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15 Best Free Photo Editing Apps for MacBook Pro in 2023 [M1/2]
As a photographer, you go to great lengths to capture the perfect shot. Finding the right setting, waiting for that time of day when the light is perfect, and composing your shot will go a long way toward creating great photographs, but these steps alone are not enough.
Photo editing software can erase graininess, fix bad lighting, and other photography issues, making images look as if conditions were perfect when the shot was taken - even if they weren’t.
However, most MacBook Pro image editors are shockingly high-priced. Fortunately, there are free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro available, and some of them offer all the high-end editing features of their expensive counterparts.
We have done the testing and research to bring you the 15 best free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro. This guide takes an in-depth look at each one, from key features to pros and cons, so you can make an informed decision about which free Mac photo editing software is best for you.
- Snapshot of Our Top 3 Free Photo Editing Apps for MacBook Pro
- How to Choose the Best Free Photo Editing Apps for MacBook Pro
- How We Test the Free Photo Editing Apps for Macbook Pro
- 15 Best Free Photo Editing Apps for MacBook Pro in 2023 [M1/2]
- PhotoDirector Essential - Best Overall
- Photoscape X - Best for Batch Editing
- Pixelmator Pro - Best for Mac Integration
- Fotor - Best for Beginners
- Pixlr - Best for Quick Edits
- Picsart - Best for Collages
- Darktable - Best for Photographers
- PhotoPad - Best for Resizing Images
- Canva - Best for Graphic Design
- Krita - Best for Artists
- GIMP - Best for Professionals
- Adobe Express - Best for Social Media
- Movavi Photo Editor - Best for Image Restoration
- Picktorial - Best for Color Correction
- Apple Photos - Best for Organization
- Best Free Photo Editing Apps for MacBook Pro Comparison Chart
- How to Edit Photos on Mac With PhotoDirector
- Download the Best Mac Photo Editing App for MacBook Pro for Free
- Free Photo Editing Apps for MacBook Pro FAQ
Snapshot of Our Top 3 Free Photo Editing Apps for MacBook Pro
1. PhotoDirector Essential - Best Overall
PhotoDirector is a professional-grade free Mac photo editing software made with the consumer in mind. It features guided edits that hold your hand as you edit photos, making complex-looking edits incredibly easy. Paired with AI-powered tools, you’ll find that with this free photo editing app for MacBook Pro, anyone can make stunning photography and swoon-worthy social media posts, regardless of skill level. Detailed Review >
Click the button below to see for yourself why PhotoDirector is the best free photo editing app for MacBook Pro.
2. Photoscape X - Best for Batch Editing
If you are a beginner who likes to edit photos on Mac, Photoscape X will have everything you need. This free Mac photo editing software comes with all the essential editing features, plus excellent color tools and batch editing features. Detailed Review >
3. Pixelmator Pro - Best for Mac Integration
Pixelmator Pro is a free photo editing app for MacBook Pro with pro features such as RAW photo editing and drawing tools. Users can share and edit photos on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Detailed Review >
How to Choose the Best Free Photo Editing Apps for MacBook Pro
Compatibility - Always check the system requirements of any free Mac photo editing software before you download it to your computer. Besides making sure the software you choose will edit photos on Mac, make sure it is optimized for your particular model. Some software doesn’t work on older Macs, while others have not upgraded to include newer versions. Also, check that your computer has enough hard drive space so that the free photo editing app for MacBook Pro will not only download completely but won’t cause your computer to run slowly.
Skill-Level - Free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro vary greatly when it comes to ease of use. Some are intended for professionals, and others are best for beginners. If you have little editing experience, don’t over-extend yourself and edit photos on Mac with software meant for advanced users. It will take you a long time to learn, and you may give up on the process. Since the free Mac photo editing software on our list are all free, try beginner-friendly software and move up to a more advanced option only when you are ready. Better yet, choose free Mac photo editing software with options for both beginners and pros, so you don’t need to learn a new system as your skill-level changes.
Features - Write a list of the tools you will need to edit photos on Mac. Are you a professional photographer who needs an option with tethered shooting, or simply cropping photos for Instagram? Do you prefer one-click options or the control of precise manual edits? Are you an action photographer who needs motion-blur effects, or do you need text tools and stickers for YouTube thumbnails? With so many options, you are sure to find a free photo editing app for MacBook Pro with the right mix of features you require.
How We Test the Free Photo Editing Apps for Macbook Pro
Read below to find out how we tested and ranked the free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro on our list.
Compare Similar Features - We try out the same common features found in all of the free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro so we can compare apples with apples.
Compare Overall Features - Next, we try out the features that make each free Mac photo editing software unique. We take into consideration the overall number of features and how well they work in our rankings.
Rate Ease of Use - For our “Beginner-Friendly Tools” rating, we weigh both the number of tools with how many are easy to use.
Analyze Outside Reviews - To help us rank with impartiality, we use an outside reviewer score and average it with the “Beginner-Friendly Tools” rating. We also read outside reviews to help make sure our findings line up with others. This helps us eliminate user errors or technical difficulties when testing the free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro on our end.
15 Best Free Photo Editing Apps for MacBook Pro in 2023 [M1/2]
1. PhotoDirector Essential - Best Overall
Compatibility: Mac, Windows
Shotkit Rating: 5/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 5/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $3.33/month
Key Features:
- Guided edits and AI-Powered Tools: Tools to help beginners make professional-looking edits
- AI Photo Retouching: Face, skin, and body tools such as teeth whitening, eye bag removal, and skin smoother
- Denoise and Deblur Tools: Fix blurry/grainy shots
- Thousands of Creative Assets: Including templates, photo animations, stickers, and more
- Content-Aware Object Removal: Take out people or objects in one click
Who It’s For
Based on our review, PhotoDirector Essential is the best overall free photo editing app for MacBook Pro available. A lot of the software on our list will be beginner-friendly but lack advanced features. PhotoDirector Essential offers a comprehensive range of features for both professional and amateur photographers. This free Mac photo editing software also has an easy-to-use interface that lets you jump in so you can start to edit photos on Mac immediately.
Why We Picked It
With this free Mac photo editing software, you get Photoshop and Lightroom in a single application, complete with unique video-to-photo, photo animation tools, and glitch art, which involves separating, layering, and combining the colors of your original photos to create unique aesthetics.
This free photo editing app for MacBook Pro also supports layer editing options and other powerful tools like advanced color replacement, panorama photo merge, and dispersion effects. You also get easy adjustment tools like tone, white balance, level, curve, split toning, and HSL & HDR effects.
Bottom Line
PhotoDirector Essential is a free Mac photo editing software suitable for professional use but easy enough for beginners to use. Using the software's guided edits, you can add effects and create professional-level images in seconds. It also includes photo management and efficient workflow features, including tethered shooting, soft proofing, GPS photo logs, and AI facial recognition.
To give your photos a unique and engaging edge, download the best free photo editing app for MacBook Pro, PhotoDirector Essential today by clicking the link below.
2. Photoscape X - Best for Batch Editing
Compatibility: Mac, Windows
TechRadar Rating: 4.5/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4.5/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Light Leaks: Over 100 light effects to add to your photos
- Cutout Tool: Remove the background from any image
- Photo Splitter: Slice a photo into several pieces
- Spot Healing Brush: Fix spots and small imperfections
Who It’s For
If you often need to apply quick edits to multiple photos at once, then Photoscape X is the free photo editing app for MacBook Pro for you. Photoscape X has multiple tabs dedicated to batch edits, such as Batch Resize, Batch Rename, and Batch Format Change. Users can also convert multiple images into different formats with one click.
Why We Picked It
This free Mac photo editing software has an abundance of essential tools. anything a novice could need to edit photos on Mac. Merge, crop, combine, and resize photos, then add stickers, filters, or text. The program also has some impressive color tools, such as Point Color (choose one color to highlight and make the rest of the photo back and white), Selective Color (change vibrancy up or down of each color you choose), and Replace Color (replace one color with another throughout the photo). The free Mac photo editing software has a gradient map for more precise color changes.
Bottom Line
Photoscape X has an unusual interface that differs significantly from other free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro and may take some getting used to. However, despite the confusing layout, the program remains beginner-friendly. The free Mac photo editing software has many outstanding editing tools, but it falls behind PhotoDirector due to a lack of format support and export quality. Photoscape X lacks HDR and EXIF information support and tends to freeze if editing multiple RAW files. Also, when you save a file, we’ve found the quality is noticeably decreased.
3. Pixelmator Pro - Best for Mac Integration
Image from Pixelmator Pro Tutorials.
Compatibility: Mac
SoftwareHow Rating: 4.3/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4.5/5
Price: 7-Day free trial, then $49.99
Key Features:
- RAW Editing: Supports RAW photos from over 600 digital cameras
- Remove Color: Instantly remove any color from photos
- Clarity and Texture Adjustments: Edit photos with the finest detail
Who It’s For
Pixelmator is a robust tool to edit photos on Mac offering various high-end editing features. Beginner to intermediate users will enjoy this free photo editing app for MacBook Pro for its complete macOS integration. The software has all the default Mac menus and shortcuts and allows users to easily pull photos from apps like Mail, Messages, AirDrop, Notes, and Photos. You can even pull still images from FaceTime. In addition, this free photo editing app for MacBook Pro supports macOS 13 and Apple tools like Magic Mouse, Apple Fonts, Apple Pencil, and more.
Why We Picked It
The pro features you get with Pixelmator include layer editing, retouching, vector, and AI tools. In addition, this free Mac photo editing software offers various pens, pencils, and brushes for precision image enhancements. As you become familiar with the software, you can customize the main toolbar to contain only the needed tools. You can also organize the various effects and filters in their palettes for quick access.
Bottom Line
Pixelmator has many professional tools but lacks quite a few found in our top free photo editing app for MacBook Pro, PhotoDirector. But like PhotoDirector, we found it easy to use, with an intuitive user interface and plenty of free tutorials. The free Mac photo editing software is only available for a quick 7-day trial, however, the cost for Pro is affordable.
4. Fotor - Best for Beginners
Image from Fotor.
Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Web Browser
G2 Rating: 4.3/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4.5/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for 8.99/month for Pro and $19.99/month for Pro+
Key Features:
- Batch Processing: Various tools to edit many photos at once
- AI Photo Eraser: Remove unwanted objects with a few clicks
- AI Face Generator: Create realistic human faces
Who It’s For
Fotor Photo Editor is a free photo editing app for MacBook Pro for beginners. The Fotor editing platform is easy to use, and navigating the menus and editing tools is quick and easy. All effects and edits are automatic, with a slider to adjust intensity. The limited tools are laid out so you can see all options at once, and when you click on a feature, a little box pops up explaining what it is and how to use it to edit photos.
Why We Picked It
The stand-out feature of this free Mac photo editing software includes support for importing and exporting various high-resolution image formats. Fotor is a RAW image converter and can be used to view EXIF data images. The web-based free photo editing app for MacBook Pro offers basic adjustments with additional photo editing features such as adjustment fine-tuning, curving and resizing, and white balance settings.
Bottom Line
Like Canva, Fotor is available on any device from your web browser, or as a more stable download to edit photos on Mac or Windows. It is an excellent free Mac photo editing software for beginners and offers some fun filters and effects. However, unlike our top choices PhotoDirector and Pixelmator, it will not grow with you as your skills increase. Most tools require a subscription and the premium versions are pricey. We also found the layering tools were more difficult to use than in other free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro.
5. Pixlr - Best for Quick Edits
Image from ThePhotoFinishes.com.
Compatibility: Web Browser
G2 Rating: 4.4/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $.75/month for Plus and $4.90/month for Premium
Key Features:
- Collage Maker: Tons of unique and customizable grid templates
- Design Templates: Beautiful themed templates in a wide range of aspect ratios
- Automatic Color Tools: Use Color Replace, Color Picker, or Color Fill to make local color adjustments
Who It’s For
In our research, we found Pixlr to be the best free Mac photo editing software for making quick edits. Pixlr’s web-based free Mac photo editing software works well for beginners and more experienced editors needing a quick solution for basic edits. The program has a clean, easy-to-use interface with easily labeled tools. It has many great features, but not so many that it is overwhelming to find the tools you need. Pixlr also features tools for different skill levels, so you can choose to make automated edits or spend some time applying manual changes to your photos.
Why We Picked It
While not as robust as other free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro on our list, Pixlr does have some professional tools like customizable brushes and a selection of cutting tools like shape, lasso, drag, and magic. There are also tools for painting and drawing, fine-tuning color tools, and support for layer editing. Unfortunately, Pixlr's huge stock library and Remove Background app are separate and require additional sign-in.
Bottom Line
Pixlr's advanced features fall somewhere in the middle of other editors of its kind. We placed it above the similarly-rated Picsart because Pixlr has more professional tools. The free version contains a lot of intrusive ads, however, for only 75 cents a month you can remove the ads and receive unlimited downloads. And while you can use the free photo editing app for MacBook Pro on any device with a web browser and internet connection, the downloadable version you can use offline is only available on Windows.
6. Picsart - Best for Collages
Compatibility: Mac
G2 Rating: 4.4/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $5/month for Gold and $7/month for Teams
Key Features:
- Cartoonizer: Turn your images into cartoons with AI cartoon filters
- Photo Filters and Effects: Apply fun effects or change image colors with one click
- AI Enhance: Instantly upscale images
Who It’s For
Picsart is a beginner-friendly free photo editing app for MacBook Pro. We like using Picsart for its collage function, which enables you to combine several photos into one. It has a large selection of grids from 2 photos up to 10. You can edit photos accordingly, then customize the collage with stickers, background colors, text, and more.
Why We Picked It
Picsart is a great free photo editing app for MacBook Pro for making your photos look more professional and playful. It has an emphasis on creative features that are great for social media, like frames, templates, and graphical elements. Moreover, the free Mac photo editing software has a social network within it, where you can explore other users' work, follow them, and share your own artwork too.
Bottom Line
Overall, Picsart is a fun free photo editing app for MacBook Pro with excellent social media features and tools powered by AI. However, if you want to use the background remover, animation maker, or premium stock images, you’ll need to purchase a subscription. It also lacks features for professional users like RAW image support found in our top free Mac photo editing software, PhotoDirector.
7. Darktable - Best for Photographers
Image from Darktable.
Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux
Shotkit Rating: 4.2/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Professional Color Adjustment: Support for sRGB, Adobe RGB, XYZ, and linear RGB color spaces
- Non-Destructive Editing: Won’t alter your original image
- Filtering and Sorting Tools: Search by tags, stars, color labels, and more
Who It’s For
Darktable is the top open-source free Mac photo editing app for MacBook Pro on our list and a great option for photographers. It has photo management tools similar to Adobe Lightroom, and RAW image processing for over 400 popular cameras. It also supports tethered shooting and handles 10,000 images.
Why We Picked It
This free Mac photo editing software offers extremely precise control over edits. It includes advanced tools such as masking, blending, hot pixel fixes, denoise, and many more. Darktable saves your image metadata and processing settings and comes in 21 languages.
Bottom Line
Of the three open-source options on our list, Darktable landed on top. While they all have a learning curve, this free photo editing app for MacBook Pro offered the most customer support and learning tutorials. We also found it was extremely fast to edit photos on Mac, and didn’t experience the lag or freezing that accompanies a lot of open-source software. However, we did find the layout confusing and the tool groupings seemed almost random.
8. PhotoPad - Best for Resizing Images
Image from Softonic.
Compatibility: Mac, Windows
G2 Rating: 4.1/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4/5
Price: Free
*Premium versions available for $50 for Home, $60 for Pro, or $3.33/month for unlimited updates
Key Features:
- Touch-Up Tools: Remove red-eye, whiten teeth, and remove blemishes
- Collage Tools: Select a pre-designed layout or design your own
- Regional Effects: Apply effects and filters to only part of your image
Who It’s For
PhotoPad made our list of the best free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro because of its image resizing features. This free Mac photo editing software will upscale and change the aspect ratio of your photos with zero quality loss, thanks to AI-powered tools such as Super Resolution and liquid resize effect. If you edit photos on Mac and need to blow up images to poster size then PhotoPad is a great option.
Why We Picked It
PhotoPad has some unique and helpful features like a Passport photo tool and the ability to colorize black and white photos. The free photo editing app for MacBook Pro also offers a good selection of clipart, fonts, frames, collage templates, and drawing tools.
Bottom Line
This free photo editing app for MacBook Pro has tons of learning tools and technical support, besides being easy to use to begin with. However, PhotoPad is not for advanced users, and the free version is not available for commercial use. Our top software, PhotoDirector, is equally beginner-friendly with a plethora of learning aids, but also has features for more advanced users.
9. Canva - Best for Graphic Design
Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Web Browser
PCMag Rating: 4.5/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 3.5/5
Price: Free
Premium subscriptions available for $119.99/year for Pro and $149.90/year for Teams
Key Features:
- Autofocus: Instantly add depth of field
- Huge Free Stock Libraries: 100,000+ free photos and graphics
- Photo Enhancer: Adjust lighting, boost saturation, fix blur, and more
Who It’s For
We found Canva to be a one-stop shop for graphic design needs. This free photo editing app for MacBook Pro has over 250,000 free templates in 100 categories for any visual project. Turn your favorite photos into cards, invites, calendars, and more. You can also edit photos on Mac from a blank slate and use Canva’s many fonts, colors, backgrounds, and shapes to design your look. Canva is a good choice for social media influencers, with lots of tools to help create your brand and maintain a polished presence online. Create a logo and save your brand’s colors and fonts in all your posts.
Why We Picked It
This free Mac photo editing software is browser-based with an intuitive, user-friendly interface. The free version of Canva is perfect for home users and beginners. In addition, we liked the features available in Canva’s paid Teams version, where you can invite members to design with you, then collaborate and comment in real-time.
Bottom Line
While we love Canva for design, it lacks some essential features needed to edit photos on Mac. There aren’t any precision manual editing tools, no support for layers, and no AI tools. However, since it is free, Canva could be a good design tool to use alongside one of the more feature-rich free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro further up on our list.
10. Krita - Best for Artists
Image from The Web Factor.
Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux
Capterra Rating: 4.5/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 3.5/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Brush Stabilizers: Includes 3 different ways to smooth brush strokes
- Wrap-Around Mode: Create seamless patterns
- Layer Management: Combine, order, and flatten layers
Who It’s For
Krita is an open-source free photo editing app for MacBook Pro for photographers, artists, illustrators, graphic designers, and animators. It’s a fantastic alternative to Photoshop for professionals on a budget and even has a similar user interface. This entirely free Mac photo editing software offers a huge selection of brushes, textures, vector images, and more for creating unique effects for your photos.
Why We Picked It
Edit photos on Mac with a complete animation studio, including tools for stop-motion photography like onion skinning and an export-to-video option. It has excellent layer-editing tools and color management. This free photo editing app for MacBook Pro’s interface is fully customizable, with both light and dark themes.
Bottom Line
We love that this Mac image editor is entirely free, yet offers some of the most advanced tools on our list. However, Krita is not the right free photo editing app for MacBook Pro for beginners. It’s also not for anyone who just wants to edit photos and has no need for advanced graphic design or illustration tools.
11. GIMP - Best for Professionals
Image from GIMP.
Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux
G2 Rating: 4.3/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 3.5/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Customizable Brushes: Make your own brushes or choose from the large pre-made selection
- Clone/Healing Brush: Remove imperfections
- Graphic Design Elements: Create icons and graphic elements for mockups and UI components
Who It’s For
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation) is a free, open-source, and cross-platform photo editor you can access online. We reviewed GIMP as the best free photo editing app for MacBook Pro for professionals because it is packed with advanced tools you don’t often find in free software, like bezier curves, animation tools, and layer masks. GIMP is a tool used by photographers, illustrators, graphic designers, and even scientists for its varied features.
Why We Picked It
GIMP offers a library containing various effects and filters you can use to edit photos on Mac. Other professional editing tools include precise selection tools, a clone brush, and transformation features, such as shear, scale, and crop. This free Mac photo editing software offers high-quality image manipulation with retouching and restoring tools and a handy split-screen that lets you preview effects before application.
Bottom Line
This free photo editing app for MacBook Pro is on our list because of its advanced features. However, it remains near the bottom because it is not user-friendly. GIMP has a bit of a learning curve, and the interface is cluttered. We also discovered that some of the advanced effects could result in lag, which doesn’t happen with a free editor optimized for Mac-specific technologies like our top choice, PhotoDirector.
12. Adobe Express - Best for Social Media
Compatibility: Web Browser
TechRadar Rating: 4/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 3.5/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $9.99/month
Key Features:
- Video Editing Tools: Includes basic tools to edit video posts/TikToks
- Edit PDF: Create, convert, export, organize, and edit PDFs with Acrobat
- Instant Resize: Change the aspect ratio of your projects for different platforms
Who It’s For
Edit photos on Mac or any iOS device with Adobe’s browser-based, free photo editor. We found this free photo editing app for MacBook Pro worked great for social media posts, due to its extensive library of customizable templates in the correct aspect ratios for every popular site. The Premium version includes branding assets and a content scheduler.
Why We Picked It
Users have access to a limited amount of Adobe Stock and Adobe Fonts in the free version. We found the selection was more than adequate for most projects. This free photo editing app for MacBook Pro also comes with basic tools to edit photos like removing background, animating images, and a crop tool. However, professionally-designed templates are definitely the crowning jewel of the software.
Bottom Line
Adobe Express is a helpful and free Mac photo editing software for those with no design experience to create professional-looking posts. However, it is not the right Mac image editor for intermediate or advanced users. For one thing, it only accepts JPG format and images below 16MB. It also doesn’t support layer editing. For better format support and beginner-friendly layer editing tools, try our top free photo editing app for MacBook Pro, PhotoDirector.
13. Movavi Photo Editor - Best for Image Restoration
Compatibility: Mac, Windows
Fix the Photo Rating: 3.5/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 3.5/5
Price: 3-day free trial, then $49.95/year or $69.95 for a lifetime license
Key Features:
- Background & Object Removal: Replace or remove backgrounds, people, and objects
- RAW Image Support: Automatically converts to JPEG after uploading
- Sharpness Adjustment: Add sharpness and remove blur from images
Who It’s For
Movavi Photo Editor is a free photo editing app for MacBook Pro that beginners can use to restore old or damaged photos. It not only removes noise and blur, but also fold lines, stains, and more. It can also add color to antique black-and-white photos.
Why We Picked It
Edit photos on Mac with image retouching tools such as blemish-removal, a make-up tool, and a teeth whitener. This free Mac photo editing software offers tons of AI-powered one-click tools to deliver high-quality results to those with no photo editing experience.
Bottom Line
Although Movavi Photo Editor uses AI-powered technology, it lacks tagging and organizational tools. Also, it does not have a free version, but a very short 3-day trial that is limited to 10 watermarked images. In our updated list for 2023, we moved it below Krita, GIMP, and Adobe Express, which are all completely free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro or offer a free-forever version.
14. Picktorial - Best for Color Correction
Compatibility: Mac
Fix the Photo Rating: 3/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $4.99/month
Key Features:
- Smart Retouching: Sharpen features, remove blemishes, and smooth skin
- Patch Tool: Removes distracting objects
- Digital Asset Management: Organize with albums, keywords, and metadata
Who It’s For
Picktorial is a non-destructive free photo editing app for MacBook Pro that works as a standalone app or as an extension for Apple Photos. It has excellent color correction and photo management tools. Color tools include curve adjustments, highlights and shadows, linear and radial gradients, and more. We think it’s a great option for photographers who are new to photo editing because it’s beginner-friendly with support for over 500 cameras and RAW images.
Why We Picked It
One of the best parts about this free photo editing app for MacBook Pro is that it allows you to organize your images in a way that suits you. The software includes metadata which can automatically arrange the pictures according to dates, camera models, and exposure settings. Picktorial also features an extensive range of filters that improve the overall look of your images.
Bottom Line
Picktorial is designed to offer a smooth and unobtrusive experience while you edit photos. It is easy to use, and its intuitive interface enables you to navigate seamlessly between various functions. However, if you need complex photo retouching or layer editing, this free Mac photo editing software won’t cut it. For those tools and more, try our top choice, PhotoDirector.
15. Apple Photos - Best for Organization
Image from Apple.
Compatibility: Mac
PCMag Rating: 4/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 3/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Powerful Search Function: Easy to find individual photos
- Red-Eye Removal: Fix red-eye in one click
- Optimized for iPhone Photos: Tools to edit photos in Portrait mode, Live Photos, and Pro RAW format
Who It’s For
If you have a Mac, chances are you also have an iPhone. This means the thousands of photos you take with your iPhone will automatically sync to the Photos app on your Mac. Even if you use a separate free Mac photo editing software for advanced photo edits, we recommend storing and organizing your images on Photos, because your images are more than likely already there!
Why We Picked It
Organize your images automatically with AI-powered sorting, or create manual albums. Then store your albums in iCloud and access them anytime from your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. And Apple Photos isn’t just a place to store your images. This free photo editing app for MacBook Pro comes with a few built-in tools to edit photos, such as crop, rotate, filters, and auto-enhance.
Bottom Line
We think Apple Photos is a great place to sort, crop, delete, and organize your photos before uploading them into a more comprehensive free Mac photo editing software. While its sorting and metadata tools are excellent, it only handles the most basic of editing tasks, which is why we recommend using it in tandem with one of the other options on our list.
Best Free Photo Editing Apps for MacBook Pro Comparison Chart
| Software | OS | Beginner-friendly | Color Tools | Layer Editing | 360-degree Editing | Free Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhotoDirector Essential | Mac, Windows | Yes | Advanced color replacement, color splash tool, easily adjustable tone, white balance, level, curve, split toning, and HSL & HDR effects. | Yes | Yes | |
| Photoscape X | Mac, Windows | Yes | Manage white balance and gradient temperature of image, Color Picker tool, Color Fill | Yes | No | Download |
| Pixelmator Pro | Mac | Yes | Histogram, white balance, hue, and saturation sliders, color balance wheel, color adjustment layers | Yes | No | Download |
| Fotor | Mac, Windows, Web Browser | Yes | Basic adjust, Fine Tune, temperature, tint, and RGB curve adjustment | Yes | No | Download |
| Pixlr | Web Browser | Yes | Precise changes to color and saturation, tools to tweak vibrancy | Yes | No | Download |
| Picsart | Web Browser | Yes | HSL adjustments, light adjustments | No | No | Download |
| Darktable | Mac, Windows, Linux | No | Built-in ICC profile support for sRGB, Adobe RGB, XYZ, and linear RGB color spaces. | Yes | No | Download |
| PhotoPad | Mac, Windows | Yes | Adjust the color balance, exposure, levels, brightness, contrast, colorize black and white images | Yes | No | Download |
| Canva | Mac, Windows, Web Browser | Yes | Sliders for brightness, contrast, and saturation | No | No | Download |
| Krita | Mac, Windows, Linux | No | ICC profiles and LUT color management | Yes | No | Download |
| GIMP | Mac, Windows, Linux | No | Top-notch color management in conjunction with SwatchBooker | Yes | No | Download |
| Adobe Express | Web Browser | Yes | None | No | No | Download |
| Movavi Photo Editor | Mac, Windows | Yes | HDR lighting, white balance, colorize black and white photos | Yes | No | Download |
| Picktorial | Mac | Yes | Color mask, curves adjustment, white balance, highlights, and shadows | No | No | Download |
| Apple Photos | Mac | Yes | White balance, curves, selective color tool, RGB adjustment | No | No | Download |
PhotoDirector Essential
vs
OS
Mac, Windows
-
Beginner-friendly
Yes
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Color Tools
Advanced color replacement, color splash tool, easily adjustable tone, white balance, level, curve, split toning, and HSL & HDR effects.
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Layer Editing
Yes
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360-degree Editing
Yes
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How to Edit Photos on Mac With PhotoDirector
Here is a step-by-step guide for basic photo editing with our top free photo editing app for MacBook Pro, PhotoDirector:
Download PhotoDirector for free by clicking the link below and follow along:
- Open PhotoDirector and click + next to Projects. Choose Import Photos, then choose the photo you want to edit and click Open.
- Click Adjustment, then the Crop icon under Regional Adjustment Tools.
- Open the Global Adjustment Tools menu by clicking on the arrow next to it.
- Scroll through the different color tools and adjust as necessary.
Crop photo as needed by moving the corners of the crop box around your image.
For more information on how to edit photos with the best free photo editing app for MacBook Pro, PhotoDirector, click here.
Download the Best Photo Editing App for MacBook for Free
Editing is integral to the photo creation process. Professional photographers need a robust editor to enhance their photos and give them a personal touch. A free photo editing app for MacBook Pro should bring out the best aspects of their photos while removing imperfections and distracting elements. And beginners need software that is intuitive and easy to use and that offers guided edits and tutorials so they can get the most out of the advanced features available.
PhotoDirector Essential is all of the above. That's why we consider it the best free Mac photo editing software. This product offers an extensive range of professional photo editing tools and features to streamline your workflow. And contrary to popular belief, you don't need to dish out hundreds of dollars for a powerful and feature-rich photo editor.
If you need support for high-resolution formats, layer editing features, and precision selection tools, PhotoDirector is the free photo editing app for MacBook Pro you need to try.
Download PhotoDirector Essential by clicking the link below and edit photos into studio-quality works of art today.
Free Photo Editing Apps for MacBook FAQ
1. What is photo editing?
Photo editing is the process of digitally manipulating your photos to fit your specific requirements. Using photo editing software, you can correct imperfections, enhance colors, add effects, and so much more. With the right editor, you can give your photos a unique personality, making them more engaging.
2. What features should I look for in a free photo editing app for MacBook Pro?
Features you should look for in a free photo editing app for MacBook Pro are
- Beginner-Friendly
- Color adjustment tools
- Filters and effects
- Background removal/sky replacement
- AI-Powered tools
- Beautification tools
- Layer editing
- Text tool
- Light effects
- Video-to-Photo features
For a free Mac photo editing software that checks all of these boxes, we recommend PhotoDirector Essential.
3. Does Mac have a free photo editor?
Yes, Macs come pre-built with Apple Photos, which is #15 on our list of free Mac photo editing software.
4. Is there a photo editor that comes with Mac?
Yes, Apple Photos comes built-in on all Macs. Read more about Apple Photos above in our list of free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro.
5. Is there a free program like Photoshop?
We recommend PhotoDirector as the best free alternative to Photoshop. To learn more, read 15 Free Photoshop Alternatives With Similar Features in 2023
6. What can I use instead of Photoshop for Mac for free?
PhotoDirector, our top free photo editing app for MacBook Pro, is also an excellent free Photoshop alternative. Check out 15 Free Photoshop Alternatives With Similar Features in 2023 for more ideas.
7. Does Apple have a photo editor like Photoshop?
No, Apple does not have a professional-level photo editor like Photoshop. However, plenty of high-quality free photo editing apps for MacBook Pro exist.
8. Can I use Photoshop for free forever?
No, Photoshop only offers a 7-day free trial.
9. Is iPhoto as good as Lightroom?
iPhoto (which is an older version of Apple Photos, the built-in free photo editing app for MacBook Pro) has image search and organizational tools that almost match the Adobe software. It also ensures better privacy than Lightroom. However, for batch edits of a large number of images and professional camera integration, Lightroom is better.
10. What photo editing software should a beginner use?
Beginners should use PhotoDirector to edit photos on Mac or Windows. PhotoDirector is beginner-friendly, with an intuitive user interface, guided edits, and a Learning Center with tutorials for every tool. PhotoDirector is also a great free photo editing app for MacBook Pro because it offers automated one-click options and manual options for almost every tool and will grow with you as your editing skills progress.
11. What is equivalent to Photoshop on a Mac?
PhotoDirector is our top choice for the best Photoshop alternative for Mac. Check out How to Photoshop Pictures Without Photoshop for more information on how to use this free photo editing app for MacBook Pro for similar results.
12. Is there a free photo editing app for Mac?
PhotoDirector is our #1 pick for free Mac photo editing software. With guided edits and AI-powered tools, it is a great way for beginners to edit photos with pro-level results.
Related Articles:
- Best Photo Editing Apps
- Photo Effects
- Photo Editors Reviewed
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