Best Free Image Editors for Mac

Start with GIMP for layered retouching and composites you want to keep on your Mac. Recent versions let you go back and adjust filters without permanently applying them to the layer. The project offers separate downloads for Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, so choose the one that matches your machine.

If somebody sends a layered Photoshop file and you need to make a quick change, open it in Photopea and save back to PSD. The editor runs in the browser and its free version is supported by ads. For an ongoing project, save a local copy of the layered file as you work.

Pick this when the job starts with a folder of camera RAW files. The lighttable helps you sort the shoot and the darkroom lets you develop the images without overwriting your originals. The workflow is built around photographs and their adjustments. For combining separate images on a canvas, start with a layer editor.

For drawing or painting over an image, Krita gives you separate paint layers and masks so you can change the color or transparency without sacrificing your line work. The developer offers a free Mac installer. If you need to send the finished layers back to a Photoshop user, check the result in Photoshop before handing it off.

For the everyday crop or resize, open the picture in Preview before installing another editor. You can trim the edges or use Adjust Size to set a specific width. Duplicate the original first if you need both versions. It is the quickest choice here when the job ends with one simpler image.