The latest release of Microsoft’s definitive operating system has quickly become an industry favourite. It boasts an updated, slick design, as well as significant improvements to its operating system and new features geared towards hybrid working. There’s even a new range of editing tools in the photo app. For photography professionals and enthusiasts, however, this doesn’t quite live up to the standards of photo editing that can be found from external software. The below is a list of reputable alternatives to choose from. 

Top 8 Best Photo Editing Software for Windows 11

  1. InPixio Photo Studio – Best Software for All Levels 
  2. PhotoWorks – Best Budget Software 
  3. Photolemur – Best Software for Combined Graphic Design 
  4. Canva – Best Software for Combined Graphic Design 
  5. Adobe Photoshop Express – Best Software for Adobe Fans 
  6. Photoscape – Best Software for Beginners 
  7. Paint.NET – Best Reliable Software 
  8. Ashampoo Photo Commander – Best Software for All-Rounders 

1. InPixio Photo Studio 11.5 – Best Software for All Levels 

PRICING: From $49.99/year. 

Having just upgraded the software with a new 11.5 release in 2022, InPixio just keeps improving. It boasts new features set in the same minimalist, easy-to-navigate interface. They’ve combined the previously separate Photo Editor, Photo Cutter, and Photo Eraser into one slick program. 

KEY FEATURES:

  • Auto presets 
  • Object erasing 
  • Background removal 

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Intuitive UI design 
  • Extensive toolkit 

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Slow to integrate 
  • Cheaper alternatives 

2. PhotoWorks – Best Budget Software 

PRICING: Free 

PhotoWorks offers a range of features completely free of charge. Users praise the software for being easy to use and quick to learn, yet also able to adapt to more complex photo editing demands. PhotoWorks is certainly one of the better free options on the market. 

KEY FEATURES:

  • Portrait retouching
  • Background change
  • Old photo restoration 

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Friendly interface 
  • Affordable 

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Operating system can be slow 

3. Photolemur – Best Software for Ease of Use 

PRICING: Free, paid plan is $35/year

Boasting the title of first image editing software to be powered by artificial intelligence, Photolemur is praised for its ease of use and slick interface. Suitable for photographers of varying abilities, this software is an excellent pick for affordable reliability. 

KEY FEATURES:

  • Batch editing 
  • Supports all major image formats 

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Intuitive editing 
  • Friendly UI 

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Free version has limited features 

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4. Canva – Best Software for Combined Graphic Design 

PRICING: Free, pro plans from $30/month. 

Although best known for its straightforward graphic design capabilities, Canva also has a number of image editing features. It’s accessed via the web, so there is no need to download yet more software onto your device, but there is a download available that is compatible with Windows 11. 

KEY FEATURES:

  • Variety of edit templates 
  •  Cloud feature to save all work
  • Share images across a team 

REASONS TO BUY:

  • No download required
  • Quick and simple for beginners

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Pricey premium plans for larger enterprises 

5. Adobe Photoshop Express – Best Software for Adobe Fans 

PRICING: Free 

From the pioneers of global photo editing, Adobe’s Photoshop Express is a free and condensed version of Photoshop. Obviously, it lacks some of the comprehensive features of the original, but it’s an excellent – and budget-friendly – photo editing alternative. 

KEY FEATURES:

  • Syncs between devices 
  • Social media-ready presets 

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Affordable 
  • Simple for beginners to learn 

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Lacks useful tools like layer editing 

6. Photoscape – Best Software for Beginners 

PRICING: Free

Even for complete newbies to the image editing scene, Photoscape offers a comprehensive and sturdy range of tools to help you create impressive results with no prior experience. If you can get past the strange and often tricky to navigate design, Photoscape is the perfect software for amateurs. 

KEY FEATURES:

  • Stitch images to create panoramas 
  • Editing toolkit with a walkthrough for beginners 
  • Templates 

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Tutorials 
  • Extensive selection of tools 

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Unusual interface 

7. Paint.NET – Best Reliable Software 

PRICING: Free, paid licence $7. 

You probably associate Paint.NEt with its use as a recreation tool in the school IT room, the gateway to image editing for children worldwide. It’s worked hard to shed this reputation, however, and as such deserves a place in this roundup. Its tools are basic but dependable, and its helpful online tutorials can introduce you to the foundations of image editing. 

KEY FEATURES:

  • Drawing tools 
  • Quick colour editing 
  • Layers 

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Classic straightforward interface 
  • How-to tutorials 

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Basic features compared to alternatives 
  • Advanced customisation compromises its powerfulness  

8. Ashampoo Photo Commander 16 – Best Software for 

PRICING: 30-day free trial, paid plan $49.99/life. 

Available as a one-off purchase at less than $50, Ashampoo Photo Commander is a smart and sturdy piece of software for photo editors of all abilities. Users love its simple interface and it’s been designed with Windows users in mind. 

KEY FEATURES:

  • Quick image optimisation 
  • Format conversion 
  • Create calendars, greeting cards and more 

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Easy to organise images by geolocation or date and time 
  • Comprehensive help section 

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Limited filters 

References and Links

  • https://winbuzzer.com/2022/02/26/the-best-photo-editors-for-windows-11-xcxwcp/
  • https://www.techworm.net/2021/11/free-photo-editing-software-windows-11.html
  • https://expertphotography.com/inpixio-review/ 
  • https://fixthephoto.com/paint-net-review.html
  • https://www.ashampoo.com/en-us/photo-commander-free
  • https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/canva

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