
There’s also a free 7-day trial available. You can even remove the sky from a scene if you don’t like it and drop a new sky into the background.Īdmittedly, Adobe’s insistence on monthly subscription fees for using Photoshop and other Adobe software has opened the door to rivals that simply charge a one-time fee, but Photoshop still rules the roost when it comes to the sheer depth, precision and creative freedom that it provides, and with plans starting at $9.99/£9.98 per month it’s pretty competitive. And it gives the new Macs its seal of approval by stating at the time that many filters and other effects run up to 50% faster on the M1 models.Īnd, of course, Photoshop’s selection of filters and creative tools is unrivaled, with the ability to quickly and easily select and replace objects within an image, versatile masks and layers for creating composite images, and – following the fashion for AI technology – a number of neural filters that can alter color within scenes, repair blemishes and even alter someone’s expression or make them look older. So it’s apt that Adobe was quick to release a native version of Photoshop designed for M1 or Apple Silicon Macs.

Read on for our guide to the best pro photo editors for Mac, including some excellent Photoshop alternatives.īack in the mists of time, Adobe’s Photoshop was the killer app that gave the Mac credibility in a world of Windows PCs, and established the Mac as the favored tool of creative users. If you are also considering buying a new Mac read our guide to the best Mac for photo editing and our guide to the best Mac. And don’t forget that most of these professional-level editing programs also provide a free trial – ranging from one week to a whole 90 days in some cases – so you can take your time deciding which program best suits your needs and your budget. Rivals such as Pixelmator Pro and Affinity Photo can provide impressive editing tools for less, and while they may not match the sheer scope of Photoshop they will be more than adequate for many professional users and more serious amateur photographers. However, Adobe’s decision to move its professional software products to a subscription payment system a few years ago antagonized many users and opened the door to rival photo-editors that still just require a simple one-off payment, without committing you to a long-term subscription.

The sheer depth and range of Photoshop’s editing tools are still unrivaled, with the latest version boasting new artificial intelligence features that can actually change the expression on a person’s face, or even make them look older (and balder). Photoshop has always been the king of the photo-editing market. That’s not to say we won’t be considering some excellent alternatives to Photoshop here.
