Apple products, including the iPad, are known to be great tools and equipment to people who work regularly with photos, videos, and audio. There are many photo editors in app stores today, but which is the right editor for you? This list includes the best photo editors that operate on iPads, each with their own specific set of reasons to try and buy.
Top 9 Photo Editing Software for iPad
- Adobe Photoshop– Best paid photo editing software
- Adobe Lightroom– Best editor for organization
- Affinity Photo– Best one-time purchase photo editor
- Darkroom– Best simple photo editor
- Prisma– Best filter-loaded photo editor
- Glitch Art Studio– Best special effects photo editor
- VSCO Photo and Video Editor– Best photo and video editor
- Snapseed– Best free photo editor
- Pixelmator Photo– Best photo editor for iPad
1. Adobe Photoshop – Best paid photo editing software
Pricing: Starts at $9.99 per month, up to $99.99; 7-day free trial
Adobe Photoshop has been a top-notch photo editing software for multiple years. From the early days of purchasing a one-time license every new edition, to today with Adobe’s pay-to-use subscription plans, Adobe Photoshop is known for their multi-feature and multi-tool setup. For the iPad, you can’t go wrong with Adobe Photoshop, as Adobe has kept up with touch input for all programs.
Key Features:
- Touch Screen Input
- Selection Tools
- Filters
- Enhanced Resolution
Reasons to Buy:
- Polished interface
- Cloud sync
- Web and mobile design tools
- Wide variety of photo editing and manipulation tools
- 7-day free trial
Reasons to Avoid:
- Steep learning curve
- No one-time purchase options
2. Adobe Lightroom – Best editor for organization
Pricing: Starts at $9.99 per month, depending on the package option
Another Adobe software that photographers should consider if you like to keep your photos, both edited and unedited, highly organized. This photo editor is best suited for photographers who enjoy simpler, yet powerful software. It is easy to find photos and edit with the unlimited layers available to users.
Key Features:
- Works great with raw files
- Multiple profiles
- Search filters for photos
- Unlimited layers
Reasons to Buy:
- User-friendly interface
- Syncs to Cloud
- Variety of filters
Reasons to Avoid:
- Unable to pick photos to sync
- Unable to print locally
- Sharing ability is limited
- Subscription fee is high
3. Affinity Photo – Best one-time purchase photo editor
Pricing: For iPad, $21.99 one-time purchase
If you want a high-quality photo editor, but don’t want to pay a subscription fee, then Affinity Photo is for you. This editor is similar to Adobe Photoshop in many ways, including their list of features and tools, yet you only need to make a one-time payment to access this software. Thankfully for iPad users, it is more cost effective to purchase for iPads than for desktops.
Key Features:
- Layer-based editing
- Macro support
- Raw image support
- Unlimited layers
Reasons to Use:
- One-time purchase
- Many of the same features as Adobe Photoshop
- Customize keyboard shortcuts
- Extensive list of tools
- More affordable for iPad users
Reasons to Avoid:
- Slow with large files
- Learning curve
4. Darkroom – Best simple photo editor
Pricing: Free, with optional upgrades starting at $2.99
Darkroom is a free to download app that is best suited for people who only make quick edits. Darkroom is set up to be easily navigable, including making access to your photo library an instant process. Where it lacks in features, this software makes up for in its sleek interface and power.
Key Features:
- Advanced upgrades available
- User-friendly interface
- Instant connect with photo library
Reasons to Buy:
- Easy to use
- Made for quick editing
Reasons to Avoid:
- Lack a lot of features compared to other editors
- You can’t take photos within the app
- No zoom
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5. Prisma – Best filter-loaded photo editor
Pricing: Free to download
For the iPad, no software is better suited for Apple products than software developed by Apple. Prisma is a photo editor that makes sharing photos easy and editing photos fun and fast. Prisma is only available on iPhones and iPads and is a user-friendly app with many filters to choose from. With over 34 filters to choose from, you can transform your photos easily, and share photos in-app.
Key Features:
- Simple interface
- 34 built-in filters
- Built-in share buttons for social media
Reasons to Buy:
- User-friendly setup
- Camera accessible in-app
- Quick processing
- Easy to share photos
Reasons to Avoid:
- No zoom
- No HDR
- Square-only images
- No before and after comparison
- Decreases resolution
6. Glitch Art Studio – Best special effects photo editor
Pricing: Free to download, $9.99 for Pro version
Having a photo editor that is specifically built for certain types of photos can come in handy. With Glitch Art Studio, you can edit your photo and create trendy cyberpunk, sci-fi photos easily. This app is also great for adding effects to videos, and can even turn your photos into animated GIFs. While this might seem like a specialized editor, it’s an interesting one to have at the ready.
Key Features:
- Effects work for both photos and videos
- Several types of effects
- GIF creation
Reasons to Buy:
- One-time affordable payment for more tools
- 4K resolution
- Can use app for photos and videos
- Turn photos into GIFs
Reasons to Avoid:
- Free version does have ads
- Effects are whole-image only
7. VSCO Photo and Video Editor – Best photo and video editor
Pricing: Free, with in-app purchases available; $19.99 per year
VSCO is more than just a simple photo editor, as it is more of an alternative to Instagram, with the focus being primarily on photography and their edits, rather than likes and follows. Although there is a free version, the paid version is where the app’s true strengths and features are. With VSCO, you also have access to their in-app social media platform.
Key Features:
- 10 to 200 filters
- In-app camera
- Manual settings
Reasons to Buy:
- 7-day free trial
- Account in-app allows you to post photos
- Independent platform to Instagram
- Can share photos to other apps as well
Reasons to Avoid:
- The free version doesn’t compare to the paid version
- The Android and Apple versions are different
- No zoom
8. Snapseed – Best free photo editor
Pricing: Free to use
Snapseed is a free to use editing software that is easy to understand. General swiping motions make it easy to edit and customize your photos, from adjusting brightness and contrast to adding special effects. This app, compared to others, also includes a comparison tool to let you see how much difference your edits make.
Key Features:
- Automatic Fix option
- Special effects
- Share to iPhone library
Reasons to Use:
- Built-in photo correction tools
- Doesn’t destroy photo quality post-edit
- Wide array of features, tools, and arrangements
- Can share to Facebook and Twitter
Reasons to Avoid:
- Cannot share to Instagram and Flickr
- Complicated interface
- Auto-fix is limited
9. Pixelmator Photo – Best photo editor for iPad
Pricing: $4.99 for iPad
For iPad users, you are in luck. This Adobe Photoshop comparable software is available for Mac and iPad users, but not iPhones, so you can still take this top editor on the go. Pixelmator Photo is an advanced software option that comes equipped with many features, at an affordable price.
Key Features:
- Create blank slate projects
- Compact menu design
- Extensive number of tools
Reasons to Buy:
- Affordable
- Made for touchscreen devices
- Photoshop capabilities without the Photoshop price
Reasons to Avoid:
- Not available on iPhones
References
- https://www.reviewgeek.com/44085/11-fantastic-photo-editors-for-your-ipad/
- https://shotkit.com/ipad-photo-editing/
- https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/adobe-photoshop
- https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/ipad/
- https://www.cnet.com/reviews/darkroom-ios-review/
- https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/prisma-for-iphone
- https://apps.apple.com/app/glitch-studio-cool-effect-cam/id1434795782
- https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/vsco
- https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/snapseed-for-iphone
- https://www.cnet.com/reviews/pixelmator-ios-review/
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