
Publisher: Google
Website: https://www.google.com/photos
Price: Free online
Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic
Publisher: Adobe Systems
Website: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $10/mo Mac/Win
Adobe Lightroom Tablet/Computer/Mobile
Online Photo Editor
Publisher: PicMonkey
Website: https://www.picmonkey.com/
Trial: Free/7 days
Price: Starts at $7.99/month
Photo RAW
Publisher: ON1
Website: https://www.on1.com/products
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $80
PhotoLab 2
Publisher: DxO
Website: https://shop.dxo.com
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $129 Mac/Win Mobile/Computer
Paint Shop Pro X9
Publisher: Corel
Website: https://www.paintshoppro.com/en/
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $80 Mac/Win
Anthropics Portrait Pro 2
Photoshop/Camera RAW
Publisher: Adobe Systems
Website: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $10/mo Mac/Win
Photoshop Elements
Publisher: Adobe Systems
Website: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $59.99 Mac/Win
Photoshop Express
Publisher: Adobe Systems
Android Website: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adobe.psmobile&hl=en
Apple Website: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photoshop-express-photo-editor/id331975235?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Price: Free
PhotoPad
Publisher: NCH Software
Website: https://www.nchsoftware.com
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $40
PicsArt
Publisher: PicsArt
Android Website: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.picsart.studio
Apple Website: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/picsart-photo-studio/id587366035
Price: Free
Pixlr Editor
Publisher: Pixlr
Android Website: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pixlr.express&hl=en_US
Apple Website: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pixlr-photo-collages-effect/id526783584
Price: Free online
Pixlr Mobile Android/IOS
PortraitPro 18
Publisher: Anthropics
Website: https://www.anthropics.com
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $45 Mac/Win
RAW Therapee
Publisher: Softpedia
Website: https://www.softpedia.com
Price: Free (but only offered on Windows)
Skylum Luminar 3
Publisher: Skylum
Website: https://skylum.com/luminar
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $70 Mac/Win Computer
Smart Photo Editor
Publisher: Anthropics
Website: https://www.anthropics.com/smartphotoeditor/product/
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $30 Wind/Mac
Snapseed
Publisher: Google
Android Website: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.niksoftware.snapseed&hl=en_US
Apple Website: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/snapseed/id439438619
Price: Free
Sumo Paint
Publisher: Sumo
Website: https://www.sumopaint.com
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: Free version, but Sumo Pro is $4/month
Topaz Studio 2
Publisher: Topaz Labs
Website: topazlabs.com
Trial: Free/30 days
Price: $100 Mac/Win
Anthropics Smart Photo Editor
Conclusion
Some titles didn’t make this list’s cut simply because they are only marginally useful. Needless to say, in today’s market, there is an innumerable slew of entertainment-level phone/tablet-based image “editing” apps also available. There are way too many even to mention, let alone keep current information on.
Many of these apps are made for the amusement of the younger social media crowd who appreciate more unicorns and stickers than serious editing power. Not to sound judgmental, there is an app for everything and everyone, but this listing is “focused” on actual photo editing capabilities more than the social media aspect.
