The final photo deadline is looming, but all you have is your phone or tablet. While this might have felt limiting in the past, you have some of the most powerful tools for photographers and editors of all skill levels. That’s thanks to Adobe’s photo editing apps: Adobe Photoshop for iPad and Adobe Photoshop Express.
Both programs have a place in the market as photo-editing options, but you might be surprised by how different they are, even though they share nearly identical names.
What's the hype surrounding Adobe Photoshop Express, and should you ditch the newer app for the legacy Photoshop program? We'll explore how to get the most out of their capabilities, when to use each, and more.
Interface
Adobe Photoshop for iPad takes its interface cues from its legacy desktop program. The home screen has different sections. Home is where all your recent files can be found, and Your Files is where all your folders and files are. Under the Learn tab, you can start a UI tour to find where all of your favorite Photoshop desktop tools are.
The tools can be found in rows on the left and right. As you’re working in the program, there’s a small toolbar that transforms based on your tool selection. You can leave it nested in the bottom-left corner or move it to any position on your screen.
Even with an option to use keyboard shortcuts, it’s clear that everything was designed around the power of the Apple Pencil. It’s what helps you paint, make selections, and more, with precision. There are, however, still a number of features built around touch, like the Touch Shortcut and gestures. We’ll learn more about those in a later section.
Adobe Photoshop Express is in a lane of its own, since there’s no desktop program to compare it to. The interface reminds me of picture collage apps on the iPad, where quick actions and importing device photos are emphasized.
It’s easy to scroll down to see everything that you can do in the app, or you can even just type into the search bar the tool or feature you're looking for. The home screen includes collage templates and canvas sizes for social media to get you started. You can even start by using free images from Adobe Stock, and it lets you search the entire library right from the app.
When you open your photo, all of your tools and presets will be at the bottom of the screen in a row.
The editing tools remind me of the way editing on mobile felt on Instagram and VSCO in the early 2010s. There's a clear focus on touch and adjusting effects with sliders. This makes it easy to get the results you want without worrying about a steep learning curve. While using an Apple Pencil is nice, you can get away with a lot more just using your fingers because of the powerful AI features and automated selections.
Verdict
Tie.
These apps are designed for entirely different experiences. Photoshop for iPad has the most traditional layout, making it easy to find what you’re looking for if you're familiar with the desktop program. The in-app tour also helps, giving you the lay of the land before you jump in. Photoshop Express is a newer experience and doesn’t feel related to other Adobe programs.
Each program might remind you of experiences with other tools you've used. For that reason, neither is difficult to start using right away. It’s nice to be able to use less of the Apple Pencil in Photoshop Express, especially if you plan on transitioning to using your phone to continue editing.
Photo editing
Each program's photo-editing capabilities are distinct, and the one you choose will depend on your needs.
Photoshop for the iPad closely mimics the desktop program with its detail-oriented tools and features. You can edit, mask, and even import raw image files. The layer system is traditional, with both compact and expanded views, making it easier to keep your edits organized and non-destructive.
Many of the AI features in the desktop program have also been introduced to the iPad version. You can use them to speed up your workflow with features like the Remove Tool, Generative Expand, and Remove Background.
But even with these time-saving tools, Photoshop for iPad is primarily for when you have more time to spend editing details.
You can also add illustrations to your photos thanks to its beautiful brush library. Any projects can also be accessed in Adobe Fresco if you want to go deeper into photo illustration.
Photoshop Express is more about quick actions optimized for mobile editing and social sharing. It lets you start with popular editing capabilities right from the homescreen, like denoising, adding makeup, smoothing skin, and more.
If you're short on time or you're not sure where to start with an edit, Photoshop Express lets you search for the type of edit you want in the search bar at the top of the screen.
Love to take pictures outside? Photoshop Express can detect the sky, allowing you to make isolated edits. Sky Replacement in landscapes is a feature you might recognize from the desktop version of Photoshop, but it hasn't made it to Photoshop for iPad.
If you're feeling festive, add your photos to themed collages with beautifully designed borders and backgrounds. This is also achievable in Photoshop for iPad, but would require more time since you’re creating from scratch.
If you want to save time with templates, Photoshop Express offers many options. To go all in on these amazing tools, the range and sophistication of your photo themes and capabilities will ultimately be determined by your subscription.
Verdict
Photoshop for iPad.
It's that app that most benefits users with a clear vision, who know how to achieve the results they want. With more custom options and detailed editing tools, Photoshop for iPad wins this round.
Additionally, anything you haven’t finished on your iPad can be picked up again on your desktop. It's great for everyone from DSLR users to photography pros and hobbyists.
Photoshop Express provides similar editing power, but streamlined for those unfamiliar with OG Photoshop’s tools. If you don’t have much editing experience, it can lower the barrier to achieving effective results quickly, especially when it comes to retouching portraits. The face, hair, eyes, and makeup tools are really remarkable and easy to use.
From casual photo editors to even more experienced photo editors, Express can be a lifeline when you're short on time and need to deliver high-quality edits quickly.
Gestures & features
The majority of the gestures in both apps are standard to what you'd find in most digital drawing apps.
In Photoshop for iPad, you can learn all about the gestures in the app by selecting the ‘?’ icon and going to View Gestures. This shows you how to undo, redo, zoom-in and out, and more.
Additionally, there’s the Touch Shortcut. This is a handy button that changes the function of different tools. You’ll also find the primary and secondary features of the Touch Shortcut in the same menu as the gestures.
The gestures in Photoshop Express are much simpler and more condensed.
You’ll find the standard two-finger zooming in and out, but everything else is pretty unique to the experience. When you tap your photo, you can temporarily hide the program UI to view your work in full screen. There are also tools for viewing the original photo before your edits and for making automatic edits.
Verdict
Photoshop for iPad.
Photoshop for iPad follows the standard set by other popular digital apps for iPad, like Procreate. The Touch Shortcut can also be found in Adobe Fresco, so if you're using them as companion apps, you'll be ahead of the curve.
Photoshop Express gives you simple features that you can use with touch or your Apple Pencil. I'm surprised that undo and redo gestures weren't in the app, opting for undo and redo arrows in the corner of the screen instead.
Price
Cost always plays a significant role when considering which apps to use. Because both of these apps are from Adobe, their pricing structures are similar, and in some cases, you can get the best of both worlds.
There are two main plans for Adobe Photoshop: The Photoshop Plan and the Photography Plan. The Photoshop Plan includes Adobe Photoshop for iPad and Adobe Photoshop Express for $22.99 per month (annual) and 100GB of cloud storage. The Photography Plan includes Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop for iPad, for only $19.99 per month (annual), but doesn’t include Adobe Photoshop Express.
Adobe Photoshop Express is available under a freemium model. The downside is that there will be limits on the themes, features, and tools you can access unless you upgrade. Adobe Photoshop Express can also be purchased separately through the App Store for $4.99 per month or as part of a bundle with Adobe Express for $9.99 per month under the Adobe Express Premium Plan. While the prices are lower overall for Adobe Photoshop Express, you’ll ultimately get more out of the Adobe Photoshop plan.
Verdict
Tie. Since both programs are from Adobe, they are somewhat intertwined. And free doesn’t always mean better. Adobe Photoshop for iPad includes Adobe Photoshop Express, so it’s the best of both worlds if you go that route.
If you know that you won’t need more fine-tuned editing tools or advanced drawing capabilities, you can definitely get by with just Adobe Photoshop Express. I recommend investing in the app's full experience so you can make the most of its tools and features.
Exporting and platform compatibility
In Photoshop for iPad, you can export to the following formats: PNG, JPEG, PSD, and TIFF.
PNG files give you the option to choose your export file size from small, medium, and large, with large allowing for faster saving speed.
For JPEG files, you can choose your File size Quality from 0 (Low) to 12 (Maximum). A good guideline to follow is that the higher the number, the higher the image quality, and the less data will be lost to compression. This will also lead to a larger file size. The Format type for JPEG is set to Standard by default, which is recognized by most web browsers, but you can also choose Optimized or Progressive.
In addition to export features, Photoshop for iPad offers a collaboration option through the Share icon. Use it to invite others to give you feedback on your file, even if they don't have an Adobe ID.
Photoshop for iPad is also available on iPhone and Android devices, and even in-browser, giving many users the opportunity to enjoy it.
Photoshop Express can export to the following formats: JPEG, PDF, and MP4. The video file format is for the animation presets you can add to your projects.
Your JPEG exports have a quality option slider similar to Photoshop for iPad. This allows for exporting ranging from low to maximum, which depends on the value you choose with the percentage slider. Like Photoshop for iPad, the higher quality you choose, the larger your file.
Photoshop Express is optimized for sharing on social media, with options to export to Facebook and Instagram and to schedule posts through Adobe Express. And while it lacks collaboration features and a true desktop companion, your work can be sent to Lightroom from the Export screen for further editing.
Another interesting feature is the ability to add a Photoshop Express watermark to your exports when sharing drafts. Your image can also be resized from the Export menu by selecting the three dots in the upper-right corner, while preserving the aspect ratio if you want your photos in different sizes.
Photoshop Express is available for iOS and Android.
Verdict
Photoshop Express.
You can more easily export to social media with Photoshop Express’ built-in integrations. Being able to launch a social post directly from Adobe Express is great if you want to schedule your posts. It feels like it's more geared towards doing fun things with your images and making social-ready content right from the app.
Photoshop for iPad’s standard export workflow feels like it’s missing out on social sharing beyond Pinterest. You will, however, find social sharing featured on the iPhone version. If you want to use your projects in other programs, the Quick Export option lets you open them in Lightroom and even Photoshop Express. I think the collaboration feature is nice, but not one that I find myself using often.
Organization, file management, & cloud storage
If you can’t find your files, it can make working a nightmare.
With Photoshop for iPad, you can organize your files in folders on your Home Screen, and you’ll also see all of your Fresco files there as well. Adjust your view to organize your work by date, name, or date modified.
Through the Creative Cloud, you have access to cloud storage, so you won’t have to worry about running out of space locally. Adobe Photoshop Express also gives 100GB for premium users, the same as Adobe Photoshop for iPad. If you're a free Photoshop Express user, you'll only get 5GB to start with.
The Photoshop Express home screen is more about showing you ways to use the app. To get to your project files, you can select All Projects and see them there. You can also find your imported file types under the Edit section, where they're organized by type, such as Videos, Selfies, and Screenshots.
There are no folders for conventional file organizing, so anticipate that anything you start will be viewed all at once. You can, however, change your view by project type. Choose from Video, Collages, Photo Editor & Retouch, and Combine Photos for a more organized view.
Verdict
Photoshop for iPad.
You can better organize your work within the Photoshop for iPad program. It makes it a little less overwhelming and easier to find your files when you need them. Plus, you can view your files in different ways, which makes it more tuned to your personal preferences. While none of these features are groundbreaking, they make a difference compared to a program that doesn't offer those options.
Photoshop Express's lack of basic file folder organization can make things feel a bit more chaotic. Being able to organize by project type is the bare minimum. If you're not going to be sitting down and taking your time with your edits, I can see how an on-the-go mentality might lend itself to a more relaxed approach to organization overall.
Limitations
You have many classic Photoshop desktop tools in Photoshop for iPad, but you won’t have all of them. You can’t use Smart Filters, which allow for certain non-destructive edits to layers. There is also currently no support for Smart Objects, which allow you to embed and update files. However, whatever you can’t achieve in Photoshop for iPad, you can bring into the desktop version via cloud documents.
It’s also nice to see New and Upcoming features right on the homescreen, so you know what you can look forward to in future updates of the app.
If you want to draw or add illustrations to your photos, you won't have a sophisticated brush library in Photoshop Express. Instead, the Draw tool gives you five categories of brushes to choose from, with around 40 brushes in total.
And despite the impressive range of tools, Photoshop Express can still feel laggy at times, taking time to load your project files and tutorials. There are no layers in the Android version of the app, and you can only use layers when using the Combine Photos feature. That can make it difficult to undo edits once you've made several changes.
Verdict
Photoshop for iPad.
Photoshop been on the market longer than Photoshop Express, and it shows in its overall performance. If you want to feel in control of your editing, this is your app. And for all of its limitations, speed isn’t one of them.
Photoshop Express is a lot of fun to use, but it feels a bit laggy and doesn’t load projects or tutorials as quickly. The lack of layers for most basic projects feels like an oversight at best, but it might not matter if the undo button is enough for you.
Final verdict
I don't do a lot of photo editing, but when I do, I'm using Adobe Photoshop. Having it on the iPad has been a game-changer for me because it gives me the flexibility to switch between my tablet and desktop without sacrificing my favorite features. This isn't to say that I can't see the appeal of Photoshop Express.
What Adobe has created for hobbyists and casual photo editors is very cool to see. You can transform your photos with just a few taps thanks to its AI-powered tools and features. It's an app that pros can benefit from, too, because it's still in the Adobe ecosystem and can help save time.
I wish there were more traditional features like layers and basic organization, but the edits are quick and easy for everyone. If you find yourself short on time and not too hung up about destructive editing, Photoshop Express can do the job.
FAQ
Can I replace Photoshop with Photoshop Express?
One can't truly replace the other because their capabilities differ. When you have more time or need photo editing with greater control, I suggest using Photoshop for iPad. If you're not too hung up on the lack of layers for non-destructive editing, you can still achieve nice results if you're willing to explore Photoshop Express. A closer comparison to Photoshop would be between a digital art app like Procreate.
Is Photoshop for iPad free?
You can use Photoshop for iPad with a 7-day free trial. After that, you can upgrade to the full program with any paid Photoshop plan. You will also get Photoshop Express in most paid Photoshop plans. Photoshop Express is available for free, but access to tools and features is limited unless you upgrade.
Is Photoshop Express for professional photo editing?
Photoshop Express has a wide range of quick, AI-powered editing tools. You can edit your own photos or photos from Adobe Stock using one-tap presets, sliders, and removal brushes. For more traditional photo editing, use Photoshop on iPad or desktop. You'll have access to layers for non-destructive edits that you won't have access to in Adobe Photoshop Express.
Can I draw in Photoshop Express?
Photoshop Express is best for quick photo editing like background removal, denoising, and retouching. It does have drawing categories, but the brushes aren't on the same level as those you'll find in Photoshop for iPad. Photoshop's companion app, Adobe Fresco, is better for drawing on the iPad.
Are Adobe Express and Photoshop Express related?
They are similar in that they help you make quick edits to your work and give you access to templates. Photoshop Express works with Adobe Express's social scheduling feature through its menu. From there, you can send your photo to Adobe Express and schedule your post from there. Adobe Express is more similar to Canva, an all-in-one design suite that can help you unlock your creativity.
Wrapping up
Despite their names, we can see that these apps aren’t all that similar. They both offer photo editing features on the go, but ultimately have different user profiles. Professionals will enjoy Photoshop for iPad because it's more likely to fit into your current workflow, but anyone can benefit from using Photoshop Express.
You don’t have to use Photoshop Express if you're a legacy Photoshop user like me, but apps like Photoshop Express lower the barrier to entry for newer photo editors. Either way, I love that users of all skill levels can use whichever fits their workflow best without compromising quality.
