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January 6, 2014updated 22 Sep 2016 2:03pm

Top 5 free photo editing apps

We pick five of the best photo editing editing apps that are free to download on iOS and Android.

By Kate Heslop

With more and more people using their phones to take pictures rather than cameras, the use of mobile photo sharing apps such as Instagram and Snapchat has soared too, with photos more likely to get edited and shared using phones and tablets rather than on computers.

This means that it is becoming more unlikely that you would take a picture using the camera on your phone, only then to transfer it to your laptop to edit on Photoshop and then upload to Facebook. Editing capabilities on phones have become more advanced, with Instagram leading the way for hundreds of photo editing apps. We pick ten of the best that are available on Android and iOS and are all free to download.

5. Repix

Repix

Now available on Android as well as iOS, the app has taken the spotlight away from other serious editing apps such as the Photoshop series. Users can play with brightness, contrast and colour temperature control, with a wide range of brushes for fine detailing. Although it is free to download there are some in-app purchases, so you may have to pay for extra filters and tools.

4. Photo Editor by Aviary

Aviary

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The Aviary app is a mix of Instagram’s scenic filters and Snapseed’s editing tools. It also features a zoom tool, so users can focus on key parts of the image to edit, which is rare amongst other photo editing apps. Photos can be easily shared on social networking sites, but look out for the extra costs for more tools and effects.

3. Snapseed

Snapseed

Snapseed is an increasingly popular photo editing app that has a wide selection of filters and tools. The Tune Image tool allows users to adjust the image’s brightness, shadows and warmth. Photo editing is made simple with one-touch enhancements and quick ways to fine tune the colour and contrast of your images.

2. Hipstamatic Oggl

oggl

Oggl is the newest app set to rival Instagram. Oggl follows on from the Classic app from Hipstamatic, but the main difference between the two is that Oggl is free to download. The app allows users to create ‘favourite’ filters, making it personalised and speeding up the editing process. Photos can be shared on the Oggl app and to most social networking sites, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Foursquare.

1. Instagram

Instagram Screenshot

The original and the best, Instagram is the app that has redefined mobile photography and picture editing. With a range of filters and other effects such as blurring and bordering, the popular app lets you easily share your photos on Facebook and Twitter, and can make even the most boring photos look interesting or vintage inspired.

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