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Looking for the best free photo editing apps for iPhone in 2026? Whether you want to quickly photo edit your selfies, enhance travel shots, or use AI tools to clean up images, the right app can save time and deliver professional-looking results.
In this guide, we’ve tested and reviewed 6 of the best free photo editing apps for iPhone, focusing on usability, AI features, and real-world performance. These apps are widely recommended across Reddit, Quora, and the App Store—and most importantly, they work great for everyday photo editing.
Snapshot of Top 3 Photo Editing Apps for iPhone
| Top 3 Free Photo Editing Apps | Best For | Pricing / Key Features |
| YouCam Perfect | AI-powered photo editing, selfies, and portraits | Free with premium at $9.99/mo ✔️ AI object & background removal ✔️ Face reshaping tools |
| Google Photos | Quick edits, photo storage, and organization | Free (15GB) / $1.99+ for storage ✔️ Magic Eraser ✔️ Auto-enhance & searchable library |
| Lightroom | Professional photo editing & color grading | Free with premium at $9.99/mo ✔️ Advanced color correction ✔️ Cross-device syncing |
6 Best Free Photo Editing Apps for iPhone in 2026
- 1. YouCam Perfect: Best for AI-Powered Photo Editing
- 2. Google Photos: Best for Easy Photo Editing
- 3. Lightroom: Most Recommended on Reddit & Quora
- 4. Darkroom: Best for Presets & Filters
- 5. Bazaart: Best for Photo Backgrounds and Template
- 6. Snapseed: 100% Free App Without Ads
1. YouCam Perfect: Best AI Photo Editing App for iPhone Users
- Best for: AI-powered photo edit, selfies, and portraits
- Pricing: Most functions are available for free; $9.99/month for full access
If you want fast, intelligent, and natural-looking edits, YouCam Perfect stands out as the best all-around free photo editing app for iPhone.
Its AI tools make daily photo editing effortless. From removing unwanted objects and photobombers to reshaping facial features naturally, YouCam Perfect is ideal for users who want polished results without complicated controls.
Read More: How To Remove Something from A Picture
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Face Slimming Filter: Naturally Reshape Your Face in Photos
YouCam Perfect Top Features
- AI object & background removal
- Face reshaping tools (chin, cheeks, width)
- Automatic body & portrait detection
- Stylish photo filters for all moods
2. Google Photos: 100% Free Picture Editor for Easy Photo Editing
- Best for: Quick edits and photo organization
- Pricing: Most functions are available for free (15GB storage); plans start at $1.99/month (100GB)
- AI suggestions: One-tap auto enhancements, Magic Eraser
Aside from the Apple Photos app already included in users’ iPhones, Google Photos is also a free picture editor highly suggested for image back-ups using its cloud storage across devices.
If you're desperate to find an old memory of yours, typing in the related keywords in "Search" could help easily navigate to the potential footage. Moreover, the AI within will help analyze your photo as you press "Edit," listing out suggestions to enhance your visuals or providing practical editing tools such as Magic Eraser (available for subscribers) and Filters.
Google Photos Top Features
- Auto-enhance suggestions
- Search photos by keyword
- Magic Eraser (limited availability)
- Cross-device syncing
Best for users who want simple photo edit tools plus storage in one app.
Free Download Link: iOS / Android
3. Lightroom: Most Recommended Photo Editor on Reddit & Quora
- Best for: Advanced photo editing & color grading
- Pricing: Most functions available for free; $9.99/month for full access
If you’re an Adobe subscriber already, Lightroom is considered one of the best picture editors recommended by users widely on Reddit and Quora. The app is an iconic industrial standard for professional photo editing. Users can achieve intricate adjustments on color grading, lighting, and lens correction.
Lightroom Top Features
- Color grading, lighting adjustments
- Cross-device syncing (iOS/macOS)
- Pro-level presets
Best suited for users who already understand editing basics and want deeper customization.
Free Download Links: iOS / Android
4. Snapseed: Best 100% Free Photo Editing App (No Ads)
- Best for: Completely free photo edit
- Pricing: All functions are available for free
Snapseed is a hidden gem for iPhone users who want powerful editing tools without subscriptions or pop-ups. Users don’t have to go through pop-up ads and struggle to ignore the subscription notification before editing pictures. It's 100% free, with no sign-ups and no subscription needed.
Snapseed Top Features
- "Head Pose" tool for selfie fixes
- Vintage filters & selective adjustments
- 100% free, no account needed
Perfect if you want a free, distraction-free photo editing experience.
Free Download Links: iOS / Android
5. Darkroom: Best for Presets and Apple Integration
- Best for: Presets & Apple device integration
- Pricing: Most functions available for free; $6.99/month for full access
Darkroom is a sleek photo editor built for Apple users. It offers easy preset syncing and full editing history access. The application also allows users to easily sync presets using Apple iCloud, saving time for users to locate their favorite features when editing across devices.
Darkroom Top Features
- Save edits as projects
- Histogram tools for advanced color editing
- Smooth iCloud syncing
Great for users editing photos across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Free Download Links: iOS / Android
6. Bazaart: Best Photo Editing App for Backgrounds and Templates
- Best for: Instagram stories & creative layouts
- Pricing: Most functions available for free; $7.99/month for full access
If you're creating Instagram stories or promotional graphics, Bazaart offers aesthetic templates and animated design features.
Sometimes, you just want to find an aesthetic template to make your Instagram stories and reels pop. This is when Bazaart comes in handy! You can easily turn your photos into videos, combine multiple snaps into one, and access customizable designs & templates in the design editing app.
Bazaart Top Features
- Combine photos & videos
- Animated backgrounds with music
- Templates for personal & business use
Bazaart focuses more on design-based photo editing rather than traditional adjustments.
Free Download Links: iOS / Android
Why Choose YouCam Perfect for Photo Editing?
Among all the apps tested, YouCam Perfect offers the best balance of AI power, ease of use, and free features.
#1 Easily Remove Unwanted Objects from Photo
One of the most popular photo editing features in YouCam Perfect is its "Object Removal" tool. You can use a brush to paint over objects, people, or even glass glare to remove them.
What's best is that you can try this feature unlimited times to see its effect before deciding whether to subscribe to the app. You can clean up your image in just a few taps.
#2 Fix Closed Eyes & Facial Expressions
For some people, it's hard to get a perfect shot. You either blink at the wrong moment or just don't know what face you are making...
With YouCam Perfect, you can fix all that with an AI-powered tool called "AI Replace". It can do things like opening your closed eyes in photo, replace a straight face with a smile, and more.
Read More: How to Open Eyes in a Photo With AI for Free
#3 Beautiful Photo Filters to Try
If you want to create different vibes to your photo, YouCam Perfect provides all kinds of photo filters, including iconic B&W, old camera filter, vignette filter, rainbow filter, and color filters.
Try them out and see how it will transform your daily photo.
Read More: Digital Camera Filter: How to Add Old Camera Filter
Best Free Photo Editing Apps for iPhone Comparison
| Best Free Photo Editing Apps | Available Platforms | Free Option/AI-Powered |
| YouCam Perfect | iPhone, iPad | ✔️/✔️ |
| Google Photos | iPhone, iPad, and Mac OS | ✔️/✔️ |
| Lightroom | iPhone, iPad, and Mac OS | ✔️/✔️ |
| Darkroom | iPhone, iPad, and Mac OS | ✔️/✔️ |
| Bazaart | iPhone, iPad | ✔️/✔️ |
| Snapseed | iPhone, iPad | ✔️/❌ |
Photo Editing App for iPhone FAQs
What is the best way to edit photos on an iPhone?
The best way to edit photos on an iPhone is by using free photo editing apps that offer powerful features without a steep learning curve.
While the built-in Apple Photos app provides basic tools, many iPhone users prefer third-party apps for more creative control.
- For beginners or budget-conscious users, Snapseed is highly recommended. It’s 100% free, has no ads, and offers a full suite of professional editing tools including filters, face enhancements, and head pose correction.
- For users within the Apple ecosystem, apps like Lightroom and Darkroom are ideal. They offer seamless syncing across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and come with advanced editing features like color grading, preset filters, and non-destructive editing workflows.
These apps are perfect whether you're editing casual selfies, travel photos, or professional images—all without needing advanced photo editing skills.
How to edit pictures on iPhone?
To edit photos iPhone using a picture editor like YouCam Perfect:
First, tap "Photo Edit" and upload your image. Then, locate editing tools on the menu bar, for example:
- Tap Effects for 600+ filters and presets
- Tap AI Selfie for AI filters (portraits); AI Scene for AI landscape filters
- Tap Cutout to turn your pictures into personalized photo stickers
- Tap AI Removal to remove objects, people, and watermarks
- As you're satisfied, save and share your result
What are the best free picture editing apps for iPhone in 2026?
Here, we've researched and listed the top 6 commonly used and discussed picture editing apps for users to edit images on iPhone for free:
- YouCam Perfect: Best AI Picture Editing App for iPhone Users
- Google Photos: Free Picture Editor for Cloud Storage
- Lightroom: Best Free Apple Photo Editor Recommended on Reddit & Quora
- Snapseed: 100% Free Picture Editing App Without Ads
- Darkroom: Free Picture Editing App for Presets & Filters
- Bazaart: Best Design Editing App for iPhone
What is the best app for iPhone to edit pictures?
The best app for editing pictures on iPhone is YouCam Perfect. It offers powerful AI photo editing tools, including background removal, object eraser, face retouching, and filters—all in one easy app.
Which is the no. 1 photo editing app?
YouCam Perfect is rated among the top photo editing apps for iPhone, loved for its AI-powered features and user-friendly interface. It helps you perfect selfies, enhance portraits, and edit photos instantly for social media.
How to edit a photo on iPhone to look good?
You can make your photos look great by using YouCam Perfect to adjust lighting, smooth skin, and remove unwanted objects with AI tools. The app also includes filters and beautifying effects that enhance your photo in seconds.
What is the best photo editing app for free?
YouCam Perfect is one of the best free photo editing apps available. You can access most editing tools without a subscription and upgrade for advanced AI effects, face retouching, and background edits.
Is there any free photo editing app for iPhone?
Yes, YouCam Perfect is a free photo editing app for iPhone that lets you enhance photos, erase backgrounds, and apply aesthetic filters easily. It’s perfect for quick edits and professional-looking selfies without paying a cent.
