Best Photo Editing Software of 2027

What separates the best photo editing software on this page?

The eight picks here split into two jobs: developing RAW files and editing pixels. Adobe Lightroom Classic scores 8.6 and leads on RAW processing and organisation, with AI Denoise and subject, sky and people masks that were the most reliable of any editor we tested. ON1 Photo RAW at 8.4 is the closest single-purchase replacement, developing, layering and retouching in one app, though browsing and export are slower than Lightroom. Affinity Photo 2 at 8.2 is the layer editor: masks, frequency separation, focus stacking, HDR merge and panoramas for $69.99 once, and it opens and saves PSD files. DxO PhotoLab at 7.7 takes the RAW conversion prize with DeepPRIME XD2 on ISO 12,800 files and lab-measured lens corrections, but has no layers. Luminar Neo at 7.4 gets a beginner from a flat RAW to a finished landscape in minutes. Capture One Pro at 7.4 is the studio tool, with tethered capture and skin tones. Adobe Photoshop at 6.4 is the deepest pixel editor, and GIMP at 5.4 is free and open source.

What should I check before buying photo editing software?

Our scoring puts RAW processing and editing tools at 25 points each, organisation and ease of use at 15, and value at 20. Match those weights to your own work.

• RAW processing: if you shoot high ISO, DxO PhotoLab and Lightroom Classic are the two to compare. Affinity Photo 2 and GIMP need a separate RAW developer.
• Editing tools: layers matter for retouching. Affinity Photo 2 and Photoshop have them; DxO PhotoLab does not.
• Organisation: Lightroom Classic has the catalogue, but it can bloat and slow on large libraries. Luminar Neo's catalogue is basic.
• Cost over time: Lightroom Classic runs about $360 over three years, Capture One Pro $864 on subscription, and Photoshop $827 over three years on its own. ON1 Photo RAW, Affinity Photo 2, DxO PhotoLab and Luminar Neo are one-time licences.
• Speed: DxO PhotoLab has the slowest export because DeepPRIME is heavy, and Luminar Neo is slow and heavy on memory.

Lightroom Classic

For photographers who cull and catalogue large shoots and want AI masking plus Photoshop in the same plan.

ON1 Photo RAW

For anyone who wants one app to develop, layer and retouch without a subscription.

Affinity Photo 2

For retouchers who want a Photoshop-style layer editor for $69.99 once and already have a RAW developer.

DxO PhotoLab

For high-ISO shooters who want the cleanest RAW conversions and measured lens corrections, and will retouch elsewhere.

Luminar Neo

For beginners who want one-click sky, relight and portrait tools and a lifetime licence.

Capture One Pro

For studio photographers who tether and care about colour and skin tones.

Photoshop

For compositing, Generative Fill and selection work, bought in the Photography plan rather than alone.

GIMP

For anyone on a zero budget who will trade polish for free, open-source layer editing.

For most photographers, Lightroom Classic covers culling, RAW and masking, with ON1 Photo RAW the one-time-purchase alternative. If retouching is the job, Affinity Photo 2 gives you layers for $69.99 once, while DxO PhotoLab suits high-ISO shooters who want the cleanest RAW files. Beginners should look at Luminar Neo, studio tethering at Capture One Pro, and a free start at GIMP.