Adobe’s Photoshop is the most popular photo editing software. However, it is licensed and a hefty fee is payable for the license.
The good news is that there are great alternatives to Photoshop – which may not be same as Photoshop but offer very close features!
Here are 10 free alternatives to Adobe Photoshop that offer a range of features for photo editing, graphic design, and digital art:
🖌️ 1. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
- Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Best For: Advanced photo editing, layers, filters, plugins
- Pros: Open-source, highly customizable
- Website: https://www.gimp.org
🎨 2. Krita
- Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Best For: Digital painting, illustration
- Pros: Brush engines, animation tools, clean UI
- Website: https://krita.org
📸 3. Photopea
- Platform: Web-based
- Best For: Photoshop-like editing in browser
- Pros: PSD support, no install needed
- Website: https://www.photopea.com
🧩 4. Pixlr X / Pixlr E
- Platform: Web-based
- Best For: Quick edits and advanced tools (E version)
- Pros: Easy UI, layers, AI tools
- Website: https://pixlr.com
🧼 5. Paint.NET
- Platform: Windows
- Best For: Lightweight photo editing
- Pros: Simple, plugins available
- Website: https://www.getpaint.net
🧑🎨 6. MediBang Paint
- Platform: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
- Best For: Manga, comics, digital art
- Pros: Cloud saving, brushes, templates
- Website: https://medibangpaint.com
🖼️ 7. Fotor
- Platform: Web, Windows, macOS, mobile
- Best For: Quick edits, one-click enhancements
- Pros: Filters, collage tools
- Website: https://www.fotor.com
📐 8. Canva
- Platform: Web, mobile
- Best For: Graphic design, social media content
- Pros: Templates, drag-and-drop
- Website: https://www.canva.com
🎛️ 9. Darktable
- Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Best For: RAW photo editing (like Lightroom)
- Pros: Non-destructive workflow, batch processing
- Website: https://www.darktable.org
🌈 10. Inkscape
- Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Best For: Vector graphics (like Adobe Illustrator)
- Pros: SVG editing, pen tools, open-source
- Website: https://inkscape.org
Want help choosing which ones are best for your goals (freelancing, branding, UI, etc.) then reach out to Palium Skills who have an excellent team of professionals who can mentor and guide you on the best tools to use and build a successful career in Graphic Designing. Visit https://paliumskills.com for more details about the best Graphic Designing Course near you.
