Marco Sebastiano Alessi |
May 9, 2025
Photo editing has come a long way, from the analog photo development process to the use of computer software. Now, the use of AI plugins as generative AI and assistive AI tools enhances images and saves time during the editing process.
There's been an increase in AI-powered plugins, and they continue to advance at a breakneck pace. With hundreds of options for editing images, Photoshop is still considered one of the greatest image editing software programs, and one of the most appealing things about Photoshop is its third-party plugin support.
Today, I'll tell you about what I consider the best AI plugins for Photoshop in 2025. Let's check out twelve of the best AI plugins, explore their key features, and consider their pros and cons.
12 Best AI Plugins for Photoshop in 2025
I have listed AI plugins for a diverse range of needs, such as retouching, denoising, coloring, upscaling, masking, generative content, and more. You'll find a mix of free and paid options, and most offer a free trial, so you can dive into each one that caught your attention. Some of them will also work on Photoshop Elements, but do double-check before purchasing the plugin.
-
Boris FX Optics - Mask ML
Optics is photo editing software and a Lightroom and Photoshop plugin that adds cinematic effects to your photos. It is easy to use for skilled photographers, digital artists, and beginners or hobbyists looking to improve their work with a wide range of tools for cinematic looks, particles, and visual effects.
Mask ML is a new AI-powered feature introduced in the latest version of Optics 2025. Mask ML is a masking tool that utilizes machine learning and AI models to speed up the masking process. With just a few clicks, Mask ML lets you add or remove parts of the mask to isolate the subject in your image.
Optics’ Mask ML is the best plugin for creating quick mattes to apply filters selectively. However, Optics also includes extraordinary filters and presets inspired by classic film stocks, cinematic lens flares, particles, and more.
Optics is $9 monthly for the standalone app and multi-host plugins, or you can purchase a perpetual license for $150.
Pros:
Easy to use.
Mask with accuracy.
Over 160 filters and hundreds of presets.
Supports RAW files.
Filters are fully customizable.
It can be used as a plugin and a standalone app.
Local processing, nothing is uploaded to the cloud. Everything is on-premises.
Available as a subscription or perpetual license.
Affordable.
Cons:
It has a learning curve, especially to get used to the Optics workflow.
High system requirements.
-
Adobe Generative Fill
The Adobe Generative Fill is an AI feature powered by the Adobe Firefly Image Model, now part of Adobe Photoshop. This AI plugin allows you to create, remove, and replace content in your images using simple text prompts that describe what you want to do. The AI model has been trained on an extensive database of images to ensure more realistic and contextually relevant generative content.
Use Generative Fill to make conceptual ideas for the early stage of a project, create complex photo edits with effects, remove people or replace objects from your photos, or expand a landscape image, filling in the extended areas with new content that fits your image.
The workflow is easy to follow. A simple prompt, such as "change cat for a dog," works. The AI will generate a new object in the selected area, matching the lighting and perspective of the source image. You can also add an image as a reference for what you want, and Generative Fill will provide multiple content options for you to choose the one that fits best.
The AI-generated content will be added as a new layer in Photoshop, making it easy to make adjustments without affecting the original image.
To access Generative Fill, you must have Adobe Photoshop version 25.0 or above. You don't have to pay extra for it, only the $22 monthly Photoshop subscription.
Pros:
Included in Photoshop.
Ease of use.
Non-destructive.
Fast and efficient.
Versatile.
Content awareness.
Cons:
Requires an internet connection.
Accuracy depends on the AI training.
Results may look generic.
-
Retouch4me
Retouch4me is among the most loved AI-powered Photoshop plugins. It offers many plugins for photo editing and retouching, such as heal, dodge, skin tone, mattifier, eye vessels, color match, and more. Retouch4me also offers plugins for Photoshop and cloud-based video and photo editing.
The plugin uses machine learning to identify elements within the image. These neural networks can distinguish between a person's body, background, faces, eyes, lips, skin, and fabric. By recognizing these elements, it can apply the right corrections to those surfaces and objects. This is why Retouch4me offers plugins for each different type of need and correction instead of an all-in-one plugin.
Retouch4me performs great, speeding up the retouching process. It creates separate layers and delivers a natural look, preventing your images from looking generic, plastic, and over-processed, as with other less-developed AI plugins.
Retouch4me Photoshop plugins are sold individually, which can be a drawback. Each plugin costs around $100 but offers a free trial to explore before purchasing.
Pros:
Time-saving.
User-friendly.
Local processing and offline.
Natural-looking results.
Seamless integration with Photoshop.
Standalone app and plugin options.
Cons:
Price. Buying plugins individually can be expensive in the long run.
Individual plugins are very specific, which may not be an option if you need a broad range of tools.
Computer processing.
-
Topaz Photo AI
The next AI-powered plugin on this list is a photo editing application and plugin for Adobe Photoshop developed by Topaz Labs. Topaz Photo AI can enhance your images' quality and sharpness, reduce noise, and upscale automatically, retaining detail.
It uses artificial intelligence to analyze your images and determine which enhancements to apply to achieve the best quality. In my opinion, its denoise plugin outperforms Adobe Photoshop's denoise filter. Its key plugins include Denoiser, Sharpen, Upscale, Face Recovery, lighting and color adjustments, and object removal.
Topaz Photo AI was designed with photographers and photo editors of all skill levels in mind. It has an intuitive user interface, an autopilot mode to speed up analysis and enhancement, real-time preview, presets, and batch editing.
A Topaz Photo AI license costs $199 and includes 12 months of updates for the standalone application and Photoshop plugin. You can renew your license for a discounted price after 1 year.
Pros:
Great denoise and upscaling results.
Easy to use.
Supports RAW files.
Regular upgrades.
One year of free updates.
One-time purchase.
Cons:
System requirements.
It can feel limited for advanced users.
-
Photoshop Neural Filters
The Neural Filters are AI-powered tools featured in Photoshop, designed to create complex and smart edits in just a few clicks.
The Neural Filters use artificial intelligence and the Adobe Sensei engine to analyze and modify the images to achieve, in less time, the same results as other time-consuming and complex filters.
Use Neural Filters to speed up object removal, skin smoothing, colorizing black-and-white images, zooming, image restoration, removing artifacts, and making color adjustments. They work in a non-destructive way, allowing you to get creative and explore different looks for your photos before committing to a specific look and keeping your original photo untouched.
The neural filters are under the Photoshop Filters. There, you'll find all available neural filters, including those in beta and upcoming releases.
The Neural Filter plugin is bundled with Photoshop version 22.0 or above at its regular price. You do not need to upgrade your plan or download any additional extensions.
Pros:
Automates complex and time-saving editing processes.
Easy to use.
Non-destructive.
Because Adobe develops it, it receives upgrades and fixes regularly.
Cons:
Some neural filters require a lot of computer processing power.
Relies on Adobe Sensei and Adobe Cloud for processing.
Mixed results can sometimes feel unreliable, even with similar images.
-
ON1 Photo RAW MAX
ON1 Photo RAW MAX is an all-inclusive suite of plugins and photo editing software for editing, enhancing, and organizing your images. It works as an alternative to Photoshop and Lightroom and as a Photoshop plugin. Its main features are RAW processing, editing tools, and AI-powered features. In the standalone version, you have advanced organization features such as keywords, albums, and ratings.
With ON1 Photo RAW MAX, you can rest assured that you'll get the maximum detail from your RAW files and improve them with artificial intelligence to simplify time-consuming and complex image processing.
Some of the key AI features include one-click AI masking, AI noise reduction, AI upscaling, AI sky swap to replace skies, Portrait AI for portrait retouching, AI color match, AI generative erase and crop, and a feature that automatically removes distractions from your images, such as background people.
ON1 Photo RAW MAX is available for a one-time purchase of $169 (or a discounted license renewal if you come from a previous version) or a monthly subscription of $7.99.
Pros:
Extensive library of built-in filters and effects.
Supports RAW, PSD, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, HEIC, and DNG formats.
Advanced photo organization.
One-time purchase.
Cons:
Steep learning curve.
Some users report performance issues.
-
Skylum Luminar Neo
Skylum Luminar NEO is our next AI plugin on the list. It is a user-friendly AI Photoshop plugin that offers a good balance between intuitive tools and powerful editing features for both beginners and seasoned photographers. Luminar NEO is also available as a standalone comprehensive photo editor for when you're not in an Adobe environment.
Luminar NEO features over 24 AI-powered tools with full privacy and local processing. Its key AI features include Sky AI, Relight AI, object removal, Face and Skin AI, Noiseless AI, Bokeh AI, Atmosphere AI, generative erase, and AI generative content. Beyond AI, it has other advanced modules for RAW processing, filters, LUTs, and blend modes.
The Luminar NEO license can be purchased as a one-time purchase, but it will be limited to that version only and limited AI tools. For the full experience, it is recommended to subscribe for a 12-month subscription for $99, but they usually run discounts throughout the year.
Pros:
Ease of use.
Over 24 AI-driven tools.
Basic and advanced editing tools.
Layer-based editing is similar to Photoshop.
LUT support.
Regular updates.
Supports RAW editing.
Cons:
Full features and updates are locked in the subscription plan.
Heavy use of computer resources.
Stability issues and bugs.
-
Radiant Photo 2
Next on our list is Radiant Photo 2, developed by Radiant Imaging Labs. This AI-driven tool is a fully featured photo editing software and Photoshop plugin designed to improve images efficiently in less time with minimal effort. Radiant Photo 2 UI is beginner-friendly, simplifies the process, and delivers a smooth workflow inside Photoshop for experienced photographers.
At Imaging Labs, they envision working with AI consciously and with a purpose. They see AI as a tool to assist, automate, and make things easier rather than limiting the artist's and photographer's creativity. Radiant Photo 2 does not use any type of generative AI and processes everything on your local machine to ensure a fast process and workflow.
The Radiant Photo 2 assistive AI tools offer automatic enhancement to analyze and make the right adjustments to improve image quality in less time. It can identify the type of photography and define whether it is a landscape, portrait, animal, or person. Among its AI features are color correction, face lighting, and skin tones.
You can get the Radiant Photo 2 app and plugin version for $159 and buy the additional genre-specific workflows as add-ons.
Pros:
Beginner-friendly UI.
Customizable workspace.
Effective scene detection.
Batch export.
Non-destructive editing.
16-bit workflow.
Cons:
This is not for you if you're looking for an AI generative tool.
No layer-based editing.
The genre-specific workflows are sold separately.
-
Nik Collection
The Nik Collection is a collection of seven plugins for Adobe Photoshop designed to enhance your creativity, speed up the photo editing process, and provide precise control over settings adjustments. AI-leveraged features of the Nik Collection include AI masking with U Point, noise reduction, and sharpening.
The seven plugins included are the following:
- Nik Color Efex offers filters and effects for color correction and color, tone, and contrast enhancements. It includes features from the Nik Viveza plugin.
- Nik Silver Efex is a dedicated plugin that colorizes black-and-white images with darkroom-inspired features.
- Nik Analog Efex simulates the classic look of analog cameras, film stock, and camera lenses.
- Nik Viveza is a plugin that provides precise control over colors and tones. It uses U Point technology to generate AI masks for selective editing.
- Nik Dfine is a noise reduction plugin that uses advanced algorithms to remove digital noise efficiency and preserve details.
- Nik Sharpener plugin offers sophisticated sharpening tools to optimize your digital or print images.
- Nik HDR Efex allows you to create high-dynamic-range (HDR) images. It gives you control over achieving natural and artistic HDR looks.
Nik Collection is a single-purchase license for $159 that offers a 30-day free trial with all features unlocked and onboard tutorials to familiarize users with the plugins before purchasing.
Pros:
Versatile AI tools.
U Point masking technology creates precise masks.
Each plugin does what it is supposed to do.
Cons:
Steep learning curve.
Price.
Resource-intensive.
No standalone version.
-
Infinite Color Panel
The Infinite Texture Panel is a Photoshop plugin developed by Infinite Tools that offers an exhaustive library of over 70,000 high-definition textures straight into Photoshop. If you’re tired of wasting time searching for textures online, this plugin is your lifesaver!
The Infinite Texture Panel grants you access to thousands of commercially licensed textures organized for easy browsing. One of the key features is the AI-powered visual search, which allows you to find the right texture for your image based on visual similarity and match it to one from the library. The panel's AI then resizes the texture to fit your Photoshop file.
It is a time-saving plugin if you're constantly searching for textures and spending more time in the search and resizing.
Pros:
A vast library of high-quality textures.
AI-driven search feature.
Features commercial license textures.
Cons:
Requires an internet connection.
May have problems with older versions of Photoshop.
You may not find many innovative textures if you have built a texture collection.
-
Attention Insight
The Attention Insight Photoshop plugin is an AI tool that uses algorithms to predict the more appealing areas in your images or designs. Attention Insight generates heatmaps to represent the most and least attractive areas visually. With this insight, you can test your designs before printing or delivering in digital mediums.
Its main feature is the AI-powered heatmaps, which use trained AI models for accurate prediction. The heatmaps are overlaid on your design for easy interpretation without interfering with your workflow by sending your images to a different platform or software.
With this useful plugin, you will begin to learn a lot about design and user experience, allowing you to make more informed decisions when editing images for social media or marketing.
The plan subscriptions start at around $32 and include credits for generating your analysis. A 14-day free trial is available if you want to experience the plugin before committing to a purchase.
Pros:
Easy integration with Photoshop.
Ease of use and interpretation.
Predictions based on real eye-tracking data.
Provide quick results.
Cons:
Be aware that accuracy can vary depending on how the AI model is trained. Use it as a guide, not as a rule of thumb.
Requires an internet connection.
-
DxO PureRAW
DxO PureRaw is an AI Photoshop plugin created to pre-process RAW image files. It was designed to enhance a RAW file before processing it in Photoshop and applying heavy effects and color grading. With DxO PureRaw, you can produce cleaner, sharper, and more detailed images to have a higher-quality image file from the start.
DxO PureRAW features superior noise reduction thanks to AI-powered DeepPRIME technology. DeepPRIME can reduce noise even at high ISO settings and recover lost detail from your images. Its Lens Sharpness Optimization applies lens correction and can tackle several lens problems, such as distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting, and edge softening.
The perpetual license of DxO PureRAW is $119. It offers a 14-day fully featured free trial, which you can use to determine whether it's worth the purchase.
Pros:
Easy to use.
Advanced RAW pre-processing.
Unrivaled noise reduction.
Lens correction for a variety of lens errors.
Cons:
It's a dedicated plugin for RAW pre-processing and does not feature other editing tools.
Add that extra step for pre-processing that can add more time to your work.
It may not be cost-effective if you already have a tool that delivers similar results.
Final Words
I hope this list can help you start researching these AI-powered tools and put you on the right track for what you're trying to achieve. If you're unfamiliar with AI tools, you can begin with Photoshop's Generative Fill and Neural Filters. With these free plugins, you can experience how AI can assist and improve your workflow.
However, if you're ready to take your Photoshop skills to the next level, Optics provides more than AI assistive tools. The Mask ML feature helps you spend less time creating mattes, but Optics also features a vast library of beauty filters, film stocks, lenses, flare effects, and particles. With the Optics plugin in your toolkit, you will be able to create artistic and cinematic photos.
If you want a plugin with multiple AI tools, check the Topaz Photo AI, ON1 Photo RAW MAX, Luminar Neo, or Nik Collection plugins. Remember to use the free trial period to exhaustively explore and find the right AI plugin for you.
Good luck!
FAQ
Best Free AI Plugin for Photoshop?
The best free AI plugins for Photoshop are those that are part of the Adobe ecosystem. I consider them "the best" because they're designed for Adobe Photoshop by Adobe. This includes:
-
Adobe Firefly. It includes the Generative Fill and Generative Expand tools.
-
Neural Filters. A built-in Photoshop filter that helps you with enhancement tasks.
