The best photo editors, according to hackers
12 photo editors recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
- Most recommendedPhotopea84 people recommend it
- Built to lastAdobe Lightroomowners report a median of 17 years
- Free and lovedPhotoCraft22 people recommend it
All photo editors
- PhotopeaFree browser-based Photoshop alternative that handles PSD and many formats and feels familiar to Photoshop users. Critics mainly note intrusive ads and a paid premium plan.84recommend
- Affinity PhotoRecommended as a capable, cheaper, non-subscription alternative to Photoshop that is now free, with a similar workflow for many users. Critics mainly point to the license check and the recent move to Canva.81recommend
- Adobe LightroomRecommended for its photo editing depth, AI masking, RAW support and library management. Common caveat: subscription-only pricing and a sluggish feel.68recommend
- Pixelmator ProFast, intuitive Mac photo editor that many find better than Photoshop for most tasks. Common caveat: fewer features, weaker vector editing.29recommend
- DaVinci Resolve Photo EditorPhoto editing inside DaVinci Resolve with color grading and library tools, a subscription-free alternative to Adobe. Caveat: critics say it feels built for video editors, not photographers.23recommend
- PhotoCraftFree, fast Photoshop alternative with native PSD support that handles simple edits well. Critics say it is buggy and not yet a full replacement.22recommend
- DxO PhotoLabRecommended for strong color, exposure and denoising, plus a pleasant editing experience. Main caveat: no Linux version, and some find its advanced editing tools limited.12recommend
- PhotoGIMPMakes GIMP 3 easier for Photoshop users by adding Photoshop-style shortcuts and layout. Caveat: the UI changes are modest, and it may not keep up with new GIMP releases.10recommend
- AnselRecommended as a cleaner, easier fork of Darktable that fixes its UX problems. Critics point to regressions during its development and a tone they dislike.9recommend
- PhotomatorRecommended as a fast, near-native Lightroom alternative on Mac that covers everyday editing well, with the features and results most people need.7recommend
- RapidRAWA free raw photo editor, recommended as a Lightroom alternative and for Linux users, with frequent updates. Critics say it still trails Lightroom and has colour problems on Linux.7recommend
- LightCraftFree Lightroom-style photo editor, praised for a familiar interface, working presets and speed. Caveat: an early alpha that some find buggy and inaccurate.5recommend