Whether you’re editing photos for school projects, social media, personal creative work, or professional tasks, having the right photo editing software on your Mac matters. The good news? You don’t have to spend money to get powerful tools. In 2025, many free photo editors on macOS offer features that rival paid software.

This guide covers the best free photo editing software for macOS — tools that run smoothly on Apple silicon and Intel Macs, are genuinely free to use, and are practical for everyday users.

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1. GIMP — Free and Fully Featured Photo Editor

Best For: Advanced editing, detailed photo work

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is one of the most powerful free photo editors available on macOS. It offers many tools that serious editors need.

Key features:

• Layers and masks

• Advanced color correction

• Selection tools

• Support for plugins and extensions

GIMP’s interface might feel complex at first, but once you learn the basics, it’s capable of professional-level edits — from enhancing photos to creating graphics.

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2. Darktable — Photo Workflow + Editing

Best For: Photographers and batch editing tasks

Darktable focuses on photo editing with a workflow similar to paid software used for photography. It excels for users who work with large photo libraries or RAW files.

Highlights:

• Non-destructive editing

• Advanced color and tone tools

• Adjustable presets

• RAW image support

Darktable is ideal if you shoot in RAW and want an organized way to edit many photos with precise control.

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3. Photopea — Browser-Based Photoshop Alternative

Best For: Quick edits without installing software

Photopea runs directly in your web browser — no download required. It looks and works very much like familiar paid tools, making it easy to jump into editing right away.

Features:

• Layer editing

• Masking and selection tools

• Works with PSD and common image formats

• No install needed

Photopea is perfect for students and casual editors who want Photoshop-like features without buying software.

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4. Krita — Great for Digital Painting and Illustration

Best For: Artists, illustrators, creative drawing

Krita is focused on painting and creative artwork. While it supports photo editing, its real strength is digital art.

Why students and creatives like Krita:

• Professional drawing brushes

• Layer management

• Intuitive painting tools

• Continuous updates

If your edits involve illustration or art creation alongside photo work, Krita is a strong choice.

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5. Pixelmator Classic (Limited Free Features)

Best For: Users who want a simpler, native macOS experience

Pixelmator Classic offers some free tools with an intuitive macOS-style interface. While its full version requires payment, the available free features are still useful for basic photo tasks.

Good for:

• Simple photo fixes

• Cropping and adjustments

• Quick color tweaks

This option works well if you want something that feels native to macOS and easy to use.

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6. Apple Photos — Built-In and Familiar

Best For: Everyday photo management and simple edits

Don’t overlook the built-in Apple Photos app on macOS. It’s free and often underrated for editing tasks.

Useful tools include:

• Auto-enhance

• Crop and rotate

• Color adjustments

• Filters

For many users, Apple Photos has enough editing tools for everyday image improvements without installing anything else.

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How to Choose the Right Editor

Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:

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Tips for Free Photo Editing on macOS

• Use RAW when possible for better quality editing. Darktable and Photopea both support RAW files.

• Learn basic keyboard shortcuts to speed editing.

• Back up originals before major changes — this keeps your source images safe.