What could be more convenient that what comes with your computer? That’d be Windows Photo Gallery. For a rundown of Mac options, see my earlier article, Photo Editors on the Mac: The built-in editor vs five free options.

Some applications, like Google Photos or GIMP, work on both platforms. If you’re a Mac person, or know someone who is, there are options for them, too. If you like to learn, play around with software, and figure things out on your own any of these products could save you money and provide a little do-it-yourself fun. And, if you find something you don’t understand, your photo friends are probably not using these alternative programs. However, while you can probably find a local photographer or community college teaching Photoshop, you’re not likely to find expert teachers for PhotoScape or Photo POS Pro. Most of these programs have large user bases and have forums full of questions, answers and advice. It’s free! What have you got to lose?īe aware, though, that you may have a hard time getting help, if you run into a problem. This article will give you an overview of some options. But, as with so many things around photography, finding what will work best for you is a deeply personal decision. You even might find a thing or two one of these free applications does better than the commercial software.

There are features missing or the interface may be clunky. No single program is an exact substitute for the big boys. Are there alternatives? Yes, but with qualifications. Are there free photo editing programs out there that will fill in for Lightroom and Photoshop (or On1 and CaptureOne)? Many photographers who are just starting out, or who are doing photography as a hobby (a very expensive hobby) may not want to shell out hundreds of dollars for top-of-the-line photo editing software.

Photofiltre vs photoshop