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. Adobe Photoshop Express icon

    Adobe Photoshop Express

     118 likes

    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.

    171 Adobe Photoshop Express alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    Adobe Photoshop Express screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Adobe Photoshop Express vs Adobe Photoshop Comments
    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 Express is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
  2. PhotoDemon icon

    PhotoDemon

     33 likes

    BSD-licensed portable photo editor for Windows featuring multi-layer editing, batch processing, macro support, real-time effect previews, advanced filters, customizable hotkeys, non-destructive tools, color-managed workflow, efficient performance, and broad file compatibility.

    30 PhotoDemon alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    PhotoDemon screenshot 1
     
  4. Corel Painter icon

    Corel Painter

     70 likes

    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.

    79 Corel Painter alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    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 t...

    https://www.fotor.com
    Learn More
  6. Fotor icon

    Fotor

     61 likes

    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.

    191 Fotor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    Fotor screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Fotor vs Adobe Photoshop Comments
    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.
    • Fotor is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
  7. Photoline icon

    Photoline

     61 likes

    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

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Wine
    Photoline screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Photoline vs Adobe Photoshop Comments
    herbertvanderwegen
    Positive
    1

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

    • Photoline is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is also Paid and Proprietary
  8. miniPaint icon

    miniPaint

     30 likes

    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.

    36 miniPaint alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    miniPaint screenshot 1
     
  10. Acorn icon

    Acorn

     75 likes

    Image editor for macOS offering AI-powered background removal, live text detection, non-destructive filters, unlimited layers, vector shapes, collage creation, extensive file support including PSD and RAW formats, and tools for both designers and hobbyists.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Acorn screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Acorn vs Adobe Photoshop Comments
    charumbem
    Positive
    0

    This is a great little Mac app.

    • Acorn is Paid and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is also Paid and Proprietary
    • Acorn is LightweightAdobe Photoshop is not according to our users
  12. Sumo Paint icon

    Sumo Paint

     74 likes

    Sumo Paint is a powerful image editor with a long-standing history as a fully capable Photoshop clone in the browser. Being designed for the browser, it's accessible on practically any system and loads much faster than most comparable desktop tools while still providing core...

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Sumo Paint screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Sumo Paint vs Adobe Photoshop Comments
    Rato GBM
    Positive
    -1

    Photopea > and == PixilR, the one time I properly used it, it was a bit buggy. There a are better alternatives.

    • Sumo Paint is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe Photoshop is Paid and Proprietary
  13. PicMonkey icon

    PicMonkey

     50 likes

    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.

    132 PicMonkey alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    PicMonkey screenshot 1
     
  14. Corel Photo-Paint icon

    Corel Photo-Paint

     8 likes

    Comprehensive tool for image editing, retouching, bitmap creation, digital painting, and RAW editing. Streamlined web exporting makes it ideal for professionals seeking to enhance visual elements efficiently.

    15 Corel Photo-Paint alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Corel Photo-Paint screenshot 1
     
  15. Pixelitor icon

    Pixelitor

     27 likes

    Open source image editor with non-destructive editing, 110+ filters, adjustment and text layers, support for smart objects and adjustment layers, cross-platform compatibility, and layer-based editing for flexible image composition.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Pixelitor screenshot 1
     
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