AI image editor market, September 2026
Miles FosterOwner and tester, RankDude
The marketâ–Ľ Shrinking
- Visits, year on year, without remove.bg
- -8.3%
- Visits vs August 2026
- -2.6%
- Name searches vs October 2025
- -12%
Every month I measure Google visits to the 68 AI image editor sites I track, and how often people search for them by name. In September 2026 they got about 122 million visits, 5% more than a year ago but 3% fewer than in August 2026.
Below: who grew fastest (one site is up 274% in a year), who sits highest on Google, where the visitors live and what comes next.
Data from DataForSEO, Tranco, Chrome UX Report, Ahrefs and SerpApi · not a ranking
AI image editor market: the key numbers for September 2026
Four numbers for September 2026. Visits mean visits from Google search to the tracked sites. Tap one for the detail below.
- The tracked sites got 122,079,022 visits from Google in September 2026, 5% more than a year ago and 3% fewer than in August 2026. remove.bg gained more visits on its own than the whole market gained in a year. Without it, visits would be down 8.3% on a year ago instead of up 5.0%.
- “ai image editor” gets about 201,000 US searches a month. People searched the site names 2,770,460 times in the US in September 2026, 12% less often than in October 2025.
- No tracked site is on Google’s first page for “ai image editor”; the highest is Fotor, at position 18. remove.bg is the most-visited site.
- 4.3% of visits came from the US (5.3% a year ago), then India, Indonesia and Philippines. The five most-visited sites took 72.3% of all visits.
1How many visits
In plain words: These sites got more visits from Google than a year ago (+5%), and September 2026 was about the same as August 2026 (-3%). remove.bg gained more visits on its own than the whole market gained in a year. Without it, visits would be down 8.3% on a year ago instead of up 5.0%.
- Visits, September 2026
- 122,079,022 (+5.0% on a year ago, -2.6% on August 2026)
- US visits
- 5,205,559 (-15.5% on a year ago)
- 24-month peak
- 181,090,676 in December 2024
WorldVisits a month to AI image editor sites, worldwide
Source: DataForSEO, Google search visits, all tracked sites.
Miles explains
Judge this line on the year, not the last dot: visits are 5% above a year ago, and 33% below the December 2024 high. One site winning or losing a ranking can swing a single month a lot.
2How many people went looking
People typed a site’s name into Google 12% less often than in October 2025 (-12%). That is the loyalty number, because nobody types a name by accident.
- Searches for "ai image editor"
- 201,000 a month in the US, 550,000 worldwide (12-month average)
- Visits the term sends
- 2,076 US visits in September 2026
- Name searches, September 2026
- 2,770,460 in the US (-12.3% since October 2025), 29,050,340 worldwide
USSearches a month for "ai image editor", United States
Source: Google Ads via DataForSEO.
USSearches a month for the site names, United States
Source: Google Ads via DataForSEO, to September 2026.
| Most searched by name, US | Searches a month |
|---|---|
 remove.bg | 1,220,000 |
 Photopea | 550,000 |
 Pixlr | 246,000 |
 VSCO | 246,000 |
 Picsart | 201,000 |
 Photoroom | 33,100 |
 PicMonkey | 27,100 |
 BeFunky | 22,200 |
Most searched by name, US
- remove.bg
- Searches a month
- 1,220,000
- Photopea
- Searches a month
- 550,000
- Pixlr
- Searches a month
- 246,000
- VSCO
- Searches a month
- 246,000
- Picsart
- Searches a month
- 201,000
- Photoroom
- Searches a month
- 33,100
- PicMonkey
- Searches a month
- 27,100
- BeFunky
- Searches a month
- 22,200
Ordered by US searches for the brand name in September 2026. A measured order, not a ranking.
Rising next to the term on Google Trends: “notegpt ai image editor”.
Miles explains
Name searches are the number I trust most. They are down 12%, and nobody types a site’s name by accident, so this shows fewer people coming back on purpose.
3Who is on Google's first page
No tracked site is on Google’s first page for “ai image editor”; the highest-placed is Fotor, at position 18. Being on that page is the biggest single thing that decides how many visits a site gets.
Ordered by US Google position for “ai image editor”, then Tranco rank. A measured order, not a ranking.
| Site | Google US | Tranco | Move in 37 days | Search visits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fotor | 18 | 14,127 | â–˛ 37 | 4,085,383 |
 Imagen | 32 | 186,120 | â–˛ 37,783 | 166,170 |
 Phot.AI | 56 | 411,465 | â–Ľ 45,575 | 102,140 |
| remove.bg | – | 1,322 | ▼ 97 | 41,408,435 |
 Meitu | – | 2,238 | ▼ 160 | 29,484 |
| Picsart | – | 4,524 | ▼ 9 | 20,053,887 |
| Pixlr | – | 7,190 | ▼ 27 | 5,345,796 |
| VSCO | – | 8,503 | ▲ 395 | 783,159 |
| Photoroom | – | 9,310 | ▲ 144 | 15,542,744 |
| Photopea | – | 10,804 | ▲ 436 | 2,330,077 |
 Pixelcut | – | 16,628 | ▼ 16 | 4,326,382 |
 Cutout.Pro | – | 18,875 | ▼ 59 | 5,944,199 |
 Topaz Photo | – | 28,857 | ▲ 394 | 509,765 |
| PicMonkey | – | 29,466 | ▲ 666 | 374,742 |
 Remini | – | 30,794 | ▼ 439 | 920,234 |
Site
- Fotor
- Google US
- 18
- Tranco
- 14,127
- Move in 37 days
- â–˛ 37
- Search visits
- 4,085,383
- Imagen
- Google US
- 32
- Tranco
- 186,120
- Move in 37 days
- â–˛ 37,783
- Search visits
- 166,170
- Phot.AI
- Google US
- 56
- Tranco
- 411,465
- Move in 37 days
- â–Ľ 45,575
- Search visits
- 102,140
- remove.bg
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 1,322
- Move in 37 days
- â–Ľ 97
- Search visits
- 41,408,435
- Meitu
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 2,238
- Move in 37 days
- â–Ľ 160
- Search visits
- 29,484
- Picsart
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 4,524
- Move in 37 days
- â–Ľ 9
- Search visits
- 20,053,887
- Pixlr
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 7,190
- Move in 37 days
- â–Ľ 27
- Search visits
- 5,345,796
- VSCO
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 8,503
- Move in 37 days
- â–˛ 395
- Search visits
- 783,159
- Photoroom
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 9,310
- Move in 37 days
- â–˛ 144
- Search visits
- 15,542,744
- Photopea
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 10,804
- Move in 37 days
- â–˛ 436
- Search visits
- 2,330,077
- Pixelcut
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 16,628
- Move in 37 days
- â–Ľ 16
- Search visits
- 4,326,382
- Cutout.Pro
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 18,875
- Move in 37 days
- â–Ľ 59
- Search visits
- 5,944,199
- Topaz Photo
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 28,857
- Move in 37 days
- â–˛ 394
- Search visits
- 509,765
- PicMonkey
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 29,466
- Move in 37 days
- â–˛ 666
- Search visits
- 374,742
- Remini
- Google US
- –
- Tranco
- 30,794
- Move in 37 days
- â–Ľ 439
- Search visits
- 920,234
Source: DataForSEO (US Google positions) and Tranco, September 2026. First 15 of 68 sites shown.
Miles explains
No tracked site sits high on Google for “ai image editor”, so most visits here come from people who already know the names.
4Who grew, who faded
Biggest gain in September 2026: Pokecut (+21%); biggest loss: Hotpot.ai (-71%). Year-on-year growers are on the demand page.
Biggest moves in September 2026
| Up this month | Aug 26 | Sep 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Pokecut | 185,271 | 224,104 | +21.0% |
 VanceAI | 206,046 | 246,949 | +19.9% |
 Media.io | 2,370,150 | 2,784,538 | +17.5% |
 Aiarty Image Enhancer | 62,261 | 70,123 | +12.6% |
| Imagen | 147,819 | 166,170 | +12.4% |
 Capture One | 47,839 | 52,817 | +10.4% |
Up this month
- Pokecut
- Aug 26
- 185,271
- Sep 26
- 224,104
- Change
- +21.0%
- VanceAI
- Aug 26
- 206,046
- Sep 26
- 246,949
- Change
- +19.9%
- Media.io
- Aug 26
- 2,370,150
- Sep 26
- 2,784,538
- Change
- +17.5%
- Aiarty Image Enhancer
- Aug 26
- 62,261
- Sep 26
- 70,123
- Change
- +12.6%
- Imagen
- Aug 26
- 147,819
- Sep 26
- 166,170
- Change
- +12.4%
- Capture One
- Aug 26
- 47,839
- Sep 26
- 52,817
- Change
- +10.4%
| Down this month | Aug 26 | Sep 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Hotpot.ai | 172,239 | 49,754 | -71.1% |
 Narrative Select | 6,566 | 2,323 | -64.6% |
 Autoenhance.ai | 11,268 | 5,182 | -54.0% |
 ON1 Photo RAW | 29,637 | 18,636 | -37.1% |
 Darkroom | 11,922 | 7,570 | -36.5% |
| Phot.AI | 158,996 | 102,140 | -35.8% |
Down this month
- Hotpot.ai
- Aug 26
- 172,239
- Sep 26
- 49,754
- Change
- -71.1%
- Narrative Select
- Aug 26
- 6,566
- Sep 26
- 2,323
- Change
- -64.6%
- Autoenhance.ai
- Aug 26
- 11,268
- Sep 26
- 5,182
- Change
- -54.0%
- ON1 Photo RAW
- Aug 26
- 29,637
- Sep 26
- 18,636
- Change
- -37.1%
- Darkroom
- Aug 26
- 11,922
- Sep 26
- 7,570
- Change
- -36.5%
- Phot.AI
- Aug 26
- 158,996
- Sep 26
- 102,140
- Change
- -35.8%
Brand demand, since October 2025
| Searched more | Oct 25 | Sep 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokecut | 1,300 | 2,900 | +123.1% |
 BeautyPlus | 9,900 | 12,100 | +22.2% |
 Removal.AI | 5,400 | 6,600 | +22.2% |
Searched more
- Pokecut
- Oct 25
- 1,300
- Sep 26
- 2,900
- Change
- +123.1%
- BeautyPlus
- Oct 25
- 9,900
- Sep 26
- 12,100
- Change
- +22.2%
- Removal.AI
- Oct 25
- 5,400
- Sep 26
- 6,600
- Change
- +22.2%
| Searched less | Oct 25 | Sep 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Photoleap | 3,600 | 1,000 | -72.2% |
| Hotpot.ai | 6,600 | 1,900 | -71.2% |
 PicWish | 12,100 | 3,600 | -70.2% |
 Pixelied | 1,000 | 320 | -68.0% |
| Meitu | 9,900 | 3,600 | -63.6% |
 Luminar Neo | 18,100 | 6,600 | -63.5% |
Searched less
- Photoleap
- Oct 25
- 3,600
- Sep 26
- 1,000
- Change
- -72.2%
- Hotpot.ai
- Oct 25
- 6,600
- Sep 26
- 1,900
- Change
- -71.2%
- PicWish
- Oct 25
- 12,100
- Sep 26
- 3,600
- Change
- -70.2%
- Pixelied
- Oct 25
- 1,000
- Sep 26
- 320
- Change
- -68.0%
- Meitu
- Oct 25
- 9,900
- Sep 26
- 3,600
- Change
- -63.6%
- Luminar Neo
- Oct 25
- 18,100
- Sep 26
- 6,600
- Change
- -63.5%
Source: Google Ads via DataForSEO.
5Where the visitors live
About 4 of every 100 visits come from the United States.
- US share of visits
- 4.3% (5.3% a year ago)
- Largest outside the US
- India, Indonesia and Philippines
- US share of "ai image editor" searches
- 37%
USShare of visits that come from the US (%)
US share of worldwide search visits, month by month.
| Country | Search visits a month | Share of the measured countries |
|---|---|---|
| India | 41,439,963 | 52.7% |
| Indonesia | 17,904,519 | 22.8% |
| Philippines | 6,688,181 | 8.5% |
| Brazil | 3,528,378 | 4.5% |
| Canada | 1,198,321 | 1.5% |
| Mexico | 1,157,522 | 1.5% |
| United Kingdom | 902,226 | 1.1% |
| Spain | 802,982 | 1% |
| Japan | 775,672 | 1% |
| Ukraine | 596,920 | 0.8% |
Country
- India
- Search visits a month
- 41,439,963
- Share of the measured countries
- 52.7%
- Indonesia
- Search visits a month
- 17,904,519
- Share of the measured countries
- 22.8%
- Philippines
- Search visits a month
- 6,688,181
- Share of the measured countries
- 8.5%
- Brazil
- Search visits a month
- 3,528,378
- Share of the measured countries
- 4.5%
- Canada
- Search visits a month
- 1,198,321
- Share of the measured countries
- 1.5%
- Mexico
- Search visits a month
- 1,157,522
- Share of the measured countries
- 1.5%
- United Kingdom
- Search visits a month
- 902,226
- Share of the measured countries
- 1.1%
- Spain
- Search visits a month
- 802,982
- Share of the measured countries
- 1%
- Japan
- Search visits a month
- 775,672
- Share of the measured countries
- 1%
- Ukraine
- Search visits a month
- 596,920
- Share of the measured countries
- 0.8%
Source: DataForSEO, September 2026.
Miles explains
The US is the single biggest market, but only about 4 in every 100 visits. India alone is 52.7% of the countries I measure outside it.
6Links and ratings
Other websites link to these sites more than a year ago (+5%).
The tracked sites had 511,354 referring domains between them in September 2026, +4.7% year on year. The average Domain Rating is 66. Pixlr has the strongest link profile at DR 85.
| By Domain Rating (Ahrefs) | DR |
|---|---|
| Pixlr | 85 |
| VSCO | 85 |
| Photopea | 83 |
| remove.bg | 83 |
| Picsart | 82 |
| Fotor | 81 |
| Narrative Select | 81 |
| BeFunky | 80 |
By Domain Rating (Ahrefs)
- Pixlr
- DR
- 85
- VSCO
- DR
- 85
- Photopea
- DR
- 83
- remove.bg
- DR
- 83
- Picsart
- DR
- 82
- Fotor
- DR
- 81
- Narrative Select
- DR
- 81
- BeFunky
- DR
- 80
| By referring domains | Domains |
|---|---|
| Picsart | 82,065 |
| Pixlr | 41,225 |
| Fotor | 28,390 |
| VSCO | 24,281 |
| PicMonkey | 23,383 |
| remove.bg | 23,138 |
| BeFunky | 18,507 |
 Affinity | 16,923 |
By referring domains
- Picsart
- Domains
- 82,065
- Pixlr
- Domains
- 41,225
- Fotor
- Domains
- 28,390
- VSCO
- Domains
- 24,281
- PicMonkey
- Domains
- 23,383
- remove.bg
- Domains
- 23,138
- BeFunky
- Domains
- 18,507
- Affinity
- Domains
- 16,923
Source: DataForSEO and Ahrefs, September 2026.