Good photography is about much more than just snapping a picture. Everything from composition to lighting to post-production editing tools impacts how your photos will turn out.
So, whether you want to create high-quality photographs for social media, your website, or your store, it’s important to have the right photo editing app ready to go on your phone.
Luckily, photo editing software is more accessible than ever. Thanks to the variety of user-friendly editing tools available, you don’t need a fancy camera, a powerful PC, or a degree in Photoshop to elevate your images.
Instead, you can find everything you need to edit your pictures in the Google Play Store. There are loads of Android apps (like Pixelcut) designed specifically for photo editing on your phone—and they offer surprisingly in-depth features that allow you to make some really cool and detailed edits.
So, are you ready to take your Android photos from meh to magical but not sure which Android app to download? This article will introduce you to ten of the best photo editing apps for Android, so you can decide which ones to download and try first.
But before we dig into the best photo editing tools for Android users, let’s talk a bit about the importance of editing apps and how you can use them to elevate your photography.
Not sure why you should consider using a photo editor app for Android? There are plenty of good reasons to edit your images before sharing them online—and some even better reasons to download an app that lets you do it all from your mobile device.
Here are some of the top reasons to use a photo editing app like Pixelcut:
No more installing (and learning) complex editing tools on your PC. Instead, modern photo editing apps let snap, edit, and share pictures directly from your phone—so you can edit photos on the fly and on the go. Everything from changing photo backgrounds to removing objects to correcting red-eye can be simplified with the help of the right Android app.
Using a powerful photo editing app can open up a world of creative possibilities and makes it easy to clean up your images. That’s why even the best photographers use image editing tools to elevate their work.
With Pixelcut, you can get creative with your images by erasing unwanted objects, adding stickers, removing the background, and adding special effects. Editing features range from using filters and colors to achieve a certain look, touching up images to get them perfect, and altering images to fit your brand or aesthetic.
Aside from a range of fun special effects, many of the editing tools mentioned below also allow you to improve the technical aspects of your photography—including composition, framing, and lighting.
Whether you want to crop an image, elevate your product photos, brighten poor lighting, or touch-up imperfections with a magic eraser tool, there’s a photo editing app for you.
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but photo editing tools give you the option to say even more by adding text to your images. Overlaying text on your photos allows you to make a stronger impact on followers or customers. Use text to add context to your next post or add a call-to-action to an image in your product listing.
Since there are so many awesome tools designed specifically for Android users, you can snap and edit mobile photos on one device. Editing apps can help optimize them for posting on certain channels or use cases, which makes it easier than ever to upload images directly to social media or your website.
Now, without ado, let’s take a look at the best photo editing apps available for Android today.
Pixelcut is an awesome editing tool for anyone who wants to elevate their photos with an easy-to-use Android app. Pixelcut combines all the core features you need from a photo editing tool—including object removal, background editing, and templates—into a single free, easy-to-use app.
Rating on Google Play: 4.5
Why You’ll Love Pixelcut: If you want editing features on par with some much bigger names, but with less of a learning curve and a more affordable price tag, Pixelcut is the app for you.
Cost: Pixelcut is free to download and use on Android and iOS.
Or start a free trial of Pixelcut Pro to unlock premium templates, unlimited cutouts, and exclusive fonts (updated weekly!). Choose a low-commitment month-to-month plan ($13.49/mo) or save 51% with an annual subscription ($6.66/mo).
Ease of Use: Extremely easy! There’s virtually zero learning curve. Anyone can download Pixelcut and start creating fun, custom images that are ready to share on social media, use as your new profile pic, or add to product listings on your website or your Etsy store.
Ready to see why millions of businesses and individuals use Pixelcut every day? Start your free 3-day trial today!
As one of the biggest names in photo editing, it’s no surprise that Adobe has a few different apps and tools for Android users.
Lightroom, in particular, is one of the best choices for professional editing on the go. With its built-in camera application and RAW photo editing capabilities, Lightroom is geared more toward more professional photographers than hobbyists.
Rating on Google Play: 4.6
Editing features include:
Cost: Anyone can download Adobe Lightroom for free, but users can only get full access with a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud.
Pros:
Cons:
Ease of Use
If you want to make full use of Lightroom, there is a bit of a learning curve involved. It’s not the most intuitive interface, but the bar at the bottom of the screen helps users look through different tools with a few taps.
VSCO is a good solution for anyone who wants to edit videos as well as photos with a single Android app. It’s one of the best options for mobile video editing and offers a range of pre-set filters and effects to help users get impressive results.
Another cool feature is the ability to share edited photos and videos with the built-in VSCO community.
Rating on Google Play: 3.4
Editing features include:
Cost: Free to download and use basic features. An annual subscription of $29.99 is required to unlock more filters and photo effects.
Pros:
Cons:
Ease of Use
The one-tap filters provide a quick way to add interest to photos and videos, but users who want to customize their visuals with a more unique look must spend a bit more time learning to make manual adjustments.
Picsart is another Android app that allows users to edit both photos and video content. And much like the video-editing app VSCO, Picsart has its own social network where premium users can share edited videos and photos. The app also comes with a built-in camera function that allows users to try out different filters before they even take a picture.
Rating on Google Play: 4.1
Editing features include:
Cost: Free to download with limited features or $48/year to access premium features.
Pros:
Cons:
Ease of Use
Picsart is fairly simple to learn how to use, even for users without a ton of editing experience.
Canva is a popular editing app for graphic designers and casual users alike—especially for social media content. Cropping and optimizing photos for social media. Users simply select the platform and Canva applies the correct aspect ratio to the image.
However, Canva isn’t built specifically for editing photos. Instead, its primary function is to help users design new graphics (without requiring a ton of design skill). That said, this does involve a ton of trial and error for anyone without experience in graphic design. So, if you’re not interested in designing original graphics, Canva might be an unnecessarily complicated editing solution.
Rating on Google Play: 4.8
Editing features include:
Cost: Free to download and use the basic version. For more advanced features, users must subscribe to the pro version for $12.99/mo.
Pros:
Cons:
Ease of Use
Canva for Android is not the most intuitive photo editing app on the market. However, the app does provide a good amount of guidance and tutorials to help beginners who are committed to getting the hang of it.
The biggest use case for Fotor is creating custom collages. It’s fast and easy to put together a fun collage with special effects, stickers, frame, and stock photos.
Rating on Google Play: 4.4
Editing features include:
Cost: Fotor offers three different plans for users, ranging from free to $19.99/mo.
Pros:
Cons:
Ease of Use
The Android app is relatively simple to navigate, but users say mastering the multi-image layout for collages takes a bit of practice.
If you’re specifically looking for a collage-maker, here are a few more Android apps like Fotor:
Rather than offering a comprehensive selection of editing tools, TouchRetouch is primarily designed for object removal. This makes it a great option for removing people who photobomb your pictures, powerlines obstructing your skyline photo, and even removing fences from any scene to create a cleaner image.
Rating on Google Play: 4.3
Editing features include:
Cost: $3.99 (one-time purchase).
Pros:
Cons:
Ease of Use
It’s not too difficult to pick up the basics of the eraser tool. However, the app includes a bunch of tutorials and pop-up tooltips that suggest there’s a sizable learning curve to getting it to do exactly what you want.
Snapseed is an Android app owned by Google. With a huge variety of different editing features—including photo filters, resizing, adjusting lighting, and white balance—Snapseed offers something for everyone. Users can pull off in-depth edits or simple tweaks and touch-ups.
Rating on Google Play: 4.4
Editing features include:
Cost: It’s free to download and use.
Pros:
Cons:
Ease of Use
As our pick for the most accessible editing app for Android, Snapseed is a user-friendly tool for editors of various experience levels.
Pixlr is a good, solid, basic photo editor–especially for users who aren’t looking for super advanced features. And, as long as you don’t mind the occasional ad, Pixlr is a reliable choice that can be used for free. The app offers various filters and overlays to punch up your photos, along with some basic editing features.
Rating on Google Play: 4.4
Editing features include:
Cost: Free to download, but Android users must subscribe for $1.99/month to remove ads.
Pros:
Cons:
Ease of Use
It’s easy to get started with Pixlr, but the functionality is limited. Good option if you just want the basics and don’t mind the ad interruptions.
For users who prioritize access to royalty-free assets and stock images, PhotoDirector has a lot to offer. In addition to an impressive library of assets, this app also gives users the ability to turn static photos into fun animations. For an easy way to create interesting social media content, users can add animated stickers to an image or create their own custom animation using anchor points and motion lines.
Rating on Google Play 4.4
Editing features include:
Cost: Users can download and use the free version with limited features or subscribe for $23.99/year to access premium features.
Pros:
Cons:
Ease of Use
PhotoDirector has a user-friendly UI, but the ease of use varies depending on what you’re looking to do with it. Although the app provides instructions and publishes YouTube videos to help familiarize users with various editing options, some of the more advanced features are challenging to figure out.
You need a photo editing app, but which one should you use? Choosing the best photo editing tool for your images starts by reflecting on your primary needs and goals for your photography.
There are plenty of reasons you might be interested in a photo-editing app—and your use case can influence your decision.
So, consider what your plans are for your images. Where do you want to share them? Why is it important for you to edit your photos? What specific edits are you hoping to make? Your answers to these questions will help you understand which features are most important to you to have in a photo editing app.
For example, are you looking to create the perfect LinkedIn profile picture, edit your headshot, or design a fun photo collage? Or do you need professional images for your business website, ecommerce store, ads, and product listings? Whatever the case, make sure the app has the capabilities you need (along with reviews from customers similar to you).
Are you just starting out with photo editing or are you a seasoned photo editor pro? Are you looking to learn how to edit for fun—or is there a business goal you’re hoping to support?
It’s important to start with an idea of whether you want basic or advanced features, so you can find an app that best suits your needs. After all, more complex editing apps might require more time to learn—especially if you’re unfamiliar with photo editing.
Additionally, professional photographers and business owners might be willing to pay a higher price tag for an app that can create amazing results for their promotional materials.
Think about how much you’re willing to spend on an editing tool. The good news is that most mobile apps are more affordable than computer software like Adobe Photoshop. That said, prices can still vary depending on the type of features you want and whether you’re willing to upgrade to a premium plan.
So, take a moment to compare the free vs. paid versions of the app you’re interested in. If all the best features are locked behind a paywall, you might want to look into more affordable editing options. Whenever possible, it’s a good idea to try out paid apps before you commit. That’s why Pixelcut Pro offers a free 3-day trial—so you can experience all the premium features at no cost.
Consider how much time you’re willing to invest in learning a new app before being able to make use of it. When choosing which editing app to download, read reviews and product comparisons to find out whether it’s easy or difficult to get a handle on the core features.
It doesn’t matter how many cool edits you can potentially make with an app if the learning curve is insurmountable. The easier an app is to learn to use, the more likely you’ll take advantage of all its features and get the best results.
Millions of business owners, creators, and influencers use Pixelcut to create eye-catching photography for everything from ecommerce and social media to magazines and flyers.
Are you ready to take your photography to the next level? Want to find out how Pixelcut can elevate your images, product photos, and more?
See for yourself if Pixelcut is the right Android photo editor for you: Start your free trial today!
Join more than 10 million small businesses, creators and entrepreneurs that use Pixelcut to grow their business.