In this guide we will analyze the best apps for editing photos and photo editing available on Android and iOS, in order to guide you in the creation of exceptional shots directly on your smartphones and tablets.
Once upon a time you had to spend hours in front of the PC screen or even in the dark room for the elderly in order to develop good shots. Today instead there are smartphones and tablets almost as powerful as a mid-range PC, with excellent quality displays and large amounts of memory. There is therefore no reason not to try to optimize your shots directly on these mobile devices, also facilitating access to the world of social media.
In this guide to best apps for Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing we will therefore analyze what the stores offer to make your shots even more interesting. We will divide the applications into different categories a depending on the cost (free, paid, with paid content) and al level required for use (novice and advanced). In fact, with the modern app it is possible both to apply simple presets, but also to use advanced tools that we find in the professional photo editing suites. Here is the complete list that we will deepen below:
Best Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing apps for newbies
- VSCO
- AfterLight
- PicsArt
- Pixlr
- Adobe Photoshop Express
- Perfect 365
Best Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing apps for advanced users
- Snapseed
- Adobe LightRoom
- Fotor
- Adobe Photoshop Mix e Fix
For the neophyte
In this first paragraph we will analyze the best photo editing and photo editing apps available for Android and iOS suitable for an audience with little experience in terms of photographic post production which would not be able to handle more advanced tools. These applications that we offer allow you to apply a large amount of presets, effects and features that in a few clicks can radically transform your shot.
Best Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing apps: VSCO
VSCO is a photo editing and photo editing app available for Android and iOS and is free with the ability to access more advanced features (such as HSL and video editing) via in-app purchases. In reality this very interesting application has a double face: on the one hand we find a huge amount of presets and automatic procedures usable even by the less experienced, on the other hand too several more powerful tools for manual editing. That’s why we would like to recommend this application to everyone, but especially to beginners who want to start exploring the world of more advanced photo editing.
Best Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing apps: AfterLight
This is the perfect app for beginners. They can be applied dozens of effects, automatic filters and simple adjustments. AfterLight allows you to recreate vintage effects similar to those of old films or simply give a more “intragrammable” touch to your photos in a really simple way. All for free, with the possibility of in-app purchases.
Best apps for Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing: PicsArt
PicsArt focuses more on image editing than on the actual post production: with this application you can create interesting overlays and collages of several photos, or indulge yourself with many preset effects. We especially recommend it to those who are very creative and love to modify their images in an original and heavy way. PicsArt is also available for free with the ability to purchase packs to expand the amount of applicable effects.
Best apps for Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing: Pixlr
Produced by a computer graphics giant like Autodesk, Pixlr is the advanced version of the aforementioned application, but we decided to include it among those suitable even for the less experienced because we found it really intuitive (even if you need to be familiar with the concept of level and transparency). Allows you to create elegant compositions by combining different images, text and even tools for automatic post production shots. Also in this case the application is free with some paid content.
Best Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing apps: Adobe Photoshop Express
This is the pocket version of the famous photo editing software and could not miss among the best photo editing and photo editing apps available for Android and iOS. In reality, we deviate a lot from the complex and professional interface of the PC version of Photoshop to switch to a simple, intuitive and stripped-down application. The different options for editing photos are presented through a series of automatic filters and presets: all you have to do is choose the one you like best! Despite the high rate of automation, the quality and versatility of Adobe products are not lost, although to make the most of this free app you will need an Adobe account.
Best Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing apps: Perfect 365
Finally we conclude with a very special gem: how important selfies are nowadays? Probably millions of them end up on the web every day. That’s why we finally propose Perfect 365, an app dedicated a specific way to editing faces. We were particularly surprised by the large amount of advanced tools that can be used in a completely transparent and simple way even by the less experienced: just a pinch of curiosity and in a short time you will be able to master this interesting free application, with purchases in the app.
For the experienced user
Let’s now turn to some products they offer more advanced tools and a little more difficult to use for less experienced users. Nobody forbids you to try them, but it will take a little patience to learn how to master them. In any case, most of these applications offer a series of presets and automatisms, but they give their best if used manually.
Best apps for Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing: Snapseed
Snapseed we will be able to define it as the queen of the best apps for editing photos and Android and iOS photo editing. Really the most complete and among those accessible without disbursements. It is cCompatible with many photographic formats, even RAW ones. This means that you can shoot from your reflex and mirrorless cameras and then edit them directly on site with your smartphone. Snapseed makes available a large amount of tools to balance exposure, color, contrast, sharpness and even the selective application of effects. Really a powerful application, but also simple and intuitive for those who are passionate.
Best apps for Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing: Adobe LightRoom
If LightRoom is one of the best programs for photo post production, its mobile version is one of the best apps for editing Android and iOS photos and photo editing. The application incorporates the graphical interface and tools of the desktop version, simplifying them and making them more ergonomic for use on smartphone tablets. Clearly you can’t get the precision of control that the PC version offers, but we have everything we need to get the most out of our shots, all in a few minutes of work. While the app is free, some advanced features (such as selective editing or RAW file editing) are only available by registering your Adobe account with an active Creative Cloud membership.
Best apps for Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing: Fotor
Next to this sacred monsters we put Fotor, a really interesting photo editing app. On the one hand it is very simple and offers numerous presets applicable with a simple click. On the other hand we have some advanced controls: simple, but useful. It is also possible to create elegant collages and simple layouts, using and modifying the various presets. Fotor is a free application with paid unlockable content. For more details you can click here where you will find a full review of the desktop version of this software.
Best apps for Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing: Adobe Photoshop Mix and Fix
Adobe has decided to break up the various integrated features in a very complex and powerful product like Photoshop into many applications that implement different features. For this list of the best Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing apps we have selected Photoshop Mix and Photoshop Fix.
Photoshop Fix is the real app for photographic post production, unlike LightRoom, however, it focuses on correction and alteration of shots making available tools such as the clone stamp or something similar to the “liquify” command of the desktop version. Photoshop Mix instead it tries to emulate the layer mechanism, allowing you to overlay images, manage opacities and cut out. There are the classic layer blending modes and also some very basic filters for image editing. The interesting thing is that these applications are easily interfaced with LightRoom, so they complement each other. Again, to use these apps to their full potential, you will need a subscription to Adobe’s Creative Cloud.
The alternative solution
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time learning various photo editing apps on smartphones, you can outsource this process to online photo editing services such as FixThePhoto. You can get a professional and realistic portrait at a very affordable price (between 2 and 5 euros per photo). The price includes skin retouching, teeth whitening, work with photo imperfections, color correction, etc. The Photoshop experts will provide you with photo editing service high quality in just 2 working days.
Post-production just a click away!
Whether you are a beginner or an expert, now the stores offer lots of great alternatives to transform your shots with just a few clicks and give that extra touch to your photographs. Moreover, thanks to the modern Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections of modern cameras you can process not only the shots taken with your smartphone, but also those of reflex and mirrorless! In addition, a number of developers are investing in the imaging industry through social media, so keep following our guide best apps for Android and iOS photo editing and photo editing also in the coming months to stay updated! From the mobile devices section, that’s it, see you next time! If you are interested in editing video rather than photography, try reading our guide to the best programs for video editing!