Quick Overview
- 1#1: Adobe Photoshop - Industry-standard photo editing software with advanced tools for precise portrait retouching, frequency separation, liquify, and AI neural filters.
- 2#2: PortraitPro - AI-powered software specialized in automatic facial feature enhancement, skin retouching, and body slimming for professional portraits.
- 3#3: Luminar Neo - AI-driven photo editor featuring Face AI, Skin AI, Body AI, and relight tools for effortless portrait enhancement.
- 4#4: Affinity Photo - High-performance photo editor with one-time purchase model, offering non-destructive layers and advanced portrait retouching brushes.
- 5#5: Capture One Pro - Professional RAW processor renowned for superior color grading, skin tone accuracy, and tethered portrait shooting.
- 6#6: Retouch4me - Suite of AI plugins for Photoshop and Lightroom that automate skin retouching, dodge & burn, and healing for portraits.
- 7#7: Evoto - AI portrait retouching software providing one-click skin smoothing, teeth whitening, eye enhancement, and body reshaping.
- 8#8: ON1 Portrait AI - AI tool that intelligently adds studio lighting, dimensions, and retouches portraits with focus on eyes, skin, and mouth.
- 9#9: DxO PhotoLab - Advanced RAW editor with top-tier noise reduction, lens corrections, and local adjustments for high-quality portrait processing.
- 10#10: Imagenomic Portraiture - AI skin smoothing plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom that intelligently reduces blemishes while preserving skin texture.
Tools were evaluated and ranked based on advanced features, output quality, ease of use, and overall value, ensuring a curated guide suitable for both hobbyists and professionals.
Comparison Table
This comparison table explores top portrait editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop, PortraitPro, Luminar Neo, Affinity Photo, and Capture One Pro, to guide users in finding tools aligned with their editing goals. It outlines key features, unique strengths, and ideal use cases, from advanced retouching to streamlined portrait enhancement.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adobe Photoshop Industry-standard photo editing software with advanced tools for precise portrait retouching, frequency separation, liquify, and AI neural filters. | creative_suite | 9.8/10 | 10/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 2 | PortraitPro AI-powered software specialized in automatic facial feature enhancement, skin retouching, and body slimming for professional portraits. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 3 | Luminar Neo AI-driven photo editor featuring Face AI, Skin AI, Body AI, and relight tools for effortless portrait enhancement. | general_ai | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | Affinity Photo High-performance photo editor with one-time purchase model, offering non-destructive layers and advanced portrait retouching brushes. | creative_suite | 8.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 5 | Capture One Pro Professional RAW processor renowned for superior color grading, skin tone accuracy, and tethered portrait shooting. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 6 | Retouch4me Suite of AI plugins for Photoshop and Lightroom that automate skin retouching, dodge & burn, and healing for portraits. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | Evoto AI portrait retouching software providing one-click skin smoothing, teeth whitening, eye enhancement, and body reshaping. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 8 | ON1 Portrait AI AI tool that intelligently adds studio lighting, dimensions, and retouches portraits with focus on eyes, skin, and mouth. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.3/10 | 7.7/10 |
| 9 | DxO PhotoLab Advanced RAW editor with top-tier noise reduction, lens corrections, and local adjustments for high-quality portrait processing. | creative_suite | 7.4/10 | 6.8/10 | 7.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 10 | Imagenomic Portraiture AI skin smoothing plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom that intelligently reduces blemishes while preserving skin texture. | specialized | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 |
Industry-standard photo editing software with advanced tools for precise portrait retouching, frequency separation, liquify, and AI neural filters.
AI-powered software specialized in automatic facial feature enhancement, skin retouching, and body slimming for professional portraits.
AI-driven photo editor featuring Face AI, Skin AI, Body AI, and relight tools for effortless portrait enhancement.
High-performance photo editor with one-time purchase model, offering non-destructive layers and advanced portrait retouching brushes.
Professional RAW processor renowned for superior color grading, skin tone accuracy, and tethered portrait shooting.
Suite of AI plugins for Photoshop and Lightroom that automate skin retouching, dodge & burn, and healing for portraits.
AI portrait retouching software providing one-click skin smoothing, teeth whitening, eye enhancement, and body reshaping.
AI tool that intelligently adds studio lighting, dimensions, and retouches portraits with focus on eyes, skin, and mouth.
Advanced RAW editor with top-tier noise reduction, lens corrections, and local adjustments for high-quality portrait processing.
AI skin smoothing plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom that intelligently reduces blemishes while preserving skin texture.
Adobe Photoshop
creative_suiteIndustry-standard photo editing software with advanced tools for precise portrait retouching, frequency separation, liquify, and AI neural filters.
Neural Filters with Smart Portrait, enabling AI-powered one-click adjustments to age, smile, gaze, and facial expressions
Adobe Photoshop is the industry-leading raster graphics editor renowned for its comprehensive portrait editing capabilities, enabling precise retouching, skin smoothing, and facial manipulations. It excels in tools like the Spot Healing Brush, Clone Stamp, Liquify filter, and advanced AI-driven Neural Filters tailored for portraits, such as Smart Portrait for adjusting age, expressions, and gaze direction. With non-destructive editing layers and frequency separation techniques, it provides unparalleled control for professional-grade results in portrait enhancement and compositing.
Pros
- Unrivaled depth of portrait-specific tools including AI Neural Filters for skin, eyes, and facial adjustments
- Precise selection tools like Select Subject and Object Selection for effortless subject isolation
- Non-destructive editing workflow with layers, masks, and adjustment panels for iterative retouching
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring significant time investment for mastery
- Subscription-only pricing model with no perpetual license option
- High CPU/GPU demands, potentially sluggish on lower-end hardware
Best For
Professional photographers, retouchers, and studios needing the most advanced, precise portrait editing tools available.
Pricing
Subscription-based: $22.99/month (billed annually) for Photoshop single-app plan; included in Photography plan ($9.99/month) or All Apps ($59.99/month).
PortraitPro
specializedAI-powered software specialized in automatic facial feature enhancement, skin retouching, and body slimming for professional portraits.
Advanced machine learning-based face sculpting and enhancement sliders
PortraitPro is an AI-driven standalone software and Photoshop/Lightroom plugin specialized in professional portrait retouching. It uses advanced facial recognition to automatically detect and enhance features like skin texture, eyes, teeth, lips, and facial structure with natural-looking results. Photographers can slim faces, relight portraits, apply makeup effects, and perform batch processing for efficient workflows.
Pros
- Powerful AI facial detection for precise, natural enhancements
- Comprehensive tools including skin smoothing, relighting, and virtual makeup
- Batch processing and plugin integration for pro workflows
Cons
- High upfront cost for full editions
- Steeper learning curve for advanced controls
- Limited to portrait editing, not general photo manipulation
Best For
Professional portrait and wedding photographers needing fast, automated high-end retouching.
Pricing
One-time purchase: Standard $99.95, Studio $179.95, Max $299.95 (with optional upgrade subscriptions).
Luminar Neo
general_aiAI-driven photo editor featuring Face AI, Skin AI, Body AI, and relight tools for effortless portrait enhancement.
RelightAI for selectively adjusting lighting on faces and subjects with realistic results
Luminar Neo is an AI-powered photo editing software from Skylum that offers robust portrait editing capabilities through tools like SkinAI, Eye AI, and Body AI. It enables quick enhancements such as skin smoothing, eye enlargement and brightening, slimming, and natural relighting with RelightAI. The software also features Portrait Bokeh AI for creating professional depth-of-field effects, making it suitable for both amateur and professional portrait retouchers.
Pros
- Exceptional AI-driven portrait tools like SkinAI and RelightAI for natural results
- One-click editing with non-destructive layers for quick workflows
- Impressive performance on large files and GPU acceleration
Cons
- Subscription model required for full AI extensions and updates
- Some AI results need manual tweaks for perfection
- Limited advanced masking compared to dedicated tools like Photoshop
Best For
Portrait photographers and hobbyists who want fast, AI-assisted retouching without a steep learning curve.
Pricing
Perpetual license from $149; annual subscription $79/year with extensions extra.
Affinity Photo
creative_suiteHigh-performance photo editor with one-time purchase model, offering non-destructive layers and advanced portrait retouching brushes.
Dedicated Liquify Persona with mesh warp tools for precise, non-destructive facial reshaping and body sculpting.
Affinity Photo is a professional-grade raster image editor that serves as a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Photoshop, offering powerful tools for portrait retouching such as frequency separation, skin smoothing brushes, liquify transformations, and AI-powered subject selection. It supports non-destructive editing workflows with layers, masks, live filters, and adjustment layers, making it ideal for detailed facial enhancements, blemish removal, and reshaping. Available on desktop and iPad with seamless file compatibility, it delivers high-performance editing without recurring subscriptions.
Pros
- Comprehensive retouching toolkit including inpainting brush, clone stamp, and dodge/burn for precise skin work
- Non-destructive editing with Personas for specialized tasks like Liquify and Develop
- Outstanding value as a one-time purchase with cross-platform support
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to dense interface and advanced features
- Lacks advanced AI portrait-specific tools like automatic relighting or age simulation found in dedicated software
- No integrated cataloging or batch processing optimized for high-volume portrait workflows
Best For
Professional portrait photographers seeking a powerful, subscription-free Photoshop alternative for detailed manual retouching.
Pricing
One-time purchase: $69.99 per platform (Windows/Mac/iPad); $169.99 Universal License for all platforms.
Capture One Pro
enterpriseProfessional RAW processor renowned for superior color grading, skin tone accuracy, and tethered portrait shooting.
Skin Tone Uniformity tool for seamless, natural skin tone balancing across portraits
Capture One Pro is a professional RAW photo editing software celebrated for its exceptional color science, precise masking, and layer-based workflow, making it a powerhouse for high-end portrait retouching. It provides tools like Skin Tone Uniformity, advanced healing brushes, and customizable curves tailored for natural skin adjustments and dodging/burning. While not exclusively a portrait editor, its capabilities shine in delivering studio-quality results with unparalleled detail and fidelity.
Pros
- Superior color accuracy and skin tone tools for lifelike portrait rendering
- Robust layer system and precise masking for complex retouching
- High-performance healing/clone tools with excellent edge detection
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners unfamiliar with pro workflows
- Limited AI-driven automation compared to dedicated portrait apps
- Subscription model can feel pricey for casual users
Best For
Professional portrait photographers seeking manual precision and color fidelity over automated editing.
Pricing
Perpetual license $299; subscription $24/month or $179/year.
Retouch4me
specializedSuite of AI plugins for Photoshop and Lightroom that automate skin retouching, dodge & burn, and healing for portraits.
Self-adapting AI algorithms that automatically detect and mask skin, eyes, and teeth for precise, context-aware edits
Retouch4me is a suite of AI-powered plugins for Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, specializing in automated portrait retouching tasks such as skin smoothing, dodge and burn, eye enhancement, and blemish removal. Each plugin uses intelligent algorithms to detect facial features and apply professional-grade edits with minimal user input. It streamlines workflows for photographers by delivering natural-looking results in seconds, reducing the need for manual masking and adjustments.
Pros
- Exceptionally fast AI-driven processing for one-click results
- Highly accurate facial detection and natural skin retouching
- Seamless integration with Photoshop for professional workflows
Cons
- Requires Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom (not standalone)
- High cost for purchasing multiple plugins
- Limited customization options compared to manual tools
Best For
Professional portrait photographers and retouchers who need quick, automated enhancements without sacrificing quality.
Pricing
Individual plugins $99-$199 one-time purchase; bundles and free trials available; no subscription required.
Evoto
specializedAI portrait retouching software providing one-click skin smoothing, teeth whitening, eye enhancement, and body reshaping.
AI Batch Retouch that intelligently applies portrait enhancements across entire shoots in one go
Evoto (evoto.ai) is an AI-powered desktop software specialized in portrait retouching, automating tasks like skin smoothing, face slimming, eye brightening, teeth whitening, and body reshaping. It excels in batch processing for high-volume workflows, delivering natural-looking results with minimal manual input. Designed for photographers, it streamlines professional portrait editing while preserving photo quality across formats like RAW and JPEG.
Pros
- Powerful AI automation for skin, face, and body retouching
- Efficient batch processing for hundreds of images
- Intuitive interface with one-click presets for quick results
Cons
- Limited to portrait-specific editing, lacks general photo tools
- Subscription model without robust one-time purchase option
- AI can sometimes over-process, needing manual adjustments
Best For
Portrait and wedding photographers who edit large batches of photos and prioritize speed over fine-grained manual control.
Pricing
Subscriptions from $7.99/month (billed annually) for Standard plan, up to $19.99/month for Pro, with 7-day free trial.
ON1 Portrait AI
specializedAI tool that intelligently adds studio lighting, dimensions, and retouches portraits with focus on eyes, skin, and mouth.
AI Relight tool that intelligently adjusts portrait lighting direction, intensity, and color in real-time
ON1 Portrait AI is a specialized AI-powered tool for portrait retouching that automatically detects facial features to smooth skin, enhance eyes and lips, whiten teeth, and relight portraits with natural results. It functions as a standalone app or plug-in for Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Capture One, enabling batch processing for efficiency. Ideal for photographers, it delivers professional retouches in seconds without requiring extensive manual adjustments.
Pros
- Ultra-fast AI-driven retouching with accurate face detection
- Natural-looking skin smoothing and feature enhancements
- Seamless integration as a plug-in with major photo editors
Cons
- Limited advanced manual controls for fine-tuned edits
- Occasional over-processing on complex skin tones or lighting
- One-time cost may not justify for users needing broader editing tools
Best For
Busy portrait photographers seeking quick, automated professional retouches without deep manual intervention.
Pricing
One-time purchase for $59.99; included in ON1 Photo RAW subscription ($9.99/month or $99.99/year).
DxO PhotoLab
creative_suiteAdvanced RAW editor with top-tier noise reduction, lens corrections, and local adjustments for high-quality portrait processing.
DeepPRIME XD AI-powered noise reduction
DxO PhotoLab is a professional RAW photo editor renowned for its exceptional noise reduction, lens corrections, and optical optimizations, making it a powerful tool for processing high-quality images. For portrait editing, it provides precise local adjustments, selective tone controls, and HSL tools to refine skin tones, eyes, and lighting without destructive edits. While lacking specialized AI-driven portrait retouching like automatic skin smoothing or facial recognition, its DeepPRIME technology excels at denoising low-light portraits while preserving fine details such as skin texture and hair.
Pros
- Superior DeepPRIME noise reduction preserves natural skin details in low-light portraits
- Precise local adjustment tools like control points for targeted skin and eye enhancements
- Accurate automatic lens corrections ensure distortion-free facial features
Cons
- Lacks dedicated portrait AI tools for skin retouching, teeth whitening, or eye sharpening
- Steep learning curve for advanced features overwhelms casual portrait editors
- Not optimized for batch portrait workflows compared to specialized software
Best For
RAW shooters and professionals who prioritize noise-free, lens-corrected portrait processing over automated retouching.
Pricing
Perpetual license: Essential $139, Elite $219; subscription from $7.99/month or $89.99/year.
Imagenomic Portraiture
specializedAI skin smoothing plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom that intelligently reduces blemishes while preserving skin texture.
Adaptive three-layer skin model that intelligently detects and smooths only skin areas while protecting eyes, hair, and textures
Imagenomic Portraiture is a specialized plugin for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and Aperture, focused on automatic skin retouching and portrait enhancement. It uses advanced algorithms to smooth skin, reduce blemishes, and even out tones while intelligently preserving critical details like eyes, lips, hair, and textures. Ideal for quick, non-destructive edits, it offers presets, manual sliders, and batch processing for efficient workflows in professional portrait editing.
Pros
- Exceptional automatic skin smoothing with detail preservation
- Batch processing for high-volume workflows
- Non-destructive editing integrated seamlessly with Adobe apps
Cons
- Requires host software like Photoshop (not standalone)
- Dated interface lacking modern UI polish
- Narrow focus on skin retouching, limited full-portrait tools
Best For
Professional photographers and retouchers needing fast, reliable skin enhancement within Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom workflows.
Pricing
One-time perpetual license at $199.95, with free trial available.
Conclusion
The top 3 portrait editing tools each excel in distinct ways, with Adobe Photoshop leading as the industry standard, offering advanced precision and versatile tools. PortraitPro stands out for its AI-driven automatic enhancements, while Luminar Neo impresses with effortless, comprehensive AI-powered adjustments—each a strong choice for different needs.
Don’t miss out—try Adobe Photoshop to experience professional-grade retouching firsthand and elevate your portrait work.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison