Finding the best photo editing software for beginners is tricky. We must consider many factors, including price, usability, and simplicity. A good beginner photo editor lets us organize our photos and perform basic and more advanced edits. It should be a one-stop shop for those starting digital photography.
Below are our top three image editing software for beginners. Luminar Neo is the top choice, thanks to its wide range of easily accessible advanced edits. ON1 Photo RAW is second, with excellent organizational and photo editing tools. Third is DxO PhotoLab 7, which does a good job of introducing advanced edits to beginners.
What Is the Best Photo Editing Software for Beginners?
Beginners prefer image editing software that includes one-click or simple slider edits. So, the best photo editing software for beginners has user-friendly, comprehensive editing features. This is why Luminar Neo tops our list as the best image editor.
Today, we guide you through the best beginner picture editors. And we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each program. Each software has been individually reviewed so you can read about all of them in greater detail:
- Luminar Neo
- ON1 Photo RAW
- DxO PhotoLab 7
- Adobe Lightroom
- Cyberlink PhotoDirector 365
- inPixio Photo Studio 10 Mac Pro
- Capture One
- ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 10
- Corel AfterShot Pro 3
Photo editing software has become so advanced. We can perform complex edits with hardly any learning curve. Thanks to AI, we can remove, add, and tweak undesirable aspects of our photos in seconds!
Below is a roundup table of our top editing software for beginners. This is a list highlighting a number of each program’s strengths. If you want more in-depth information, scroll down to read about each in more detail.
- Clean workspace that is easy to navigate
- High levels of control with little intervention
- Wide range of AI adjustments
- Simple approach to advanced edits
- Excellent organization and searching tools
- Simple and directed workflow
- AI Adaptive Presets can speed up complex edits
- Smart Organize function helps sort through wide range of photos
- Great introduction to advanced manipulations
- Single slider adjustments that change the entire image
- Prepares you for more advanced editing software
- Great color correction abilities
- Sets the bar for photo editing software
- Wide range of adjustments and features
- Helpful AI features
- Learning this software will transfer to multiple applications
- Wide range of creative functions
- Allows for experimentation with digital photography editing
- AI image generation
- Good smartphone application
- Clear interface with minimal features
- Big sliders for easier adjustments
- Separate workspace for manipulation tools
- Great RAW processing
- Great color editing tools
- Best if you want to get into the photographic industry
- Fully customizable workspace
- Brilliant for collaborative photoshoots
- Doesn't leave out any organizational tools
- Great RAW processing
- Accurate basic adjustment
- Simplistic range of features
- Cheap digital editing software
- Easy and simple workspace
- Fast processing times
- Takes up little space on your computer
8 Best Photo Editing Software For Beginners
Now, let’s dive into each software in more detail. Each software uniquely approaches photo editing. Remember that this order may not have the best software for you at the top. So, read each in detail to find which will work best for you.
1. Luminar Neo
Luminar Neo is our top photo editing software for beginners, thanks to its advanced features and how simply they are presented. The Luminar team has spent time considering the interface and usability, and it shows.
Luminar Neo features an uncluttered interface, which is rare for a photo editor. The team has also considered finer details, like color coding the different adjustments into sections. Small details like this go a long way for digital photography beginners.
The main strength Luminar Neo provides comes from its wide range of adjustments. First, this photo editing software doesn’t skip out on basic tonal adjustments crucial to image editing. But, most importantly, it lets you perform AI edits that adjust several criteria with one simple slider or a few clicks.
For instance, Enhance AI features two simple sliders. And it balances many criteria, like saturation, tones, contrast, and more.
Supercontrast also gives you amazing control from simple sliders. But one of the best features is Sky AI. This lets you convincingly change the sky completely.
Luminar Neo has some weaknesses, the most noticeable of which comes from its organizational skills. The Catalog section doesn’t feature a rating or color system. And there are also no Smart Album options— a feature that helps group similar images.
Luminar Neo is still the best photo editing software for beginners. This is thanks to its hands-off approach to editing.
This program is specifically for photographers who want to make dramatic changes to their images with ease. But I don’t suggest it for beginners who are looking to achieve an organized photo catalog.
Read our in-depth Luminar Neo review for more information!
2. ON1 Photo RAW
ON1 Photo RAW is fantastic photo editing software for beginners. It simplifies the standard interface without missing many features. The interface can seem slightly overwhelming. But it is a great stepping stone into more advanced software like Lightroom or Capture One.
The standout highlight of ON1 Photo RAW is its great organizational abilities. It features all the rating and color systems you need in comprehensive photo software. And it provides excellent search systems, ranging from text to metadata and even facial recognition.
My favorite feature in the organizational department is the use of Smart Albums. You can put in a simple command like “water,” the software gathers all your images with water. ON1’s Smart Organize feature also lets you sort your images by place, duplicates, or similar appearance!
ON1 Photo RAW also includes brilliant editing tools. These are presented relatively easily but may take some time to navigate for complete beginners.
You also get an extensive range of presets in this photo editing software. It even has AI adaptive presets where the program sets masks depending on your photo’s content, making it easier to perform complex edits.
The Sky Swap features also work very well for complex edits, letting you make dramatic changes. And the Local Adjustments section is a brilliant way to introduce beginners to mask editing.
ON1 Photo RAW is best for those who want to develop their skills to eventually get to more complex programs. It has more of a learning curve than Luminar Neo, but it is still ideal for beginners. Read our ON1 review to see all the tools it offers.
3. DxO Photo Lab 7
DxO Photo Lab 7 is another best photo editing software for beginners. Like ON1 Photo RAW, it achieves a great balance of an interface that has everything without being overly complex.
It can still take a while to get used to. But the image information is accessible, and you can customize the workspace to your preferred working style.
This editing software offers a range of specialized adjustments that operate off a single slider. Adjustments like Smart Lighting and ClearView Plus can dramatically change an image in seconds. These single sliders are useful for beginners as they help show you the potential of each photo.
The ReTouch tool is slightly complex but a great introduction to brushes in programs like Adobe Photoshop. It now has incredible capabilities, allowing you great control over your images. It is particularly useful for removing objects or people in the background.
DxO also includes a great introduction to masking through their Local Adjustments. Their tool works great and gives you control over your image, even selective color edits. Combining the ReTouch tool and Local Adjustments, you can start to grow your photo editing skills.
DxO PhotoLab 7 is best for those who are okay with searching for videos or information when they need help. A beginner won’t be able to come to this program and understand everything. But they will be able to pick it up quickly with help online.
Go over to our Photolab 7 review to find out more.
4. Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Lightroom is the most popular photo editor on the market today. It is among the best photo editing software for beginners due to the extensive online help available. Also, it still produces a simple interface that might even be more accessible than the two above.
Lightroom does not feature many one-click editing solutions. Instead, it provides a wide range of adjustments that provide you with fine details of control. Lightroom’s AI capabilities include wider functions. There is a brilliant Denoise function and Smart Albums.
You will find a wide range of presets available. These are great to get your image started or if you want to batch edit a wide selection of photos. It is also very easy to make your own preset if you have spent a while perfecting your signature style.
A downside for beginners is that Lightroom possesses many different actions. You may not even use half of its features, but they can feel like they clog up your workspace. Besides this, Lightroom employs a range of features that make editing easier, like Quick Develop in the Library.
Lightroom is ideal for beginners who don’t consider budget an issue and want to grow their digital editing skills. There is a learning curve, but if you make it through this, you will have editing skills for various software.
Read our in-depth Adobe Lightroom review to find out more. It compares Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Creative Cloud (CC).
5. CyberLink PhotoDirector 365
CyberLink PhotoDirector 365 can be confusing photo editing software. But its wide range of functions is a brilliant quality that makes it great for beginners.
CyberLink has crammed PhotoDirector 365 with numerous adjustments. They range from basic edits to AI edits that encourage experimentation.
With this photo editing software, you get a comprehensive organization workspace. It has basic adjustments and an editing workspace with numerous advanced options. These adjustments range from Auto Color Enhancement AI to AI image generation.
Maybe you want to create images with superimposed text, frames, and images but don’t have the time for Photoshop. If so, PhotoDirector 365 is for you.
You can do all these edits and more. Actions like this are perfect for making personalized cards for your friends or even content for social media. You can even create cartoon portraits!
In addition to these features, this software lets you experiment with photographs. It provides various stitching options, from HDR to panorama and focus stacking. It even allows you to edit 360-degree images.
CyberLink PhotoDirector 365 is perfect for beginners who have yet to decide what they want to do with their photography. It provides avenues to explore and find what you love in photography or digital photo editing.
Read more about this unique photo editing software in our PhotoDirector 365 review.
6. inPixio Photo Studio 10 Mac Pro
inPixio Photo Studio 10 Mac Pro is a good photo editing software for beginners. It is particularly suited for photographers who aren’t computer literate. Most photo editing software is packed with a wide range of features. inPixio is much simpler and doesn’t appear as overwhelming.
inPixio has also employed other features that add to the application’s usability. One of the most noticeable features is the slightly larger sliders. This could be a welcome feature for those who find moving sliders in small increments difficult.
You will also notice that inPixio’s manipulation tools are in separate workspaces. This helps reduce the clutter of each workspace. And it makes it easy to go into the program to perform a specific task.
The RAW processing is also of a high quality. This means you can get a great amount of information out of your photographs.
To read about how this photo editing software performs, check our in-depth review here.
7. Capture One
Capture One is not designed for beginners but is on this list due to its customizable workspace and control. It is a fairly steep learning curve, like the abovementioned option. But you’ll be thankful for your time and effort once you get through this curve. It will show in your images.
The biggest downside, apart from the learning curve, is the price. This software is for those where budget isn’t an issue. It is particularly helpful for those wanting to enter the fashion or editorial photography industries. This is because of its brilliant tethered shooting setting.
On top of the tethered shooting, it has great sharing abilities. It lets you share a live shoot with friends or clients. You also have professional levels of control over the editing. It is particularly good at color editing and helps you get the most out of your colors.
I suggest Capture One for students who know the industry they want to get into. Experience with Capture One is a must in the photography industry, especially if you want to start out assisting.
Learning takes a while, but starting early can save time if you know what you want to do. Read our deep dive into Capture One for more details.
8. ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 10
ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 10 is photo editing software that introduces the digital process well to beginners. It places low on this list because it does not offer much to beginners besides an introduction to editing.
The best photo editing software at the top of our list provides an accessible approach. They let beginners perform advanced edits. Unfortunately, few of these opportunities exist in Photo Studio for Mac 10.
The lack of AI abilities in Photo Studio 10 makes it less desirable than the top options. The overall lack of editing adjustments also adds to its position. But a reduced selection of adjustments could benefit people overwhelmed by a wide array of editing adjustments.
ACDSee performs very well in its RAW processing and organizational tools. You also get a convenient workspace and basic editing tools that work well. This photo editing software is ideal for those who want high-quality edits without many functions.
I suggest ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 10 to photographers who value organizational tools over everything else. These photographers should only want to make minimal adjustments to all their images. But other photo editors perform more optimally for a better price.
If you want more information about its advantages and disadvantages, read our review of ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 10.
9. Corel AfterShot Pro 3
Corel AfterShot Pro 3 is good editing software for beginners if you want a basic program with a small file size. The stripped-back approach could be perfect for some photographers. But, on the whole, if you are buying photo editing software, you want it to be comprehensive.
The biggest highlight of Corel AfterShot Pro 3 is its speedy performance for condensed software. It can handle large sums of files quickly.
Also, it has good file management tools. This makes AfterShot Pro 3 ideal for those who want software to quickly and efficiently sort through large amounts of photos. For instance, beginner event photographers or photojournalists would find it helpful.
But don’t expect to perform accurate and convincing photo adjustments with this software. The editing tools perform to a low standard, with few editing adjustments.
It is outdated software, so you will not find AI abilities or advanced manipulating tools. This is not the end of the world, but it makes a big difference if you want to dramatically change your image. To learn more, read our AfterShot Pro 3 review and see how it tested.
Conclusion: The Best Photo Editor for Beginners
We can see many options after looking at a range of the best photo editing software for beginners. Each software has a niche. Thus, there are fits for different beginners and the editing style they want to grow in. So, it’s best to consider the images you want to achieve before purchasing.
After looking through this roundup, you can see how these applications can benefit beginners. If you need more information, check out each review in full. You can also see sample before-and-after edits.
Considering all the qualities, the easiest photo editing software is Luminar Neo. It has a simple interface and easily lets photographers achieve dramatically different images.
Look at ON1 Photo RAW for an excellent mix of AI features and a more traditional photo editor. DxO PhotoLab 7 is fantastic for a more in-depth approach to picture editing. We also have a comprehensive post about free editing software if that’s what you want.
