10 Free Photo Editing Apps - The Realistic Mama

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

I love having a smartphone. I really love the camera on it! It doesn’t replace my nice DSLR, but it does the job. Sometimes it is just easier to only take my phone along (plus a lot less conspicuous!)

That said, it can be a little challenging to get a photo exactly how I picture it the first time. That’s where my favorite editing apps come in handy. These ones are all free, but I’ll list a couple under-$5 favorites at the end too. If you have a smartphone or tablet, you can add any of these to your app wishlist to download them later so you don’t forget! (Or pin it for handy reference!)

1:: Pixlr Effect Express

For when you just simply want to get a photo taken and add an effect! It has a very simple easy-to-follow interface.

Google Play

2:: Pixlr

A great app with lots of tools including real time filters if you use their camera as your default. You can add in effects, skin healing, text, overlays, stickers, frames and crop too as well as adjust red eye and whiten teeth. There are over 2 million combinations and they’re all free! I like using this one for the text font options.

Google Play

iTunes

3:: PicsPlay

The filters in this app are a win in my book. (There are over 200 of them!) With options ranging from beautifying to vintage to HDR, it’s a lot of fun. This one also has three different kinds of blur effects, more than most offer. The text options are also a plus.

Google Play

iTunes

4:: Venus

Again, a win for effects. I love that it shows several preview squares at once with different filters and has a slider bar to adjust the level you want the effect applied. The frames in this app are beautiful too. This would be a great way to add some scrapbook-quality frames to photos.

Google Play

iTunes

5:: No Crop

For the times you want to share the entire picture to Instagram or for your square-cropped profile picture, this one is handy! It has several in-app features like filters, background, and text too.

Google Play

iTunes

6:: Cymera

Break out your inner photographer with this one! It has 7 different lens options including fish eye, and lomo. Sometimes different is just fun!

Google Play

iTunes

7:: aillis

This is a newer one for me but a fast favorite. If you are looking for a one-stop place for shape frames, collages, pretty fonts, or filters, this one has all of those. It’s touted as being fantastic for selfies, so there you go!

Google Play

iTunes

8:: Repix

This is a great way to add a fun artistic flair to a photo. You can actually paint on several effects including bokah,light flares, and painted art.

Google Play

iTunes

9:: Pic Collage

Over 95 million people are a fan of this collage-creating app. It offers beautiful layouts, stickers,and text options.

Google Play

iTunes

10:: Kwote

This one is cool. I just used it to add my own quotes to a simple, colorful background with quotes from our kids. (You can see more cuteness here!) They turned out adorable! It would be neat to add a quote or thought onto a photo to forever remember a thought with that photo.

Google Play
iTunes

Other free faves: Flipagram, Snapseed, VSCO Cam, Aviary

Honorable Mentions under $5

Rhonna Designs $1.99 — Folks, this is one of the easiest ways ever to turn your photos into beautiful pieces for gifts or prints. Lots of neat add-ons and features from filters to frames to stickers to quotes.
Google Play
iTunes

PicsPlay Pro $.99-$4.99 — Well worth the money! This is my most-used app! I love all the professional filters and wealth of features!
Google Play
iTunes

Afterlight $.99 — This is a really beautiful app, to sum up much in just one sentence! So many lovely filters, light leaks, and textures, oh my!
Google Play
iTunes

What are your go-to editing apps? I didn’t include Instagram but I love using some of these before sending it there! I’m thankful there are so many free or inexpensive options!

Thanks for stopping by! Connect with The Realistic Mama on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and by subscribing to our free email newsletter!

P.S. Are you looking for extra side income? I make full-time income blogging part-time—check out this easy step-by-step tutorial on how start a blog (no tech knowledge required).

Download My Free Family Organizer

Ready to de-stress + spend more time with your kids?

Life gets busy. I hear you. I'm here to show you how to CREATE more time for what matters most. Get a free family organizer as a thank you for joining our newsletter – includes monthly calendars, chore charts, meal planners and more...

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ORGANIZER

Facebook

Twitter

Honorable Mentions under $5

Download My Free Family Organizer

Comments

Trackbacks

Leave a Reply Cancel reply