AI tools
Best AI photo editors (2026): free and paid, in rand
The full ranking
8 scored · 0–10- 1
Adobe Photoshop and Firefly Our pick
Adobe says Photoshop's Generative Fill adds and removes content from images using simple text prompts, and that output from its own Firefly models is safe for commercial use. The Photography plan, with Photoshop, Lightroom and 1,000 monthly credits, costs R263.35 a month including VAT, and Firefly's free daily generations cover background removal.
Best for: The most capable AI photo editing, with commercially safe results
Price: Firefly free daily generations; Photography plan R263.35 a month, Photoshop R302.45, Firefly Pro R438.15 (Adobe's South African prices, including VAT) · Free plan: Yes: Firefly's free daily generations, including background removal; Photoshop has a 7-day free trial
Result quality 10.0Ease of use 7.0Free use 6.0Price in rand 7.0Tool range 10.0Business use 10.0
Good and watch out
- Good: The deepest editing tools, with Generative Fill built in
- Good: Rand prices that already include VAT
- Good: Adobe's own models are trained on licensed and public-domain content
- Watch out: More to learn than one-tap apps
- Watch out: The Photoshop-only plan includes just 25 generative credits a month
8.3 - 2
Upload a photo to the free Gemini app, describe the change, such as a new background or a removed object, and Nano Banana 2 makes the edit. Paid Google AI plans, from R104.99 a month in rand, add the stronger Nano Banana Pro. Gemini images carry a visible watermark and Google's hidden SynthID mark.
Best for: Free photo edits by describing the change
Price: Free; Google AI Plus R104.99 a month, Google AI Pro R429.99 a month (Google's South African prices) · Free plan: Yes: photo editing in the Gemini app, within Google's usage limits
Result quality 9.0Ease of use 10.0Free use 8.0Price in rand 9.0Tool range 6.0Business use 6.0
Good and watch out
- Good: Edit by describing the change in plain words
- Good: Keeps up to five characters consistent, according to Google
- Good: Paid plans billed in rand
- Watch out: Visible watermark on images
- Watch out: No layers, masks or batch tools
8.0 - 3
Photoroom is built for product photos: background removal, retouching, AI backgrounds, shadows, expand and an image enhancer. It sells in rand in South Africa, with Pro at ZAR 89.99 a month, or ZAR 49.99 a month billed yearly, for 4,500 AI credits and 1,000 exports.
Best for: Product photos for online shops and social selling
Price: Pro ZAR 89.99 a month or ZAR 49.99 billed yearly; Max ZAR 240 or ZAR 121 billed yearly (Photoroom's South African prices) · Free plan: Free to start; the pricing page lists paid plans, each with a free trial
Result quality 8.0Ease of use 9.0Free use 5.0Price in rand 9.0Tool range 7.0Business use 9.0
Good and watch out
- Good: Rand prices on its South African pricing page
- Good: Unlimited core tools, such as background removal and retouching, on paid plans
- Good: AI backgrounds and product-listing tools
- Watch out: Built for products more than portraits
- Watch out: Heavier AI tools draw on monthly credits
7.8 - 4
Canva Free includes its Image Upscaler within 20 AI uses a month, and edited photos drop straight into designs. Removing backgrounds and generating new ones need a paid plan, and Pro costs R900 a year in South Africa.
Best for: Quick edits that go straight into social posts and flyers
Price: Free; Canva Pro R900 a year (Canva's South African price) · Free plan: Yes: up to 20 AI uses a month, including the Image Upscaler; background removal needs Pro
Result quality 7.0Ease of use 9.0Free use 6.0Price in rand 9.0Tool range 8.0Business use 7.0
Good and watch out
- Good: Free image upscaler within the AI allowance
- Good: Edits go straight into templates
- Good: Low rand price for Pro
- Watch out: Background removal is not on the free plan
- Watch out: Small free AI allowance
7.7 - 5
Pixlr runs in the browser and on phones, with a background remover, an AI image editor and a generator. Plus costs US$2.49 a month, or US$1.99 billed yearly, and removes ads with 80 AI credits; Premium, at US$9.99 a month, adds 1,000 credits and all AI models.
Best for: A cheap browser-based editor with AI tools
Price: Plus US$2.49 a month or US$1.99 billed yearly; Premium US$9.99 or US$7.99 billed yearly (about R41, R32, R163 and R130 before VAT) · Free plan: Yes: free to use with ads; paid plans add ad-free editing, unlimited saves and AI credits
Result quality 7.0Ease of use 8.0Free use 7.0Price in rand 9.0Tool range 8.0Business use 6.0
Good and watch out
- Good: Very low paid prices
- Good: Works in the browser, with nothing to install
- Good: Background remover and AI edits in one editor
- Watch out: The free version shows ads
- Watch out: Plus includes only 80 AI credits a month
7.5 - 6
Picsart's Pro plan, at US$15 a month or US$10.50 billed yearly, includes all its photo and video editing features, advanced background and object removal, a one-tap enhancer and bulk editing of up to 50 images. It also bundles image and video models such as Nano Banana Pro and Seedance 2.5.
Best for: Social media edits, effects and bulk editing
Price: Pro US$15 a month or US$10.50 billed yearly (about R245 or R171 before VAT) · Free plan: Free app to download; the pricing page lists Pro and Ultra, and most plans include a free trial
Result quality 7.0Ease of use 8.0Free use 5.0Price in rand 7.0Tool range 9.0Business use 7.0
Good and watch out
- Good: Bulk editing of up to 50 images on Pro
- Good: Advanced background and object removal
- Good: Large library of templates, fonts and stickers
- Watch out: Free-app limits are not listed on its pricing page
- Watch out: Billed in US dollars, plus VAT
7.2 - 7
Samsung Galaxy AI (Photo Assist)
On Galaxy phones from the S24 series onward, Photo Assist lets you move, resize or delete objects and fills the gap with AI. Samsung says its basic Galaxy AI features are free, but that future enhanced features may be offered on a paid basis.
Best for: Quick edits on a recent Galaxy phone
Price: Free on supported Galaxy phones (Samsung says future enhanced features may be paid) · Free plan: Yes: basic Galaxy AI features are free, according to Samsung
Result quality 7.0Ease of use 9.0Free use 9.0Price in rand 8.0Tool range 5.0Business use 4.0
Good and watch out
- Good: Built into the phone's Gallery
- Good: Free on supported phones
- Good: No separate app to install
- Watch out: Only on recent Galaxy phones
- Watch out: Fewer tools than a full editor
7.0 - 8
Apple Photos Clean Up (Apple Intelligence)
Apple Intelligence adds Clean Up to the Photos app, and with iOS 27 Apple lists an improved Clean Up that removes larger objects, plus new Extend and Spatial Reframing tools. It needs an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 or newer, and Apple says features vary by language and region.
Best for: Removing distractions on a recent iPhone
Price: Free with a supported iPhone, iPad or Mac · Free plan: Yes: included with Apple Intelligence on supported devices; Apple says usage limits may apply
Result quality 7.0Ease of use 9.0Free use 9.0Price in rand 7.0Tool range 4.0Business use 5.0
Good and watch out
- Good: Built into the Photos app
- Good: Free on supported devices
- Good: New Extend and Spatial Reframing tools in iOS 27
- Watch out: Needs an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 or newer
- Watch out: Fewer tools than a full editor
6.8
How we scored · the full method
- 01 Result qualityHow natural the edits look, from object removal to new backgrounds, based on published samples and credible reports.
- 02 Ease of useWhether you can describe a change or tap once, without learning layers and masks.
- 03 Free useWhat you can do without paying, and the limits, watermarks or ads that come with it.
- 04 Price in randWhat regular use costs in rand, including VAT and whether the vendor bills locally.
- 05 Tool rangeBackground removal, upscaling, retouching, batch edits and other tools in one place.
- 06 Business useCommercial terms, product-photo features and brand tools for work.
The best AI photo editor overall is Adobe Photoshop, because Generative Fill and Adobe’s other tools go deeper than any app here and Adobe sells in rand. If you want free, Google’s Gemini app edits a photo from a plain description, and Adobe Firefly and Canva give small free allowances. We scored eight tools on their published plans, prices and features.
Why Adobe Photoshop is the best AI photo editor
Photoshop is where AI editing is most complete. Adobe says Generative Fill adds and removes content from images using simple text prompts, and it sits next to the layers, masks and retouching tools professionals already use. Adobe also says output from its own Firefly models is safe for commercial use, because they are trained on licensed and public-domain content.
The cheapest route in South Africa is the Photography plan: Photoshop on desktop, web and mobile, plus Lightroom, 1 TB of storage and 1,000 generative credits a month for R263.35 a month including VAT. The Photoshop-only plan costs more (R302.45) and includes only 25 credits a month, while Firefly Pro (R438.15) gives unlimited standard features like Generative Fill in Photoshop on web and mobile. There is a 7-day free trial.
Free AI photo editors compared
| Tool | Free use | Paid from | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Gemini | Edit by describing the change | R104.99 a month | Visible watermark |
| Adobe Firefly | Free daily generations, including background removal | R219.65 a month incl. VAT | Daily limits |
| Canva | Up to 20 AI uses a month, including the upscaler | R900 a year | Background removal needs Pro |
| Pixlr | Free browser editor with ads | US$2.49 a month (about R41) | Ads on the free version |
| Photoroom | Free to start | ZAR 49.99 a month billed yearly | Published plans are paid |
| Picsart | Free app | US$10.50 a month billed yearly (about R171) | Free limits not published |
| Samsung Galaxy AI | Photo Assist on S24 and newer | Free | Only on recent Galaxy phones |
| Apple Clean Up | Built into Photos on supported devices | Free | Needs an iPhone 15 Pro or newer |
Dollar prices are converted at US$1 = R16.32 and exclude the 15% VAT South Africa charges on foreign digital services. Adobe, Google, Canva and Photoroom show South African prices in rand.
AI photo editor online, free: what you really get
Most free online editors are free to try rather than free for regular work. Pixlr runs in the browser with ads, and its Plus plan, at US$2.49 a month or US$1.99 billed yearly, removes them and adds 80 AI credits. Adobe Firefly gives free daily generations with an Adobe account, and Adobe says those can be used to remove backgrounds. Canva gives free users up to 20 AI uses a month across its tools, but background removal needs a paid plan.
The most capable free option is the Gemini app: upload a picture and describe the edit. Google says Nano Banana 2 keeps up to five characters consistent, which helps when you edit a set of photos of the same people. The trade-off is Google’s visible watermark.
Google Photos is adding similar editing. You can ask it for edits in plain words through Ask Photos, but Google says that feature is rolling out to selected countries, is for over-18s and needs a personal Google account, so it may not appear for you yet.
AI image upscale: making small photos sharper
An AI upscaler enlarges a photo and sharpens detail, which helps with old or low-resolution pictures. Canva’s Image Upscaler is included on the free plan within the 20 monthly AI uses, and on Pro it does not draw from your allowance. Photoroom includes an image enhancer among the core tools on its paid plans, and Picsart’s Pro plan has a one-tap enhancer. No upscaler can recover detail that was never in the original, so expect cleaner photos, not new information.
Editing on your phone: Samsung and Apple
If you own a recent phone, you may already have a good AI editor. On Galaxy phones from the S24 series onward, Samsung’s Photo Assist moves, resizes or deletes objects and fills the gap. Samsung says basic Galaxy AI features are free, but that future enhanced features may be paid.
On iPhone, Apple Intelligence adds Clean Up to Photos, and with iOS 27 Apple lists an improved Clean Up for larger objects, plus Extend and Spatial Reframing. It needs an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 or newer, and Apple says features can vary by language and region.
Deepfakes and consent
AI makes it easy to put someone somewhere they never were. Before you edit or publish a recognisable person, get their consent, and never use an AI edit to mislead, embarrass or impersonate anyone. In South Africa, sharing an intimate image of a person without their consent is an offence under section 16 of the Cybercrimes Act, and the Act’s definition covers images that are real or simulated and made by any means. For anything that could harm someone, speak to a lawyer first.
For businesses, the safe habits are simple: use photos you own or have permission to use, keep AI edits of real people honest, and label edited images where it matters. For generating images from scratch, see our AI image generator ranking; for logos, the AI logo generator ranking; and for all-round assistants, the best AI apps.
Questions people ask
What is the best free AI photo editor?
Google's Gemini app is the best free AI photo editor for most people: upload a photo and describe the change, and Nano Banana 2 makes it, although the result carries a visible watermark. Adobe Firefly's free daily generations include background removal, Canva's free plan includes an image upscaler within 20 AI uses a month, and recent Samsung and Apple phones have free object removal built in.
Is there a free AI photo editor online?
Yes. Pixlr runs in your browser for free, with ads, and its paid plans start at US$2.49 a month. Adobe Firefly works in the browser with free daily generations, Canva's editor is free with a small monthly AI allowance, and the Gemini app works on the web too. Photoroom lets you start free, but its published plans are paid, from ZAR 49.99 a month billed yearly.
How do I upscale an image with AI?
Canva's Image Upscaler is included on its free plan within 20 AI uses a month, and on Pro it does not draw from your allowance. Photoroom includes an image enhancer on its paid plans, and Picsart's Pro plan has a one-tap enhancer. Upscaling adds pixels and sharpens detail, but it cannot recover detail that was never in the original.
What is the best AI photo editor for product photos?
Photoroom is built for it: background removal, retouching, AI backgrounds, shadows and an image enhancer, with Pro at ZAR 89.99 a month or ZAR 49.99 billed yearly in rand. Adobe Photoshop gives more control if you can learn it. For a quick product shot inside a social post, Canva Pro at R900 a year also removes backgrounds.
Is it legal to edit photos of other people with AI?
Editing a photo is legal, but what you do with it matters. Sharing an intimate image of someone without their consent is an offence under section 16 of the Cybercrimes Act, and the Act's definition covers real or simulated images made by any means. Get consent before you edit or publish a recognisable person, and never use AI edits to mislead or embarrass someone.
Do AI photo editors add watermarks?
Some do. Gemini images carry a visible watermark and Google's hidden SynthID mark, and Adobe attaches Content Credentials to Firefly output. Google Photos lets you check AI information on edited photos. Free tools may add their own marks or ads, so check the export before you use an image in your business.
Sources
- Adobe Photoshop plans (South African rand prices)
- Adobe Photoshop, Generative Fill
- Adobe Firefly plans and commercial use FAQ
- Adobe Firefly background remover
- Google Gemini, Nano Banana 2 image editing
- Google AI plans and rand prices for South Africa
- Google Photos Help, edit your photos
- Photoroom pricing (South African rand prices)
- Canva pricing and AI tools by plan
- Canva Help Centre, understanding your AI usage
- Pixlr pricing
- Picsart pricing
- Samsung South Africa, Galaxy AI
- Apple Intelligence
- Apple Support, Apple Intelligence languages, regions and devices
- Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 (gov.za)
Prices and plans checked September 2026. They change often, so confirm on the vendor's site before you buy.
How Ranker works. Every product and provider is compared on public information and scored against the same published criteria. No vendor pays for rank or placement. One relationship you should know about: Zaiq, rated first among South African AI development partners, is a business related to Ranker, and that is disclosed on every page that rates it. Everything else on the board is scored with no relationship behind it.