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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Better options than

Photoshop Express Photo Editor alternatives

Users often seek Photoshop Express alternatives due to its aggressive paywalls, frequent bugs, and issues with AI features. Many free features have become paid, leading to frustration and a search for more reliable or cost-effective editing solutions.

Why users look for alternatives to Photoshop Express Photo Editor

The alternatives

Canva
4.9★ · 3,440,872 ratings · Free

Canva is praised for its ease of use and extensive templates, making it simple to create and edit various designs R58R60R62. It's a good tool for assembling images, text, and videos, suitable for individual or collaborative projects R53.

Better for: Canva is better for users who want to be creative without needing extensive graphic design skills, offering many templates and options for quick and easy design R60R62. It's also suitable for those who need to combine images, text, and videos for projects R53.

Head-to-head: Photoshop Express Photo Editor vs Canva
InShot
4.9★ · 2,459,077 ratings · Free

InShot is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface and convenience, especially for video editing for platforms like YouTube R71R75R77. It allows users to layer videos over videos and offers cool text options R66.

Better for: InShot is better for users focused on video editing, particularly for YouTube, who need an easy-to-use app that provides a massive shortcut and saves time R71R75. It is also good for basic photo editing R77.

Head-to-head: Photoshop Express Photo Editor vs InShot
Picsart AI Photo Editor
4.7★ · 1,193,046 ratings · Free

Picsart is described as a fun and creative app for photo editing, offering an easy and user-friendly experience with clean and natural results R83R86R90. It's also useful for animation production R89.

Better for: Picsart is better for users looking for a creative and fun photo editing experience that is easy to use and produces natural-looking results R83R86R90. It's also suitable for those interested in animation R89.

Head-to-head: Photoshop Express Photo Editor vs Picsart AI Photo Editor
Adobe Express
4.8★ · 364,881 ratings · Free

Adobe Express is praised for being easy to use and effective for tasks like removing backgrounds R93R94R100R106. It's considered perfect for creating YouTube thumbnails without annoying paywalls R94.

Better for: Adobe Express is better for users who need a simple, effective tool for tasks like background removal and creating YouTube thumbnails R93R94R100. It's also a good option for those who want to avoid paywalls for essential features R94.

Head-to-head: Photoshop Express Photo Editor vs Adobe Express
Lightroom
4.8★ · 335,392 ratings · Free

Lightroom is highly valued for its quality image editing capabilities and ease of use, especially for editing photos on the go R111R117R118. It offers good tutorials to complement the application R115.

Better for: Lightroom is better for users who need a powerful tool for quality image editing, particularly those who are frequently on the go and need to edit photos from their mobile device R111R117R118.

Head-to-head: Photoshop Express Photo Editor vs Lightroom
Stick with Photoshop Express Photo Editor if

You should stick with Photoshop Express Photo Editor if you find its tools intuitive and sufficient for your needs, especially if you are already a paid subscriber and find value in its 'impressive array of production options' for graphic design .

Frequently asked

Why are users frustrated with Photoshop Express's pricing?
Users are frustrated because many features that were previously free now require a paid subscription, with some reporting that almost nothing can be done without a premium plan, which can be pricey R13R19R25R34.
Does Photoshop Express have issues with AI features?
Yes, users report that the AI features are often unintelligent, produce unsatisfactory results, and are aggressively pushed onto the user interface without an option to turn them off R3R7R9R10.
Are there common technical problems with Photoshop Express?
Yes, common technical problems include the app crashing, undoing work, issues with importing rotated photos, fonts not downloading, and errors saving or exporting edits R1R6R12R16.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R4] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 1/5 · US Money grab and bad tools: Don’t bother using this app if you arnt going to buy a subscription. Even with the subscription, the tools are very finicky and don’t deliver good results just mid. Very frustrating. Also be careful if you buy a subscription because they might try to charge you $100+ for canceling, completely motivated by making an extra buck where they can
  2. [R13] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 1/5 · US Terrible: This used to be my go to app for photo editing until they updated everything to require a paid subscription, features that I used to use that used to be free are now paid features
  3. [R19] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 1/5 · US This is not a free app: I used to ma kb e the most basic changes for free, but now everything is under premium, which requires a subscription.
  4. [R25] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 2/5 · US Not bad, but…: Almost everything is paid. I had this app for years and suddenly many features are premium. I used to get premium once in a while for certain edits, but now there’s almost nothing I can do without premium, and it’s very pricey. Probably works well if you’re a photographer and earn money by using this, otherwise, not so good. Adobe, we have enough subscriptions!
  5. [R1] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 1/5 · US Doesn’t work: It undoes all my work with the fakest adjustments that can’t be undone even though they were just done. Ruining hours of tedious work.
  6. [R6] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 3/5 · US Glitchy when importing direct from iPhoto to PSE: Photos for collage will import to PSE directly from iPhoto but will show up in PSE rotated. Very frustrating to have to go into each photo within PSE - edit - crop - rotate. Please fix this.
  7. [R12] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 3/5 · US Fonts won’t download: Please fix.
  8. [R16] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 2/5 · US Crash: To pay for this app and have it crash half the time is ridiculous. Perform all these edits and it says error saving then crashes. All work lost.
  9. [R3] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 3/5 · US Not as good as other free AI: Very rudimentary free options. There are so many other better free apps out there now
  10. [R7] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 2/5 · US AI issues: One would expect the AI to be more intelligent. The results were less than satisfactory.
  11. [R9] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 3/5 · US Useful, but god they’re really pushing their AI on me.: I wish there was an option to just turn it all off so I don’t even see it on the UI. I don’t need it! I’ve been photoshopping for years! I have all the skills needed and don’t want slop bugging up my images!
  12. [R10] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 2/5 · US Used to be so much better.: It used to be just like photoshop where you could make any change you wanted. Now, everything is generative AI and it’s hard to do anything manually and actually make it your own work. Subscribed and immediately unsubscribed. It’s time to stop with the AI and let people make their own stuff again.
  13. [R28] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 1/5 · US Watermark: upset and disappointed. I loved the app and use it several times/day. I cannot use it with the logo watermark on it. To remove it you are forced to pay a very high subscription. A once loved app, now forced to look elsewhere
  14. [R32] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 5/5 · US Stupid Instant Edit Square: If you use the free version, they put a square on your photo that says Instant Edit and you can't remove it . I have tried everything to remove it and was unsuccessful. I have used the paid version and it's great but I lost my job and had to cancel everything. I'm not happy !!
  15. [R46] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 2/5 · US Used to be a great app: This app used to be great, but then they took away many of the free features and made them cost money. In addition, now every photo you save from the app has a HUGE watermark on the bottom! Really sad how bad this app got
  16. [R27] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 3/5 · GB A bit messy: There are a few surprises here. 1. It doesn't seem to be have been built for iPad. It has one of those cross-platform UIs. 2. It's full of nonsense instead of settings. Things like "follow us on Instagram", "Rate the app", "what's new", "highlights". All in Settings. Also "share", "help us improve"... it goes on. As for its core functionality, it's nothing special. Photomator is pr
  17. [R31] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 1/5 · US Not user friendly!: Trying to simply remove an object in a photo but there is no explanation no guidance nothing! Cannot remove the image 😡
  18. [R41] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 5/5 · US Cool: I think I will like this ~ as soon as I figure out how to use it!
  19. [R53] Canva 3/5 · US Good Collage tool, Needs Dark Mode: This is honestly a really great tool for assembling images text videos. Amazing for individual or collaborative work, can really help get a project started. I would use it way more if there was a way to make the white background an off-white, or gray color. As the bright light can be a bit much at night.
  20. [R58] Canva 5/5 · US MUST READ BEFORE DOWNLOADING: Great app, helps you make and edit things, five star, disagree, then argue with the wall
  21. [R60] Canva 5/5 · US The amazing wonders of Campa: Amazing. Customer service has hundreds of templates video editing your name. Have a good luck exploring on camera.
  22. [R62] Canva 5/5 · US Easy Peasy: Unlimited options!
  23. [R66] InShot 5/5 · US Calidad: Lo que me imagino , ella lo hace realidad , lo más chido poner videos sobre videos, letras cool todo está perfecto le doy 10 estrellas👌
  24. [R71] InShot 5/5 · US Amazing: This app it amazing so easy to use and so convenient for YouTube videos and more!
  25. [R75] InShot 5/5 · US I wish they had it sooner: Perfect for people who want to use a massive shortcut and save time
  26. [R77] InShot 5/5 · US Really Great!: This app is the most user friendly app I’ve downloaded of all the apps in trying to work with photos. Highly recommend
  27. [R83] Picsart AI Photo Editor 5/5 · US about how good it is: its is ver fun to play and make things this app is about creativity and how to make it nice it is very fun plus good for playing in ur free time or bored it a ver good app i definitely recommend this for u guys
  28. [R86] Picsart AI Photo Editor 5/5 · US Best Photo Editing: I have tried so many photo editing apps over the years and Picard is the best. Easy and user friendly. It has clean and natural end result.
  29. [R89] Picsart AI Photo Editor 5/5 · US Animation producer: This app is amazing and very useful. I use it often
  30. [R90] Picsart AI Photo Editor 3/5 · US Slay: I get to be so creative
  31. [R93] Adobe Express 2/5 · US Needs Improvement: Love this app. It’s my go to for removing backgrounds for audition videos, but sometimes it can’t define the correct background and will delete the subject completely or bland with backdrop. The download speed is snail speed. I would like to see this improved to make the creative process more efficient. Editing is great. I would like to see more tools for adjusting mask like p
  32. [R94] Adobe Express 5/5 · US Everything you need for YouTube thumbnails: Easy to use, no annoying paywalls, to me this is perfect for thumbnails 👍👍
  33. [R100] Adobe Express 5/5 · US Amazing: This App is amazing I asked chatGPT for and remove background and chat gave me this for when I run out this is amazing
  34. [R106] Adobe Express 5/5 · US Love love love: Hopefully i can get back to my monthly subscription with it i just have a small issue on the background removing tool it doesn’t seem to want to keep alot of my design when i need it on a transparent background
  35. [R111] Lightroom 4/5 · US Lightroom: I love being able to use the app on the go! I'm always on the go, being able to do quality edits on the spot is beyond marvelous! Being able to get full data from the cloud during export, really can use some attention. Sometimes, it will take an extremely long time on one photo.
  36. [R115] Lightroom 5/5 · US Amazing: Very nice tutorial that nicely complemented the rest of the application
  37. [R117] Lightroom 5/5 · US Great app: Great tool for image editing.
  38. [R118] Lightroom 5/5 · US Awesome Editing: That app’s awesome for editing my pictures
  39. [R34] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 1/5 · US Definition of Self Sabotage: This app has become unusable and awful. The most simple features require a subscription now and they have removed everything that made this great.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store