20 Most Helpful Photo Effect Editor Programs and Apps

Photoshop is the mostly known picture editing tool in world just like the search engine known as Google. This program is used by millions of personal and professional users but not only Photoshop there are thousands of other image editing apps also available over internet which can be used to the edit photos. Usually it depends on the purpose of using the app as well because some people like to use it for very small work and some like to use it for regular basis but why to buy that much of costly software to do some small tasks only. From the wide range of different apps we will learn about the different alternative photo effect editor software and apps for the different operating systems to overcome these problems in this article.

If you wanted to find a helpful photo editor with adding effects to your photos online, Wondershare PixStudio should be recommended. It provides strong functions that help you not just adding effect to your photo, but also you can edit your picture as stunning as a professional graphic maker.

Here, we are going to show you how you can create effects to photos using Wondershare Pixstudio online.

Step 1: Go to the PixStudio and choose the target design. If I were going to post my photo to Instagram, I may choose Instagram Post.

Step 2: Choose your fancy effect and then try to drag "Intensity" to adjust the effect to your favorite.

Step 3: Now you can get the resulting image and you can download it for free.

• Part 1. Top 5 Photo Effect Editor Programs for Windows
• Part 2. Top 5 Photo Effect Editor Programs for Mac
• Part 3. Top 5 Photo Effect Apps for iPhone and iPad
• Part 4. Top 5 Photo Effect Apps for Android

Part 1. Top 5 Photo Effect Editor Programs for Windows

1. Wondershare Fotophire Editing Toolkit

Wondershare Fotophire Editing Toolkit is the best alternative solution to the Photoshop for the windows operating system. Wondershare Fotophire gives you best effects for pictures in a very easy to use way. This program is developed by the professional team of Wondershare and now a day it is giving competition to the Photoshop because of the cool easy to use features and high quality output photos. Wondershare FotoPhire works like a charm to edit, cut or erase photos. Let’s go through some cool features of this program.

Key Features of Fotophire Editing Toolkit

• • Photo effect editor program enables you edit the effects of your photos so you can easily cut & crop, textures, save presets etc using this software.
• • This photo editor photo effects program also helps you to erase extra particles from the photos to keep the only important things in your photos.
• • There are more than 200 effects available to enhance your photo styles.
• • If you have any issue with the background of your image then you can remove the background or replace it with another one.
• • The interface of this program is very simple which can be used by any tech or non tech person.

2. Adobe Lightroom CC

Adobe Lightroom CC is the light version of Adobe photoshop. Adobe Lightroom software is developed for the Mac and windows OS and supports mostly all versions of both operating systems. This software enables you to store the edited and renovated photos to your computer system or you can sync them to Android, iOS devices as well. Let’s have a look at the features of this computer software.

Key Features of Adobe Lightroom CC

• • Edit the photos easily, store and share them anywhere and with everyone.
• • Easy to use filters and sliders enable you to simply enhance your photos.
• • Auto tagging for your photos enables you to search photos very easily.
• • Cloud storage of this program allows you to save photos in cloud and access them anywhere anytime.
• • Social media option allows you to share the photos directly on your social media accounts.

3. Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo is a very well designed photo effect editor program for windows and Mac. Even you use this program on the iPad as well. Like Photoshop there is not any type of subscription to use this program simply you can buy it for a fixed amount. The latest version of this program comes with many cool and amazing features to give best effects to the photos.

Key Features of Affinity Photo

• • Supports windows, Mac and iPad devices to install and use.
• • Batch image editing is fully supported by the software.
• • Gives you complete details about the photos and supports all photo formats.
• • You can add real time effects to your photos.
• • There are more than 120 types of different brushes available in the program.

4. PaintShop Pro

Paintshop Pro is a budget program present in the online market over 20 years for the windows operating systems. It supports all versions of windows OS. The new version is this color effect photo editor software is packed with full premium features. There are two versions available for this program: Standard and Pro. With a very little extra fee you can get the best professional features in the pro version.

Key Features of PaintShop Pro

• • The new version of the PaintShop Pro program is very easy to understand and fast in the photo editing.
• • There are ready-made project templates available in the new updated version.
• • Remove red eye effects from the photos clicked in the night.
• • Remove all the extra objects from your photos.
• • Share photos with other people right from the program interface.

5. Photoshop Elements

Photoshop Elements is a very lightweight program enables you to add the extra ordinary effects for pictures. This photo editor program is more lightweight than the Adobe lightroom CC program. This program comes with many cool guides to understand the features and how to use it.

Key Features of Photoshop Elements

• • Intelligent editing of the program allows people to edit the photos even where eyes are closed while capturing.
• • Remove red eyes.
• • Organize photos easily and find them anytime.
• • Quickly share your perfect photos on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and many more platforms.

Part 2. Top 5 Photo Effect Editor Programs for Mac

1. Pixelmator

Pixelmator is a very popular online photo effects editor for the Mac users. This Mac program is a great combination of the money and features which totally give you value for money. The extensive features of this program make it a very reliable competitor to the Photoshop. There are mostly all tools available in this software which you might need to use while editing effects to your photos.

Key Features of Pixelmator

• • This photo effect editor allows you to edit photos very easily and the price of this program is very less than compared to the Photoshop.
• • You can use different types of blending modes, brushes and different brush sizes.
• • Add lines, rectangles and many other types of shapes to your images.
• • Supports mostly all types of input formats of images.

2. DxO OpticsPro for Photos

DxO OpticsPro for Photos is another colour effect photo editor which is known by most of the people because of the DxOMark website. DxOMark website provides you review of lenses, phones and cameras. DxO OpticsPro for Photos software makes it possible to make the best photos clicked by camera by using different types of effects.

Key Features of DxO OpticsPro for Photos

• • It offers you one click correction for all of your images in batch.
• • DxO Optics enables you to open all types of image formats but mRAW and sRAW are currently not supported.
• • It also allows you to edit the videos and you can remove noise from videos.
• • Maintain white balance of your images very easily.
• • You can also adjust images by using automatic correction with sliders.

3. CyberLink PhotoDirector 9

CyberLink Photo Director9 is a development of the Cyberlink officially which is a very old company and present in the online market over 15 years. In the starting of this program this is just like a dark house because when you enter in the program you see many features in it. There are many powerful image editing tools available in the program but you have to go inside the program step by step then you can find them.

Key Features of CyberLink PhotoDirector 9

• • Automatically recognize faces in your images and gives you powerful editing options.
• • This software also enables you to remove unwanted things from your images.
• • Watermark your photos with your own watermarks.
• • Provides you lots of filters and frames.
• • In the newer version of the program you can edit the 360 degree images as well.

4. Capture One Pro 10

Capture One Pro 10 online photo effects editor is also a powerful image editing software that can helps you to do whatever you want to do with the images. This program is fully compatible with Mac operating system. This is a professional photo editor program so you can’t buy it for cheap prices. The pro version of this program goes up to 279 Euro.

Key Features of Capture One Pro 10

• • It is capable in reading RAW images so you can quickly edit those types of images as well.
• • Automatically detect the face in the images and enables you to do necessary changes as per your need.
• • It gives you high quality image output.
• • It also supports PSD files so you can use it for your commercial purpose as well.

5. Movavi Photo Editor for Mac

Movavi Photo Editor for Mac is presented by Movavi Company. This company is specialized in making software to easier your daily life. This photo editor software is also available for the windows users and enables you to edit photos on windows as well. This photo editor program also provides you some automatic image editing tools which help you to enhance the quality of your photos automatically or you can use other tools as well to enhance quality by your hand.

Key Features of Movavi Photo Editor for Mac

• • Edit the photos by using automatic or manual both ways.
• • Remove pimples from your photos with this easy to use program.
• • Edit the red eye effect of your photos.
• • Remove the unwanted things such as cloud, person or the buildings.
• • Add your own background to the images.

Part 3. Top 5 Photo Effect Apps for iPhone and iPad

1. Filterstorm Neue

Filterstorm Neue is full features to edit the images on the iPhone and iPad right away. You don’t need to use Mac computer or windows computer to use this app because it is possible to do editing directly on the iPhone and iPad with this app. This iOS app is faster, easier to use and full of premium features but you have to buy it for 3.99$ to use full features of this app.

Key Features of Filterstorm Neue

• • Edit pictures on your iPhone or iPad directly.
• • Add special effect to your photos such frames, borders etc.
• • Adjust black & white balance, blur, brightness, clarity, clone, curves etc of your photos.
• • Add watermarks to secure your images.
• • Crop, flip, rotate, scale or make square for your photos.

2. Cortex Camera

Cortex Camera app improves the quality of images clicked from your iPhone or iPad camera. This app is available in the app store and purely developed by Whimsical Productions. If you are not carrying high quality DSLR camera with you and still you want to edit the photos then you can use this app and it will be best alternative for you. This app will use raw data (if present) to improve the detail and sharpness of your images.

Key Features of Cortex Camera

• • It helps you to achieve the best image quality for the photos clicked on your mobile device.
• • You can also do editing in your videos.
• • Bright the dark areas of your photos by using “Enhance Shadows” option of the app.
• • Supports most common TIFF and JPEG image formats for image editing.
• • It also supports front camera and grid overlay.

3. AfterFocus

Afterfocus app is an awesome photo effects app for iPhone and iPad. This app is full featured to create the DSLR style background blurred photos just by selecting focus area. The different types of filters enable you to create very natural and realistic photos on the iPhone right away. The price of this app is very reasonable you can get it for 0.99$ only from the app store directly. This app has given 4+ rating by the app users. You just need to select the area which you want to edit then app automatically recognize it and do changes.

Key Features of AfterFocus

• • It helps you to achieve the best image quality for the photos clicked on your mobile device.
• • You can also do editing in your videos.
• • Bright the dark areas of your photos by using “Enhance Shadows” option of the app.
• • Supports most common TIFF and JPEG image formats for image editing.
• • It also supports front camera and grid overlay.

4. Leonardo - Layers, Selection and Masking

Leonardo - Layers, Selection and Masking online photo effects editor app is there in the app store and developed by Pankaj Goswami. This app has 4+ rating given by the app users in app store. There is an issue with this app that this app supports (2048 x 2048) resolution for editing images. There are layers, selection, filters and many other tools available in this app. this app can also be used on the iPhone and iPad both devices.

Key Features of Leonardo - Layers, Selection and Masking

• • Selection helps you to select an area and work on that specific area only.
• • You can mask the layers with the mask editing tools and brush as well.
• • This app is very fast for doing operations and mostly all operations are done in the real so you can watch the previews as well.
• • Supports common formats such as JPEG, PNG and rare format PSD.
• • 18 video tutorials are there to help the new users.

5. Distressed FX

Distressed FX app is also available in the app store to edit your photos. You can get this app at a very reasonable price 0.99$ from the app store. This app has wide range of images and overlays textures. This app has a size of 57.2 MB which is little more than the other apps because it need lots of space on the internal memory of your iPhone or iPad.

Key Features of Distressed FX

• • Give a gorgeous look to your photos.
• • You can get the thousands of live examples edited by this app on Instagram.
• • Supports both iPhone and iPad devices.

Part 4. Top 5 Photo Effect Apps for Android

1. PicsArt Photo Studio: Collage Maker & Pic Editor

PicsArt Studio is a very popular Android application and installed 500 million times on the android devices. This photo effects app is really cool for the people who are not technical because of the easy to use interface of this app. You download and install this app for free from play store to add effects, college maker, user created stickers, free clipart libraries to your photos. There is a pro version of this app is also available which gives you access of 2500$ premium content for a small fee.

Key Features of PicsArt Photo Studio: Collage Maker & Pic Editor

• • Give a gorgeous look to your photos.
• • You can get the thousands of live examples edited by this app on Instagram.
• • Supports both iPhone and iPad devices.

2. Aviary Photo Editor

Aviary Photo Editor is another nice app to add effect to the images. This image editor app is available there with everything from the basic to high level image editing tools. Due to the easy to use interface of this app everyone can handle it. There are mostly all types of image editing tool available in this app to edit the images.

Key Features of Aviary Photo Editor

• • This app comes with one tap auto enhancement tools.
• • You can easily rotate, crop or straighten the photos using this app.
• • In the free version of this app you can remove the red eye from photos.
• • It gives you high resolution output after editing.

3. PhotoDirector

PhotoDirector app is known as a multi-purpose app because of the features available in it. The user friendly interface of this app helps people to understand it more quickly. You can get this app from play store and install on your android mobile. Free version of this app is available there but while using this app you may face issue of annoying ads. With this photo editor app you can get tons of live photo effects for your images.

Key Features of PhotoDirector

• • This app is free and all the features whatever you need to add effects to your photos are available there.
• • It also enables you to add funny photo effects to the images.
• • There is quick white balance correction feature available to improve the accuracy of color instantly.
• • In the pro version you can use this app without ads and with live effects while capturing images.
• • Create college by editing or combining your favorite photos.

4. AirBrush

AirBrush is an awesome easy to use photo effects app for Android mobiles. This app is fully compatible with all devices which are running on Android 4.1 or later versions. This online photo effects app is available there free but to remove ads and icon of app from the edited photos you have to buy pro version. In the paid version of this app you can get some additional features as well such as built in camera interface in the app.

Key Features of AirBrush

• • Remove pimples or blemish from your clicked photos with one tap only.
• • You also whiten your teeth to get a perfect smile photos.
• • It can also add funny photo effects to the photos.
• • It can edit, retouch or tan your skin to get the perfect look.
• • You can instantly reshape the any area of your photos with one swipe only.

5. YouCam Perfect - Selfie Photo Editor

YouCam Perfect is also a very popular and powerful Android app to add effects for pictures. This app is available there for free but it contains ads in the free version and gives you less features than the pro version. This app is also known as the selfie photo editor. This app has lot of features such as reshaping face, waist shrink options etc. This app also gives you feature of video selfie.

Key Features of YouCam Perfect

• • Full editing toolkit is there to help you to edit the photos.
• • Edit and beautify your photos in real time preview.
• • Share edited pictures with your friends on various social media sites.
• • Give HDR effect to your photos with few taps.
• • Click the video selfies and surprise your friends.
• • Add funny photo effects to your normal selfies.

Conclusion:

There are hundreds of different image editor apps available over internet but this above post shows you best available Android, iOS, Mac and windows. These all apps are free to try but to get the additional features you have to buy pro version of the apps and software’s. Many apps can’t do as per their promise but as per our recommendation you can give a try to the Wondershare Fotophire because this program is very easy to use as compared to all the software and apps. This program is available for the most popular windows operating system only and gives you a best quality output.