Adobe Photoshop is one of the most popular photo editing tools, and it's the go-to software for many other creative fields, too. In most instances, you'll probably do your photo editing on your computer. But if you're frequently on the go, you might find it useful to have alternative tools on your smartphone or tablet.

If you want to edit more of your photos while traveling, Adobe Photoshop Express is one of the best choices. But what can you do with it, and do you need an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription to use it?

What Is Adobe Photoshop Express?

Photoshop Express is a simpler version of the full Adobe Photoshop app. While you won't have all of the paid edition's tools, you can still use it to edit and resize your pictures.

In addition to photos, you can also use Adobe Photoshop Express with illustrations and other designs. The tool is available for download on iOS and Android devices.

You can choose whether you want to save edits from Adobe Photoshop Express as PNG or JPEG in your settings. In addition to smartphones, you can also download the app on your tablet.

Download: Adobe Photoshop Express for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

How Much Does Adobe Photoshop Express Cost?

While you need to purchase Adobe Photoshop, using Photoshop Express is completely free. You will need to create an Adobe account, but doing so costs nothing—and you don't need to choose a paid subscription model.

Once you've created an account with Adobe, open the Photoshop Express app and sign in. After doing that, you'll be able to start editing your images.

What Can You Do With Adobe Photoshop Express?

Now that you've got a better understanding of what Photoshop Express is, we can look at what you can use the app for. In the sections below, you'll find out some of the tool's best features.

1. Resize Your Images for Social Media

Adobe Photoshop Express Homepage

Social media is an excellent way for photographers to connect with their audience. But when publishing images on any platform, you'll want to resize your photos accordingly. Doing so will ensure you minimize any blur or distortion that might occur once you've uploaded it.

Editing software like Adobe Lightroom is an excellent way to resize your pictures, but Photoshop Express is a viable alternative if you're away from your computer. You can tweak the dimensions of your visuals for Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. The app also lets you resize images for LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, and YouTube. You can also optimize your visuals for digital ad platforms.

To choose a resizing template, go to Blank Canvas on the homepage. From there, you can select the tab you want to use at the bottom.

2. Basic Image Editing

Screenshot showing editing options in PS Express

If you're performing in-depth editing, you'll probably want to use more complex software like Adobe Lightroom or Capture One. Alternatively, you can download the full version of Adobe Photoshop. But for simple image editing, Photoshop Express gives you plenty of options.

Photoshop Express lets you adjust the lighting in several ways, such as exposure and contrast. You can also add or decrease saturation, along with altering the texture and clarity—plus much more.

If you don't want to spend too long editing, you can always use one of Photoshop Express' presets. You'll find these under the Themes tab, and you have several options to choose from.

3. Retouch Your Images

Photoshop Retouching tools in PS Express

If you want to get a little more advanced with your image editing, Photoshop Express has several tools to help you retouch. For example, you can use its healing tools to remove unwanted spots. These features are split into the Basic and Advanced tabs.

If you have a person or pet in your picture, you can also remove any red eyes. And if you want to get even more creative, you can replace the eyes in your image.

Photoshop Express allows you to add matte to your picture, which is great if you're going for more of a cinematic look with your images. You can also make your picture black and white, or alter the white balance within the app.

4. Make Photo Collages

Screenshot showing collage theme options in PS Express

Photoshop Express is an excellent tool for solely editing pictures. However, the app has several other creative features that you might not want to overlook. If you're going to make something more in-depth, you can use one of the platform's several collage themes.

You will find themes for multiple scenarios, including travel and birthdays. Creating one is simple. Go to Themes for Collage on the homepage. When the next window opens, you'll need to pick the theme you want to use.

After choosing your theme, select the images on your camera roll that you would like to add. After that, edit the design as you feel is necessary. If you don't want to pick a particular theme for your collage, you can always use one of the layouts at the bottom of the homepage instead.

5. Add Special Effects to Your Images

Screenshot showing how to create special effects in Photoshop Express

When editing your pictures in Photoshop Express, adding special effects can help your image really stand out. And even if you're not interested in being competitive, playing around with these features will—at the very least—be a lot of fun.

You can add several kinds of special effects to your visuals in Photoshop Express. For example, you have the option to add raindrops if you want to create a rainy scene. You can even add bokeh effects, and much more.

When editing a picture, you will find these special effects under the Looks section. Other tools you can use include text, stickers, and borders—each of which has individual subsections.

Adobe Photoshop Express: Ideal for Editing on the Go

Adobe Photoshop Express is one of the best free photo editing apps you can use, and you will find plenty of excellent features within the app. You can use tools like Lightroom to make the initial alterations to your pictures before switching them over to finalize your look.

And if you're using your visuals primarily for social media, you can easily save your creations and publish them straight from your device.