Top 10 Shortlist:

Luminar (7 days full free version)
Adobe Lightroom (7 days trial)
Paint.NET (Free)
Adobe Photoshop Elements (7 days trial)
Gimp (Free)
Aurora HDR (7 days full free version)
Photolemur 3 (Free with watermark)
Fotor (Free basic plan)
Fhotoroom (Free + Offers in-app purchases)
AirMagic (Free with watermark)

Tired of looking for the free feature-rich photo editor? Want to try out something new? Or just need to find your perfect editing software compatible with Windows 10? You’ve come to the right place.

Be my guest and learn about the top-ranking photo editing programs for Windows 10 on the market. Knock yourself out!

The best photo editing software for beginners has a simple interface and has got a small number of activities that make it simple enough to be understood. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021 is the best.
We still put Photoshop at the top of our list, simply because it's the tool most used by professionals and the best-known software tool by far. But Photoshop is pretty limited in its approach, and Adobe's subscription-based software plans for Photoshop and Lightroom are not popular with everyone, even now.

1. Luminar (7-day free trial)

The Best Photoshop Version for Beginners. A great feature for beginners is the Guided Edits mode. Guided Edits provide step-by-step instructions for the most common edits. It’s the most extensive and advanced photo editing software.

Apart from being one of the best international editors (it’s translated into 10 languages so far), Luminar 4 is also a top plugin for Adobe products such as Photoshop and Lightroom.

The program is very snappy, user-friendly, and easy-to-use. The design is super simple and minimalistic. Nothing distracts you from the editing process. Besides, Luminar 4 team have recently updated a few super useful features you should try:

- AI Sky Replacement (changes the sky, matches the colors of other objects with the sky, fixes poor lighting, and removes unnecessary objects);

- AI Skin Enhancer & Portrait Enhancer (smooths the skin, gets rid of pimples and blemishes without obliterating the skin texture, enhances skin color and adds natural shadows);

- AI Structure (face detection, emphasizes the details, gives a photo a natural-beauty look);

- Sunrays (adds realistic-looking sunbeams between hard-to-reach objects like twigs, trees, and bushes);

- AI Enhance (enhances the overall look of the photo, adjusts the colors to create a more realistic effect);

- Smart Contrast (makes a realistic contrast, emphasizes texture).

✅ Pros

Boasts of a wide range of video guides;
Offers non-destructive editing;
Easy to use;
A perfect plugin for Lightroom, Photoshop or Photos for macOS;
Has a free 7-day trial;
Has pleasant discounts for upgraded plans

✖️ Cons

A little bit slower than Lightroom and Photoshop;
Limited exporting options;
Luminnar’s Library loses to Lightroom’s DAM.

2. Adobe Lightroom (7 days trial)

If you’re savvy in photo editing and need your editor to have all the best features on the market, go for Lightroom. Many professional photographers say that no editing software can ever fill in for Lightroom.

Lightroom is a well-known universal program for editing that has a 7-day free trial. The cloud allows you to save, store, and share any of the edited photos. No matter where you edit (phone, laptop, tablet), Lightroom applies the changes everywhere. Besides, the interface of the program is clear. Intuitive thinking is pretty much everything you need to figure out how to use Lightroom.

✅ Pros

Non-destructive editing;
A cloud-based system;
Easy processing of RAW files;
Incredible presets;
Unique filters and tools (post-crop vignette, geometry tools, etc.)

✖️ Cons

Has more features in iOS version;
A little bit expensive;
Not the best decision for beginners.

Paint.NET is a veteran of photo editing. This editing software offers users to enjoy its elementary and snappy design. Besides, the program is super responsive and has no bugs.

Paint.NET can’t be called a rival to Photoshop or Lightroom. It’s not surprising because, otherwise, no one would ever opt for the latter.

✅ Pros

The FREEST of all free photo editors;
A simple familiar design;
Compatible with any OS.

✖️ Cons

No text correction if you applied a filter;
No Burn and Dodge filters;
No mask of layers.

4. Adobe Photoshop Elements (7 days trial)

This program is a brand new product by Adobe featured in 2020. The editor brings the editing experience to another level. You get hooked on handy modes such as Quick Mode, Expert Mode, and Guided Mode.

Whereas other editors like Photoshop take time to adjust, Adobe Photoshop Elements is a no-brainer. A fully optimized interface, simple tools, and step-by-step guidelines will make your editing fast and enjoyable.

✅ Pros

Perfect for beginners;
The best object removal feature on the market;
Adobe Ecosystem

✖️ Cons

No cloud storage;
Doesn’t process 3D objects;
No phone app.

5. GIMP (Free)

GIMP is sort of a classic program for graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers. You can create a Graphic Art from the start or just adjust the existing picture according to your needs.

You to enjoy its layers, filters, brushes, and enhancement tools from the start thanks to the intuitive system. It’s easy to figure out how to use it without contacting the Support Team or watching dozens of YouTube reviews.

✅ Pros

Open to code manipulations;
A wide range of filters;
100% Free;
Fit for almost any photo manipulation purposes.

✖️ Cons

Could be slower than Photoshop;
Average score on Trustpilot
No iOS, Android, and Desktop applications.

Aurora HDR has recently been updated into the snappier and more functional version of itself so that you, guys, could get a true value-driven offer. I can’t relate more to the fact that Aurora HDR’s auto-correction feature is splendid.

The updated version is not ripped or deprived of features. Conversely, it contains some tools it never had before. Aside from the well-known HDR Detail Boost and HDR Denoise tool (that have become indispensable for HDR image editing, btw), Aurora HDR presents has one-of-a-kind Top & Bottom Tuning, Polarizing Filter, Glow Filters, and other.

Long story short, Aurora HDR will get you hooked from the first seconds of using it. Try it out!

✅ Pros

A lovely and simple layout;
Super speedy and snappy work;
Never gets buggy;
Non-destructive editing;
AI-powered system;
Good both for newbies in editing and pros.

✖️ Cons

Not that functional as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom;
No healing brush in the standalone version;
Long response when uploading big raw images.

Some editors seem quirky, hard-to-use, or ripped. You struggle while using them and never get the desired result. If you relate to this, let Photolemur 3 be your editor.

After you’ve downloaded and setup Photolemur 3, you just drag and drop the photos. We all love this feature. Then, the program suggests its variant of corrections. The before/after slider makes you fall in love with Photolemur 3 even more.

After that, you use one or two of the editor’s features such as Face Enhancer, Eyes Enlarge, Color Recovery, and BOOM

Best Photoshop Software