When you need to edit photos but don’t have Photoshop

There is no shortage of graphic editing tools out there. Some are better for photos, some are better for illustrations, some are expensive, some are free....and it's a whole other game if you include mobile apps. When it comes to the best options for the desktop, which do we use and recommend?

We're big fans of Adobe's products. On a daily basis, we typically have Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Acrobat Pro open...usually all at the same time. Although we've been using their products for over 20 years, we still learn new things constantly. The Creative Cloud suite isn't cheap we pay $53/month + $30/month for Adobe Stock photos...but it offers all that we need and more.

But not everyone needs to have the full suite and the programs within it do have a large learning curve. Some business owners may see the need for it, but are looking for something easier to master and less expensive. If you are looking for that, here are a few that we recommend:

Best online service for designers: Pixlr (pixlr.com)

We use this service in a pinch when we are on a device without Photoshop (like a Chromebook) and it works amazingly well. After you use it a couple times, you will see how similar it is to Photoshop and will be impressed at what it can do...fully online. Layers, filters, exporting is all available with ease. The free plan has two versions, x and e (x is the simpler setup, e is most like Photoshop) and will have small ads that you can easily dismiss and it will have a short countdown after each save, but this has never come up as an issue. They have a mobile app version too (which includes templates) and you don't need to worry about the upcoming Flash ban (the service is no longer based in Flash).

What we love: It feels like Photoshop, imports Photoshop files, and even allows you to upload a local font (with the free version!).

What we don't like: It uses Reddit for it's support center (but it does offer a great YouTube channel) and it can't open Illustrator files (so export to something other than .ai or .eps before importing into Pixlr).

Best online service for non-designers: Canva (canva.com)

With their templates and easy interface, this online service makes basic design simple for anyone. If you are looking to make a Facebook cover, poster or presentation graphic, this is a good option.

What we love: There are many templates available, and even more available for purchase from great designers. You can definitely use Canva to create beautifully designed items for your business!

What we don't like: You can't import fonts, Photoshop or Illustrator files, and there is a frequent push to upgrade to pro (which is something you might want if you use your own fonts, wish to make custom-sized templates or take advantage of their 'one-click' design resize option).

Best downloadable, cross-platform option: GIMP (gimp.org)

Sometimes you just want a program that's installed on your computer, right? This is the internet's favorite open source, cross-platform image editor.

What we love: It's a good, free alternative to Photoshop that you can install and use whenever/wherever...and it imports Photoshop and Illustrator files with ease.

What we don't like: Their user interface has a lot to be desired, especially when you first get started with the program.