PicMonkey Reviews

PicMonkey is an online photo editor and designer. With PicMonkey, you can create social media images, ads, and even logos. It also comes with one of the best photo editors that lets you quickly stretch your imagination and add effects and touch-up tools. The touch-up tools enable you to fine-tune your images to the right color or depth. As for businesses, they offer brand kits, collaboration features, and proper file management. The recent acquisition of PicMonkey by Shuttershock also provides access to the stock library. So, is it worth your time and money? Let’s answer it in our PicMonkey review.

PicMonkey – Photo Editor

PicMonkey is a popular photo editing solution. It is cloud-based, and that’s why people can access it on the go. With PicMonkey, you can edit your photos in the best possible way. PicMonkey offers pre-defined templates, or you can use the blank canvas to your advantage.

With Shuttershock acquiring PicMonkey, it also offers access to thousands of stock photos. To amplify the photos, you can also utilize effects and filters to great effect. PicMonkey is available through the browser. However, if you use a mobile device, an Android or iPhone, you can try the PicMonkey app. PicMonkey stores the images in its cloud storage for easy access or editing on the go to ensure smooth usage.

For business, PicMonkey offers proper asset management, collaboration tools, and brand kits. Let’s explore more about PicMonkey in our PicMonkey review.

How to use PicMonkey for free?

PicMonkey was free to use. However, they recently transferred their pricing model from freemium to paid. This means you need to get any one of their paid subscriptions to use it. But, PicMonkey does offer a free “try.” It works differently compared to trials. Here, you can access PicMonkey features (except Pro features) and try them on your images. However, you cannot share or download any of your creations. Considering that many people want to use their assets to see how well they work in real-life scenarios, that’s a bummer.

How do I make a template on PicMonkey?

PicMonkey doesn’t let you make a template. However, you can use any of the pre-existing and pre-defined templates on PicMonkey to your full advantage. Each of the templates is categorized so that you can search for them easily. Moreover, the templates are highly customizable as you can change their different elements, including images, graphics, text, and so on!

Details of PicMonkey Features

PickMoney has tons of features so you can easily edit your photo and design. It is a graphic tool that provides a browser-based solution so that you can edit your images on the go. Let’s go through its features below to better understand what it offers.

Photo Editor

At its core, PicMonkey offers an excellent photo editor. It offers tools that make it easy for you to work on your images. With it, you can start editing not only photos but also social media posts and designs. To start editing the photo in PicMonkey, you must follow an easy four-step process.

Now you know how to use the photo editor, let’s discuss its features below.

Photo Filters

PicMonkey Photo filters let you quickly add effects to your photos and offer an easy way to make your photos shine with effects. The filters allow you do many things, including adding new camera looks or simply tweaking lightning. You can also access popular photo filters such as Dusk, Moonlight, Helium, and more! In total, you get more than 50+ effects and filters. They also have PRO effects where you work with advanced effects for your image, including a scrapbook, neon scribble, multi-exposure, and so on.

Smart Resize Tool

Smart Resize tool lets you quickly resize the image based on your needs. So, if you opt to optimize your image for Pinterest Pin, the Smart Resize tool will quickly resize the image based on the pre-defined dimensions. The same is true for other types of social media posts, including Facebook ads or Twitter. The Smart Resize Tool also supports bath output, letting you quickly resize many images in one go. Currently, it supports the following smart resize:

Background Eraser

PicMonkey background eraser is a one-click solution to remove the background of a photo. It is a helpful tool that lets you quickly remove the background and use another, more suitable background. This comes in handy in two situations: when having noise or unwanted elements in your background, the other is to make your photo ready for social media creation. Unfortunately, the background eraser is only available to Pro subscribers.

Color Changer Effect

With the color changer effect, you can create an impressive photo style in a few slides! It is a new tool that lets you change the color of an element in your photo. For example, you can change the color of the shirt with a single slide.

Templates

Templates provide you with a much-needed quick start to your project. With PicMonkey’s templates, you can create your social media posts, infographics, and other content faster. Each of the templates offers extensive customization so that you can make changes to match it as per your needs. In addition, the templates are categorized for easy access. The categories include:

The template collection is huge. Also, the templates are only available under the pro subscription.

Stock photos

PicMonkey is now part of Shutterstock. That means you get access to millions of royalty-free stock photos. You can use these stock photos in your projects. In addition, people can directly search the vast collection of images and videos from PicMonkey. Just like other features, stock photos are only available via the PRO version.

Graphics library

PicMoney also comes with a graphics library, giving access to 9000+ graphics assets. These provide you with an extra layer of customization. The graphics assets are also categorized so that it becomes easy for you to search for them. Some categories include emojis, clip art, labels, logos, patterns, social media icons, etc.

Collage

The collage tool lets you create collages with an easy drag-and-drop filter. All you need to do is select the layout you want to create and then fill those cells with the images of your choice. Moreover, users can resize each cell based on their needs, including cell corners, spacing, and borders. Lastly, you can add any graphics or text to finalize it!

Retouch Photos

The retouch photos feature offers an easy way to optimize and smoothen your photos. With retouch photos, you can easily change small details on your photos, such as removing blemishes or even red-eye. You can also whiten teeth and make other minor changes to make your photos look more natural. You can also change your eye color! To use retouch, you must upload the photo and touch-up tools to make the adjustments. You can further customize the touch-ups by playing with sliders.

Moreover, you also get access to wrinkle remover and blemish fixes! These tools are also handy for selfies. In addition, the mobile app ensures that you can make changes to your selfies on the go.

Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram Design

If you are a social media marketer or a designer who works for a social media team, you can take advantage of the various social media design support by PicMoney. PicMonkey lets you easily design materials for your Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook social campaigns. You also get access to 100s of templates for all these social media platforms.

Branding

With PicMonkey, you can easily manage your brand identity. As a business, you get started with templates that let you quickly get started with designing. PicMonkey offers branding templates that you can use to your advantage. Moreover, it takes small adjustments to ensure that all the colors, fonts, logos, and graphics match your brand identity. You are also in control of the fonts you use. You can upload your fonts and match them with the branding material. To save time, PicMonkey also offers matching template sets so that you can ensure consistent design philosophy across the board.

You can also utilize logo templates to create logos for your brand. Each logo is customizable, so you can quickly change the text, colors, and graphics based on your business design philosophy.

PicMonkey Cost

They don’t offer any free trial but a free “try.” This means you can use their platform and try out different features, but you cannot download any media or creations without a subscription.

In short, you get access to the free app using your email. Also, you do not need to use any of your payment methods to try PicMonkey. However, as mentioned above, you can use its features (except PRO features). The limitation is also on sharing and downloads. Let’s go through each of their plans below.

The Basic plan starts at $7.99 per month($6 if billed annually, making it $72 per year). In addition, the plan offers you access to photo editing and design features. If you are a rising creator or someone who just started creating new content, then the plan is for you! You get 1 GB of cloud storage (Hub) with the plan. People can download the images in JPG or PNG format. They also recently added the ability to add and trim videos. Apart from that, you also get access to templates, primo effects, and touch-up tools.

In short, you get access to the following features:

You get regular email support with the Basic plan.

The Pro plan starts at $12.99 per month($10 if billed annually, making it $120 per year). The plan is aimed at businesses. It offers unlimited storage and access to brand fonts. You can also access better download image options, including JPG, PNG, and PDF. The plan comes with all the features offered in the Basic plan. Additionally, you get access to the following features:

Here you get access to priority email support.

The Business plan starts at $23.00 per month($19 if billed annually, making it $228 per user per year). The Business plan is for you if you are a big business that works heavily on assets and creates multimedia content. They offer collaboration tools to make it easy for companies to work together. You get everything that the Pro version has to offer. Apart from that, you also get access to the following features:

With the Business plan, you get premium email support. As a result, the PicMonkey price is well-placed for single creators as well as small businesses.

Is PicMonkey still free?

No, PicMonkey is no longer free. They recently changed how they managed their platform. Earlier, they offered a freemium plan that enabled users to access a good amount of features without paying anything. With the new paid model change, you cannot use PicMonkey for free. They only offer a TRY option for their paid plans to access free features, not PRO features.

Moreover, you cannot download images or files you create using the TRY option. If you want to try PicMonkey and download or share your creations, you need to use their free 7-day trial. According to PicMonkey, the paid options ensure that they keep developing the platform.

PicMonkey Alternatives

PicMonkey’s newest transition from freemium to a paid-only model might have left many people confused about whether they should get into their subscription. Also, PicMonkey’s recently been getting a lot of negative reviews online. This means that you should be looking for websites like PicMonkey that can act as an alternative to PicMonkey. Let’s list below the free and paid alternative to PicMonkey.

Fotor

Just like PicMonkey, you can do a lot with Fotor. Fotor is a photo editing solution that offers to filter, resize, and retouch. It also lets you create collages and work with pre-defined templates. However, more advanced features such as batch image processing, Fotor cloud storage, and other advanced capabilities are restricted behind the PRO subscription.

Gimp

GIMP is a free-to-use open-source software. It offers complete control over your photo editing experience. However, it is not something like PicMonkey. It doesn’t offer easy-to-use tools or templates. This means you should only try GIMP if you are looking for a free alternative and know how to work with complex design elements and tools.

Pixlr

Pixlr is also an excellent alternative to PicMonkey. It is a cloud-based photo editing software that lets you do quick photo editing. The Pixlr interface looks similar to Photoshop. To ensure that everyone can use their solution effectively, they offer two editors, Pixlr E and Pixlr X. The Pixlr E is aimed at advanced image editors, whereas Pixlr X is mostly for easy and quick graphic design. They also offer free access to software with limited functionality. However, you need to get a paid version to gain access to the complete solution.

Canva

Canva is one of the best online photo editing solutions out there. Its cloud-based solution is very popular among businesses and individuals who want to make quick changes and finish their work. Canva offers tons of features. You can design presentations, videos, print products, offices, marketing, and social media. Also, you do not have to design these from scratch, as you get access to thousands of images, templates, and other types of content. Moreover, Canva also offers easy collaboration. Canva is free to use; however, many features/content is locked behind paid options.

Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark is an Adobe product. It lets you create videos, animations, flyers, graphics, and collages. Like PicMonkey, it also offers access to high-quality templates for each type of media creation. With an excellent toolset, you can easily work with images and do things like transforming text, adding new elements, removing background, resizing content, and adding textures or filters! It also offers you the ability to create beautiful advanced web pages. Unfortunately, Adobe Spark is a paid solution. However, you can try the first 30 days for free. After that, Adobe Spark’s price starts from $9.99 per month.

Canva vs. PicMonkey

So, which one is better? Canva or PicMonkey? If you are given a choice, which one should you pick? Well, for starters, both offer an excellent way to easily create their media content with the tools available at PicMonkey and Canva. Both of them are popular and provide exceptional design tools. Let’s try to compare them below. Even though PicMonkey has a lot to offer, it is way far off for just templates. Canva offers awesome 420K+ ready-made templates. Moreover, it also provides more features and a free plan. PicMonkey, on the other hand, is limited when compared to Canva and doesn’t offer a free plan.

Regarding ease of use, Canva provides a better and much smoother experience. You get tons of pre-defined templates that are categorized. PicMonkey is not far behind. It is also easy to use and offers some excellent tools to optimize your image. However, as Canva is more than just an image editing tool, PicMonkey can fall slightly behind in features and asset accessibility. PickMonkey, in comparison to Canva, does have a slight learning curve. However, if you follow tutorials and their documentation, you should be up and running with them in no time.

When it comes to editors, Canva has a lot to offer. You get a simple yet powerful interface where you can do many things. It is visually pleasing and only requires your browser to run it. Canva editor lets you easily upload content such as folders, videos, music, and others. PicMonkey, on the other hand, also offers a drag-and-drop interface but is more complex than Canva.

Canva vs. PicMonkey Features

But what about features? Canva and PicMonkey have a lot of common features, including magic/smart resize, background remover, invite others, brand kit, premium fonts, commenting, and unlimited folders. However, there are a few features that are not common to both of them. Canva, for example, has features such as a content planner, canvas print, animator, and the ability to set download quality. So, in terms of features and how they function, there is no doubt that Canva wins hands down.

Apart from that, Canva offers a better set of templates, apps & integrations. Finally, we have pricing. PicMonkey is cheaper than Canva, but it also lacks a good amount of features. So if you take an eagle-eye view of their pricing and value for money, Canva is a better pick.

In short, Canva beats PicMonkey in almost every category. Canva’s free plan is a game-changer for anyone just starting with photo editing or graphic creation. However, this doesn’t mean that PicMonkey is worse or not a good pick. You can always go for PicMonkey if it meets your requirements.

PicMonkey Review Conclusions

PicMonkey’s place in online photo editing solutions is quite strong. The PicMonkey photo editor is feature-rich and offers an excellent way to improve your image and make them business or social-media-ready. The key features such as background remover, touch-up tools, effects, filters, resizer, and access to thousands of stock images with Shutterstock are undoubtedly a good collection of features. However, the biggest PicMonkey pitfall is its pricing model. With them removing the freemium model, users now have to get a subscription to use it. Their competitors, such as Canva, offer excellent freemium plans, which PicMonkey doesn’t offer. PicMonkey does offer editing on the go. You can download the PickMonkey app from the Android or iOS play store. This leads us to the end of our PicMonkey review.