Best free photo editing apps for iPhone: 5 tools I actually tested (2026)

I'll be honest with you: I take way too many photos. Every cafe outing, every golden hour walk, every meal that's clearly going on Instagram — all documented. And yes, I spend a borderline embarrassing amount of time retouching them before they go anywhere.

So when I say I've tested every free photo editing app for iPhone worth testing, I mean it. Here's what I found.

Best free photo editing apps for iPhone: side-by-side comparison

Not every app is built for the same person. A travel photographer needs different tools than someone making Reels. Here's a quick reference before we get into the details:

App	Best for	Key Strengths	Price
Snapseed	Versatile everyday editing	25+ tools, no watermarks	Free
VSCO	Film-inspired aesthetics	Iconic film presets + creative community	Free or $8/month
Lightroom	AI edits & RAW support	Batch editing, Generative Remove, sync	Free or $4.99/month
Picsart	Creative & social content	AI tools, background removal, templates	Free or $10/month
Prequel	Trendy social media effects	800+ effects, fast video editing	Free or $4.99/week

Now let's get into the real talk on each one.

Snapseed: Best all-in-one free photo editor for iPhone

If I had to keep just one app on my phone forever, Snapseed would probably win. Developed by Google, it's completely free — no ads, no watermarks, no paywalled features. Just editing.

The depth of tools is honestly impressive. We're talking 25+ tools including selective adjustments, curves, healing, HDR, perspective correction, and a double exposure mode. It also opens RAW files, which puts it ahead of most paid competitors.

One thing I keep coming back to: the 'Looks' system, where you save your own editing styles and apply them to new photos in one tap. Not as aesthetically polished as VSCO presets, but for workflow efficiency, it's excellent.

Here’s what a Reddit user says about  Snapseed:

"It works pretty good for me when I want to quickly edit a photo I took with my phone and upload it to IG where quality doesnt matter that much. It does have quite a few cool settings to play around with, but certainly not as many as LR which i prefer for editing"

However, users also agree that Snapseed is more suitable for basic editing and loses out to Lightroom in terms of advanced editing features.

“Snapseed is usually 'good enough' but it of course depends on what you are looking to do. LR is more sophisticated editing capabilities and many functions are paywalled to a subscription. I prefer Snapseed for quick edits even though I have a PS/LR subscription”, shares a Reddit community member.

Best features:

• 25+ tools including Healing, Selective, Curves, Perspective, and HDR Scape
• Save personal 'Looks' and apply to new photos instantly
• Selective filter brush for precise local adjustments
• Face Enhance and Face Pose for portrait work
• Double Exposure mode for creative blending

Pros:

• Completely free 
• Non-destructive editing throughout
• Works well even on older iPhone models

Cons:

• Beginners need time to get used to the interface

Price: Free

VSCO: Best for film-inspired aesthetics 

VSCO is the editing app that basically defined a whole visual aesthetic. Those warm, slightly faded, analog-film tones you see everywhere? VSCO presets are probably behind most of them.

The free version gives you 15 presets and all the standard adjustments: exposure, contrast, crop, and white balance. Enough to get the feel.  But the real value is in the paid membership, which unlocks 200+ presets, AI tools, Canvas for mood boards, and VSCO Sites for portfolio building.

“VSCO looks nice but is limited unless you pay”, shares a Reddit user.

Best features:

• 15 free presets with iconic film-inspired looks
• AI Lab tools: Remove (object removal), Upscale, prompt-based editing
• VSCO Capture app for shooting with live filters and manual controls
• Non-destructive editing with precise sliders
• VSCO Canvas for mood boards
• Community discovery feed for creative inspiration

Pros:

• Film presets are genuinely beautiful and hard to replicate elsewhere
• Clean, minimalist interface
• Strong community for creative inspiration
• Available on iOS, Android, and web

Cons:

• Free tier is limited to 15 presets 
• AI tools are membership-only

Price: Free or from $8/month

Lightroom: Best free photo editor for iPhone with AI tools and batch editing

Adobe Lightroom has turned its free mobile app into something genuinely useful — not just a teaser for the desktop version. The free tier includes AI-powered Quick Actions, Adaptive Presets, background blur, Generative Remove (an AI object eraser), and video editing tools.

What makes Lightroom worth using even for casual photographers is batch editing. Shoot an entire travel day or event and apply the same adjustments across every photo in seconds. Combined with RAW support and seamless device sync, it's a remarkably complete free package.

“It’s the best mobile photo editing app IMO. Everything I post to my Instagram is edited in Lightroom mobile then when someone wants to purchase a print I go onto my computer and basically edit the RAW to look the same”,  shares a Reddit user. 

Best features:

• AI Quick Actions for instant, photo-specific edit suggestions
• Adaptive Presets that adjust to each photo's content
• Generative Remove for AI-powered object removal
• Background blur for professional bokeh effect
• Batch editing for consistent looks across shoots
• RAW file support with full tonal control

Pros:

• AI features that genuinely improve photo quality
• Syncs seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
• Community presets from creators worldwide
• Video editing tools included in the free tier

Cons:

• Some AI features are paywalled
• Can feel overwhelming for quick edits

Price: Free or from $4.99/month

Picsart: Best for creative designs and social media content

Picsart is less a photo editor and more an all-in-one creative design studio. Yes, you can edit photos, but you can also remove backgrounds, make collages, generate AI art, build Stories, and create branded content.

For anyone creating content across multiple platforms, Picsart is one of the most versatile free tools available. The AI background remover alone is worth downloading. AI Replace, AI Expand, and AI Enhance are genuinely useful rather than gimmicky.

The free tier is generous but shows limits for heavy users. Paid plans unlock premium templates, more AI tools, and extra storage.

Best features:

• AI Background Remover with Smart Background replacement
• AI Replace for face swaps, hair color changes, and selfie edits
• AI Expand to extend image boundaries with matching content
• 60+ million stickers plus custom sticker creator
• Video editor for TikTok, Reels, and Stories
• Template library for social posts, logos, and business cards

Pros:

• Incredibly versatile — covers photo editing, design, and video
• AI tools are creative and practical, not just novelty
• Huge template and sticker library
• Great for multi-platform content creators

Cons:

• Best AI features require paid subscription
• Less suited for traditional photography editing

Price: Free or from $10/month

Prequel: Best for trendy aesthetic effects and video content

Prequel is unashamedly about one thing: making your content look cool with the least effort. The app is built around effects — 800+ options including the VHS, D3D, DISCO, and PRISM effects you've definitely seen on social media.

Where it stands out is short-form video. It handles Reels and TikTok edits really well, with music, text, stickers, and effects that feel current and on-trend. For creators who want quick aesthetic edits without spending hours in a timeline, it's one of the most efficient options.

The free version gives you a solid subset of effects. But honestly, if you find yourself using Prequel regularly, the Gold subscription earns its keep — the effect library is what makes the app worth using.

Best features:

• 800+ effects and filters including VHS, D3D, DISCO, and PRISM
• One-tap templates for aesthetic videos
• 3D moving pictures with the D3D feature
• 30+ custom fonts for text overlays
• Music, sticker, and intro effect integration

Pros:

• Effect library is genuinely impressive 
• Photo and video editing in one app
• Very fast for creating polished social media content
• Free version is actually usable

Cons:

• Subscription fee  feels pricey

Price: Free or from $4.99/week

To sum up: Which free photo editing app for iPhone is the best?

For free iPhone editing, Snapseed is the strongest all-rounder: the most tools, zero cost, no strings attached. VSCO is the right choice if you want that specific film aesthetic and enjoy a curated photography community. Lightroom makes the most sense if you're shooting RAW or need AI tools and batch editing. Picsart wins for multi-platform content creation, and Prequel is unbeatable for fast, trendy social media edits.

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