Picasa for Mac

While there are numerous apps that help you edit, organize, and share your digital images, many of them cost a lot and are geared toward users with experience in image editing. Picasa is an app from Google that offers only the basics and it won't cost you a dime.

The app's gray interface is on the plain side, but all of the options are easily accessible and even less experienced users should be able to jump right in. If you do run into difficulties, you can visit the Help center to view tutorials from the publisher and from other users. Picasa includes some basic editing tools, allowing you to crop your images or apply effects like sepia tone, but its most notable feature is facial recognition. This allows you to name an individual in your images so that person will be identified in future pictures you upload. We found this option worked best when the person was directly facing the camera, but it did make it easier to manage and find photos.

While the software could be used as a standalone photo-editing and management tool, it is designed to work with Google's photo sharing site, Picasa Web Albums. Like all things Google, it's tied into your Google account. If you don't have an account with Google or Picasa Web Albums, this software won't be as beneficial to you. For those who do use Picasa Web Albums, however, Picasa's simple integration makes it easy to edit and share your files online.