Picture this, you have a photo editing tool with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms as your silent collaborators in performing intricate edits with reduced time and errors. With such technology working in the background, you don’t have to worry about manually overseeing every change. AI-enabled photo editing tools contribute an efficient editing process, transforming mundane snapshots with professional edits and finesse.
Artificial intelligence (AI) -enabled photo editing tools, also commonly referred to as just “AI photo editing tools,” automate complex editing tasks using predictive analysis, machine learning (ML), and generative AIOur research team explored the AI capabilities of top-rated photo editing tools. We narrowed our list to the top six based on verified user reviews. Read more about our methodology here.
During our research, we categorized these products as: set of AI tools as a suite, a standalone tool with built-in AI features, and AI add-ons to edit images.
1. Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop features an extension called Adobe Firefly that leverages generative AI to automate editing tasks and apply artistic effects to photos via prompts. You can prompt the photo editor to remove objects from images, change backgrounds, adjust the tone, color, contrast, cropping, and straightening.
The tool’s super resolution feature uses AI and machine learning (ML) algorithms to upscale the image resolution without causing a significant loss in its quality. Additionally, Adobe Photoshop aids in AI-driven smart sharpening, pattern generation, and facial recognition to enhance creativity when editing photos.
What are the AI capabilities of Adobe Photoshop?*
Generative fill: Remove unwanted objects or areas from an image. The feature analyzes the surrounding pixels and fills the removed area with contextually relevant content for natural edits.
Face-aware liquify filter: Adjust facial features, such as eyes, nose, and mouth while maintaining a natural look. The filter enables selecting single or multiple facial features and enlarging or spacing them apart.
Generative expand: Expand an image in any direction and to the desired size using prompts or manual drag-and-drop feature. The expanded canvas will automatically fill with content that blends with the existing image.
Why consider Adobe Photoshop's AI capabilities?
Adobe Photoshop’s AI extension automates time-consuming tasks, such as removing unwanted objects and saving the effort of manual resizing and touch-ups. The generative fill, expand, liquifying, and resolution adjustment tools allow you to experiment with unique effects and styles.
Customer support: Adobe Photoshop offers a knowledge hub, tutorials, user guides, user community, chat, call, and email support for assistance on tool capabilities and implementation.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
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- Free Version
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2. Canva
Magic Studio offered by Canva graphic design and photo editing software is a suite of integrated AI tools that automate image designing and editing with a single click. You can create custom and on-brand photos, describe what you would like to add or remove in the images or upload your reference media to craft presentations, collages, or social media posts.
You can use Canva’s Magic Studio to get suggestions on design templates based on your content using prompts. For example, if you’re designing social media posts, prompt the tool ‘Instagram post for brand promotions’ and it will provide you with a list of relevant options to select from. Additionally, the tool can also suggest design elements, such as illustrations, icons, or images that you can add to your existing image.
What are the AI capabilities of Canva?*
Magic switch: Translate your designs using AI into different formats and sizes for multi-channel campaigns. The feature enables translating the text in your images into different languages, including English, German, French, Mandarin, Turkish, and Hebrew.
Magic grab: Select and separate the objects from the images to resize, reposition, or crop, while keeping the background. The feature allows customizing the images with the text and sticker options available in the templates library.
Magic animation: Select from 14 premium animation styles that will add motion to different objects in your image. The feature allows downloading the edited image as a GIF or video format.
Why consider Canva’s AI capabilities?
Canva’s Magic Studio simplifies image template search by creating suggestions based on your content and prompts further editing for various platforms. This ability to understand your content needs ensures a consistent visual style and enhances brand recognition. Additionally, the Magic Switch’s language translation feature helps target multilingual audiences, making the content inclusive and accessible.
Customer support: Canva offers FAQs, an online community, user guides, a blog, a help center, calls, and emails for users to understand the tool’s functionality and implementation.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Billing cycle
Device compatibility
/ Pro tip
Assess the technical capabilities of the selected AI photo editing software and the associated learning curve for your editing team. While advanced AI features are beneficial, a steep learning curve might impact the team’s productivity, especially if they are new to photo editing.
3. Capture One
Capture One’s AI-enabled photo editing capabilities let you work on an individual or multiple images at the same time. You can apply exposure and white balance corrections from a reference image to single or batch photos across various lighting conditions.
Using Capture One, you can make pre-defined adjustments (AI styles) to photos automatically. These adjustments are grouped modifications generated using AI algorithms to adjust the exposure, contrast, color balance, saturation, and sharpness with a single click. The AI styles are created based on the analysis of a wide range of images to identify common changes and ensure that they fit well across different photo types.
What are the AI capabilities of Capture One?*
AI masking: Identify the areas that need adjustments based on the image's content, such as text or objects, and automatically edit for clarity. For example, the feature can recognize the sky, foreground, or specific objects within a landscape photo and correct colors for better synchronization.
AI focus area: Assess critical focus points to pay attention to as the main subject of the image. The feature automatically zooms and pans to the nearest eye in the shot to adjust it as per the image.
Automatic dust removal: Automatically remove dust spots in single or multiple photos using AI. The feature removes dust spots during import and speeds up the editing process.
Why consider Capture One‘s AI capabilities?
Capture One helps in editing large image batches to simplify editing and maintain consistency across images. The AI styles further save you time from applying individual effects and corrections to an image one after the other. You can let the AI algorithm identify the required adjustments and recommend the style groups for single-click edits.
Customer support: Capture One offers a help center, FAQs, blogs, tutorials, and a community forum for users seeking assistance on the tool’s functionality and implementation.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Billing cycle
Device compatibility
4. Fotor
Fotor’s AI-enabled capabilities offer art effects that transform photos into artwork using AI algorithms. You can apply styles that mimic famous paintings adding an artistic flair to the images. The tool uses AI to detect blemishes, scratches, and blurs in your images, colorize black and white photos, and fix them in one click.
A distinctive feature of Fotor is its AI architecture image generator that lets you generate architectural images. You can set specific parameters, such as shapes, sizes, style, layout, and colors, to generate multiple alternative designs.
What are the AI capabilities of Fotor?*
AI face generator: Create unique and photorealistic human faces using AI. Provide a text description of the facial features, skin tone, age, and gender and generate a face portrait. The feature allows uploading a reference photo to generate similar-looking faces.
AI avatar generator: Make character avatars that reflect the personality and facial features of a human. The feature enables editing the avatar using various styles and customization options. The tool offers a template library for cartoon and anime characters to select and optimize for your needs.
AI art generator: Use text prompts to describe the desired image, including photorealistic, illustrations, cartoon, oil painting, 3D, and more. The tool will analyze the inputs and generate accurate images for your requirements.
Why consider Fotor’s AI capabilities?
Fotor’s AI features are beneficial when creating or editing images using human-like avatars or cartoon characters. You can also use the AI image generator to create architectural images for construction projects and client pitches. Plus, the AI art generator or text-to-image generator lets you speed up image editing using prompts instead of manual drag-and-drop of elements or effects.
Customer support: Fotor offers a help center, blog, tutorial, chat, email, and an online form for users seeking assistance with the software implementation and features.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
/ Pro tip
Check if the tool offers built-in AI capabilities or add-ons and extensions to enable AI photo editing. This will help you analyze the total cost of the software if the vendor charges extra for add-ons and plan accordingly. You can also check if the add-ons are available to integrate with the existing photo editing tools used by the business.
5. PaintShop Pro
Corel PaintShop Pro AI photo editor focuses on retouching photos using unsampling, denoise, style transfer, artifact removal, and background removal. You can enlarge an image without distorting the captured objects, remove artifacts and noise, or stylize the photos using artistic effects. Photos can be finetuned separately or in batches using AI.
In addition to the built-in features, PaintShop Pro offers an AI plugin HDR Studio 3.0 to apply various visual styles to your portrait or landscape photos using 25 preset parameter options. Each preset has a unique look and feel, and you can select the one that best matches your photo’s atmosphere, objects, and color palette.
What are the AI capabilities of PaintShop Pro?*
Vision FX art plugin: Transform photos into graphic designs or paintings via text prompts using the AI-enabled plugin. The feature allows manually adjusting the settings or going by the AI recommendations.
AI unsampling: Increase or decrease the photo size without compromising on the resolution or visual quality.
AI denoise: Remove random variation of brightness or color in images, including grainy, dark, or blur objects while editing.
Why consider PaintShop Pro’s AI capabilities?
PaintShop Pro’s AI capabilities are for photo editors looking to make realistic yet dramatic enhancements to their landscape or portrait photos in a single click with presets. Each of these 25 presets offer unique styles and characteristics, allowing you to experiment with various adjustments without compromising the original image quality.
Customer support: PaintShop Pro provides a learning center, blogs, tutorials, community, FAQs, chat, call, and online ticket for users seeking assistance with the software features and implementation.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
6. Pixlr
Pixlr AI photo editor and design tool offers Photomash Studio to automatically remove backgrounds and create images to showcase products or people. You can edit photos individually or in a batch of 50 in one go. The tool lets you enhance and transform photos for YouTube thumbnails, product images, or profile pictures. The AI algorithms utilized by the tool recommend design templates, including brochures, business cards, website banners and other relevant templates for editing.
You get access to 50,000 templates, fonts, elements, stickers, and overlays that you can manually select and add to photos or allow the AI algorithm to automatically apply changes based on assessment of the photo features, colors, and objects.
What are the AI capabilities of Pixlr?*
Animation presets: Use preset parameters to add animated effects to your photos. The feature allows manually adding and controlling animation levels for the photo objects.
Collage maker: Create photo collages with the built-in pre-made 1000+ collage templates. The feature allows selecting a layout, uploading images, and adding or removing elements based on your requirements.
Transparent background: Remove background from photos using colors or add a transparent background with the AI image cutout tool. The cutout objects can be added as stickers to other images.
Why consider Pixlr’s AI capabilities?
Pixlr’s AI capabilities are for photo editors looking to generate quality images of products and services for video hosting and eCommerce websites. You can also use the photos edited using Pixlr for brochures, banners, and presentations. Plus, Pixlr AI photo editing capabilities are offered for free to a single user.
Customer support: Pixlr provides video tutorials, social media community, blog, webinars, and online courses for users seeking assistance with the software features and implementation.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Billing cycle
Device compatibility
What are the benefits of using photo editing tools with AI capabilities?
AI-enabled photo editing tools automatically analyze images and make quality adjustments accordingly. Below, we have discussed some common benefits of AI-enabled photo editing software based on their features.
Benefits | Description |
|---|---|
Automates image enhancements | AI-enabled photo editing tools automatically analyze the images and apply enhancements, eliminating the need to manually adjust each parameter. These automated enhancements can be applied to multiple images, saving considerable time when working on large projects. |
Provides consistent results | The ability of AI photo editing software to produce uniform and cohesive outcomes across a set of images or editing tasks brings consistency into the editing process. This is achieved through AI algorithms that assess images and apply changes to enhance the quality of single or multiple images. Consistent editing is essential for maintaining a cohesive look in projects such as social media campaigns, portfolios, and other branding material. |
Enables artistic style transfer | AI photo editing tools analyze the characteristics of a reference style image and apply those characteristics to another image. The tool’s creative ability enables photo editors to experiment with different artistic looks and create technically refined and artistically enriched images. |
How much does AI photo editing software cost?
Photo editing software offering AI capabilities can cost as low as $2 per user per month or up to $60+ per month, depending on various factors, including the AI capabilities, number of users, number of templates, cloud storage, and priority support. Most AI-enabled photo editing solutions typically include the following pricing plans:
Free trial: No-cost trial plans range from a week to a month, giving users access to entry-level and advanced software features. This is ideal for users wanting to try specific features before investing.
Free version: Most free software plans offer basic AI features, such as an AI image generator or text-to-image generator. Ideal for small business teams on a budget.
Entry-level: Plans start from $2 per user per month and offer limited features, including background, color and brightness adjustment, resizing, and masking.
Mid-tier: Ranges from $8 per user per month to $30 per month and offers advanced AI features such as an avatar generator and AI-enabled extensions.
High-end: Plans can go up to $60 monthly and even higher, offering unlimited access to all entry and mid-level AI features with priority support, add-ons, and integrations.
Hidden costs associated with AI photo editing software
Besides the software license, there may be additional costs associated with an AI photo editing tool. These may include:
Data migration: Transitioning from an existing photo editing tool to an AI-enabled one might require help from the software support team for an extra cost. In some cases, vendors also charge extra for integrating systems to share data.
Training: Training employees to prompt an AI tool for accurate results may require some additional fee.
Data storage and security: Storing the generated and edited images might require additional space and enhanced security features, increasing costs.
Frequently asked questions when selecting AI photo editing software
Here are some common questions to ask software vendors when finding the best AI-enabled tool for your editing team.
What are the AI photo editing capabilities of the software?
While AI photo editing software offers a variety of features, they may be different for various types of image editing requirements. Such as static or animated images, landscapes, or portraits. You must look for features that align with the images you frequently generate and edit. You can also look for additional AI features, such as automated cropping, color adjustments, background changes, object erases, and more, to improve the image quality and make it eye-catchy.
Can users customize and control the intensity of AI enhancements?
An ideal AI photo editing tool should let you customize the level of enhancements to specific preferences and the requirements of each photo. Not all images may require the same degree of adjustments, and the ability to fine-tune the intensity ensures a personalized touch.
Does the software have features for batch-processing images using AI?
Batch processing multiple images at once contributes to a more automated and streamlined editing process, improving the team’s productivity. You must assess whether the photo editing software enables applying changes to multiple images, including the batch size, type of adjustments, and processing time.