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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Photoshop Express Photo Editor vs Adobe Express

Photoshop Express Photo Editor 4.7★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner Adobe Express
Adobe Express 4.8★ · Free + IAP 65

Adobe Express is generally preferred for broader creative design tasks, despite its performance issues, while Photoshop Express Photo Editor is better for quick photo edits, though many core features are now behind a paywall.

Full reviews: Photoshop Express Photo Editor · Adobe Express

Adobe Express and Photoshop Express Photo Editor both offer free tiers with in-app purchases, but recent user reviews for both highlight significant performance issues and frustration with features being moved behind paywalls. Adobe Express appears to have a slight edge for general design needs, while Photoshop Express is geared more towards photo editing.

Head to head

Features and Functionality tieR2R3R7R9
Photoshop Express Photo Editor Photoshop Express Photo Editor offers a range of photo editing tools, with some users praising its intuitive interface and ability to perform quick edits R2R38. However, many users express frustration that features previously free are now premium R13R19R25. There are also complaints about the AI being rudimentary or intrusive, making manual editing difficult R3R7R9R10. Some critical features, like 'Combine Photos,' have been removed R43.
Adobe Express Adobe Express is valued for its design capabilities, especially for creating things like YouTube thumbnails and custom emojis . Users appreciate its background removal tool, though some note it can be inconsistent . However, many users report that basic tools don't always work, and the app pushes AI features over fundamental editing . Some find the templates bad and the app less simple than competitors .
Ease of Use tieR2R31R36R38
Photoshop Express Photo Editor Some users find Photoshop Express Photo Editor highly intuitive and easy for quick edits R2R38. However, others find it not user-friendly, with no explanation or guidance for certain tools R31. The UI is described as messy, with too many 'nonsense' options in settings and an overemphasis on AI filters R36.
Adobe Express Adobe Express is considered easy to use for tasks like creating thumbnails . However, many users find it difficult to navigate the tool menus and not super user-friendly, especially on mobile devices due to sensitivity and lack of alignment tools . A recent update also made paragraph resizing difficult by removing real-time results .
Reliability and Performance tieR1R12R15R16
Photoshop Express Photo Editor Photoshop Express Photo Editor has significant reliability issues, with users reporting the app undoing work, freezing, crashing, and failing to save edits R1R16R26R27. Some also note pixelation on iPad and issues with fonts not downloading R12R15R21.
Adobe Express Adobe Express users frequently report the app being extremely slow to load and download, glitchy, and prone to crashing . Issues include background removal errors, login problems, and videos playing at very low frame rates .
Price and Value (Free vs. Paid) edge: Adobe ExpressR13R18R19R25
Photoshop Express Photo Editor Many users of Photoshop Express Photo Editor are highly critical of its monetization strategy, stating that many previously free features are now locked behind a paid subscription R13R19R25. The free version is seen as too limited, often includes a large watermark, or an 'Instant Edit' square that cannot be removed R18. Some feel the premium features don't offer enough value compared to cheaper alternatives .
Adobe Express Adobe Express is generally perceived as offering good value, with some users appreciating that it's 'not scamming you into money' and offers useful free tools . However, some users find the hoops to jump through for the free version frustrating, making them unwilling to pay for premium . There are also complaints about AI features sucking up credits and issues with free trials .
Support and Updates tieR12R21R27R43
Photoshop Express Photo Editor Users of Photoshop Express Photo Editor report issues like fonts not downloading or missing for weeks, with calls for fixes R12R21. There's also frustration about features being removed without warning R43 and the app being broken for weeks without bug fixes R27.
Adobe Express Adobe Express users frequently complain about bugs and glitches that persist through updates, with some stating that 'every update is worse' . Developer responses to issues are sometimes seen as unhelpful . Users also mention navigation problems and errors that lead to deleting and reinstalling the app .
Pick Photoshop Express Photo Editor if

You need an app primarily for quick photo edits and are willing to pay for a subscription to access advanced features, or if you are an existing Photoshop user looking for a mobile companion .

Pick Adobe Express if

You are looking for a versatile design app for creating social media graphics, thumbnails, or other visual content, and you value a broader range of creative tools over deep photo editing capabilities .

Evidence note: Both apps have a high lifetime rating, but recent reviews for both are heavily skewed negative, focusing on performance issues, bugs, and increased paywalls. This suggests a decline in user satisfaction over time. The free-vs-paid asymmetry is particularly strong for Photoshop Express Photo Editor, where many negative reviews stem from previously free features becoming paid.

Frequently asked

Are Photoshop Express Photo Editor and Adobe Express truly free?
Both Photoshop Express Photo Editor and Adobe Express offer a free tier, but many advanced features are locked behind a paid subscription or in-app purchases R4R13R19R25. Users of Photoshop Express Photo Editor specifically mention that features that used to be free are now paid, and the free version often includes watermarks or limited functionality R13R19.
Which app has better AI features?
Neither app receives strong praise for its AI features; Photoshop Express Photo Editor users find its AI rudimentary, unintelligent, and intrusive, often preferring manual control R3R7R9R10. Adobe Express users also report that its AI for creation 'sucks' compared to alternatives, and the video background removal feature is poor .
Do these apps have performance issues?
Yes, both apps are frequently criticized for significant performance issues; Photoshop Express Photo Editor users report crashes, freezing, work being undone, and errors saving R1R16R26R27. Adobe Express users complain about extremely slow loading and download speeds, frequent crashes, glitches, and the app being temperamental or barely usable .

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. [R2] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 4/5 · US Highly Intuitive: That’s my review. Lots of buttons too.
  2. [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
  3. [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.
  4. [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!
  5. [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 😡
  6. [R36] 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
  7. [R38] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 5/5 · US Great for quick edits: It super easy to use and you can tap one button and it edits the whole thing
  8. [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.
  9. [R12] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 3/5 · US Fonts won’t download: Please fix.
  10. [R15] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 3/5 · US Professional photographer: Very pixelated on iPad
  11. [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.
  12. [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
  13. [R18] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 3/5 · US Don’t want to pay for pro: Photoshop as an app is incredible for photo editing. However, I think that the free version is too limited and if there’s only so many things you can do why do any at all? That is my only complaint, as the app is very efficient.
  14. [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.
  15. [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!
  16. [R21] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 3/5 · US Where are my fonts: I’ve been using this app for a couple of years. I absolutely love it. So much, I even subscribed. But now my fonts are missing. Just a turning arrow where the fonts should be. Not happy with this.
  17. [R27] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 3/5 · US App has been broken for weeks: Pretty nifty app with decent capabilities, but it’s been broken for weeks on iPhone and iPad. App freezes and fully seizes up upon launching it. Still no bug fixes or patches somehow. You’d think Adobe would be more on top of stuff like this.
  18. [R43] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 1/5 · US Bring Back “Combine Photos”: “Combine Photos” is arguably the most useful feature on this app, as it allows you to use a cutting tool while adding multiple layers. I’m a freelance artist, and this feature is absolutely crucial to my job. I don’t appreciate when Adobe randomly decides to pull features with no prior warning. Now I can’t work. No other application offers the same features that Photos
  19. [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
  20. [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.
  21. [R26] Photoshop Express Photo Editor 4/5 · US Editing photos: It’s a great app. The only t problem I have with it is that it freezes up and I have to restart to edit my photos. Other than that, I love editing with this app.

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