Photoshop AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Digital Painting Tools for iPad

There are many alternatives to Adobe Photoshop for iPad if you are looking for a replacement. The best iPad Digital Painting Tool alternative is Affinity Photo. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Pixlr or MediBang Paint. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Adobe Photoshop and 15 are Digital Painting Tools available for iPad so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting iPad Digital Painting Tool alternatives to Adobe Photoshop are Pixelmator, Affinity Designer, Clip Studio Paint and Adobe Photoshop Express.

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Adobe Photoshop alternatives are mainly Digital Painting Tools, but if you're looking for Image Editors or Photo Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Mac, Online, Free, Windows, Linux and Windows + Free. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Adobe Photoshop.
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Alternatives list

  1. Affinity Photo icon
     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

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPad
     
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    61
    727
    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
  2. Pixlr icon
     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
     
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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
  3. Pixelmator icon
     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
     
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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
  4. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPad
     
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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
  5. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Professional software for comic and manga creation, optimized with panel layouts, perspective rulers, sketching, inking, toning, vector support, and 3D model import, suitable for artists seeking advanced drawing and coloring tools.

    102 Clip Studio Paint alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Samsung Galaxy Store
     
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    3
    33
    Comments about Clip Studio Paint as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    James Hunt
    Positive
    0

    Far better than photoshop for digital painting

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    It has pretty similar tools and the results look just as good as in PS

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

    Clip Studio Paint has the best blending tools I've seen so far

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Clip Studio Paint icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Clip Studio Paint is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • Clip Studio Paint is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is also Paid and Proprietary
    • Clip Studio Paint is Customizable and LightweightAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  6. MediBang Paint icon
     117 likes
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    MediBang Paint is a lightweight software for illustration and making comic books on Windows and Mac OS.

    75 MediBang Paint alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Steam
     
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    2
    15
    Comments about MediBang Paint as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Whitter
    Negative
    2

    MediBang is used for drawing manga and comic books, NOT editing photos.

    Ryvaa
    Positive
    0

    It's a wonderful software for painting, not editing photos.

    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    MediBang Paint icon
    • Most users think MediBang Paint is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • MediBang Paint is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
    • MediBang Paint is LightweightAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  7. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Adobe's mobile photo-editing app lets you edit, share, and upload photos across devices. With features like free 2 GB storage, original size backup, and extra tools for advanced editing, it enhances your images for social media without reducing file quality.

    166 Adobe Photoshop Express alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
     
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    2
    24
    Comments about Adobe Photoshop Express as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Guest
    Negative
    7

    Limited features and none of the real photoshop features

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

    Not even a single useful feature, this is just for adding filters to pictures and making photos the correct size for social media. (from the free version)

    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Adobe Photoshop Express icon
    • Most users think Adobe Photoshop Express is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • Adobe Photoshop Express is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
  8. PicsArt  icon
     87 likes
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    Offers photo filters, magic effects, drawing tools, stickers, and customizable text. Includes collage layouts, color adjustments, and cropping. Features a built-in camera, live effects, drawing layers, and direct sharing to a global community and external networks. Multi-language support.

    139 PicsArt alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Kindle Fire
     
  9. Artrage icon
     67 likes
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    A simple but lovely natural media painting and sketching program. Art oriented, but capable of loading/saving photoshop files.

    61 Artrage alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
     
    |
    8
  10. Paintstorm icon
     22 likes
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    Paintstorm Studio is created for professional digital painting. And a major role in this program play the brushes. We did our best so that you can easily and quickly adjust the brushes suitable for your painting style.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPad
     
    |
    1
    7
    Comments about Paintstorm as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Great alternative for digital painting. Very Similar UI, better brush settings and lightweight. More importantly it's very inexpensive!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Paintstorm icon
    • Most users think Paintstorm is a great Adobe Photoshop alternative.

    • Paintstorm is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is also Paid and Proprietary
  11. XGimp icon
     4 likes
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    XGimp is a version of gimp that works on a mobile. It can be used as a paint program, image editor or a photo retouching program.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
12 of 15 Adobe Photoshop alternatives