Foto software freeware

Inkscape

Inkscape is a vector graphics editor, more akin to Adobe Illustrator as opposed to a photo manipulation package, but it still has a lot of useful features. This is a great app when needing to edit SVG files.

The interface can be a bit cluttered, but that's only evidence of the vast number of tools it includes. Nearly all the tools you'll often be using are planted along both sides of Inkscape for easy access.

Circles, arcs, 3D boxes, ellipses, stars, spirals, and polygons can be created. You can also draw straight or freehand lines.

Tons of file types are supported, both when opening and saving. Among many other useful features, you can work with layers, apply a huge number of filters to a picture, and use spell check along with the text tool. Also, like most photo editing programs, Inkscape supports extensions.

It works with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. The latest version requires at least Windows 7.

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GIMP

GIMP is likely the most popular free, open source image editor. It's full of professional features and provides a very friendly and flexible interface.

Its toolbox, layers, and brushes panes are separated from the main canvas so that you can truly adjust how you want to work without losing any of the features you need access to.

Various input devices are supported, add-ons can be installed to extend the software's functionality, and file formats like TIFF, PSD, PNG, JPEG, and GIF are supported.

Supported operating systems include Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7, as well as Linux and Mac.

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Adobe Photoshop Express

Adobe has this free program you can use if you don't want to bother with the free Photoshop trial. Of course, it is missing some of Photoshop's features, but it still does a lot.

When you first open the program, you can load a picture from your computer or take a new one directly from your webcam. Once a photo is imported, the menus make it really easy to access all the one-click options like filters, crop tools, image corrections, the red eye remover tool, and more.

We like that some of the features feel similar to what's possible with Photoshop. There are borders, a spot healing brush for one-click touch-ups, effects like grain and fade, and a noise reducer. There's also a button you can click to quickly see the original photo for comparison with your edits.

Something really great about this image editor that you won't find in some similar programs is that with nearly every tool, you have full control over the intensity. This means you can slide a bar left or right to decrease or increase a tool's effect to get it just right.

Windows 11 and Windows 10 users can install Photoshop Express.

Download Adobe Photoshop Express

17 Graphic Design Software Options to Use in 2025

Icecream Photo Editor

This program does a great job of being easy to use while still squeezing in lots of awesome features. It supports layers, so you can juggle multiple images, stickers, and shapes on a single canvas. There's a selection tool, pencil, shapes, blur brush, an auto enhancer, and more.

We love that there are zero ads; most apps can't swing that. Everything you see is free to use. A handful of image formats are supported, and when you're ready to save, you can overwrite the original file or save it to JPG, BMP, or PNG.

This program runs on Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.

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Darktable

This one isn't your typical photo editor. Unlike the competition, Darktable, an open-source "photography workflow application," is tough to use right off the bat, but you'll love all the features if you spend some time with it. This app definitely feels more appropriate for professional photographers than someone who just needs to perform a few edits.

One of its standout qualities is non-destructive editing, which ensures your original images remain intact (i.e., not overwritten) throughout the entire workflow. GPU acceleration speeds up image operations, and its filtering and sorting functions help you locate specific pictures through tags and color labels, which is great if you have a massive collection to sift through. We also like that Darktable supports automation and RAW image formats.

This free image editor runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

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Krita

Krita vs GIMP: Which One Should You Use?

Krita is certainly an advanced image editor, but it's not too difficult to work with. Like some of these other programs, you can use layers in addition to many other tools located in a floating toolbox off to the side of the program.

There are plenty of other features available as well, such as brushes and blending modes, advanced selection, and masking tools, drawing aids, filters, symmetry tools, and effects.

One tip to mention as you jump into using this program involves the Tab key. Press it to maximize the canvas to fit your entire screen, getting rid of all the menus and tools so that you can have a huge space for working without any distractions.

Krita works with Windows 11, 10, and 8; there's also a portable version. It runs on Linux and macOS 10.12 or higher as well.

Download Krita

Paint.NET

Similar to GIMP, Paint.NET provides the ability to move its window panes around to customize the interface to your liking. It also provides plugins to support new file formats and add new effects.

We like this program because it supports layers, effects, and a whole host of basic and advanced things like a clone stamp, pencil, text maker, and paintbrush tool.

Several image file formats like BMP, JPEG, TGA, and DDS are supported.

Starting with v4.4, only 64-bit versions of Windows 11 and Windows 10 are supported. There's also a portable version available if you'd rather not install it to your PC.

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Artweaver Free

Artweaver manages to include tons of useful image editing tools in an easy-to-use program. It has a tabbed interface to avoid clutter, supports using pen tablets, and works with some of the most popular image file formats, such as JPEG and PSD.

Standard editing tools like a crop, text, paint bucket, and gradient tool, among others, are included. But Artweaver goes beyond your basic editor and also lets you save and replay events, use brushes, create and work with layers, customize the layout of the palettes, and import images directly from a scanner or camera, among other things.

The screen mode can be changed from regular to fullscreen to have even more room to edit images. This ability is useful because sometimes, when working from a smaller screen, the extra space comes in handy.

The website lists the minimum OS requirements as Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7.

Download Artweaver Free

InPixio Photo Editor

This free photo editor from InPixio is designed for simplicity, but that doesn't mean it's void of helpful features. The program itself is easy to understand and navigate, and you can do everything from add frames and designs to crop, change the brightness, and more.

We like the one-click presets and frames, and easy-to-access editing tools that let you finish editing in no time and share your photos directly to social media.

Lots of image file types can be opened in this program, and if saving to your computer, you can pick from JPG, PNG, and TIFF. 

Some features are only available in the premium version; those are marked off in the program with a large "Premium" banner.

InPixio Photo Editor runs on Windows computers. If you need help using this photo editor, you can refer to their online tutorials.

Download InPixio Photo Editor

Pixia

Despite Pixia's outdated and unappealing interface, the functions and tools aren't at all undesirable for a free photo editor.

Layers and layer masks are supported, as well as creating shapes, selecting objects, and common photo editing tasks like changing the color adjustment and tone balance, color filling, and selecting from different paint brushes.

All the standard image file formats can be opened with Pixia, and photos can even be imported directly from the clipboard, a camera, or a scanner.

The latest 64-bit version was built for Windows 11, 10, and 8. There's a 32-bit version that works on Windows 7.

Download Pixia

PhotoScape

Our Review of PhotoScape

PhotoScape has several sections at the top of the program where you can open different tools to perform different actions. Viewer, Editor, Combine, and Create GIF are a few.

The editing feature has dozens of frames to choose from, each with the option to round the corners and adjust the margin and frame line settings of the frame.

You can also add objects and text and crop an image freely or use one of numerous presets (e.g., 16:9, Legal Ratio, and US business card ratio).

Some more tools include a red-eye remover, spot remover, paintbrush, and, among others, an effect brush (like grayscale, blur, darken, and brighten). There's also a clone stamp tool, similar to the one in Photoshop, that's totally free in this program.

PhotoScape is available for Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP, while PhotoScape X is for Windows 11/10 and macOS.

Download PhotoScape

Download PhotoScape X

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