Editing online instead of having to carry a hard drive with you is a luxury that was not possible a couple of years ago. With the rise in technology and cloud-based storage options, you can access projects and images through online picture editing programs. With the best online picture editing programs, you never have to worry about losing a project or forgetting your computer ever again!
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What to Look for in a Photo Editor
Online picture editing programs are great, but there is more to a great online picture editor than simple mobility and ease of access. When seeking out the best online photo editor, you’ll want to make sure that the editor has all of the tools you need for your editing projects. Here are some of the tools that you can expect to see in most online picture editors!
Tools
Online picture editing requires tools that allow you to make basic adjustments to photos, such as saturation, contrast, brightness and RGB curves. If you are new to editing, you will want an editing tool that offers simplicity. Some tools are very complicated and only recommended for experienced editors because they can overwhelm and confuse people who are new to photo editing.
As you begin to understand the editing process more and more, your editing abilities will improve over time. Then, you can start looking for more in-depth controls that will elevate the quality of your pictures even more.
Image repair and beauty edits
Image repair is most often thought of as “photoshop,” but Photoshop is actually an app from Adobe rather than an editing technique. Image repair actually refers to the removal or addition of pixels within an image, which often results in smoothing effects that makes photos look more polished. Image repair and beauty edits are a saving grace for pictures that are captured in less-than-ideal conditions, especially when the photographs are of people.
Synchronization
Almost every online editing program offers some sort of cloud storage for content that you upload. Cloud-based storage options allow you to work on the same project from multiple devices instead of always having to use the same device to edit your photos. This tool also makes it easier for remote teams to work on projects together because everyone can view the photo from their own laptops, computers, phones, or tablets.
If you use the free version of online photo editing software, the editor will likely limit the amount of storage that you can use. The best way to keep your free account and not run out of storage is by deleting the photos that you have finished editing. Just make sure you export the finalized images before you delete them from the online editor because you won’t be able to retrieve these photos once you permanently delete them from storage.
Image Quality
This should not be an issue from any professional platform, but make sure you confirm the quality of downloads that an online platform provides before you choose it as your online picture editor of choice. You don’t want the quality of your photos to be reduced when you download or compress the files, so make sure you look into the image quality options of any editor you’re considering.
Pricing
If you are planning to use an online photo editor and you want to have access to premium tools, you will need to pay for a subscription. You will notice that there are different pricing options depending on the premium options available to you. For example, a corporate license that many people share will be priced differently than a private license for a single person.
The Best Online Photo Editor
Now that you know what to expect, here are some of the best online photo editors!
Canva is a popular online photo editing and graphic design tool that offers many of its amenities for free. There is a premium version, which unlocks more tools and editing options, but you can still complete most projects with Canva for free.
Canva is more of a design tool than a photo editor, but it does offer tools for adjusting the settings of the photo itself. From cropping and shaping, to layering and adjusting, Canva can help you achieve photographic perfection.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Online storage
- Can be used for graphic design
- 4-star rating
Cons:
- Limited photo editing
Best for:
- Graphic design
Pricing:
- Free
- Pro: $119.99 per year
- Enterprise: $30 per person per month
BeFunky is a fantastic photo editing tool that even has a built-in AI Portrait Enhancer to take out some of the menial work. Overall, BeFunky is best used if you have a premium subscription since many of the tools are not available to free users. Considering everything that is included, BeFunky is well worth it if you are planning to use it regularly.
Pros:
- AI Portrait Enhancer
- A plethora of top tier tools
- 5-star rating
Cons:
- Most tools are only available with premium
Best for:
- Ease of use
Pricing:
- $8.99 per month
- $59.88 per year
Fotor offers all of the basic tools and then some to their free users. However, there are some tools that are premium-only, but these tools are clearly differentiated from the free ones so you won’t get confused. There are many in-depth tools that allow you to do more detailed edits, like change the RGB curve, adjust each individual color and easily apply a vignette.
Pros:
- Numerous in-depth tools
- Basic image repair and beauty tools
- Easy to use
- 5-star rating
Cons:
- The more in-depth tools require a premium account
Best for:
- Beauty editing
- Image repair
Pricing:
- Free
- $8.99 per month for Fotor Pro
- $15.55 per month for Fotor Pro+
PixlR is a fantastic online editing platform that is suitable for everyone. If you want to keep it simple, PixIR offers pre-set filters and easy-to-apply effects. However, if you’d like to get more in-depth with your editing, that’s possible, too! PixlR also doubles as a graphic design program, giving you the ability to add text and layers to achieve your desired photo editing effects.
Pros:
- Plethora of filters and effects
- Image presets
- 5-star rating
Cons:
- The free version comes with ads
Best for:
- Effects and filters
Pricing:
- Free
- $7.99 per month for Premium
- $29.99 per month for the Creative Pack
Where to Go From Here
When you edit your own photos, you get to explore the depths of your creativity. You can learn new methods of editing and master different editing techniques. There’s always room for growth as an editor and online editing programs make it easier to expand your editing abilities.
Continue reading:
- BEST PICTURE EDITING APPS
- GIMP REVIEW – When you use GIMP, you’ll gain access to tools that are on par with most professional programs. The best part is that GIMP is entirely free!
