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Let's discuss some of the best open-source PDF editors available online, along with the pros and cons of each one. Top 5 Open Source PDF Editors for Windows 1. LibreOffice Draw PDF editor. LibreOffice is a strong competitor in the world of PDF editing. It is free and open-source software, much like MS Office.
Built with the power of a team of mostly volunteers, this open source vector editor represents the work of many hearts and hands from around the world, ensuring that Inkscape remains available free for everyone to download and enjoy.
The best open source video editing software allows the user to efficiently and more specifically edit their videos. The difference between open source and other software is that open source allows for coding changes that can personalize your experience. Before deciding on the software that is right for you, make sure you learn the secrets of.
Bluefish is a free and open-source text editor that is primarily meant for programmers and web-developers to edit codes. It has a GNU-GPL license. The current version is 2.2.10. Features: Basic editing; Light to use; It is a fast Text Editor and can open 500+ files at a time.
Open Source Editor For WindowsWhat are some free open-source photo editing software out there?
For pro-level editing, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom are the best option.
Using these two image editing software, you can do all sorts of image editing from basic to advanced.
But the only downfall is you need to pay Adobe every month for using it that is difficult for many starters like me.
In the beginning, I didn't have much money to use Photoshop for doing all types of image retouching.
So, I looked for free photo editing software that let me perform basic to advanced retouching.
Fortunately, I found a lot of free options that let me do color correction, crop & resizing, change orientation, correct light, cutout objects, organize photos, and much more.
Even I can edit SVG files, perform non-destructive editing workflows using those free photo editing apps.
In this guide, I have included 7 best free photo editing software for the newbie like me.
You may ask- what I do as a newbie or hobbyist if I have the budget to use Photoshop and Lightroom?
Well, it doesn't make sense to pay Adobe per month for using it as a hobbyist or a newbie. You can change your plan like me after mastering on editing.
And these free photo editing software I have listed let you be a master on editing.
So, let's dive in.
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Contents
7 Best Open Source Photo Editing Software in 2020
Here is the complete list of free photo editing software.
GIMP
Darktable
Inkscape
Digikam
Raw Therapee
Paint.Net
Krita
01.GIMP – Best free open-source photo editing softwareGIMP is an acronym of the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It has packed with advanced image editing tools and has a Photoshop-like interface.
With GIMP, you can do every type of editing including color correction, retouching, fix distortion, and so on.
To remove background from photos, it has an advanced pen tool, Fuzzy Selection tool, and Free selection tool.
Plus, it has an advanced layer mask tool like Photoshop has. Using this tool, you can precisely erase the background from a complex photo.
For doing advanced retouching, it has come with the Clone Stamp tool, Blemish Remover tool, and Healing brush.
With these tools, you can make your portrait photo stunning.
Moreover, it has a lot of tools to correct perspective distortion, photo color correction, and much more.
Indeed, you can do everything using GIMP as the users of Photoshop do.
So, if you are a pro editor and don't have much money to use Photoshop, then GIMP is the best option to do advanced retouching.
Features
Advanced image editing tools
Include layer system
Upgraded masking tool
Advanced color management tool
Upgraded transform tools
Retouching tools
Support all types of file format
Pros

Customizable interface
Completely free to use
Best for professional photo editors
Cons
Steep learning curve
Doesn't offer non-destructive editing workflow
Don't let you organize photos
Solution of the cons
If you are a beginner, then you find GIMP a little bit complex. However, there are a lot of websites that offer tutorials to be master on using GIMP.
Check out this article that includes a list of websites that make tutorials on GIMP. Also, you can join on these GIMP forums including GIMP-Forum.Net, Gimpusers.com, GIMP Chat, Gimper.Net, and Reddit.
As GIMP doesn't let you organize photos, you can use Darktable instead of it.
02.Darktable- Best free Lightroom alternativeDarktable is a free photo editor app for mac.
For those who want to do basic editing, organize photos, correct photo color and so on, then Darktable is the best selection.
Like Lightroom, it also offers non-destructive editing workflows. Besides, it has a lot of presets and filters to enhance photos with a few clicks.
The interface of Darktable is similar to Lightroom. At the same time, it has packed with a lot of editing tools like Lr has.
That's why Darktable is considered as the best free Lightroom alternative app.
On Darktable, you can organize photos using tag, location, name, rating, and stars.
It helps you to get the file immediately when you want to edit the photos.
Therefore, it has slider-based image editing tools like LR offers to make the retouching work fast and simple.
Something that I like about Darktable is its automatic repetitive tasks. It helps to make my editing workflows fast that save time.
Features
A lot of adjustment tools
Includes a lot of presets
Advanced color correction tools
Raw photo processor
Basic photo editing tools
Pros
Offer non-destructive editing
Easy to use
Perfect for organizing photos
Free to use
Cons
Not perfect for advanced retouching
Solution of the cons
Use GIMP open source photo editor that lets you perform advanced retouching workflows.
03.Inkscape- Best free vector design softwareInkscape is a free vector design creation software.
If you are an amateur vector artist and want to create logos, text effects, rendering, and much for free, then Inkscape is for you.
Even you can edit the SVG file precisely on Inkscape.
Indeed, it is solely designed for vector designers to create stunning designs.
The plus of Inkscape is it enables you to convert raster file to vector. Even it lets you open and edit PDF and AI files.
Also, you can convert bitmap files to vector using Inkscape. Therefore, you can create your social media content using this free photo editing software.
Though it is a robust vector graphic design software, the interface of Inkscape is intuitive.
There is no steep learning curve. That means you can easily be a master in using Inkscape.
Those who don't have enough money to use Adobe Illustrator can use Inkscape as an alternative. Copy android phone contacts to pc.
The best part is it is free and lets you do almost everything as Adobe Illustrator does.
Features
Advanced objection creation tools including drawing tool, shape tool, and text tool
Include a lot of object manipulation tools
Upgraded Fill & Stroke
Rendering
Supports multiple file-formats including SVG, PDF, PNG, DXF, EPS, SK1
Pros
Easy to use
No learning curve
Adaptable layout and interface
Cons
Keyboard shortcuts do not perform well
Occur unexpected crush
Solution of the cons
The keyboard shortcuts of Inkscape don't perform well. So, it is better to use each of the tools manually or selecting from the toolbar.
Crush happened when you add a lot of paths to a project.
So, stop adding multiple paths to a single project. If possible, try to use Adobe Illustrator to avoid these problems.
04.Digikam- Free photo organizing softwareDigiKam is a free photo management software. It is solely created for organizing and managing software.
However, I have included this software both for editing and organizing photos.
Besides organizing photos, it also lets you edit photos as it has come with a lot of advanced image editing tools.
With DigiKam, you can process raw photos, correct photo color, adjust brightness & exposure, and much more.
Nonetheless, you can also apply batch photo processing using DigiKam.
Digikam has an advanced module named Light Table for sorting images smartly. Using this module, you can compare each of the photos you shoot.
Furthermore, you can organize photos using meta-tags, stars, ratings, and locations.
The exciting part of Digikam is you can also process raw photos and share them on different social channels.
To get the insight view of DigiKam, you can check out this article by Fix The Photo.
Features
Support multiple cameras
Smart photo organizing tools
Raw processor
Batch photo processing
A lot of image editing tools
Pros
Perfect for photo organization
Easy to navigate
Offer batch photo processing
Cons
Lack of advanced photo editing tools
Darktable photo organizing system performs better than DigiKam
Solution of the cons
Try to use GIMP instead of DigiKam for advanced image retouching. For organizing photos smartly, use Darktable.
05.Raw Therapee- Best free raw development appRaw Therapee is an open-source photo editor app for developing raw files.
With Raw Therapee, you can edit raw images in a non-destructive way.
Apart from that, you can edit, correct photo color, organize photos, and perform some retouching workflows.
Though the interface of Raw Therapee is the same as Lightroom, Raw Therapee goes deep in case of color correction.
There are a plethora of options to enhance and correct photo colors. Besides, it lets you process raw photos with depth. You can fix chromatic aberration, noise reduction of your raw files.
However, if we judge Raw Therapee by the intuitiveness of the interface, then Lightroom is superior to it.
Even so, the photo organizing system of Raw Therapee is not as intuitive as LR.
Aside from these, if you find software for developing raw files, then Raw Therapee is the best selection.
To get an in-depth look at Raw Therapee features, check out this article of Expert Photography.
Features
Advanced color correction tools
Raw image processor
Photo organization option
Basic editing tools
Adjustment tools
Pros
Completely free
Enables to convert files in various formats
Perfect for raw development
Cons
Unintuitive interface
Little bit complex
The performance rate is low comparing to Lightroom
Solution of the cons
Most of the beginner find the interface of Raw Therapee complex. As a solution, you can use Darktable that is another free alternative to Lightroom.
06.Paint.Net- Awesome tool for painting & editingPaint.Net is another full-featured free photo editing software for Windows.
Intuitive interface, layer system, effects, plugins, and a plethora of editing tools are available on Paint.Net.
Helpful community, tutorials, and plugins make photo editing easy and enjoyable on Paint.Net.
With Paint.Net, you can do basic editing with precision.
Open Source Video EditorThough it doesn't let you do creative editing or advanced retouching, you can give a clean look to your photo free from any visible imperfections.
For making adjustments, it has come with Hue, Saturation, and Curves tools.
Moreover, it includes a lot of art effects to create stunning painting photos including oil, ink, and pencil.
The drawback of this tool is it has come with limited brush workflows.
At the same time, the text tool doesn't perform well when you apply any effects.
Disregarding these drawbacks, it is a great tool for beginners.
Features
A lot of effects included to remove red-eye, blemishes, and fix distortions
Powerful editing tools
Intuitive & customizable interface
Plethora of History panels
Pros
Easy to use
Completely free
Third-party plugins make editing workflow smooth
Growing online helpful community
Tutorials available
Cons
Lack of advanced retouching tools
Doesn't come with Dodge & Burn tool
Unupgraded brush tool
Solution of the cons
Gimp is a better solution to do all types of retouching workflows. Or, you can choose Photoshop to enjoy advanced retouching.
07. Krita- Best free digital painting softwareKrita is a free painting photo editing software. The interface of Krita is intuitive and has everything at your fingertips.
With Krita, you can create stunning drawing & painting arts. Even a child can use it to draw paintings.
This digital painting tool has come with a lot of brushes for drawing arts. The best part is you can customize each of the brush tools.
For a newbie, you don't need to make changes into any brushes as it has come with everything you need.
The pencil tool of Krita is by far so advanced than its other counterparts. The softness of this tool is great and its stroke is straight.
To sum up, it is a great digital painting tool for the newbie.
Even those who don't have any painting experience before can create digital drawings using this free photo editor. Convert wmv to avi ubuntu.
Features
Plethora of brush tools
Selection tools
Transform tools
Layer system
HDR support
Drawing assistance
Color palette
Advanced pencil tools
Pros
Completely free to use
No experience needed to use it
User-friendly interface
Support plugins
Compatible on Linux, Windows, and macOS
Cons
Crush happened frequently
Lack of keyboard shortcuts
Solution of the cons
The problem of Krita is there occur crushes often. As a result, you can lose your work.
To get rid of this problem, it is better to save the working file often.
I also noticed that Krita has a lack of keyboard shortcuts and layers. For solving this problem, you can switch your plan Krita to Photoshop.
ConclusionTo enhance photo quality, we must take help from photo editing software, either beginner or professionals.
And the list of open-source photo editing software I have included above help you enhance photos without spending a single buck.
But the question is- which is the best free photo editing software on this list?
Well, it depends on what you are going to do and what you are capable of doing.
To me, Gimp is the best free open-source photo editor on this list. It lets you do almost everything as Photoshop and Lightroom do.
For professionals who don't have enough money to use Photoshop, they can take advantage of this free photo editor.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a free Lightroom alternative, then Darktable is one that you expect.
For your convenience, I have listed those free photo editing software here again.
Gimp- Best free Photoshop alternative
Darktable- Best free Lightroom alternative
Inkscape- Best free vector design app
Digicam- Best for photo organization
Raw Therapee- Best raw development app
Paint.Net- Perfect for painting and basic editing
Krita- Best free digital painting software
Have you tried out any of the software on this list? Which software are you going to try out?
Brackets Open Source EditorHave I missed any software that should include?
Let me know by leaving a comment below.
General FAQWhat is the best free photo editing software?Which free photo editing software is best for beginners?Darktable, Krita, DigiKam, Inkscape, and Raw Therapee are the best free photo editing software for beginners.
Is there any free photo editing software?Is there an open source version of Photoshop?Yes, Gimp is the open source version of Photoshop.
Is there an open source version of Lightroom?Darktable is the open source version of Lightroom.

Customizable interface
Completely free to use
Best for professional photo editors
Cons
Steep learning curve
Doesn't offer non-destructive editing workflow
Don't let you organize photos
Solution of the cons
If you are a beginner, then you find GIMP a little bit complex. However, there are a lot of websites that offer tutorials to be master on using GIMP.
Check out this article that includes a list of websites that make tutorials on GIMP. Also, you can join on these GIMP forums including GIMP-Forum.Net, Gimpusers.com, GIMP Chat, Gimper.Net, and Reddit.
As GIMP doesn't let you organize photos, you can use Darktable instead of it.
02.Darktable- Best free Lightroom alternativeDarktable is a free photo editor app for mac.
For those who want to do basic editing, organize photos, correct photo color and so on, then Darktable is the best selection.
Like Lightroom, it also offers non-destructive editing workflows. Besides, it has a lot of presets and filters to enhance photos with a few clicks.
The interface of Darktable is similar to Lightroom. At the same time, it has packed with a lot of editing tools like Lr has.
That's why Darktable is considered as the best free Lightroom alternative app.
On Darktable, you can organize photos using tag, location, name, rating, and stars.
It helps you to get the file immediately when you want to edit the photos.
Therefore, it has slider-based image editing tools like LR offers to make the retouching work fast and simple.
Something that I like about Darktable is its automatic repetitive tasks. It helps to make my editing workflows fast that save time.
Features
A lot of adjustment tools
Includes a lot of presets
Advanced color correction tools
Raw photo processor
Basic photo editing tools
Pros
Offer non-destructive editing
Easy to use
Perfect for organizing photos
Free to use
Cons
Not perfect for advanced retouching
Solution of the cons
Use GIMP open source photo editor that lets you perform advanced retouching workflows.
03.Inkscape- Best free vector design softwareInkscape is a free vector design creation software.
If you are an amateur vector artist and want to create logos, text effects, rendering, and much for free, then Inkscape is for you.
Even you can edit the SVG file precisely on Inkscape.
Indeed, it is solely designed for vector designers to create stunning designs.
The plus of Inkscape is it enables you to convert raster file to vector. Even it lets you open and edit PDF and AI files.
Also, you can convert bitmap files to vector using Inkscape. Therefore, you can create your social media content using this free photo editing software.
Though it is a robust vector graphic design software, the interface of Inkscape is intuitive.
There is no steep learning curve. That means you can easily be a master in using Inkscape.
Those who don't have enough money to use Adobe Illustrator can use Inkscape as an alternative. Copy android phone contacts to pc.
The best part is it is free and lets you do almost everything as Adobe Illustrator does.
Features
Advanced objection creation tools including drawing tool, shape tool, and text tool
Include a lot of object manipulation tools
Upgraded Fill & Stroke
Rendering
Supports multiple file-formats including SVG, PDF, PNG, DXF, EPS, SK1
Pros
Easy to use
No learning curve
Adaptable layout and interface
Cons
Keyboard shortcuts do not perform well
Occur unexpected crush
Solution of the cons
The keyboard shortcuts of Inkscape don't perform well. So, it is better to use each of the tools manually or selecting from the toolbar.
Crush happened when you add a lot of paths to a project.
So, stop adding multiple paths to a single project. If possible, try to use Adobe Illustrator to avoid these problems.
04.Digikam- Free photo organizing softwareDigiKam is a free photo management software. It is solely created for organizing and managing software.
However, I have included this software both for editing and organizing photos.
Besides organizing photos, it also lets you edit photos as it has come with a lot of advanced image editing tools.
With DigiKam, you can process raw photos, correct photo color, adjust brightness & exposure, and much more.
Nonetheless, you can also apply batch photo processing using DigiKam.
Digikam has an advanced module named Light Table for sorting images smartly. Using this module, you can compare each of the photos you shoot.
Furthermore, you can organize photos using meta-tags, stars, ratings, and locations.
The exciting part of Digikam is you can also process raw photos and share them on different social channels.
To get the insight view of DigiKam, you can check out this article by Fix The Photo.
Features
Support multiple cameras
Smart photo organizing tools
Raw processor
Batch photo processing
A lot of image editing tools
Pros
Perfect for photo organization
Easy to navigate
Offer batch photo processing
Cons
Lack of advanced photo editing tools
Darktable photo organizing system performs better than DigiKam
Solution of the cons
Try to use GIMP instead of DigiKam for advanced image retouching. For organizing photos smartly, use Darktable.
05.Raw Therapee- Best free raw development appRaw Therapee is an open-source photo editor app for developing raw files.
With Raw Therapee, you can edit raw images in a non-destructive way.
Apart from that, you can edit, correct photo color, organize photos, and perform some retouching workflows.
Though the interface of Raw Therapee is the same as Lightroom, Raw Therapee goes deep in case of color correction.
There are a plethora of options to enhance and correct photo colors. Besides, it lets you process raw photos with depth. You can fix chromatic aberration, noise reduction of your raw files.
However, if we judge Raw Therapee by the intuitiveness of the interface, then Lightroom is superior to it.
Even so, the photo organizing system of Raw Therapee is not as intuitive as LR.
Aside from these, if you find software for developing raw files, then Raw Therapee is the best selection.
To get an in-depth look at Raw Therapee features, check out this article of Expert Photography.
Features
Advanced color correction tools
Raw image processor
Photo organization option
Basic editing tools
Adjustment tools
Pros
Completely free
Enables to convert files in various formats
Perfect for raw development
Cons
Unintuitive interface
Little bit complex
The performance rate is low comparing to Lightroom
Solution of the cons
Most of the beginner find the interface of Raw Therapee complex. As a solution, you can use Darktable that is another free alternative to Lightroom.
06.Paint.Net- Awesome tool for painting & editingPaint.Net is another full-featured free photo editing software for Windows.
Intuitive interface, layer system, effects, plugins, and a plethora of editing tools are available on Paint.Net.
Helpful community, tutorials, and plugins make photo editing easy and enjoyable on Paint.Net.
With Paint.Net, you can do basic editing with precision.
Open Source Video EditorThough it doesn't let you do creative editing or advanced retouching, you can give a clean look to your photo free from any visible imperfections.
For making adjustments, it has come with Hue, Saturation, and Curves tools.
Moreover, it includes a lot of art effects to create stunning painting photos including oil, ink, and pencil.
The drawback of this tool is it has come with limited brush workflows.
At the same time, the text tool doesn't perform well when you apply any effects.
Disregarding these drawbacks, it is a great tool for beginners.
Features
A lot of effects included to remove red-eye, blemishes, and fix distortions
Powerful editing tools
Intuitive & customizable interface
Plethora of History panels
Pros
Easy to use
Completely free
Third-party plugins make editing workflow smooth
Growing online helpful community
Tutorials available
Cons
Lack of advanced retouching tools
Doesn't come with Dodge & Burn tool
Unupgraded brush tool
Solution of the cons
Gimp is a better solution to do all types of retouching workflows. Or, you can choose Photoshop to enjoy advanced retouching.
07. Krita- Best free digital painting softwareKrita is a free painting photo editing software. The interface of Krita is intuitive and has everything at your fingertips.
With Krita, you can create stunning drawing & painting arts. Even a child can use it to draw paintings.
This digital painting tool has come with a lot of brushes for drawing arts. The best part is you can customize each of the brush tools.
For a newbie, you don't need to make changes into any brushes as it has come with everything you need.
The pencil tool of Krita is by far so advanced than its other counterparts. The softness of this tool is great and its stroke is straight.
To sum up, it is a great digital painting tool for the newbie.
Even those who don't have any painting experience before can create digital drawings using this free photo editor. Convert wmv to avi ubuntu.
Features
Plethora of brush tools
Selection tools
Transform tools
Layer system
HDR support
Drawing assistance
Color palette
Advanced pencil tools
Pros
Completely free to use
No experience needed to use it
User-friendly interface
Support plugins
Compatible on Linux, Windows, and macOS
Cons
Crush happened frequently
Lack of keyboard shortcuts
Solution of the cons
The problem of Krita is there occur crushes often. As a result, you can lose your work.
To get rid of this problem, it is better to save the working file often.
I also noticed that Krita has a lack of keyboard shortcuts and layers. For solving this problem, you can switch your plan Krita to Photoshop.
ConclusionTo enhance photo quality, we must take help from photo editing software, either beginner or professionals.
And the list of open-source photo editing software I have included above help you enhance photos without spending a single buck.
But the question is- which is the best free photo editing software on this list?
Well, it depends on what you are going to do and what you are capable of doing.
To me, Gimp is the best free open-source photo editor on this list. It lets you do almost everything as Photoshop and Lightroom do.
For professionals who don't have enough money to use Photoshop, they can take advantage of this free photo editor.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a free Lightroom alternative, then Darktable is one that you expect.
For your convenience, I have listed those free photo editing software here again.
Gimp- Best free Photoshop alternative
Darktable- Best free Lightroom alternative
Inkscape- Best free vector design app
Digicam- Best for photo organization
Raw Therapee- Best raw development app
Paint.Net- Perfect for painting and basic editing
Krita- Best free digital painting software
Have you tried out any of the software on this list? Which software are you going to try out?
Brackets Open Source EditorHave I missed any software that should include?
Let me know by leaving a comment below.
General FAQWhat is the best free photo editing software?Which free photo editing software is best for beginners?Darktable, Krita, DigiKam, Inkscape, and Raw Therapee are the best free photo editing software for beginners.
Is there any free photo editing software?Is there an open source version of Photoshop?Yes, Gimp is the open source version of Photoshop.
Is there an open source version of Lightroom?Darktable is the open source version of Lightroom.
Sohel RanaPdf Open Source EditorSohel Rana is the founder, content crafter, and SEO's at Pic Editor Review. He has grown his passion over years about writing on software, how-to guide, and product description.