Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, whose main strength is its focus on visual content. Users post millions of photos every day, trying to attract attention with their unique aesthetics and creativity. To facilitate this process, Instagram offers built-in filters and basic photo editing tools that allow users to quickly tweak an image before publishing it. However, for those who want to make their photos stand out from the rest, the standard features often prove insufficient. That's why it's worth reaching for third-party photo editing apps that offer much more customisation and unique effects. In this section, we take a look at the best free tools to help you give your photos a unique design and increase their appeal on Instagram.
1. Adobe Lightroom Photo Editor
Adobe Lightroom Photo Editor is one of the most popular photo editing tools among Instagram users. With thousands of 5-star reviews, Lightroom is a feature-rich app available for both computers and mobile devices - it has an iOS and Android version.
When to choose?
If you are a content creator who wants to dramatically transform your feed on Instagram, Lightroom is the best choice for you.
Advantages
- Catalogue database style for easier browsing of images
- Easy search for specific images
- Preset functions
Disadvantages
- Inconvenient for editing multiple images at once
- No synchronisation option
- Adobe paid account required
In my experience, I am impressed with the editing features. It provides one-touch colour functions and camera art modes that make my photos look professional and high quality, even when they are not.
2. VSCO
VSCO is one of the best photo editing apps on Instagram, used by many influencers. It's a simple to use app but offers a lot of filters, editing tools and preset effects to give you an influencer-like feed for free. When I started using it, I got a structured feed and this app made me feel like a real pro.
When to choose?
If you're a creative looking to build an influencer-level photo portfolio, the basic version of VSCO is a great start.
Advantages
- Retro film rolls preset palette
- Good for direct mobile photography
- Playback of already saved edits
- RGB spectrum curve tool
Disadvantages
- No dark mode
- No PC use
3. Snapseed
Snapseed is a complete and professional photo editing studio created by Google. It is another popular photo editing app, known for its creative editing tools, plugin library, one-touch presets and portrait tools.
Here's a quote from users in the Google Play shop:
This app is one of my main photo editing apps. It has a lot of options and they all work relatively well. I like the amount of options available and find it much easier to use than most photo editing apps. I highly recommend it and have not had any problems with it.
When to choose?
Snapseed is a beginner-friendly Instagram tool for photo manipulation, face retouching and similar adjustments, even if you are not a creator or photographer.
Advantages
- Completely free, no restrictions
- One-touch professional presets
- Editing portrait photos
Disadvantages
- Lack of integration with social media
- Non-intuitive options
4 Afterlight
Do you have an eye for colour tones and lighting effects in your photos? Then Afterlight will be the best app for your editing adventures. There are a lot of colour editing features and light leaks that I like, with over 130 photo filters for creatives. Colours are important to me and make my photos look clean and professional, so this app provides me with that straight away.
When to choose?
If you care about light leaks and the colours of your photo, Afterlight is the right choice.
Advantages
- Selective colour editing effects
- Modern light leaks
- User-friendly interface
Disadvantages
- Long editing times
- No zoom option
5. Picsart Photo & Video Editor
PicsArt is the last photo editing app on our list. It is a comprehensive Photoshop-type tool, offering professional editing, artistic filters and millions of stickers. There is an option to create your own stickers for posts.
When to choose?
Do you like to design creative content for your feed on Instagram? Then PicsArt is the best choice for you, featuring millions of ready-made stickers and various overlays.
Advantages
- User-friendly interface
- Possibility to create your own stickers
- Font palette, collages, masks
Disadvantages
- Lots of advertising in the free plan
- Difficult to use overlays
Instagram is a platform that promotes aesthetically pleasing visual content. To take the quality of your photos to the next level, it makes sense to use additional editing apps. Prominent among the best free tools are Adobe Lightroom, VSCO, Snapseed, Afterlight and PicsArt. Adobe Lightroom offers advanced professional editing features, especially appreciated by creatives and photographers. VSCO is an intuitive application with retro presets, popular with influencers. Snapseed, created by Google, is a versatile and free editing studio, ideal for beginners. Afterlight focuses on subtle lighting and colour effects, while PicsArt allows for creative projects using stickers and art filters. Each app has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's worth choosing a tool tailored to your needs to make your photos stand out on Instagram with unique style and high quality.
