The Best Photoshop AlternativesTop Image Editors & Digital Painting Tools like Photoshop

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.

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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.

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Alternatives list

  1. GIMP icon

    GIMP

     4718 likes
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    GIMP delivers powerful functionalities for photo retouching, image composition, and format conversion. As a versatile tool, it serves as both a simple paint program and a high-end retouching suite, and offers batch processing for mass image tasks in an accessible open-source platform.

    190 GIMP alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    • AmigaOS
    yes
     
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    Comments about GIMP as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Comment summary: GIMP is praised for being a free, open-source alternative to Adobe Photoshop with many features and community support. However, users find its interface unintuitive and criticize its limitation in handling PSD files and advanced Photoshop features. It is considered a less comparable alternative mainly for simpler editing tasks, with suggestions for plugins like PhotoGIMP to bridge some gaps.
    Top Positive Comment
    Conner Vieira
    4

    If you're used to Photoshop, GIMP will feel very unusual, since it has very different ways of doing things. That being said, its more than capable of keeping up with Photoshop on a technical level, and well exceeds Photoshop's abilities (if at the cost of intuitiveness) in my opinion

    Top Negative Comment
    Marek
    24

    Irritating, totally unintuitive, completely unthought-out interface. It may have a lot of possibilities, but a lifetime is not enough to discover them and understand the twisted logic of this program.

    Mike-Fulton
    Negative
    0

    On paper, GIMP would seem to match up quite well against Adobe Photoshop, but when you actually try to use it, it's got a user interface that not even a mother could love. Most features are implemented in a very non-intuitive fashion. Want to crop an image? In Photoshop you enter the desired size and then drag a rectangle around the portion of the image you want to keep. It automatically constrains the selection to the aspect ratio of the size you entered. Gimp offers a variety of options for the crop tool but none of them is as simple and quick to use as PS. I've tried using GIMP several times over the past few decades and it always makes me want to tear my hair out.

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    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    GIMP icon

    • Almost everyone thinks GIMP is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • GIMP is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

    • GIMP is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

    • GIMP is Free and Open SourceAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
    • GIMP is Customizable, Privacy focused and LightweightAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  2. Affinity Photo icon

    Affinity Photo

     553 likes
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    Real-time image editing software supporting extensive colour spaces, unlimited layers, non-destructive edits, and a streamlined workspace for complex tasks on Windows, Mac, and iPad.

    100 Affinity Photo alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPad
    Affinity Photo screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about Affinity Photo as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Comment summary: Affinity Photo offers a polished interface with a minimal learning curve for those familiar with Photoshop, making it suitable for professionals and casual users alike. Its one-time fee model is a major advantage, often praised for its affordability compared to Photoshop's subscription. While it performs well on macOS and Windows, it lacks Linux support. Affinity is recommended for image processing, though it doesn't completely match Photoshop's range of features.
    Top Positive Comment
    Blouko
    20

    I believe, now that it supports Windows, that it's a great alternative to Photoshop. There's a wide variety of features you can find both on Photoshop and Photo, they share most of the key features. Affinity's design is beautiful aswell.

    adex345
    Positive
    0

    Affinity is now free and works in Linux!

    ericbright
    Positive
    1

    Exceptional app with almost anything a professional photographer or photo-editor might ask for. It is easy to use, fast, and familiar.

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    3 of 61 comments
    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Affinity Photo icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Affinity Photo is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • Affinity Photo is the most popular iPad alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

    • Affinity Photo is the most popular commercial alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

    • Affinity Photo is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is also Paid and Proprietary
    • Affinity Photo is Lightweight and Privacy focusedAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  4. Krita icon

    Krita

     1407 likes
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    Free, open-source painting software designed by artists for artists. Offers customizable UI, 9 brush engines, color management, tablet support, non-destructive editing, and privacy features. Portable and available on major platforms, supporting seamless texture creation.

    142 Krita alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android Tablet
    • KDE Plasma
    • Epic Games Store
    • PortableApps.com
    • Steam
    • F-Droid
    Main Window
     
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    Comments about Krita as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Comment summary: Krita, praised for its open-source nature and ease of use, is a strong alternative for those focusing on digital art and animation. While not as robust for photo editing, many users find it complements freeware like Photopea for certain projects. Its intuitive interface and almost complete feature set for drawing resonate with artists, although it lacks some newer features available in Photoshop.
    Top Positive Comment
    Atoshi
    18

    It's kinda more intuitive to use than GIMP (which is a briliant PS alternative too) interface-wise, and supports CMYK out of the box if one needs it. As of version 3.1 it has pretty advanced support for animation, including opacity curves (GIMP fails completely in that field, animathing anything is a major PITA in it)

    Top Negative Comment
    Soul Rain
    36

    photoshop is a photo editing software; krita is a painting and sketching app

    Tomás Barão
    Positive
    0

    I often use complex layer layouts. From my experience, Krita offers ways of combining and compositing layers much more powerful than Photoshop. Some things Krita can do non-destructively that Photoshop can't.

    Krita is often branded with an anime and cartoons focus, but I use it in my professional work for raster processing in general.

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    3 of 46 comments
    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Krita icon

    • Most users think Krita is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • Krita is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

    • Krita is Free and Open SourceAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
    • Krita is Lightweight, Customizable and Privacy focusedAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
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    CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

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  6. Paint.NET icon

    Paint.NET

     1648 likes
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    Free Windows image editor with support for layers, plugins, and special effects. Offers intuitive interface, works offline, ad-free, and portable, consuming fewer resources.

    165 Paint.NET alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • .NET Framework
    Paint.NET screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about Paint.NET as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Comment summary: Paint.NET is appreciated for being lightweight and easy to use, offering better PSD compatibility than GIMP. However, it cannot fully replace Photoshop due to its minimal features and lack of object support. Users note that while Paint.NET is free and useful for small edits, Photoshop remains superior yet slower for more advanced tasks.
    Top Positive Comment
    Thatstinkyguy
    1

    While it doesn't beat GIMP in terms of features, open-source, or cross-platform accessibility, it's still a solid program that's lightweight, fairly easy to use, and with a plugin (among many other ones), it seems to have better compatibility with PSD files than GIMP.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Well, it as the first image editor I have used other than... paint, So I might be a little biased. But its great, I love it, it has stuff, and its good.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    I was able to use it from day one and get better over time the more I worked in it.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 21 comments
    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Paint.NET icon

    • Most users think Paint.NET is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • Paint.NET is Free and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
    • Paint.NET is Lightweight and MinimalisticAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  7. Photopea icon

    Photopea

     330 likes
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    Browser-based image editing supports PSD, XCF, Sketch formats, advanced layers, vector tools, RAW photo support, and exports in 40+ formats. Fully client-side with AI background removal, content-aware tools, and privacy as files never leave your device.

    111 Photopea alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Photopea screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about Photopea as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Comment summary: Photopea is frequently regarded as an excellent, free alternative to Adobe Photoshop, especially praised for its online accessibility without the need for installation. Though it parallels Photoshop with similar interfaces and features, like PSD support and smart objects, some users note it lacks certain tools and artificial intelligence capabilities, and requires an internet connection to operate.
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    16

    Fully supports PSD format with adjustment layers, layer effects, paths, layer masks etc.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    For me, who can't afford to pay for every subscription but still wants to use the tools, Photopea is the best alternative to Photoshop. Especially the free version. The structure, functions, and even the keyboard shortcuts are the same. Plus, you can work entirely with PSD files, and vectors are also supported.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Kris Regina
    Positive
    0

    An actual free alternative to Photoshop.

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    3 of 31 comments
    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Photopea icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Photopea is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • Photopea is the most popular Web-based & SaaS alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

    • Photopea is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
  8. Pixlr icon

    Pixlr

     389 likes
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    Web-based editor with AI image generation, quick fixes, overlays, intricate lighting and texture adjustments, customizable templates, advanced filters, support for layers, high-res export, and ad-free premium features for accessible image and design editing.

    225 Pixlr alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Pixlr screenshot 1
    Promotion 😀

    Get a 30% discount on Pixlr Premium Plans with AlternativeTo, use code AW30OFF

     
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    10
    114
    Comments about Pixlr as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    9

    The fact that Pixlr is browser based is cool at places like school where you can't just install GIMP.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ilgazcl
    Positive
    0

    It was acquired by Apple so you should make sure multi-platform and even Web support continues. Apple doesn't have a good history of maintaining other platforms compatibility.

    Ömer Emin Onaran
    Positive
    3

    You do not need to download a program, you enter from the web.

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    3 of 10 comments
    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Pixlr icon

    • Most users think Pixlr is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • Pixlr is the most popular Android & iPhone alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

    • Pixlr is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
    • Pixlr is LightweightAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  10. Pixelmator icon

    Pixelmator

     421 likes
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    Image editing software for macOS and iOS, offering nondestructive, GPU-powered editing with machine learning features, RAW support, custom brushes, and seamless macOS integration for touch-ups, painting, and creative compositions.

    154 Pixelmator alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Pixelmator screenshot 1
     
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    5
    101
    Comments about Pixelmator as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Top Positive Comment
    Dave Cortright
    3

    For the simple editing I do to get photos ready for email and web, Pixelmator is perfect. It can crop (including constrained cropping), resize, and do all the essential color/brightness/contrast/levels tweaks. And the best feature of all, it has a magical healing brush for removing blemishes.

    DalsPhotography
    Positive
    0

    A great program, just got it so I am still trying it, but you have some more tools or kind of different tools than within Photoshop, as you can work with paths without going to lets say , Illustrator.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Can accomplish nearly all of the functions of Photoshop, while still being cheaper, and more stable

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 5 comments
    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Pixelmator icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Pixelmator is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • Pixelmator is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is also Paid and Proprietary
    • Pixelmator is CustomizableAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  11. Corel PaintShop Pro icon

    Corel PaintShop Pro

     107 likes
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    Corel's tool provides comprehensive photo editing and design features including enhanced layers, precise tools, RAW editing, and organization capabilities such as keyword tags, auto sorting, and facial recognition, making it ideal for both novices and professionals in various projects.

    157 Corel PaintShop Pro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Corel PaintShop Pro screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about Corel PaintShop Pro as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    9

    It does almost everything PhotoShop does, and easier. All toolbars easily customizable, can record scripts and add them as toolbar buttons, and is inexpensive to boot!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Shaz Shah
    Positive
    0

    I do remember using PaintShop Pro before Corel bought it. Corel's no stranger to creative software with their staple Corel Draw. It may not be free, like The GIMP, but PaintShop Pro is a powerful piece of kit without a steep learning curve for those who come from a Photoshop background.

    Sebastian
    Positive
    0

    App/Software that is a classic.

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    3 of 8 comments
    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Corel PaintShop Pro icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Corel PaintShop Pro is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • Corel PaintShop Pro is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is also Paid and Proprietary
  12. MyPaint icon

    MyPaint

     387 likes
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    MyPaint is a fast, distraction-free, and easy painting tool for digital artists. It supports graphics tablets made by Wacom, and many similar devices.

    126 MyPaint alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    MyPaint screenshot 1
     
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    5
    43
    Comments about MyPaint as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Top Positive Comment
    uhada
    2

    If you're looking for a painting app, MyPaint may be a good alternative to Photoshop. It has infinite canvas, good, natural brushes and overall good tools.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    20

    MyPaint is only a drawing program, but it can't edit images. Adobe Photoshop can do both.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    sedeti
    Negative
    0

    My paint is not a image editor

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    3 of 5 comments
    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    MyPaint icon

    • Most users think MyPaint is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • MyPaint is Free and Open SourceAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
  13. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite icon

    CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

     215 likes
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    A full suite of graphic design software that provides vector illustration, page layout, image editing, and tracing software. Designed for professional designers, it delivers precision tools, excellent file compatibility, and quality content for crafting professional results from creative ideas.

    87 CorelDRAW Graphics Suite alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    CorelDRAW Graphics Suite screenshot 1
     
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    1
    43
    Comments about CorelDRAW Graphics Suite as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    tobylennon
    Positive
    3

    Corel Photo-paint and CorelDraw work very well with Corel Painter and Paint-shop Pro. Pretty much everything is covered, there [High-end full-body textile design must be around the corner.] Everlasting licences also make CorelDraw the clear Winner.

    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    CorelDRAW Graphics Suite icon

    • Almost everyone thinks CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is also Paid and Proprietary
    • CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is CustomizableAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  14. Affinity icon

    Affinity

     48 likes
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    Unified design solution merging advanced photo, vector, and layout tools for seamless workflow, non-destructive editing, RAW support, batch processing, AI enhancements, GPU acceleration, file compatibility, cloud asset integration, and tailored workspace options.

    64 Affinity alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Affinity screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about Affinity as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    OMGparticles
    Positive
    0

    Affinity has most of Photoshop's features without the predatory subscription scheme. It includes many of the full Adobe suite's features, combining vector and rasterized graphics editing. The UI is clean, familiar, and easy to understand and customize.

    ctrl
    Positive
    0

    It have so many feature and excellent interface. And it's FREE.

    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Affinity icon
    • Affinity is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
  15. Affinity Designer icon

    Affinity Designer

     382 likes
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    A precise vector graphic design software built for creative professionals, offering vibrant colors, high-speed performance, live gradients, customizable shapes, and unique non-destructive features for superior design flexibility.

    62 Affinity Designer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPad
    Affinity Designer screenshot 1
     
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    2
    8
    Comments about Affinity Designer as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    DalsPhotography
    Positive
    2

    Affinity Designer runs as an alternative to Illustrator.

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    It appears that Affinity Designer is more oriented toward vector graphics than photos

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Affinity Designer icon

    • Most users think Affinity Designer is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • Affinity Designer is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is also Paid and Proprietary
12 of 225 Adobe Photoshop alternatives