Photoshop Alternatives: 9 best free photo editors

Are you looking for an alternative to Adobe Photoshop? Do you want to level up your editing game without spending a single penny? Well, you’re in luck because we’ve rounded up the top Photoshop alternatives that are all free!

From powerful open-source programs to lightweight and online alternatives, there’s an option for everyone. Keep reading to discover the best free Photoshop alternatives and revolutionize your editing.

Read More: Top 7 Alternatives to SiteKit WordPress Plugin

1. GIMP – the best free Photoshop alternative

photoshop alternative

GIMP is a free and open-source image editing software that can be used for various purposes such as photo retouching, image manipulation, and graphic design. It has a wide range of tools, including layer support, brushes, filters, and even 3D support. One of the key advantages of GIMP is that it supports a wide range of file formats, including popular ones such as PSD, JPEG, and PNG. Another advantage is that it is regularly updated, so users can benefit from the latest features and bug fixes.

GIMP – features, pros, and cons

Features

  • Layer support
  • Brushes and filters
  • 3D support
  • Wide range of file format support, including PSD, JPEG, and PNG

Pros

  • Free and open-source
  • Regularly updated with latest features and bug fixes
  • Wide range of tools for photo retouching, image manipulation, and graphic design
  • Supports a wide range of file formats, including popular ones such as PSD, JPEG, and PNG

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for beginners
  • User interface may not be as intuitive as commercial software
  • Some advanced features may not be as robust as in commercial software

2. Krita – a powerful open-source alternative to Photoshop

photoshop alternatives

Krita is an open-source digital painting software that can be used for a wide range of creative tasks, including drawing, painting, and animation. It has an intuitive user interface and plenty of features, including layer support, brushes, filters, and more. One of the key advantages of Krita is its support for drawing tablets, which makes it an excellent choice for artists who prefer to work with a stylus. It also has a wide range of customization options, so users can tailor it to their specific needs.

Krita – features, pros, and cons

Features

  • Intuitive user interface
  • Layer support
  • Brushes and filters
  • Support for drawing tablets
  • Wide range of customization options

Pros

  • Free and open-source
  • Wide range of features for drawing, painting, and animation
  • Excellent support for drawing tablets
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Regularly updated with latest features and bug fixes

Cons

  • Some advanced features may not be as robust as in commercial software
  • Steep learning curve for beginners who are not familiar with digital painting software
  • Limited support for file formats other than Krita’s native format

3. Paint.net – a lightweight Photoshop alternative

Photoshop alternatives

Paint.net is a lightweight image editing software that is free to use. It is easy to use and has a range of basic tools, such as crop, resize, rotate, and color adjustment. One of the key advantages of Paint.net is its simplicity, which makes it a great choice for beginners who are looking for an alternative to Adobe Photoshop. However, it does lack some of the more advanced features that are available in other image editing software.

Paint.net – features, pros, and cons

Features

  • Easy to use
  • Basic tools such as crop, resize, rotate, and color adjustment

Pros

  • Free to use
  • Simple and user-friendly
  • Great choice for beginners who are looking for an alternative to Adobe Photoshop

Cons

  • Lacks some of the more advanced features that are available in other image editing software

4. Pixlr – an online Photoshop alternative

photoshop alternatives

Pixlr is an online photo editor that is free to use. It has a wide range of tools, including layer support, brushes, filters, and more. One of the key advantages of Pixlr is that it can be used without downloading any software, which makes it a convenient choice for users who are on the go. Another advantage is that it is regularly updated, so users can benefit from the latest features and bug fixes.

Pixlr – features, pros, and cons

Features

  • Layer support
  • Brushes and filters
  • Wide range of tools for photo editing
  • Can be used online without downloading any software

Pros

  • Free to use
  • Can be used without downloading any software
  • User-friendly interface
  • Regularly updated with latest features and bug fixes

Cons

  • Some advanced features may not be as robust as in commercial software
  • Internet connection required to use the online version
  • Limited support for file formats other than Pixlr’s native format

5. SumoPaint – a feature-rich Photoshop alternative

photoshop alternative

SumoPaint is a feature-rich image editing software that is free to use. It has a wide range of tools, including layer support, brushes, filters, and more. One of the key advantages of SumoPaint is its support for drawing tablets, which makes it an excellent choice for artists who prefer to work with a stylus. Another advantage is that it has a user-friendly interface, which makes it a great choice for beginners.

SumoPaint – features, pros, and cons

Features

  • Layer support
  • Brushes and filters
  • Support for drawing tablets
  • Wide range of tools for photo editing and graphic design

Pros

  • Free to use
  • User-friendly interface
  • Excellent support for drawing tablets
  • Wide range of tools for photo editing and graphic design

Cons

  • Some advanced features may not be as robust as in commercial software
  • Limited support for file formats other than SumoPaint’s native format
  • Internet connection required to use the online version

6. Microsoft Windows 10 Photos – Adobe Photoshop alternative for Window Users

photoshop alternative

Microsoft Windows 10 Photos is a free image editing software that is easy to use. It has a range of basic tools, including crop, resize, rotate, and color adjustment. One of the key advantages of Microsoft Windows 10 Photos is its integration with the Windows operating system, which makes it a convenient choice for users who are already using Windows. Another advantage is that it is regularly updated, so users can benefit from the latest features and bug fixes.

Microsoft Windows 10 Photos – features, pros, and cons

Features

  • Basic tools such as crop, resize, rotate, and color adjustment

Pros

  • Free to use
  • Easy to use
  • Integration with the Windows operating system

Cons

  • Limited features compared to advanced photo editing software
  • Not available for other operating systems

7. Apple Photos – Adobe Alternative to Adobe Photoshop for Mac Users

hero d8oydmhp1vgy large

Apple Photos is a photo editing software available for iOS users. It comes pre-installed on all Apple devices and offers a range of features, making it a great free alternative to Adobe Photoshop. One of the standout features of Apple Photos is its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for beginners to use. The program also supports layers, brushes, and filters, allowing for more advanced editing capabilities. Additionally, Apple Photos includes tools for cropping, resizing, rotating, and adjusting colors, making it a versatile program for basic photo editing. The software is regularly updated, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and bug fixes.

Apple Photos – features, pros, and cons

Features

  • User-friendly interface
  • Support for layers, brushes, and filters
  • Tools for cropping, resizing, rotating, and adjusting colors

Pros

  • Free and pre-installed on Apple devices
  • Offers a range of features, making it a great free alternative to Adobe Photoshop
  • User-friendly interface, making it easy for beginners to use
  • Regularly updated with latest features and bug fixes

Cons

  • Limited editing capabilities compared to advanced photo editing software
  • Only available for iOS users

8. Raw Therapee – Open-source Substitute for Photoshop

photoshop alternative

Raw Therapee is an open-source photo editing program that is a great substitute for Adobe Photoshop. It offers advanced editing features, including support for layers, brushes, and filters, and is particularly useful for editing RAW photo files. The program is designed to be user-friendly and offers a variety of tools for editing, such as cropping, resizing, and color adjustments. Raw Therapee is updated regularly, ensuring that users always have access to the latest features and bug fixes.

Raw Therapee – features, pros, and cons

Features

  • Advanced editing features, including support for layers, brushes, and filters
  • Designed for editing RAW photo files
  • User-friendly interface
  • Includes tools for cropping, resizing, and color adjustments

Pros

  • Free and open-source
  • Advanced editing capabilities compared to basic photo editing software
  • Regularly updated with latest features and bug fixes
  • Useful for organizing and editing large collections of photos

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for beginners who are not familiar with editing RAW photo files
  • Limited support for file formats other than RAW
  • Not as widely used as commercial photo editing software, so finding support and tutorials may be more difficult

9. Darktable – Adobe Lightroom Alternative

photoshop alternatives

Darktable is a powerful open-source photo editing program that is a great alternative to Adobe Lightroom. It offers advanced editing features, including support for layers, brushes, and filters, and is designed to be user-friendly. The program is particularly useful for organizing and editing large collections of photos. Darktable includes tools for cropping, resizing, and adjusting colors, making it a versatile program for basic photo editing. Like Raw Therapee, Darktable is updated regularly, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and bug fixes.

Darktable – features, pros, and cons

Features

  • Advanced editing features, including support for layers, brushes, and filters
  • Designed to be user-friendly
  • Useful for organizing and editing large collections of photos
  • Includes tools for cropping, resizing, and adjusting colors

Pros

  • Free and open-source
  • Advanced editing capabilities compared to basic photo editing software
  • Regularly updated with latest features and bug fixes
  • Useful for organizing and editing large collections of photos

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for beginners who are not familiar with photo editing software
  • Limited support for file formats other than RAW
  • Not as widely used as commercial photo editing software, so finding support and tutorials may be more difficult
Scroll to Top