Many people love editing the images on their iPhones using photo editing apps. There are a lot of apps out there for people who want them. So much so, that it can be overwhelming to find the best photo editor app for your needs. This is mainly because of the frequently overlapping features and toolsets. To make things a little easy, we have compiled a list of the best iPhone photo editing apps here. These come with simple yet powerful features that make picture editing a breeze.
Here are some of the best photo editing app choices you have on the App Store. Some of these are paid picture editing apps. You can go for a free trial before you buy them.
Snapseed
The photo editor app also works if you want power editing tools and adjustments. There are plenty of options to play around with. This includes cropping, making adjustments, editing curves, and a lot more. The vertical drags are often meant to select parameters. The horizontal drags define the strength of the effect you want.
The edits are not permanent, so you can remove them from the edits panel. Snapseed lets you save the change combinations as custom presets too. You can access and apply these later, which is a godsend for photo editing enthusiasts.
Key Features:
- Free to use
- Suitable for users of any level
- Can crop, edit curves, make adjustments
- Non-destructive edits
- Can save adjustment combos to custom presets
Download Snapseed
Also Read: Snapseed Photo Editing Tips and Tricks
Camera+ 2
The Camera+ 2 editing app serves as both camera and editor for the iPhone. It has a wide array of available options, while still keeping the interface minimal. There is a modes strip on the top of the screen, a slider for zooming, and the shutter.
Tapping on the plus button gives you a view of further modes. This includes a stabilizer, a timer, smile detection, and more. The viewfinder area takes the app into the ‘Pro’ mode. You can have more manual controls to tinker with here. The viewfinder also has scene options for shooting in specific lighting conditions.
The interface might be a bit finicky in comparison to other picture editing apps. However, Camera+ 2 app is very powerful. After capturing an image, you can edit it with filters, tools, and frames. It is pretty straightforward and the range of tools is vast enough to keep you satisfied.
Key Features:
- Pricing starts at $4.99
- Camera and picture editor app
- Minimal interface with modes strip and zoom slider
- Pro mode with manual controls
- Post-shooting adjustment options
Download Camera+ 2
Inkwork
Inkwork is another one of the best photo editor app options out there. It can turn your photos into sketch-based pictures. There are many other such picture editing apps. Yet, only a few filter photo editing apps offer as great results as Inkwork does.
The photo editing app has a smooth and sleek interface. This allows you to switch the ink colors, the background, as well as the stroke size. The latter lets you adjust the degree of abstractness of the virtual sketch. However, most users find the filters on Inkwork more intriguing.
There are a lot of filters in Inkwork, and that can be somewhat overwhelming to some. Still, lovers of black and white art can find everything they need in the app. It covers everything from comic-book fare to rough pen hatching. Another great thing is that selections happen immediately. You can use Inkwork offline as well.
Key Features:
- Pricing starts at $2.99
- Can alter photos using sketch-based filters
- Sleek and polished interface
- Allows switching ink and background colors, adjust the stroke size
- No internet connection needed
Download Inkwork
Afterlight
Afterlight is arguably the best photo editing app for iPhone users. It has an inclusive set of editing tools, packed in a simple-to-navigate interface. You get the typical range of editing tools including exposure, sharpness, and color. There are also advanced tools like selective color and curves. You can fine-tune tones and colors in photos using them.
The overlays and filters in Afterlight are perfect for enhancing your photos. The app carries basic filters to which you can add more for free. You also have the option to add artwork and customized text. That makes it the best photo editing app to add graphics to images.
Afterlight also has a double-exposure tool. Using this, you can create blended images in unique combinations. If basic image editing is not enough for you, try the subscription plans of Afterlight. That will unlock more premium photo editing features for pro users.
Key Features:
- Free/Premium
- Subscription plans start at $2.99 per month
- Exposure, sharpening, and color adjustments
- Best photo editor with double-exposure tool
- Layers tool to add text and artwork
Download Afterlight
Also Read: Best RAW Image Editing Apps for Android
Everyone knows about Instagram. It is an image and video sharing app that also allows you to edit them before sharing. If you share your photos a lot on the social media platform, then you will find the editing tools great. A lot of people swear by the photo editing features available on Instagram.
Instagram may not have the range of tools you would see in other photo editing apps. However, it has all you need for basic picture adjustments. There are plenty of options to explore in the app. This includes adding timestamps, location, hashtags, and more. There are lots of filters in the app too.
The editing tools on Instagram are pretty handy. Adjustments can be made to color, sharpness, and exposure. You can also rotate, crop, and straighten images, as well as correct perspective. There are even options to add a tilt-shift or a vignette effect.
Key Features:
- Free to use
- A good collection of b/w and color filters
- Sharpening, color, and exposure adjustments
- Crop, straighten, rotate, and perspective correction
- Tilt-shift and vignette effects
Download Instagram
Darkroom
Darkroom is a well-known photo editor app for iPhone users. Most users find that it quickly becomes an integral part of their lives. This is a very efficient, intuitive, and easy-to-use app. The first thing it does on firing up is let you look at the on-device images, without wasting any time.
On selecting an image, you see adjustment sliders and cropping tools. Tuning with these can easily augment whatever you have captured on your phone. If you go for in-app purchases, you can also get color tools and pro-oriented curves. You also get a powerful video editor in the Darkroom app.
The edits are not destructive, and it is possible to save your work to the Camera Roll. Copies can be exported as well. You can edit the foreground and background of your portrait photos too. There is an option to edit and apply filters to multiple photos at once as well.
Key Features:
- Free with in-app purchases
- Adjustments sliders and cropping tools
- Non-destructive edits
- Batch edit options
- Video editor included
Download Darkroom
Apollo
Apollo is probably the best photo editor app for adding new light sources to photos. You can easily add studio-style lighting to photos taken in the Portrait mode. The app records depth information to give you impressive results. You can even simulate shadows from the light coming in through a blind.
The interface is pretty straightforward and there is a lot of space for creativity. Multiple lights can be added easily enough. You can define the color, distance, spread, brightness, and mask effects for each. The toolsets in Apollo are designed for pro photographers as well as beginners. Yet it may not suit you if you are looking for an instant fix.
You can adjust the deeper details and fine-tune photo settings using Apollo. One drawback though is that you will not always get a realistic result. Still, Apollo allows you to apply complex lighting in interesting ways.
Key Features:
- Pricing starts at $2.99
- Add new light sources to portrait photos
- Usable interface with room for creativity
- Can define color, distance, spread, brightness, and mask effects for each light
- Allows to fine-tune photo settings
Download Apollo
Also Read: 15 Best Photo Editing Tips for Beginners
TouchRetouch
TouchRetouch may not be the best photo editor app for everyone. It is mainly designed to get rid of the unwanted elements from your pictures. The same functionality can be seen in other photo editing apps. However, TouchRetouch is a dedicated app for that. This means more focus as well as better tools.
You can take out blemishes on faces using a single tap with TouchRetouch. It allows you to paint out larger objects and have the app fill in the gaps. You can even clone from an image and paste it in another part of the same image. There is a line remover too, which can remove power lines and more.
TouchRetouch cannot match desktop picture editing apps in error removal. So pro-level retouching may not be an option here. Still, iPhone users can enjoy using the app for fixing the flaws in their photos.
Key Features:
- Pricing starts at $1.99
- Dedicatedly removes unwanted elements from photos
- Can paint out larger objects and the app does the rest
- Allows cloning within images
- Line Remover
Download TouchRetouch
VSCO
VSCO is one of the best photo filter picture editing apps on the App Store. The filters in the app allow you to turn your photos into classic film pictures. These filters are very good at bringing the vintage feel that many people adore.
In other photo editing apps, the filters can sometimes be overpowering. Yet with VSCO, these are cleverly restrained. It gives you a soft, faded look. The filter strength can be adjusted according to your taste too. So if you want an understated edit, then VSCO will be the best photo editing app for you.
You can easily fine-tune the color and exposure with the editing tools in the app. The free version of the app gets you 10 free filter presets and a photo editing toolset. You can go for the in-app purchases for more filter presets. There is a VSCO X membership available as well for pro users.
Key Features:
- Free with in-app purchases
- Membership prices start at $19.99 per year
- Huge collection of filters
- Editing tools for exposure, cropping, sharpness, and color
- Allows adjusting filter strength as needed
Download VSCO
Oilist
Oilist is a unique self-driven generation art app. It is one of the best photo editing apps for art lovers. Simply import a photo from your Camera Roll, pick a style, and see the magic. The app repaints your image and gives you a masterpiece you can share on social media.
The photo editing app has a plethora of styles and presets you can pick from. This covers everything from classic oil paintings to modern art. You can also add your own contributions if you want. Stills can be captured for posterity, and you can play around with the settings as needed.
The tools in Oilist include mood, brush strokes, gravity, and chaos. Choose any one you like and let the virtual artist in the app take care of the rest. Oilist does not work by adding filters. It will never give the same results twice. This makes it even more intriguing.
Key Features:
- Pricing starts at $2.99
- Photo editing app for generational art
- Smart virtual artist
- Huge range of styles and presets
- No manual editing effort needed
Download Oilist
Also Read: Best Photo Editor App for Android Phones and Tablets
That was a look at how some of the best photo editing app options fare in the iPhone arena. The list is not all-inclusive. There are a lot more picture editing apps for iPhones available. If you want the best photo editor app for you, then you need to make sure that the app that you pick suits your use. For pro users, it may make sense to go in for one of the paid picture editing apps. However, if you are a beginner at photo editing, it is best to stick to the free photo editing apps for now.