Best Noise Reduction Software in 2024 (9 Top Picks)

Even with advancements in camera technology, noise is still a serious issue for photographers. We’ve all taken a beautiful low-light photo only to find that it’s virtually unusable because of the intense background noise.

All is not lost, though! We’re lucky to have access to superb software that can reduce noise without damaging the overall image quality. These programs don’t require any specialist knowledge, and they’re easy to use, too.

If you constantly struggle with noise and want a powerful solution, we’ve handpicked nine of the best noise reduction software programs available in 2024. This list includes dedicated software for serious work as well as general photo editing software that boasts effective noise reduction capabilities and is perfect for hobbyists.

ON1 NoNoise AI noise reduction software main window with a before/after slider splitting a magnified urban nightscape image.
Reducing noise in your images is easier than ever thanks to programs like ON1 NoNoise AI.

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1. Topaz Labs DeNoise AI

Our Pick
Topaz Labs DeNoise AI
Topaz Labs DeNoise AI
Now part of Photo AI by Topaz Labs

Topaz DeNoise AI is an amazing option if you want a standalone product that offers excellent control over the noise reduction process.

Includes all Photo AI Features

Pros
Easy to use
Available as a Lightroom and Photoshop plugin
Great control over noise reduction
Sleek interface
Cons
Integration into Photo AI could confuse long-time DeNoise AI users

Editor’s Note: Topaz Labs’ transition towards Photo AI, incorporating DeNoise AI along with its other specialized tools, marks a significant shift in the company’s approach to photo editing. This move, reflective of broader industry trends towards integrated solutions, has generated mixed reactions within the photography community.
While the integration aims to streamline workflows, there’s concern over maintaining the specialized effectiveness of tools like DeNoise AI. As Topaz Labs evolves, it’s pivotal to balance innovation with the core functionalities that users have come to rely on.

Paul’s Insightful Review of Topaz Labs’ Classic Stand-Alone DeNoise AI

My top pick is Topaz Labs DeNoise AI; it’s a great choice if you want a powerful standalone noise reduction program (update 25 February 2024: DeNoise AI is now part of Photo AI).

The software has gone through many iterations, and the latest utilizes advanced AI to help maintain image quality while still reducing noise effectively.

The interface is simple and the controls are easy to understand. The biggest drawback is that it only offers noise reduction. You’ll need another program if you want to edit your files more comprehensively (though DeNoise AI is offered as a Lightroom and Photoshop plugin, which makes it easy to incorporate into a general editing workflow!).

Topaz DeNoise AI with the AI Model tool set to Standard next to a before/after view of an urban nightscape image.
The Standard AI Model in DeNoise AI was enough to clean up my image.

On the right side, you have a range of noise reduction options. The AI Model panel allows you to run specific noise reduction filters such as Low Light and Severe Noise. I thought this was excellent as it made it easy to handle groups of photos that required similar amounts of denoising during my tests.

You can then choose the level of noise reduction and sharpness together with how much of the original detail you want to retain. It really gives you full control and allows you to tailor the noise reduction to suit different photos as opposed to applying a blanket noise reduction process that may yield random results.

Topaz DeNoise AI with the AI Model tool open and four approaches compared using an urban nightscape photo.
Denoise AI offers a range of noise reduction options that are easy to compare.

The comparison view is great for determining how to proceed with each photo. It splits the preview pane into four sections, and each one shows the image with a different AI model applied. This is especially useful for identifying the best AI model when processing several images with different levels of luminance and color noise.

1st March 2024
Topaz Photo AI’s latest v2.4.0 update introduces significant enhancements aimed at giving users greater flexibility and control over image processing. Key updates include customizable enhancement sequencing, targeted application of enhancements to specific image parts, and the ability to apply multiple enhancements separately, such as sharpening different image areas independently. Additionally, the Remove tool has been integrated as a filter, allowing for content removal followed by further image enhancements. The update also features a smoother crop tool experience and introduces a new Straightening tool, all supported by revamped filter processing for improved responsiveness in Photo AI.
Current User Sentiment
While these updates promise a more versatile editing workflow, user feedback highlights concerns over usability challenges and performance issues, urging a closer look at the practical implementation of these new features.

2. DxO PureRAW 3

Also Great
DxO PureRAW 3
DxO PureRAW 3
Great for batch processing

DxO PureRAW 3 allows you to clean up multiple RAW files prior to editing in other post-processing software.

$32.25 x4 months payment available

Pros
Simple batch processing interface
Great for working with large collections
Amazing DeepPRIME XD noise reduction
Cons
The generated DNG files are incredibly large

DxO PureRAW 3 is a batch processing tool designed to enhance the basic quality of your RAW files before you run them through separate photo editing software.

Here’s the standard workflow: You open DxO PureRAW 3, select your photos, run the batch processing tool, and new DNG RAW files are created. You then load these files into software such as Lightroom Classic or ON1 Photo RAW for further editing.

DxO PureRAW 3 interface with the dialog box for the DeepPRIME processing.
PureRAW 3 offers several powerful noise reduction processes, including DeepPRIME.

This might seem inconvenient, but it’s a relatively simple process and the software makes it incredibly easy. The interface is intuitive, and you can select the batch processing options quickly. For noise reduction, DxO PureRAW 3 has the PRIME, DeepPRIME, and DeepPRIME XD tools, which all offer fantastic AI-enhanced processing.

DxO PureRAW 3 with the Optics Modules dialog box open and Canon EOS M selected.
PureRAW 3 offers additional corrections based on your camera and lens combination.

In my tests, the DeepPRIME XD (Extra Detail) tool displayed the most advanced noise reduction by far, and while it did take a decent amount of time to render, the results were amazing. PureRAW doesn’t just do noise reduction, though; the program also offers corrections to handle problems such as vignetting and chromatic aberration, so it’s great for anyone looking to enhance the quality of their files.

3. Nik Dfine

Nik Dfine
Nik Dfine
Great for selective noise reduction

Nik Dfine works great as a plugin and uses AI to reduce noise only in the areas that need it.

Free trial available

Pros
Selective noise reduction
Simple and fast application
Works great as a plugin
Amazing results
Cons
You must buy the entire Nik Collection

Nik Dfine is part of the Nik Collection, which consists of plugins that offer specific editing functionality such as sharpening and color effects. Dfine is a dedicated noise reduction plugin, and it can be used with Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Photoshop CC, though you can also use it as a standalone program.

The noise reduction processing is highly advanced and uses sophisticated AI algorithms to target problem areas and preserve image details. It takes just a few clicks to apply the denoising, which means you can blast through large volumes of photos easily.

Nik Dfine plugin open in Photoshop with a comparison of two images featuring an urban nightscape.
Nik Dfine is easy to use and offers excellent results.

What’s especially impressive is that the AI first analyzes the photo and determines where noise reduction is needed, whereas most noise reduction tools simply apply a blanket reduction. As Dfine targets only noisy areas of each file, the original image quality is better preserved.

What’s more, if you feel the AI hasn’t effectively identified areas in need of noise reduction, you can use control points to refine the selection. When testing the tool, I found the different viewing options invaluable. I especially liked the dual view where you can see the original and the noise-reduced version of the photo at the same time.

Working in Photoshop, I found that once I opened the Nik Collection pane, I could select from several preset noise reduction options like Sky, Background, and Heavy Noise. This really sped up my workflow and allowed me to make quick adjustments that were often still targeted to specific areas of the image.

An urban nightscape photo in the Photoshop window with the Nik Dfine plugin open to the preset noise reduction options.
If you want to speed up your workflow, the noise reduction presets will come in handy.

Overall, it’s an excellent plugin. The main drawback is that you must buy the entire Nik Collection to gain access to Dfine, and it doesn’t come cheap.

4. ON1 NoNoise AI 2024

ON1 NoNoise AI 2024
ON1 NoNoise AI 2024
Great as a plugin

ON1 NoNoise AI 2024 is available as a plugin for various editing programs and offers excellent AI-based noise reduction.

Pros
Available as a plugin or a standalone product
Effective detail preservation
Additional sharpening tools
Cons
Can struggle to remove noise in certain scenarios
2024 Updates
– Enhanced AI models for superior noise reduction and deblurring, especially in astrophotography and wildlife shots.
– A streamlined user interface for improved readability and faster performance.
– Upgrades to the Layers pane for more intuitive editing.

ON1 NoNoise AI 2024 is a dedicated noise reduction program that relies on advanced AI to get the best results. It can be used as a standalone application or as a plugin.

The plugin is compatible with Photoshop CC, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom Classic, Apple Photos, Affinity Photo, Corel Paint Shop Pro, and Capture One Pro. This makes it incredibly versatile, and the one-off purchase price is a bargain, too.

Related Posts

ON1 NoNoise AI 2024 offers support for over 800 cameras and the most common image file types, including various RAW formats. When applying noise reduction, it leans heavily on AI, and the end results are fantastic. The noise is removed, but thanks to the AI technology, the details are kept and image quality doesn’t degrade.

ON1 NoNoise AI with the Noise & Sharpening panel open and a nightscape image in the main window with a before/after slider.
NoNoise AI is highly effective, and it’s fast, too!

There is also a sharpening tool to deal with any softness. Despite the complexity of the program, the tools work fast, and you have a great level of control.

ON1 NoNoise AI noise reduction software main window with a before/after slider splitting a magnified urban nightscape image.
The before/after split screen makes it simple to see how the program performs. Look at the difference between my original file (left) and the modified file (right).

I spent a while testing the AI noise reduction, and I found that the split before/after preview was invaluable as it allowed me to clearly see improvements. While I generally felt the tools were consistent, there were a couple of instances where the program struggled to remove all the noise from larger areas (e.g., a night sky).

5. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
Great as a general editor

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic is the best option if you want a complete editing program that also has solid noise reduction capabilities.

As part of the Adobe Cloud subscription.

Pros
Simple noise reduction toolbar
Full photo management capabilities
Quick workflow with batch editing
Cons
Limited control over noise reduction
Not as an advanced as dedicated software

If you’re looking for photo editing software that also offers noise reduction, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic is the best program to buy. While I previously felt that Lightroom Classic was merely average, Adobe recently released an update with a new AI Denoise tool, and it makes a huge difference.

In addition to the traditional noise reduction sliders, you now have a Denoise button. Simply give it a press to open the dialog box with the new AI noise reduction workflow. I found it a little clunky and unresponsive at first, but it’s very easy to use as there are only a few options to choose from.

The results are pretty incredible, and the only downside is the processing time. Enhancing a basic RAW image (displayed below) took 15 minutes!

Lightroom Develop module with the Enhance Preview dialog box open and Denoise selected.
Lightroom’s new Denoise tool is nothing short of outstanding, but it’s also very slow.

Considering the advanced AI technology, I guess this makes sense, but the process is still quite slow compared to the competition. On the other hand, I got some great results in my tests (even with photos taken at higher ISO settings such as 25,600).

The software is also great for photo organization. You can assign keywords to files, manage folder hierarchies, and just generally keep your image library in order. Additionally, editing in Lightroom Classic is very easy, and the program has batch-processing features to speed up your workflow!

6. Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop
Great for flexible noise reduction

Adobe Photoshop offers several noise reduction methods and includes advanced options to reduce noise using channels.

As part of the Adobe Cloud subscription.

Pros
Powerful photo editing capabilities
Excellent raster graphics tools
Simple noise reduction processes
Cons
Not as effective as other software
The interface can be overwhelming for beginners

Adobe Photoshop is a great editor that contains several capable denoising tools. It doesn’t pack the power of dedicated denoising software, but you do get the benefit of a fantastically simple noise reduction process.

Just head to Filter > Noise > Reduce Noise, and you’ll find several handy sliders for effective denoising. You have a slider to change the strength of the noise reduction, and there’s a Preserve Details slider to minimize any smoothing effects.

The Reduce Noise dialog box open over the Photoshop main window with an urban nightscape photo.
The Reduce Noise filter is a great starting point for Photoshop users.

Aside from this basic method, the filter boasts advanced noise reduction options involving channels. I also like working with the Camera Raw plugin (which comes with Photoshop); it gives you access to the same noise reduction tools you can find in Lightroom (minus the AI Denoise option).

Photoshop Adobe Camera Raw plugin with a magnified nightscape image and the Detail editing panel displaying several sliders.
The Camera Raw plugin offers additional noise reduction sliders.

If you want a capable raster graphics program that has excellent general editing tools as well as effective noise reduction options, Photoshop is a fantastic choice, and it performs better than competitor programs like Affinity Photo. Just remember that Photoshop can only be purchased as a subscription, so if that’s not your cup of tea, you might want to look elsewhere.

7. Capture One Pro

Capture One Pro
Capture One Pro
Great for RAW editing

Capture One Pro 23 offers a dedicated noise reduction tool that is easy to use as part of its powerful RAW photo editing suite.

Updates not included

Pros
Simple but effective noise reduction
Extensive photo management tools
Great selective editing
Cons
Can be sluggish
Monthly subscription is not the cheapest

Like Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, Capture One Pro is a processing program that includes a noise reduction tool, so while it’s not ideal for folks searching for a dedicated denoising application, if you’re in the market for a comprehensive editor, it’s a great choice.

When testing the program, I liked how simple the noise reduction tool was to use; you can just drag various sliders to get the level of denoising you want. I also liked that you can save your noise reduction settings as a preset; I did this for the shot displayed below, then used the preset to quickly edit my other photos of the same scene.

Capture One Pro 23 Noise Reduction sliders next to a magnified urban nightscape image split by a before/after slider.
Capture One Pro isn’t a dedicated noise reduction program, but it’s still very effective!

Overall, it works really well and gives you a decent amount of control. The program also offers a great set of general editing tools that’ll help you get the most out of your RAW images. It supports a vast array of cameras and lenses, and the latest version (Capture One Pro 23) boasts improved image management and better layer editing.

Capture One Pro 23 displaying a magnified urban nightscape image and the Save Preset dialog box.
If you find yourself needing to repeatedly apply the same level of noise reduction, you can always save the adjustment as a preset.

A slight downside is that the monthly subscription is more expensive than a Lightroom/Photoshop bundle. Capture One Pro 23 can also be resource-intensive and does need a powerful editing computer to consistently run smoothly.

8. NeatLab Neat Image

NeatLab Neat Image
NeatLab Neat Image
Great as a budget option

Neat Image is an inexpensive standalone program that has a quick and simple denoising process and batch editing capabilities.

Pro edition costs $69.90 USD ($79.90 as a Photoshop Plug-in)

Pros
Doesn’t need a powerful device to run
Batch processing for large photo collections
Advanced mode available for professionals
Cons
Some images turn out a little smooth
The interface may be confusing

NeatLab Neat Image is an excellent option if you need inexpensive noise reduction software that is capable of batch processing. It’s available as a Photoshop plugin or as a standalone program for Windows, macOS, and Linux devices, and there are two versions to choose from: Home and Pro.

The Home version caps the batch processing at 100 images and is unlicensed for commercial use. With the Pro version, you can batch process an unlimited number of files, use your edited photos commercially, and more.

Neat Image main window with a Device Noise Profile panel and a night landscape photo positioned above noise reduction previews.
The Neat Image interface isn’t exactly flashy, but the program makes it easy to apply effective noise reduction to your photos.

The software looks pretty basic, and it does have a dated interface, but it runs smoothly. Once you get a handle on how the denoising process works, it’s really easy to use. To get started, you simply load an image (or multiple images), prepare the noise profile, make final adjustments, and then generate the output file(s).

The program is quite powerful, and it’s pretty fast, too. That said, it doesn’t completely avoid softening details, so you may want to apply some sharpening with your standard photo editing software afterward.

9. Skylum Luminar Neo

Skylum Luminar Neo
Skylum Luminar Neo
Great for beginners

Skylum Luminar Neo offers AI-powered noise reduction that’s extremely easy to apply.

$79/year

Pros
Simple layout and interface
Excellent AI-enhanced tools
Noiseless AI is easy to use
Cons
Not as effective as dedicated noise reduction software

If you’re just delving into photography, you may not want a complex program. That’s where Skylum Luminar Neo is a great alternative; it makes noise reduction, and all photo editing, extremely simple.

Luminar Neo is one of the best AI-enhanced processing programs available. Many of the tools, including the denoising feature, rely on AI to give great results with minimal effort on your part.

The Noiseless AI tool is what you use to clean up problematic images, and it reduces noise effectively without degrading the image quality. You can essentially apply the denoising with a couple of clicks, which is perfect for beginners (as well as folks who don’t have time to mess around with complex software).

Luminar Neo main editing window with an urban night photo on the left and the Denoise tool open on the right.
Luminar Neo offers AI-powered denoising, and it’s insanely easy to use.

I liked the Boost feature below the Luminosity Denoise and Color Denoise sliders – I used it when I encountered a particularly stubborn patch of noise that couldn’t be completely removed with the standard sliders.

I also found the masking tools useful as they let me target areas of my photos for denoising. In other words, you can be selective and avoid potentially softening areas of your photos that don’t have noise issues.

Luminar Neo main editing window with an urban night photo featuring a red overlay and the Denoise masking tools in use.
Thanks to Luminar Neo’s masking tools, you can apply noise reduction to specific areas of your images.

You don’t have to worry about dealing with a complicated layout or toolset, either. Skylum likes to keep things simple, and the editing process couldn’t be easier (as we discovered when reviewing Luminar Neo). The program doesn’t offer tools quite as comprehensive as Capture One Pro 23, nor does it offer noise reduction that competes with Topaz Labs DeNoise AI, but it’s an excellent option if you want to get started with photo editing and apply basic noise reduction to your images.

Choose a Program to Remove Noise

When looking for the best noise reduction software, you must consider your goals and interests. If you’re a hobbyist and just need basic noise reduction tools, then a comprehensive photo editor with denoising included is the way to go.

Programs like Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe Photoshop, Skylum Luminar Neo, and Capture One Pro are all primarily designed for photo editing but have noise reduction tools. They’ll allow you to edit photos as a hobbyist and reduce noise effectively.

But if you’re a professional or you specialize in low-light photography, dedicated denoising software could be the better pick. Options like Topaz DeNoise AI, DxO PureRAW 3, ON1 NoNoise AI 2023, and Nik Dfine all offer advanced controls and can be used for noise reduction before or after applying edits in a more comprehensive program.

About the Author
Paul Skidmore

A seasoned content creator at PhotoWorkout, Paul merges his love for traveling and photography to craft insightful articles. With a solid grasp of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, he enjoys testing new photo software, apps, and gear. His background in web development further enriches his photography endeavors.
Connect with him on LinkedIn.

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2 thoughts on “Best Noise Reduction Software in 2024 (9 Top Picks)”

  1. The Denoise AI that’s now “part” of Photo AI does not have the same functionality and pales in comparison to the stand-alone version. Problem is, you can no longer purchase the stand-alone version.

    1. photoworkout author

      Thanks, Hayden, for your thoughts on DeNoise AI’s integration with Photo AI. We’ve updated our review to better reflect these changes and community sentiments. We aim to keep our information current and insightful, helping photographers navigate these updates. Your feedback is crucial for enriching our discussions and guiding future content. We will be testing the latest Photo AI release and update our recommendations accordingly.