Best AI Image Editing Tools in 2026

While AI image generation gets all the attention, AI image *editing* tools are arguably more useful for most people. Let's look at the best tools for working with existing images.

Background Removal

Remove.bg

The original and still one of the best. One click, background gone. API available for batch processing.

Price: Free tier, Pro from $9/month

Clipdrop

Adobe-acquired tool with background removal plus lots of other features. Very accurate on complex edges.

Price: Free tier, Pro $9/month

Upscaling & Enhancement

Topaz Photo AI

The gold standard for photo enhancement. Upscale, denoise, sharpen - all with AI.

Price: $199 one-time

Magnific

Mind-blowing AI upscaler that adds believable detail. Can upscale images 16x.

Price: $39/month

Object Removal & Inpainting

Cleanup.pictures

Remove anything from photos with a brush. Reconstructs the background seamlessly.

Price: Free tier, Pro $5/month

Photoshop Generative Fill

Adobe's tool fills selected areas with AI-generated content that matches perfectly.

Price: Included with Creative Cloud

Photo Restoration

Remini

Restore old, damaged, or blurry photos. Incredibly good at enhancing faces.

Price: Free tier, Pro $5/month

MyHeritage AI

Colorize old black and white photos and animate them. Great for family history.

Price: Various plans

Style Transfer & Effects

Prisma

Turn photos into artwork in various artistic styles.

Price: Free tier, Premium $8/month

Deep Art Effects

High-quality artistic transformations with more control than most apps.

Price: Free tier, Pro $10/month

Quick Comparison

Pro Tips

1. Combine tools - Remove background in one tool, upscale in another

2. Batch processing - Most tools have APIs for automation

3. Start with good source - AI can only do so much with terrible input

4. Check edges carefully - AI background removal still struggles with hair sometimes

---

*Browse all [AI image tools](/) in our directory.*