With the increasing availability of affordable, high-quality photographic equipment, there is a growing need for Photoshop alternatives.
- Programs Similar To Illustrator
- Photoshop Alternatives Free Pc
- Free Photo Editing Software Like Photoshop
Although they don’t provide all the same extensive functionalities as Adobe Photoshop, here’s our list of the best free photo editing software for 2021, that has similar features to Photoshop. Some of these work with Mac and are open-source, so you can easily achieve your small day-to-day editing tasks in a proficient manner. Krita is another program that’s geared toward illustrators and graphic designers and offers many of the same tools as Adobe Illustrator. However, it does support PSD files, so it’s great for designers who often turn to Photoshop. Pros: The interface is similar to Photoshop, making it easy to make the switch. In Krita, you can work on. Aug 19, 2021 GIMP (short for GNU Image Manipulation Program) is an excellent, open-source Photoshop alternative for those on limited budgets that still need advanced image editing capabilities. This program is an advanced raster editor similar to Photoshop. GIMP as a free photoshop alternative. Dec 29, 2021 Although they don’t provide all the same extensive functionalities as Adobe Photoshop, here’s our list of the best free photo editing software for 2021, that has similar features to Photoshop. Some of these work with Mac and are open-source, so you can easily achieve your small day-to-day editing tasks in a proficient manner. The wide array of features Adobe Photoshop’s offers will keep this tool the professional’s choice, but the rest of us have a superb selection of free and cheap programs like photoshop. As an instance, few photo editing software like Photoshop supports the default PSD format of the Adobe application.
Programs Similar To Illustrator
We look at the best photo editing packages, from free online photo editing to Photoshop alternatives with advanced features.
The Best Photoshop Alternatives for Photographers
Adobe Photoshop is the go-to program for all sorts of creative professionals. To fairly compare software, we decided to concentrate on the most common features used by photographers. Although our test image is a portrait, the simple edit uses techniques applied to all kinds of photographs. By performing the same editing tasks in each program, we are asking:
- Will the software open RAW files?
- Does the program utilise layers?
- Can we paint masks for selective editing?
- Are there effects to apply?
- Are blend modes available?
- Can we crop and save our image in a useable format?
- Are there any special features?
The editing process softens the skin, sharpens the eyes and hair, lightens the eyes and left cheek, applies a colour cast, then crops to 4×5 and saves as a JPEG.
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10. Photopea
We were amazed when we first opened Photopea. The layout, the interface, the tools, and the shortcuts were all the same as Photoshop. Everything works and responds to familiar keystrokes, from zooming in and out to inverting masks or changing brush sizes. The layers and blend modes work in just the same way as our original edit.
You can remove the additional advertising panel by purchasing the Premium package, which for a single user is $40.00 for a whole year. You can also save your work as a .PSD, meaning you can share files with Photoshop users. The crop tool is non-destructive, and it snaps centre on the dominant eye, a surefire way to make the eyes follow you around the room. You can export your image in all of your favourite formats.
Although Photopea is an online photo editor, It offers an install option so you can open the program straight from your desktop. The image itself was processed a little darker than Photoshop, but for a free Photoshop alternative, Photopea is superb.
- RAW Yes
- Layers Yes
- Adjustment Layers Yes
- Masks Yes
- Effects Yes—with filter gallery, lens correction and liquify
- Blend modes Yes
- Brushes Yes—Easily modify size, shape, and hardness
- Cropping Free, Fixed ratio, Fixed size
- Saving PSD, PNG, JPG, SVG, GIF, PDF
- Special Features Export Layers option for individual PNGs
- Cost Free with ads $40 per year for premium
- Score 5/5
9. Gimp
Gimp or GNU Image Manipulation Program is a well-known free alternative to Photoshop. An online photo editor, Gimp is open-source, meaning its code can be altered and adapted to do just about anything. With that in mind, we were surprised that it was not more intuitive to use. It is possible to find and download user-made scripts that mimic many Photoshop’s plugins and tools, but the program itself is quite basic.
The controls are small and fiddley and the keyboard shortcuts are disabled by default. The lack of adjustment layers and colour controls left us wanting more.
- RAW No
- Layers Yes
- Adjustment Layers No
- Masks Yes
- Effects Yes—basic effects for image layers
- Blend modes Yes
- Brushes Many weird and wonderful brushes
- Cropping Fixed width, Height, Size, Aspect Ratio
- Saving PSD, JPG, GIF, TIFF, BMP
- Special Features Open-Source
- Cost Free
- Score 2/5
8. Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro has a layout similar to the Adobe Lightroom Develop Module. With all adjustment controls in a scrollable panel to the right of the screen. Your layers appear to the left of the screen and share blend modes with Photoshop. Masks can be added with a right-click, and your brush tool, like all other tools, can be altered on the right-hand side.
The intuitive interface lets you add custom LUTs and fine-tune your ‘look’. The effects panel offers a wide variety of image overlays such as lens flares or bokeh. You can even create instant mandalas from your image.
Although it doesn’t use adjustment layers the same way as Photoshop, it can achieve similar results using other photo editing tools. In some cases doing things more creatively by stacking effects.
- RAW Yes
- Layers Yes
- Adjustment Layers No
- Masks Yes
- Effects Yes—from basics like Blur and High Pass to complex stacks of image overlays.
- Blend modes Yes
- Brushes Hundreds to choose from
- Cropping Yes—with Machine Learning, the software auto crops for you
- Saving PSD, HEIF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, PDF, BMP, Pixelmator
- Special Features Stackable effects with overlays and geometric patterns
- Cost $39.99
- Score 4/5
7. Pixlr
A free online photo editing tool, Pixlr is a simple yet effective Photoshop alternative. There are basic exposure and sharpening adjustments and a set of filters that can be applied. It can stack image layers and let you adjust the opacity and blend mode, but there are no adjustment layers or masks.
As free Photoshop alternatives go, Pixlr has simple controls for basic edits but can’t compete with the advanced editing you can achieve in Photoshop.
- RAW No
- Layers Yes
- Adjustment Layers No
- Masks No
- Effects Yes, more in Premium
- Blend modes Yes
- Brushes One brush, One pen
- Cropping Select Aspect, Size
- Saving JPG, PNG, WEBP, PXZ
- Special Features
- Cost Free / $29.99 pa
- Score 2/5
6. Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo from Serif is a paid desktop application. It is part of the Affinity range, which includes Affinity Designer and Affinity Publisher. The layout and control is second nature to Photoshop users, with shortcuts and menus exactly where you’d expect.
One feature Photoshop doesn’t have is Affinity’s Tone Mapping Persona. A space where you can apply a look to your work with localised contrast, detail, and colour adjustments. There is also a dedicated Frequency Separation filter and advanced re-lighting tools in the filter menu.
This is the most similar to Photoshop in terms of photo editing features, layout, and usability.
- RAW Yes
- Layers Yes
- Adjustment Layers Yes
- Masks Yes
- Effects Yes—and a space dedicated to Tone Mapping
- Blend modes Yes
- Brushes Yes
- Cropping Original Ratio, Custom Ratio, Resample
- Saving PSD, PNG, JPG, GIF, TIFF, PDF
- Special Features Tone Mapping Persona
- Cost $47.99
- Score 5/5
5. Sumo Photo
Sumo Photo is an online photo editor with a downloadable app. With basic exposure correction, filters, and cropping. Files can be exported and downloaded as Jpeg or PNG. Great for fast adjustments or applying looks, but very basic.
Although this is one of the simpler free Photoshop alternatives, if you subscribe for $9.00 pm, you get access to the full suite of Sumos simple online editors. These are Sumo Paint, Tunes, 3D, Code, Photo, Audio, Video, and Pixel.
- RAW No
- Layers No
- Adjustment Layers No
- Masks No
- Effects Yes
- Blend modes No
- Brushes No
- Cropping Square, Instagram Feed, Story, Facebook Post, Story, Cover
- Saving JPG, PNG
- Special Features
- Cost $9 p/m
- Score 2/5
4. Seashore
Another free Photoshop alternative is Seashore. An open-source image editor, Seashore has basic cropping, layering, and text tools. It doesn’t offer exposure adjustment, but it does have some built-in effects such as Sunrays or Mosaic.
The workflow requires you to confirm every change (like brush size) by clicking ‘done’ in the control panel, making it slow to use for anything but straightforward tasks. We can see how this package could help resize images or very simple overlays. Seashore doesn’t have the same depth of control as others on this list.
- RAW No
- Layers Yes
- Masks No
- Effects Yes
- Blend modes Yes
- Brushes Yes
- Cropping Yes
- Saving JPG, PNG, TIFF, HEIC
- Special Features
- Cost Free
- Score 1/5
3. LuminarAI
Luminar is best known for its AI-enhanced photo editing. This is not a layer-based editor. There is a control panel on the right-hand side where you adjust basic exposure settings to advanced AI enhancements.
Luminar’s ability to automatically detect and mask parts of the image makes it a powerful Photoshop alternative. With functions like ‘Augmented Sky’ and ‘Atmosphere’, it is a creative tool for landscape photographers. With AI tools such as ‘Portrait Bokeh’ and ‘Eye Enhancer,’ it is fantastic for portrait photo editing. The local masking panel lets you add brushed, gradient, and radial masks, just like Adobe Lightroom.
- RAW Yes
- Layers No
- Masks Yes
- Effects Yes
- Blend modes No
- Brushes Yes
- Cropping Original, Ratio, Facebook Cover, Feed
- Saving JPG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, PDF
- Special Features Enhanced AI editing
- Cost $79
- Score 4/5
2. Movavi Picverse
Although not a layer-based editor like Adobe Photoshop, Movavi Picverse offers brushes to apply each tool or effect. The panel on the left-hand side lets you control exposure settings and AI enhancements. One of the advanced features is the Portrait Retouch panel. Here you can adjust skin smoothing, eye colour, and blemish removal. You can even add foundation, blusher, and lipstick. AI controls let you enlarge eyes and thin the face.
If you are looking to beautify portraits, the $39.99 one-time cost could make Movavi Picverse your perfect Photoshop alternative.
- RAW Yes
- Layers No
- Masks Yes
- Effects Yes
- Blend modes No
- Brushes Yes
- Cropping Aspect Ratio, Freeform
- Saving JPG, PNG, BMP, TIFF
- Special Features Change Background, Portrait Retouch
- Cost $39.95
- Score 3/5
1. Colorcinch
For what looks like a simple interface, Colorcinch is a surprisingly fun free Photoshop alternative. There are basic exposure controls, crop and resize tools, then a host of filters, graphics, and artistic effects. The graphic and text tools appear as layers, letting you move, blend and change the opacity. Preset Masks and borders can be scaled to fit, along with a library of overlays. Unlock the full version for under $50 and have access to all of the styles and presets.
Photoshop Alternatives Free Pc
Colorcinch is a fun interactive photo editing tool for simple adjustments or artistic effects. It didn’t, however, complete the edit to the same degree of control as Photoshop.
- RAW No
- Layers No
- Masks Yes
- Effects Yes
- Blend modes Yes
- Brushes Yes
- Cropping Aspect Ratio, Freeform
- Saving JPG, PNG (PDF with premium)
- Special Features Artistic Effects
- Cost Free / $47.88 p/a
- Score 2/5
The Best Photoshop Alternatives for Digital Artists
Not all Photoshop users are photographers. Some of us need complex brushes that change size or opacity with the pressure of our stylus. Others need to stack layers for animation or create scalable vector art for posters or logos.
5. Tayasui Sketches
Sketches is a Desktop, iPad, and Android drawing and painting app that is simple to use and produces fantastic results. The collection of brushes and tools are pressure-sensitive. The colours run into each other depending on the paint type and paper texture you choose. The sketches community is a space where users can share their artwork, inspiring new artists and showing off the software’s capability. There is a free version of the app called Sketches School, and you can unlock layers and export to .PNG with an in-app purchase.
We love Sketches as a gateway into the world of digital drawing.
- Paper Texture Yes
- Pressure Sensitive Brushes Yes
- Colour bleeding Yes
- Transform controls Yes
- Vector tools No
- Layers Yes
- Price $14.90
4. Krita
With customisable workspaces, hundreds of tools, and powerful vector editing, Krita is one of the best free Photoshop alternatives for artists. Built-in comic and animation templates create multi-layer workspaces designed for creating professional content. The brushes are highly customisable, letting you change more than size and opacity, but shape, weight, and drag. Krita will even temper your shakey hand with brush stabilisers.
For professional level artists and animators.
- Paper Texture Yes
- Pressure Sensitive Brushes Yes
- Colour bleeding Yes
- Transform controls Yes
- Vector tools Yes
- Layers Yes
- Price Free
3. Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator is the only package to appear in both sections of this roundup. The intricate brush control and artistic tools built into this software make it an excellent fit for digital artistry. The brushes feel responsive, and the layout is easy to navigate. Combine this with the retouch, selection, and photo editing tools, Pixelmator Pro is a very powerful program.
Superb for those who combine photography with digital artistry.
- Paper Texture No
- Pressure Sensitive Brushes Yes
- Colour bleeding Yes
- Transform controls Yes
- Vector tools Yes
- Layers Yes
- Price $39.99
2. Medibang Paint
Medibang Paint is a free illustration software aimed at Manga enthusiasts. That’s not to say it will only make manga. It is a fully featured digital drawing program. The layer-based editing is easy to navigate, but the brush controls seem somewhat spread out. Although Medibang doesn’t animate, there is a host of tutorial videos on the website.
Brilliant for those wanting to learn about creating Manga.
- Paper Texture No
- Pressure Sensitive Brushes Yes
- Colour bleeding Yes
- Transform controls Yes
- Vector tools No
- Layers Yes
- Price Free
1. Clip Studio Paint
The first thing you notice when you start to draw or paint in Clip Studio Paint is the feel of the brushes. There are downloadable materials to work on and a whole host of comic and animation templates. The environment is easy to navigate with well-laid out controls. Brush stabilisation is right there in the control panel with size, hardness, and density.
There are fun specialist brushes like Glitter and Bloodstain and frame tools for building comic layouts. Even more so in the Pro version ‘Clip Studio Paint EX’, which has advanced comic and animation features.
This is the most full-featured drawing and painting alternatives to Photoshop.
- Paper Texture Yes
- Pressure Sensitive Brushes Yes
- Colour bleeding Yes
- Transform controls Yes
- Vector tools No
- Layers Yes
- Price $49.99 / $219.00
Conclusion
When it comes to Photoshop alternatives, you will find a whole range of software available. A program with the photo editing or drawing features you need doesn’t have to be expensive. Our favourite Photoshop alternatives are free.
The best free Photoshop alternative for photographers is Photopea.
The best free Photoshop alternative for artists is Krita.
The best all-around Photoshop alternative has to be Pixelmator Pro. While not as strong as Affinity or Luminar at photo editing, Pixelmator’s art tools gave it the edge.
Try out our Effortless Editing course to master all the secrets of professional editing in Lightroom.
Old laptop owners, you know the drill. *And… freeze!*
While Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard for graphic designers, visual artists, and photo editors--it is not for the light-of-RAM. Even on newer computers, users often report having to use a separate drive for scratch disk space just to prevent frequent crashes.
Plus, Photoshop can be clunky and expensive for beginners, making it an investment of both time AND money in order to enjoy the value it promises.
Free Photo Editing Software Like Photoshop
Wanted to quickly compare the compatibility and pricing of the top 10 Photoshop alternatives? Click the button below to grab the one-page cheat sheet PDF:
Top Paid and Free Adobe Photoshop Alternatives
So if you’re searching for easier, cheaper, alternatives to Photoshop or Lightroom CC, we’ve got a list of 17 free and paid photoshop alternative tools for you to consider.
Rev your rasters, baby. Let’s go.
Paid Alternatives to Photoshop
1. Crello
AppSumo Deal: Crello
Speed up the design process with thousands of ready-made templates and easy editing features.
$67.00 | $95.88
With Crello, you’ll edit photos and any other graphic visuals in minutes. Their ready-made templates follow the latest design trends, and a built-in drag-and-drop editor makes the tool super comfortable to use. In addition, the option of uploading extra elements to their library and customizing them makes Crello a favorite instrument of designers with unique style. Another interesting detail is that the service offers multi-user accounts for team collaboration on designs.
Trial version: Free plan available for limited features
OS: Web-based across all browsers
Pricing model: Starts free. Pro plan starts at $7.99/month, billed annually. Or you can grab Crello’s annual deal at AppSumo for $67.
Potential downsides: Limited access to some features (like image background removal) for free account holders
2. Pixlr
AppSumo Deal: Pixlr
One-click editing for professional quality images without the learning curve.
$49.00 | $144.00
With Pixlr, editing photos has never been easier, faster, or smarter. Its AI Cutout features lets you remove backgrounds with just one click. Give your images a makeover with a simple drag-and-drop of Pixlr’s dazzling selection of overlays. Add accents or textures, like light streaks, dust flecks, and glitter to your photos. Plus, you can use layers to create captivating photo edits, image composites, and more!
Trial version: Free plan available for limited features
OS: Web-based app available across browsers
Pricing model: Premium plan starts at $4.99 and Creative Pack starts at $14.99, billed annually. Or you can grab Pixlr’s AppSumo deal at a one-time payment of $49.
Potential downsides: Limited touch up capabilities which mean you need high-quality photos to begin with
3. Pixelied
AppSumo Deal: Pixelied
Create scroll-stopping graphics with a full-featured design suite that’s easy for anyone to use.
$59.00 | $480.00
Pixelied is just like Pixlr (they sounds similar too), but with thousands of ready-made templates and icons, millions of stock images, and a suit of photo-editing capabilities like removing background in one click.
Two unique features set Pixelied apart from many graphic design tools as an alternative to Photoshop. First, its mockup editor lets you get to create powerful product mockups for your brand. And with Pixelied’s workspace, you can switch between workspaces, each with its own separate assets, designs and team members.
Trial version: Free plan available for limited features
OS: Web-based app available across browsers
Pricing model: Starts free and with Pro plan at $7.95 per month. For a limited time, you can get Pixelied Pro starting at $59 for life at AppSumo.
Potential downsides: Many features focus on graphic design instead of photo-editing
4. Affinity Photo
As a photo editing tool, Affinity Photo is more lightweight than PS, promising fewer crashes and fast, real-time rendering of all your edits. Enjoy unlimited layers, healing brush, over 1,000,000% zoom, a full set of 16-bit filters, and RAW file editing. Apply effects like blurs, lighting, and distortions as non-destructive live filter layers. Plus undo/redo up to 8K steps—with autosave that always has your back. Users will be happy that most standard PS keyboards commands will work for Affinity too.
Trial version: Yes
OS: Mac, Windows, and iPad
Pricing model: One-time price of $49.99, free and frequent updates (only $19.99 on iPad)
Potential downsides: Still comes with a learning curve similar to PS
5. Acorn
Acorn 6 is a Mac-only photo editor known for its circle text/text on a path tool, making it especially friendly to designers looking to create expert-level graphics, ads, and logos. In addition to photo-editing tools like the brush designer, layer masks, and filters that allow you to mute or unmute by later, it does have vector-editing tools as well. While it may be simpler than PS, it does pack a punch under the hood.
Trial version: Yes
OS: MacOS
Pricing model: One-time $29.99
Potential downsides: Not compatible with PC; some users report slowness
6. Colorcinch
AppSumo Marketplace: Colorcinch
Produce stunning designs and enhanced photos with just a few clicks.
$33.49 | $47.88
Colorcinch helps hobbyists and professional designers beautifully transform photos and create stunning designs fast. With over 50,000+ vector icons and graphics available for instant use and dozens of top-notch filters/effects, Colorcinch provides users with all the tools they’d need to make advanced edits inside an intuitive, beginner-friendly workspace. Amongst other features, Colorcinch’s cartoonizer tool makes it a perfect alternative to Photoshop. Unlike PS, designers can easily apply artistic effects to their photos and transform them into cartoons and digital sketches with just a click and without having to watch long video tutorials.
Trial version: Free plan available for limited features
OS: Web-based app available across browsers
Pricing model: Starts at $5.99/month (annual plan $47.88/year). Check out Colorcinch for $33.49 for one year on AppSumo Marketplace.
Potential downsides: Most catchy effects/filters are only available to premium users. So those on the free plan might complain of limited customization options.
7. PicMonkey
PicMonkey is a Canva-like photo editing and design tool that is chock-full of design assets and templates. Again, if you use PS to create graphics for business use cases, PicMonkey may be a faster way to get designs out the door. Plus with touchup, layer, and mask features, as well as effects and features, you might be surprised by the photo enhancement you can do with this tool. Plus, you can use their real-time team collaboration feature to work in tandem with teammates or clients.
Trial version: Yes
OS: web-based app available across browsers with apps for iPhone, android, and tablet
Pricing model: Starts at $7.99 per month
Potential downsides: Some users say the features offered in the app and in the web version differ from one another
?Also check out our top 10 PicMonkey alternatives.
8. Corel PaintShop Pro
PaintShop Pro has released a new feature-packed 2020 version. With RAW and HDR editing, advanced brushes, layers, and masking, and flexible workspaces depending on your editing needs, Corel’s Paintshop is a one-time purchase that will keep on delivering for your photography or graphic design needs. Note it is Windows-only, so that may be limiting for some in creative fields.
Trial version: Yes
OS: Windows only
Pricing model: One-time $63.99 (Get Paintshop Pro Ultimate for $79.99)
Potential downsides: Some users report it is not a lightweight program; Windows-only
9. Fotor
Fotor describes itself as “fundamentally Photoshop online.” With advanced editing, effects, and retouching, you can also make use of some fun features like the GoArt AI photo effect that makes photos look like classic pieces of art. Fotor is also available in 7+ languages.
Trial version: Yes
OS: web-based app available across browsers and mobile
Pricing model: Starts at $8.99/month (annual Plan $39.99/year)
Potential downsides: No template or photo libraries, few advanced photo editing capabilities
10. Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro is a Mac-only image editing tool that uses emerging tech like machine learning to give users highly functional and exciting capabilities like layer management, nondestructive resizing, layouts, retouching, selections, painting, and image repair. Its sleek UI and fast functionality make this tool pleasant to use. Pixelmator Pro is perfect for skilled hobbyists or creatives who don’t need super-advanced PS capabilities.
Trial version: Yes
OS: MacOS (with Pixelmator for iOS for iPhone and iPad)
Pricing model: One-time $39.99 (iOS app for $4.99)
Potential downsides: Missing some more advanced PS features like tone mapping or source and target layer ranges for blending
Free Alternatives to Photoshop
11. Photopea
Photopea is a free alternative to Photoshop. When you arrive at their website, you can jump straight into a project, with many of the tools you’re used to enjoying in premium photo editing tools. Photopea lets you add text, crop images, blur, change colors, and much more. Plus, you can export the final product in most of your favorite formats: PNG, JPEG, SVG, and more. Among the free products showcased in this article, this one is probably the most similar to Photoshop.
OS: Web-based
Pricing model: Free
Potential downsides: Many people use free tools for their simplicity. In this case, since it’s so much like Photoshop, Photopea can come with a bit of a learning curve for new designers.
12. GIMP
GIMP empowers designers with the tools to edit photos and create graphics. It also provides different code support for developers who want to use their designs across websites and have more customization options. GIMP offers many top photo editing features to help you touch up your favorite photos, add filters, and even customize your working interface.
OS: GNU/Linux, OS X, Windows, and more operating systems
Pricing model: Free
Potential downsides: While the tool offers great features, it may require downloading other design tools (like Scribus and Inkscape) to get the most out of it; outdated UI
13. PhotoScape X
As another free alternative to Photoshop, PhotoScape X helps you design and edit photos using a variety of powerful tools. You have all the normal editing tools like cropping, filters, brushes, and color and background changes. It also includes bulk-editing features: batch resize, batch format change, and more for streamlined organization and editing. Whether you’re cleaning up an image or creating a graphic from scratch, PhotoScape X is a strong free Photoshop alternative.
OS: Windows and Mac
Pricing model: Free
Potential downsides: Some regular users complain aboutlimited free tools, particularly regarding paint options.
14. FireAlpaca
First of all, the Alpaca’s bowtie is on point. (#classy)
FireAlpaca is a free paint tool with simple functionality for creating graphics. You can use templates or start completely from scratch. FireAlpaca gives you different viewing options as well, including 3D view. Use the Pencil, Airbrush, or Blur tools to edit graphics with artistic precision. If you’re leaving Photoshop because it’s too complex, FireAlpaca is founded on simplicity.
OS: Windows and Mac
Pricing model: Free
Potential downsides: This tool is intentionally lean. If you’re looking for a tool to keep up with Photoshop’s optionality, FireAlpaca might not have the features you’re looking for.
15. Photoshop Express
Adobe has also gotten into the free image editing and collage app game with Photoshop Express. The difference here boils down to interface and functionality—plus the fact that Photoshop Express is “built for mobile device photography.” You can think of it as Photoshop lite for mobile. With intelligent edits, spot healing, auto-fix, and robust filters and effects, you can edit photos for social posting to your heart’s content in this little app.
OS: mobile app for Android, iOS, and Windows
Pricing model: Free (Premium version for $9.99/month)
Potential downsides: Very simple, social-focused functionality—but that’s it
16. Polarr
A simple, intuitive image editing app, Polarr gives you Lightroom-like image manipulation capabilities like editing exposure, temperature, denoise, diffuse, dehaze, and more. It does have advanced HSL and RGB curve tools, as well as filter blending, mixing, and toning tools. Plus, you get persistent edit history and infinite undo and redo—making it super user-friendly.
OS: web, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iOS, Android
Pricing model: free
Potential downsides: It seems there have been some recent bugs and now users must upgrade to Pro in order to save edited photos
17. Krita
Krita is a free, flexible, open-source painting program that won TechRadar’s #1 best free painting software for 2019. With over 100 brush types, 9 brush engines, and brush stabilizer, there’s plenty to play around with in Krita. A more intuitive and lightweight alternative to GIMP, Krita is one of the best alternatives to Photoshop in terms of brush performance.
OS: Mac, Windows, Linux
Pricing model: free
Potential downsides: Since Krita is focused on digital painting, it doesn’t have the photo editing features some users might need from an alternative to Photoshop.
Pick Your Favorite Photoshop Alternative
And that’s a (text) wrap on our list of alternatives to Photoshop! If you’re looking for some good and affordable options, check out some of AppSumo’s best deals:
- Pixlr. Remove backgrounds with just one click and add overlays from the library of icons, stickers, text, and more.
- Pixelied. Create scroll-stopping graphics with a full-featured design suite that’s easy for anyone to use.
Or download our one-page cheat sheet PDF to quickly compare the compatibility and pricing of the top 10 Photoshop alternatives listed in this post.
Happy editing!
Prefer a video over a blog post? Here’s our YouTube video on the top alternatives to Photoshop:
If you liked this blog, take a look at even more of our graphic design and editing tool comparison posts:
By Sarabeth Lewis