I’ve spent the last month testing every major photo editing package I could get my hands on. Not quick demos – actual editing work, the kind you’d do for client projects or serious hobby photography.

Here’s what I found, without the marketing fluff.

Adobe Photoshop

Price: $14.99/month (Photography Plan) or $33.99/month (Single App)

Still the industry standard, and there’s a reason for that. Photoshop handles everything – basic adjustments, complex compositing, professional retouching. The learning curve’s steep, but the capabilities are unmatched.

Performance in 2025 is better than previous years. Neural filters work well for some tasks (skin smoothing, sky replacement) and feel gimmicky for others (style transfer, colorization). Your mileage will vary.

The subscription model isn’t changing. If you hate it, look elsewhere. If you need professional features, it’s hard to avoid.

Best for: Professional photographers, graphic designers, anyone doing complex editing work.

Affinity Photo 2

Price: $99.99 one-time purchase

This is the strongest Photoshop alternative, period. Affinity Photo handles RAW files well, supports layers and masks, includes proper selection tools, and costs a fraction of Adobe’s subscription over time.

The interface feels similar enough to Photoshop that switching isn’t painful. Performance is snappy, even on modest hardware. The one-time purchase model is refreshing.

Limitations exist – third-party plugin support isn’t as extensive, some advanced features are missing, and online learning resources are thinner. But for 90% of photo editing tasks, it’s excellent.

Best for: Enthusiasts and semi-professionals who want professional tools without subscriptions.

Capture One

Price: $299/year subscription or $399 one-time (perpetual license, older version)

Professional colour grading and RAW processing that arguably surpasses Adobe Camera Raw. Capture One is what high-end product photographers and fashion shooters use when colour accuracy is critical.

The interface is intimidating. Adjustment layers work differently than Photoshop. The learning investment is substantial, and there are specialists who can help with business AI solutions if you’re looking to automate parts of your workflow.

But the results – particularly for skin tones and product photography – are outstanding. If you’re shooting tethered or processing hundreds of images with consistent colour requirements, it’s worth consideration.

Best for: Professional photographers who prioritize colour accuracy and tethered shooting.

DxO PhotoLab

Price: $139 (Essential) or $219 (Elite) one-time purchase

This is the image quality specialist. DxO’s lens correction database is unmatched – it knows the optical characteristics of thousands of lens models and corrects distortion, vignetting, and chromatic aberration automatically.

The noise reduction (DeepPRIME) is genuinely impressive. Files shot at high ISO clean up better in DxO than competing software. For technical image quality, it’s top-tier.

The workflow feels clunky compared to Lightroom. Layer support is limited. It’s not trying to be a general-purpose editor – it’s focused on getting the best possible image quality from your RAW files.

Best for: Photographers who prioritize technical image quality and shoot in challenging lighting.

Luminar Neo

Price: $79/year subscription or $296 one-time purchase

Luminar markets itself as “AI-powered photo editing,” which means lots of one-click adjustments and automated tools. Sky replacement, portrait enhancement, background removal – it’s all here.

The AI features work surprisingly well for quick edits. If you want decent results fast, Luminar delivers. The interface is clean and less intimidating than professional tools.

The problem: once you push beyond the AI presets, the manual adjustment tools feel limited. Professional retouchers will find it constraining. It’s optimization for speed over precision.

Best for: Hobbyists who want good results quickly without mastering complex software.

GIMP

Price: Free

The open-source option that’s been around forever. GIMP handles layers, masks, selection tools, and plugins. It’s capable software that costs nothing.

The interface is… dated. Workflows that feel smooth in Photoshop require more steps in GIMP. Performance can be sluggish with large files. The learning curve is steep, partially because online tutorials often assume you’re already familiar with other editors.

But it’s free, cross-platform, and actively maintained. If you’re on a tight budget and willing to invest time learning, it’s viable.

Best for: Budget-conscious users comfortable with complex software and dated interfaces.

Pixelmator Pro

Price: $49.99 one-time purchase (Mac only)

Mac-exclusive software that feels fast and native. Pixelmator Pro uses macOS frameworks well – it’s optimized for Apple Silicon, integrates with system features, and feels responsive.

The toolset covers basic to intermediate editing tasks well. The interface is cleaner than GIMP, more intuitive than Affinity Photo, and cheaper than Photoshop. For Mac users doing straightforward editing, it’s excellent value.

Limitations include fewer advanced features than Photoshop or Affinity, Mac-only availability, and a smaller plugin ecosystem.

Best for: Mac users who want capable software without subscriptions or complexity.

The Verdict

If you’re a professional: Photoshop or Capture One, depending on whether you prioritize flexibility or colour accuracy.

If you want professional tools without subscriptions: Affinity Photo 2. It’s the best value in the category.

If you prioritize image quality over workflow: DxO PhotoLab for technical excellence.

If you want fast results: Luminar Neo for AI-assisted editing that actually works.

If you’re on Mac: Consider Pixelmator Pro before anything else.

If budget is tight: GIMP, but expect a learning investment.

What About Free Trials?

Everyone except GIMP offers trials. Use them. Photo editing is personal – what feels intuitive to me might frustrate you.

Download trials of Photoshop, Affinity Photo, and Capture One. Spend a weekend editing your own photos in each. The software that feels natural is the right choice, regardless of what reviewers recommend.

The Subscription Question

Adobe’s not backing down on subscriptions. Neither is Capture One. If you hate the model, Affinity Photo, DxO PhotoLab, and Pixelmator Pro offer perpetual licenses.

The subscription value depends on usage. If you edit photos daily, $15/month for Photoshop is reasonable. If you edit occasionally, one-time purchases make more financial sense.

Do the math based on your actual usage, not your aspirational usage.

Final Thoughts

There’s no single “best” photo editor. Photoshop remains the most capable but costs more over time. Affinity Photo offers the best balance of features and value. Specialized tools like DxO and Capture One excel in specific areas.

Test the software with your own photos. Ignore marketing claims about AI and revolutionary features. Pick what works for how you actually edit.

The best photo editor is the one you’ll actually use.