Photoshop Alternatives

Adobe Photoshop serves as a professional raster graphics editor for Windows and macOS, handling advanced image editing, retouching, and digital art. Users praise its extensive feature set for graphics and design, though many complain about high pricing compared to other editors.

GIMP tops the rankings as the leading Photoshop alternative, offering broad image-editing and retouching tools completely free and open-source. Many users switch to GIMP specifically to escape Photoshop's cloud licensing and subscription model. Affinity Photo ranks second with its polished interface and one-time purchase model, repeatedly highlighted as a cost advantage over subscription pricing. Luminar Neo brings AI tools like GenErase and GenExpand plus focus stacking and HDR merging for photographer-centric workflows.

Krita ranks third, focusing on digital painting with advanced brush control and animation support for artists. The alternatives landscape splits between pro photo editors and art-first painting apps, with Photopea standing out as a free, install-free option with PSD support and a familiar interface.

filter to find the best alternatives

For open source transparency, GIMP and Krita lead with community-driven development and no proprietary licensing restrictions. Linux users have native options in GIMP, Krita, and MyPaint without relying on Windows or macOS-only tools. Windows-only picks include Paint.NET and Corel PaintShop Pro for desktop editing with layers, effects, and selection tools.

Web-based editors like Photopea, Pixlr, and Sumo Paint work in browsers when you can't install software on school or locked-down computers. Users avoiding subscriptions can choose Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer for predictable one-time licensing. For PSD workflows, Photopea, Affinity Photo, and Pixelmator open Photoshop-format documents to maintain collaboration compatibility. iPad workflows benefit from Affinity Photo, Pixelmator, and Pixlr for editing on tablets rather than desktop-only setups.

Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Adobe Photoshop alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Lensa icon
     2 likes

    Lensa is the best photo app for selfies. It automates editing process allowing you to make perfect pictures in a matter of seconds.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
     
  2. Artipic is a multi-platform image editing system that allows you to quickly and easily edit, retouch, compose and distribute your pictures and photos.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
     
  3. PixaFlux icon
     12 likes

    PixaFlux is a node based image processing application. PixaFlux creates and edits images in a non destructive way, using a node graph to organize the workflow without restrictions of size, position or color mode.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  4. Verve Painter icon
     20 likes

    Verve (Dictionary: Energy and enthusiasm in the expression of ideas, especially in artistic performance or composition...) is the result of a curious idea I had to try using the graphics hardware to run a fluid dynamics simulation.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  5. piZap icon
     6 likes

    Free online photo editing software.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Facebook
     
  6. PixBuilder icon
     18 likes

    Free Photo Editing Software for PC

    PixBuilder Studio is a free image editing software program for digital photo editing, images processing, and resizing. For digital photo editing, you can use its many professional quality functions. PixBuilder Studio allows you to use the foll.

    137 PixBuilder alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  7. Photo Toolbox icon
     3 likes

    Photo Toolbox is an utility software that allows you to edit, retouch and fix your digital photo. It combines many easy to use and very powerful features which can make your photo much better than before.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  8. Batch AI Photo Sharpener is a Windows desktop photo enhancement software program that enables users to sharpen and enhance photos and images in bulk offline by the AI (Artificial Intelligence) deep learning algorithm.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  9. Ribbet icon
     7 likes

    Ribbet proves that powerful photo editing isn't just for pros. Packed with an unprecedented variety of tools, this streamlined editor handles everything from basic edits to professional touch-ups. Hand-picked presets give you vast creative options, and if you want to go...

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
  10. PhotoPad icon
     8 likes

    PhotoPad picture editor is the fastest and most fun way to edit your digital photos. PhotoPad is one of the most stable, easy-to-use, and comprehensive photo editors available.

    106 PhotoPad alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • Kindle Fire
     
  11. Creative Kit icon
     8 likes

    6 powerful photography apps and over 500 creative tools inside a single, easy-to-use pack. Creative Kit elevates your photo editing experience and helps achieve fantastic results faster than ever before. Made for Mac.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Adobe Photoshop
     
  12. Project Dogwaffle lets you be creative without the fear of messing up your clothes. No sudden spills, no funny fumes. You can paint, erase it, and try again, and again, and again......

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
You are at page 10 of Adobe Photoshop alternatives