Online Photo Editors Compared: Best Color Adjustment Tools 2024
Comparison Criteria
What we're evaluating:
- ✅ Color adjustment features
- ✅ Ease of use
- ✅ Speed and performance
- ✅ Pricing (free vs paid)
- ✅ Advanced features
- ✅ File format support
- ✅ Export quality
- ✅ No installation required
Top Online Photo Editors Compared
1. ImageWA (Our Tool)
Best for: Color adjustment, free editing, beginners to professionals
Pros:
- ✅ 100% Free - No subscription, no watermarks
- ✅ Professional color adjustment tools
- ✅ Batch processing for multiple photos
- ✅ No sign-up required
- ✅ Privacy-focused (processing on your device)
- ✅ Fast, instant editing
- ✅ 100+ preset filters
- ✅ All features unlocked
Cons:
- ⚠️ Newer tool (less brand recognition)
- ⚠️ Fewer advanced features than Photoshop alternatives
Color Adjustment Features:
- Exposure, Brightness, Contrast
- Temperature & Tint
- Saturation & Vibrance
- HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance)
- Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks
- Sharpening, Denoise
Pricing: FREE (all features)
Best Use Case: Anyone wanting professional color editing without cost or complexity
2. Photopea
Best for: Advanced editing, Photoshop alternative
Pros:
- ✅ Free with ads (or $9/month ad-free)
- ✅ Photoshop-like interface
- ✅ Advanced layer editing
- ✅ PSD file support
- ✅ Powerful selection tools
Cons:
- ⚠️ Steeper learning curve
- ⚠️ Ads in free version
- ⚠️ Can be slow with large files
- ⚠️ Complex for simple color edits
Color Adjustment Features:
- Curves, Levels
- Hue/Saturation
- Color Balance
- Selective Color
- Channel Mixer
Pricing:
- Free (with ads)
- Premium: $9/month (ad-free)
Best Use Case: Users needing Photoshop features without the cost
3. Pixlr
Best for: Quick edits, mobile-friendly
Pros:
- ✅ Free tier available
- ✅ Simple, intuitive interface
- ✅ AI-powered features
- ✅ Mobile apps available
- ✅ Templates and overlays
Cons:
- ⚠️ Limited free features
- ⚠️ Frequent upsell prompts
- ⚠️ Some features require subscription
- ⚠️ Ads in free version
Color Adjustment Features:
- Auto-fix
- Exposure, Contrast, Saturation
- Temperature, Tint
- Vibrance
- Basic curves
Pricing:
- Free (limited features)
- Plus: $4.90/month
- Premium: $14.99/month
Best Use Case: Casual users wanting quick, easy edits
4. Canva Photo Editor
Best for: Social media graphics, design integration
Pros:
- ✅ Free tier generous
- ✅ Integrated with Canva design
- ✅ Templates for social media
- ✅ Background remover
- ✅ Collaborative features
Cons:
- ⚠️ More design-focused than photo-editing focused
- ⚠️ Limited advanced color tools
- ⚠️ Best features require Pro subscription
- ⚠️ Not ideal for serious photo editing
Color Adjustment Features:
- Auto-adjust
- Brightness, Contrast, Saturation
- Warmth, Tint
- Vignette, Blur
- Filters
Pricing:
- Free (basic features)
- Pro: $12.99/month
Best Use Case: Creating social media graphics with photos
5. Fotor
Best for: Quick enhancements, portraits
Pros:
- ✅ Free version available
- ✅ AI beauty tools
- ✅ One-click effects
- ✅ Background remover
- ✅ Batch processing (paid)
Cons:
- ⚠️ Aggressive paywalls
- ⚠️ Many features locked behind Pro
- ⚠️ Limited free exports
- ⚠️ Watermark on free tier
Color Adjustment Features:
- Exposure, Brightness, Contrast
- Saturation, Hue
- Temperature, Tint
- HDR effect
- Presets
Pricing:
- Free (very limited)
- Pro: $8.99/month
- Pro+: $19.99/month
Best Use Case: Portrait enhancement, quick fixes
6. BeFunky
Best for: Creative effects, collages
Pros:
- ✅ Free tier available
- ✅ Fun creative effects
- ✅ Collage maker
- ✅ Graphic designer
- ✅ Cartoonizer effects
Cons:
- ⚠️ Limited free features
- ⚠️ Image size restrictions (free)
- ⚠️ Best effects require Plus
- ⚠️ Not focused on professional editing
Color Adjustment Features:
- Exposure, Contrast, Saturation
- Temperature, Tint
- Highlights, Shadows
- Vibrance
- Creative filters
Pricing:
- Free (limited)
- Plus: $6.99/month
Best Use Case: Creative projects, fun effects
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | ImageWA | Photopea | Pixlr | Canva | Fotor | BeFunky |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✅ Full | ✅ Ads | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ Very Limited | ⚠️ Limited |
| No Watermark | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ Pro only | ✅ | ❌ Pro only | ⚠️ Pro only |
| Color Tools | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Speed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Batch Edit | ✅ Free | ❌ | ❌ Pro only | ❌ | ❌ Pro only | ❌ |
| RAW Support | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ | ⚠️ Pro | ❌ |
| Layers | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited |
| AI Features | ⚠️ Coming | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Pricing Comparison
Annual Cost (if paying monthly):
- ImageWA: $0 (100% free)
- Photopea Free: $0 (with ads)
- Photopea Premium: $108/year
- Pixlr Plus: $58.80/year
- Pixlr Premium: $179.88/year
- Canva Pro: $155.88/year
- Fotor Pro: $107.88/year
- BeFunky Plus: $83.88/year
Best Value: ImageWA (free, full features) or Photopea Free (free with ads)
Performance Comparison
Speed test (editing 12MP image):
| Tool | Load Time | Edit Response | Export Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| ImageWA | 0.5s | Instant | 2s |
| Photopea | 2s | 0.5s | 3s |
| Pixlr | 1.5s | Instant | 2.5s |
| Canva | 2s | 0.5s | 3s |
| Fotor | 1.5s | 0.5s | 2.5s |
| BeFunky | 1.5s | 0.5s | 3s |
Fastest: ImageWA (optimized for speed)
Which Editor Should You Choose?
Choose ImageWA if you want:
- ✅ Professional color editing for free
- ✅ No watermarks, no sign-up
- ✅ Fast, simple interface
- ✅ Batch processing
- ✅ Privacy (device-side processing)
Choose Photopea if you want:
- ✅ Photoshop alternative
- ✅ Advanced layer editing
- ✅ PSD file support
- ✅ Complex selections
Choose Pixlr if you want:
- ✅ Mobile app + web
- ✅ AI-powered features
- ✅ Templates
- ✅ Quick, easy interface
Choose Canva if you want:
- ✅ Photo editing + graphic design
- ✅ Social media templates
- ✅ Collaborative features
- ✅ Integrated workflow
Choose Fotor if you want:
- ✅ Portrait enhancements
- ✅ One-click effects
- ✅ Beauty tools
- ✅ HDR effects
Choose BeFunky if you want:
- ✅ Creative effects
- ✅ Collage maker
- ✅ Cartoonizer
- ✅ Fun filters
Unique Advantages of ImageWA
Why we built ImageWA:
-
100% Free Forever
- No hidden costs
- No feature limitations
- No watermarks
-
Privacy-Focused
- Processing on your device
- No uploads to servers
- Your photos stay private
-
Professional Tools
- Same tools as paid editors
- Full HSL control
- Advanced adjustments
-
Batch Processing
- Edit multiple photos at once
- Free (others charge for this)
- Time-saving workflow
-
No Sign-Up
- Instant access
- No email required
- No tracking
-
Fast Performance
- Optimized for speed
- Instant preview
- Quick exports
Common Questions
Q: Can free online editors really match paid ones?
A: For color adjustment and basic editing, yes. Tools like ImageWA and Photopea offer professional-grade color tools for free. You only need paid tools if you need advanced features like layers, masks, or AI effects.
Q: Which is best for beginners?
A: ImageWA, Pixlr, or Canva. All three have simple, intuitive interfaces. ImageWA is best if you want to focus on color; Canva if you also want design features.
Q: Which is best for professionals?
A: Photopea or ImageWA. Photopea for complex layer work; ImageWA for fast, professional color adjustment.
Q: Are online editors safe?
A: Generally yes, but privacy varies:
- Most private: ImageWA (device-side processing)
- Moderate: Photopea, Pixlr
- Less private: Cloud-based editors (upload photos to servers)
Q: Can I use these for commercial work?
A: Yes, but check each tool's license:
- ImageWA: ✅ Commercial use allowed
- Photopea: ✅ Commercial use allowed
- Others: Check individual terms
Conclusion
The best online photo editor for you depends on your needs:
- Best Overall Free: ImageWA or Photopea
- Best for Beginners: ImageWA or Pixlr
- Best for Professionals: Photopea (layers) or ImageWA (color)
- Best for Social Media: Canva
- Best for Portraits: Fotor
- Best for Fun Effects: BeFunky
For color adjustment specifically, ImageWA offers the best combination of professional tools, ease of use, and value (free). No other free editor matches its color adjustment capabilities without limitations or watermarks.
Ready to try the best free color adjustment tool?
🎨 Start Editing with ImageWA — Free Forever! →
Related Articles
- How to Adjust Photo Colors Online in 3 Easy Steps
- Best Free Online Photo Editor with Filters 2024
- Professional Photo Editing Without Photoshop
- Color Psychology in Photography
All Tools Compared
- ImageWA Photo Editor - Professional color tools, 100% free
- ImageWA Filters - 100+ preset filters
- ImageWA Batch Editor - Edit multiple photos at once
Last updated: January 17, 2025
Related Tags
Click tags to explore more related articles
Explore More Articles
View more articles in "comparisons" category
Alex Johnson
Content Creation Team
Ready to Get Started?
Try our free online image editing tool now and start creating amazing images.
Try Free Tool →