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.

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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. MediBang Paint icon

    MediBang Paint

     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

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Steam
    Great for anime or comics
     
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    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
  2. PhotoGIMP icon

    PhotoGIMP

     16 likes
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    A Patch for GIMP 3+ for Photoshop Users.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    PhotoGIMP screenshot 1
     
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    Comments about PhotoGIMP as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    John Gringo
    Positive
    2

    It's a good way for Photoshop users to be able to use GIMP.

    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    PhotoGIMP icon
    • PhotoGIMP is Free and Open SourceAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
    • PhotoGIMP is Privacy focusedAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  4. Corel Painter icon

    Corel Painter

     70 likes
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    Corel Painter offers realistic traditional media simulation with features like customizable brushes, extensive format support, layering, blending tools, and more, tailored for professional artists working in drawing, painting, and printmaking.

    80 Corel Painter alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Painter on Mac OS X
     
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  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Pixlr icon
    Pixlr

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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 accessi...

    https://pixlr.com
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  6. Adobe Photoshop Express icon

    Adobe Photoshop Express

     117 likes
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    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
    Adobe Photoshop Express screenshot 1
     
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    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
  7. miniPaint icon

    miniPaint

     30 likes
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    miniPaint is free online image editor using HTML5. Edit, adjust your images, add effects online in your browser without installing anything. You can use the Electron based version of the editor if you like.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    miniPaint screenshot 1
     

    • miniPaint is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

    • miniPaint is Free and Open SourceAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
    • miniPaint is LightweightAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  8. PhotoDemon icon

    PhotoDemon

     33 likes
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    PhotoDemon provides a comprehensive selection of photo editing tools in an 8 MB download. It runs on any Windows machine (XP through Win 10) and does not require installation. It can easily be run from a USB stick or SD card.

    22 PhotoDemon alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    PhotoDemon screenshot 1
     
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  10. Photoline icon

    Photoline

     61 likes
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    Photoline is a professional image editor which offers creatives a mostly non-destructive workflow for 8/16/32bpc image processing and compositing in RGB, CMYK, and Lab modes.

    Full vector editing, DTP features, and a HSV/HIS workflow are supported.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Wine
    Photoline screenshot 1
     
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    17
    Comments about Photoline as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    herbertvanderwegen
    Positive
    1

    While PhotoLine doesn't cover all the aspects of Photoshop, in terms of raw image editing nothing else comes close.

    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Photoline icon

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

    • Photoline is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is also Paid and Proprietary
  12. Acorn icon

    Acorn

     74 likes
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    Acorn is a photo editor built for the rest of us. With a simple interface and tools for adding everything from text, shapes, and effects, you can make the perfect picture in seconds and minutes, not hours and days.

    115 Acorn alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Cropping an image in Acorn
     
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    12
    Comments about Acorn as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    charumbem
    Positive
    0

    This is a great little Mac app.

    Adobe Photoshop Icon
    Acorn icon

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

    • Acorn is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is also Paid and Proprietary
    • Acorn is LightweightAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  13. Fotor icon

    Fotor

     59 likes
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    Comprehensive online editor offering filters, frames, text, stickers, collage creation, graphic design, templates for social media, batch editing, photo retouching, mobile and desktop access, regular updates, and direct sharing to social channels.

    192 Fotor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    Fotor screenshot 1
     
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    11
    Comments about Fotor as an Alternative to Adobe Photoshop
    kreela
    Positive
    0

    It has no layers, but it has a nice tool to change the focal point, and it is much easier than photoshop for basic edits.

    Guest
    Positive
    -2

    Simple for using ,with enough tools

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

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

    • Fotor is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
  14. Glimpse Image Editor icon

    Glimpse Image Editor

     34 likes
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    Glimpse is an open source image editor based on the GNU Image Manipulation Program. The goal is to experiment with new ideas and expand the use of free software.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Glimpse Image Editor screenshot 1
     
  15. PicMonkey icon

    PicMonkey

     50 likes
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    PicMonkey is a feature-rich online photo editor that works right in your browser; no downloads necessary. Touch-up tools like Teeth Whiten, Blemish Fix, Weight Loss. Effects like Orton, Cross Process, Color Boost, with drag and drop ease.

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    PicMonkey screenshot 1
     
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