Ever wondered which is the best artificial intelligence (AI) photo editor on the market? Wonder no longer as this guide has all the answers you seek. 

Till August 2023, people generated approximately 15.5 billion AI images using text-to-image algorithms. This speaks volumes about the popularity of AI, especially since photographers took 150 years to reach the 15 billion mark.

When it comes to editing AI-generated images, though, you probably have neither the time nor knowledge to do it from scratch. 

Here’s where AI photo editors come in handy.

In this guide, learn how to embrace the power of AI in the editing process and why it’s a good idea to invest in such a solution. Discover: 

• What an AI photo editor is 
• What its benefits are
• How to choose the right one
• Which are the best AI photo editors around.

What is an AI Photo Editor?

AI software refers to the tools that use artificial intelligence to streamline manual photo editing tasks, such as removing the background of an image.

That’s not all; AI photo editors also work to enhance your photos by: 

• Upscaling the quality of your low-res or blurry images 
• Expanding your photos beyond their borders
• Cutting and moving subjects
• Making simple color and contrast adjustments 

How exactly does it work? Well, AI photo editors use machine learning and advanced algorithms to analyze the content of your photos and perform the editing tasks you need. 

As a result, you do more in less time. But more about the benefits later. 

Cutting to the chase, which are the best tools for the job? We can answer that question in the next section. 

What are Some of the Best AI Photo Editors?

First things first, people love AI image editing. But why? According to a Pincel survey, 57.78% of respondents said it “saves them precious time.” On the flipside, 15.56% of them admitted they’ve never used an AI photo editor, but are willing to try. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re familiar with AI photo editors or want to try one. This list is for both cases: 

1. Luminar Neo – Best photo editing software with AI-powered tools. 
2. Aftershoot – Best AI-powered tool for culling and editing multiple photos at the same time. 
3. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom – Best AI photo editor with advanced features, suitable for Adobe users. 
4. Canva – Best suite of AI-powered design tools for editing photos. 
5. Picsart – Best creative platform with AI-powered editing and design tools. 
6. Pixlr – Best free AI photo editor that’s very similar to Photoshop. 
7. Fotor Photo Editor – Best free online photo editor with AI-powered tools. 

Now that you have an idea of what these tools excel at, let’s go into more detail, starting with our first tool: 

1. Luminar Neo

Luminar Neo is a photo editing platform that uses generative AI to enhance your photography. 

This AI-powered tool is easy to use thanks to its intuitive and user-friendly interface, which makes it convenient for people with different levels of mastery. Moreover, you can use it everywhere, from Windows or macOS to Lightroom or Photoshop plugins. 

Luminar also has support for raw files, but you can export your edited photos in whatever format you like. 

“It has tons of artificial intelligence-powered tools, such as background removing ability, lighting enhancement, and, of course, generative AI to create magic with your prompts.” 

Top features

• AI photo enhancer: Luminar Neo unleashes the potential of your photos by leveraging machine learning to improve the quality of your work. 
• Photo brightener: Are your pictures too dark? Luminar’s brightening tools will easily adjust the lighting of your photos and balance it. 
• Remove background: With one click, Luminar Neo removes the background from your photos so you can edit them however you like. 

Best for

Luminar Neo is best for teams of all sizes, no matter if they have editing experience with such tools or not. 

Bring your knowledge directly to Luminar Neo by integrating it with Guru. Together, the two can take your productivity and efficiency to the next level — it would be a shame to miss out on this opportunity. 

2. Aftershoot

Aftershoot is an AI-assisted culling and editing app that helps people select, rate, and edit thousands of photos at the same time. 

It works on both iOS and Windows. 

What makes this tool a good option is the culling feature. Imagine this: you took hundreds of photos for a marketing campaign, but not all shots are great. Instead of going through each of them manually, Aftershoot does it for you. 

The AI-assisted culling means analyzing and picking the winning shots; it also separates them into groups and removes duplicates and blurry photos. 

“The automatic features of auto rejecting the unwanted or repetitive images during the process are best for the user. [...] Multiple filters are available in the software, and the image reviews after switching one filter to another are speedy.” 

Top features

• Pre-built AI styles: If you want to experiment with different styles, this tool has pre-made AI styles that can help you start editing photos in minutes. 
• AI editing profile: Need to edit photos in bulk? You can train a custom profile to imitate your style and automatically edit your photos for you. 
• Key faces detection: Aftershoot’s AI looks for closed eyes or blurry pics and keeps only the sharp and focused ones. 

Best for

Aftershoot is suitable for both small and medium-sized organizations as it’s compatible with many design tools, such as Lightroom, Photoshop, etc. 

Work on your pictures but keep your files close at hand by integrating Aftershoot with Guru.

3. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom offers powerful photo editing software via its comprehensive toolkit for digital photography. 

This solution offers plenty of editing features, varying from one-click lighting adjustments to more advanced controls, such as batch editing or geometry tools. 

Lightroom is easy to use, making it a perfect choice for beginners and pros. Why? Because it lets you make basic edits to brightness or contrast, as well as work with presets you can add with a single click. 

“The software provides strong organizational tools, making it straightforward to tag, sort, and locate photos. Lightroom is also proficient in handling RAW files, giving photographers extensive control over various image adjustments.” 

Top features

• Mobile app: If you want to edit photos on the fly, Adobe offers a more streamlined toolbar that includes frequently used tools like Crop, Edit, etc. 
• Video editing: Import your videos and edit them with the same settings you used on your photos. It’s a good way to get a consistent look for your content. 
• Blur effect: A recent Lightroom feature is the Lens Blur, allowing you to control the amount of blur you add to your photos. 

Best for

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom has pricing plans for students and teachers, but also for small and medium-sized businesses. 

Want to use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom AND streamline your knowledge? You can do both by integrating Adobe with Guru and unlocking a new world of productivity and team collaboration.

4. Canva

Canva is a design tool powered by AI with a simple drag-and-drop editor, a vast library of templates, and design elements, such as stock photography, fonts, etc. 

Designers — or anyone with a creative idea — can use this AI-powered photo editor to craft presentations, social media graphics, posters, and more. If you don’t know where to start, Canva offers professionally-made templates that you can refine as you wish.

Moreover, Canva has Magic Studio, a suite of tools that use AI technology to generate on-brand content. This kit also contains Magic Edit powered by Stable Diffusion, which allows you to easily retouch your photos. 

“Canva is easy to use, has thousands of templates, I can implement edits on the go and make multiple iterations without a hassle.” 

Top features

• Object removal: With Canva’s Magic Eraser and Background Remover, you can delete unwanted objects from your images and highlight the subject of your photo. 
• Image enhancement: Canva’s AI tools allow you to automatically detect the foreground and background of your image and adjust each area separately. 
• Reorganize photos: If you need to move your subject, Magic Grab allows you to do just that, without any hassle. 

Best for

Canva is for any kind of business, including creative, marketing, startups, small companies, franchises, etc. 

By integrating Guru with Canva, you can connect all your apps, docs, and chats in one place. As a result, you get instant answers to all your questions directly in your workflow.

5. Picsart

Picsart — no, not Pixar — is an all-in-one creative platform that uses AI features to power its photo editing and design tools. This tool allows you to create various designs for social media posts, presentations, or brand promotion. 

Through the advanced AI tools, you can accelerate your editing operations and edit photos or remove backgrounds. Besides, Picsart has generative fill, which you can use to generate new backgrounds easily, without bothering to search for new ideas. 

“I have been using Picsart for quite a while and it really has some of the finest editing tools, whether you need it for professional editing or just for fun and personal needs.” 

Top features

• Collage maker: Picsart has a free collage maker you can use. Combine the photos you like and create motivational mood boards, social media posts, etc. 
• AI image generator: If you need a photo ASAP, but don’t have the time to search for it, Picsart’s AI image generator helps you bring your vision to life. 
• Text editor: Text is a valuable element of any design. That’s why Picsart offers a selection of free fonts (or you can upload your own) so you can create amazing visuals. 

Best for

Plenty of companies can use this tool, including those in fashion, real estate, interior design, health and wellness, education, and entertainment. 

Integrate Picsart with Guru to enhance the editing process. By connecting your company’s collective knowledge with this tool, you remove the need for manually sifting through scattered information. 

6. Pixlr

Pixlr is a free online photo editor that feels very similar to Adobe Photoshop. This tool also has an AI image generator and AI-powered design tools to make editing high-quality photos a breeze. 

You can use this tool wherever you like, whether that’s in your web browser, on your smartphone (both iPhone and Android), or on a desktop. Pixlr offers a variety of photo editing tools, such as AI Face Swap, AI Remove Object, Generative Expand, or Crop Images. 

“Pixlr is one of the finest and most versatile cloud-based photo editing platforms which offers a huge range of image editing features on our mobile phones.” 

Top features

• AI image generator: Pixlr uses a text-to-image AI generator that helps you come up with creative artwork. 
• AI generative fill: Refine your ideas and complete your vision with AI generative fill, that gives you control over what you add to your photos.  
• AI Generative Expand: Need to go beyond the borders of your image? With Pixlr’s Generative Expand you can make your photos fit any aspect ratio. 

Best for

Pixlr is great for both personal use but also for designers who want to make a quick edit. 

Pixlr and Guru make a lovely pair.

7. Fotor Photo Editor

Fotor Photo Editor is just what the name implies: it’s a free online photo and image editor with plenty of useful tools, such as crop, effects, retouch, and more. 

This tool (compatible with all platforms like Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android) combines editing, design, and image generation functionalities to bring your creative vision to life. 

Furthermore, it’s easy to use and learn as it’s similar to Photoshop. You can also edit photos in bulk to save more time and get more done. 

“Fotor is [a] simple and easy-to-use online photo editing tool that has a lot of features like AI editing, online templates, and font generation. It also supports image generation using AI.” 

Top features

• AI photo enhancer: Improve image quality with a single click, allowing you to adjust lighting, enhance details, or bring blurs into focus. 
• AI effects: Transform your photos into anime characters or cartoons by using Fotor’s AI effects. 
• AI image generation: Is your head brimming with ideas but you don’t have the editing skills to make them real? With Fotor’s AI, you can create art from text prompts, including realistic photos, logos, and 3D characters. 

Best for

Fotor is ideal for creating various marketing materials, such as posters, flyers, invitations, and logos. Which makes it a great tool for personal use and businesses of all sizes. 

What are the Benefits of Using AI Image Editors?

Are there any benefits to using an AI photo editor? Can’t you just do the tasks yourself? 

In theory, you can continue to manually edit your photos. But with an AI photo editor, you can: 

• Save time: This is a HUUUGE benefit. An AI photo editor frees your time so you can focus your efforts on more strategic tasks. All the little time-consuming and repetitive tasks, such as color correction, are now automated and completed in less time.
• Boost creativity: AI photo editors can push the boundaries of your creativity and let you explore a new world of art. For example, Lensa AI allows users to create “magic avatars” by simply uploading selfies. It’s no wonder that this app became the highest-grossing photo and video editing app in December 2022. 
• Improve quality: With an AI photo editor, you can improve the quality of your photos and enhance them. But that’s not all; some editors can remove blemishes from your skin and essentially make your photos or products more appealing. 
• Reduce costs: AI photo tools are cost-effective. Some of them are free, but even if you invest in a paid subscription, they’re usually not that expensive. As a result, it’s suitable for personal use, as well as for small businesses. 
• Enhance accuracy: Manual photo editing can be prone to errors. An AI photo editor can achieve a level of precision that humans can’t really reproduce, which means your photos will look amazing. 

Now that we’ve covered the advantages, let’s move on to the must-have features of an AI photo editor. 

What Features to Look for in An AI Picture Editor?

Before diving into the research, it’s a good idea to make a list of your most wanted features. Here are some ideas: 

• Background removal: Background removal features are some of the most popular features of any AI editing software, particularly if it’s used for product photography and graphic design projects. By using advanced algorithms, the tool can detect and remove unwanted backgrounds effortlessly and let you place the subject in front of different backdrops. 
• Erasing objects: Another great feature of AI photo editors is object removal. It can delete unwanted objects from your images and fill the empty area with the appropriate content matching the background. You use this functionality to remove distracting objects and maintain the photo’s integrity. 
• Denoising: Want clearer, smoother images? Select a tool that has this handy feature, which removes noise and grain from your photos. 
• Upscaling: Plenty of AI photo editing tools have upscaling algorithms that work to enhance the photo’s resolution while keeping it sharp and clear. It’s a useful feature for those who want to enlarge images for posters or presentations without sacrificing quality. 

So, you made a list of your most wanted features. Awesome! But there are a few more steps to take before you select the AI photo editor that truly boosts your productivity. 

How to Choose the Best AI Photo Editing App for Your Needs

So, how do you select the best AI photo editor for your needs? Well, you pay attention to the following things: 

• Why you need the editor: First and foremost, think about why you need the photo editing tool. Is it to create more appealing product images? Or to upscale their quality? Consider your goals and what you’re trying to achieve and search for tools that meet those requirements. 
• The editor’s features: Check each tool’s features and select the one that has most of the features on your wish list. Look for features like automated subject detection, automated upscaling, etc. 
• Integrations: Integrating your AI photo editor with your existing tools will greatly improve the productivity of your teams. It provides a level of effectiveness that’ll make it easier to search for what you need, without switching apps. 
• Pricing: Consider your budget. While these solutions aren’t very expensive, you should still pay attention to how much you can afford to spend on AI photo editors. 
• Start-to-finish image workflow: Look for full image editors that are standalones, not plugins. This allows you to edit photos from start to finish. 
• Control and customization: A good AI photo editor should allow you to tweak your photos however you want. When evaluating your options, choose AI solutions that give you control over how much you can edit the images through manual editing tools. 
• Privacy concerns: Usually, the AI photo editors require you to upload your photos to a server. If that’s not your cup of tea, make sure to carefully review their privacy settings before investing to see how the provider handles sensitive information. 
• Learning curve: Sure, the app needs to have advanced features, but make sure it’s still easy to handle. Look for tools that have an intuitive interface and are easy to understand, so even those unfamiliar with them can learn quickly.  
• Quality results: Not all AI photo editors are created the same. The results of the edits highly depend on the tool, so make sure the chosen one can produce high-quality edits. 

And that’s it! 

The Bottom Line

Now you’re aware of the best AI photo editors around. With this knowledge in mind, you can embark on a wonderful journey and find the tool you really need and want. 

Before setting on this adventure, however, there’s one more thing we need to discuss.

To streamline the editing process, while keeping your company knowledge close at hand, try Guru. With this solution, you can connect your apps, docs, and chats with your existing tools and search for whatever you want without switching apps.

Sign up for Guru today to experience productivity at its finest. 

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