What do you use to edit pictures?

[ThatIcyPoet]

Just the title, which photo editing apps or programs do you use that are free or budget-friendly? Photoshop seems a little too complicated, so I need something that's also beginner friendly. I don't mind paying for a subscription, but a one-time purchase would be great.
Thanks for all the suggestions!

@ThatIcyPoet For a simple edit - Microsoft Photos app - (free) - it's quite straight forward and simple but doesn't do anything too complicated.
I use it to -
a) change a '.jpg' picture to a '.jpeg' picture (so that I can post it to Mumsnet),
b) import pictures from my phone,
c) to solve a strange problem that I sometimes get when a picture icon is displayed incorrectly as a 'broken icon' - I edit it very slightly then save it and that solves the problem.

For rather more complicated things I use Adobe Photoshop Elements - (I pay for it) - as you said it is more competed - the more you use it the easier it gets - the 'HELP' is quite good and there's loads and loads of helpful stuff on YouTube.

Good Luck!

@DanFmDorking thank you! The more I look into it, the more it seems I just need to get something from Adone and just learn how to use it!

Here are a couple of lists of best photo editing software for beginners and just overall good programs:
https://photo-works.net/best-photo-editing-software-for-beginners.php
https://www.shutterbug.com/content/best-photo-editors-windows-11-2023

Adobe Photoshop is pretty much the standard for photo editing, but it doesn't mean you absolutely have to use it if you don't like it or don't want to get a subscription.

If you want a photo editing app for your smartphone, I'd suggest looking at Snapseed, PicsArt or Lightroom Mobile (again, an Adobe products but it has the most features out of these three).

@ThatIcyPoet Hmmmmm - I'm going to post against what I posted above (rather worrying!)
'Adobe Photoshop Elements' does not have the full graphic capabilities of 'Photoshop' - but I reckon it's perfectly Ok for 99% of home users - it's got loads more than I need.

At the end of last year they changed the payment plan - I've has 'PSE' for a few years and it was easier for me to upgrade to the latest version - it cost me £71 (Ok, Ok, £70.99 for goodness sake) for 3 years - it's a one-time purchase - the license is non-renewing - it will expire after 3 years - I'll have to revisit this in Oct '27.

The change of payment caused A LOT of negative comment on-line with posters leaving Adobe and migrating to either a free alternative or one that is cheaper. They also posted ways of transferring photos to the new software.

You'll just have to weigh up the pros and cons of three choices a) the totally free ones (with adverts and various limits), b) the very cheap ones that are slightly better, c) the 'proper' paid software that is well supported and give you upgrades.

So it's tea/coffee, biscuits and chocolate on the left, pen and paper on the right and start searching on YouTube and others.

Sorry it's not more helpful - Good luck - Dan

@AnneButNotHathaway
@DanFmDorking
Thank you both, I'll look into it!

It depends how much you want to do. As regards editing out unwanted sections of the image, colour correction and cropping it's surprising how much I can do on an iPad or iPhone.

Mostly removing random objects from the background, skin and colour correction and some simple photo montages are my top priorities.

I use photoroom. It's pretty much idiot proof, which is perfect for me.
I take awful photos! And so my listing photos look at least halfway decent now.
Here's a before and after I've just knocked up right now to show the difference.
Took 20 seconds.
When I do them properly they look even better, like the third photo. got a nice dramatic background going on there😁

@AnneButNotHathaway thanks - your post is more helpful than mine - and more interesting 🙂
@QueenClinomania Excellent 🙂

@QueenClinomania thank you! The pictures you've shared look AMAZING!