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Acorn alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Acorn: mac only, and no AI generative tools. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Acorn, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Pixelmator Pro currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Pixelmator Pro logoPixelmator ProPaidNomacOS, iOS4 of 466.5
2GIMP logoGIMPOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 459.6
3PhotoScape X logoPhotoScape XFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS3 of 355.3
4Photopea logoPhotopeaFree plan + paidNoWeb2 of 347.7
5Affinity logoAffinityFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS0 of 041.7
  1. Pixelmator Pro logo

    1. Pixelmator ProTop pick

    Best for: Mac users who want a capable layered editor without Adobe's subscription

    PaidmacOS, iOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Acorn

    More features and AI tools for Mac, also available as a one-time purchase.

    Pros

    • Clean, native Mac interface that is quick to learn
    • Machine-learning tools for upscaling, selections and repair
    • One-time purchase option on the Mac App Store

    Cons

    • Apple devices only
    • iPad version and some features need the Creator Studio subscription
    • Missing some advanced Photoshop features for pro retouching
    Visit Pixelmator Pro Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Pixelmator Pro a good Acorn alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    One-time purchase
    $49.99 (Mac)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pixelmator.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Subscription
    Apple Creator Studio, $12.99/month or $129/year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pixelmator.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days (Creator Studio)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pixelmator.com(opens source in a new tab)
    iPad version
    Via Apple Creator Studio
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pixelmator.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. GIMP logo

    2. GIMP

    Best for: Anyone who wants a capable layered image editor at no cost, especially on Linux

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Acorn

    Free and open source, if you can accept a less Mac-like interface.

    Pros

    • Free and open source with no account or licence fees
    • Runs on Linux, Windows and macOS
    • Extensible with scripts and plug-ins

    Cons

    • Interface and terms differ a lot from Photoshop
    • Limited CMYK and print-production support
    • Fewer AI-assisted tools than commercial editors
    Visit GIMP Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is GIMP a good Acorn alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Licence
    GNU GPL
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, macOS, Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Main uses
    Retouching, composition, image authoring
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. PhotoScape X logo

    3. PhotoScape X

    Best for: Casual users who want free quick fixes, collages and batch resizing

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Acorn

    Free Mac editor for quick fixes, collages and batch resizing.

    Pros

    • Free version covers most everyday tasks
    • Batch editing, renaming and collage tools included
    • Simple, approachable interface

    Cons

    • Not suited to careful RAW or professional work
    • Irregular updates, with Windows sometimes behind Mac
    • Some tools locked to the Pro version
    Visit PhotoScape X Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PhotoScape X a good Acorn alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Editions
    Free (PhotoScape X) and paid (X Pro)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026x.photoscape.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Windows
    Windows 10 (1709) or later, 64-bit
    Checked Oct 25, 2026x.photoscape.org(opens source in a new tab)
    macOS
    macOS 13 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026x.photoscape.org(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Photopea logo

    4. Photopea

    Best for: Occasional photo editing and opening PSD files without Photoshop

    Free plan + paidWeb

    47.7

    score / 100

    Why switch from Acorn

    Free browser editor for occasional PSD work.

    Pros

    • Free and runs in the browser
    • Opens PSD and many other formats
    • Familiar Photoshop-style interface

    Cons

    • Ads in the free version
    • Large files can be slow in the browser
    Visit Photopea Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1577
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Photopea a good Acorn alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free with ads; premium removes ads
    Not checked yetphotopea.com(opens source in a new tab)
    PSD support
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026photopea.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Install required
    No (browser)
    Checked Oct 24, 2026photopea.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Affinity logo

    5. Affinity

    Best for: Designers who want professional vector, photo and layout tools without an Adobe subscription

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS

    41.7

    score / 100

    Why switch from Acorn

    Free for individuals, with professional photo, vector and layout tools.

    Pros

    • Free for individuals with no subscription
    • Vector, pixel and layout tools in one app
    • Opens PSD, AI and IDML files with layers

    Cons

    • AI features need a paid Canva plan
    • Requires a Canva account to use
    • No iPad version yet after the merger
    Visit Affinity Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.352
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Affinity a good Acorn alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best Acorn alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Pixelmator Pro logo

Best Acorn alternative for most people

Pixelmator Pro

More features and AI tools for Mac, also available as a one-time purchase.

GIMP logo

Best Acorn alternative for a free option

GIMP

Free and open source, if you can accept a less Mac-like interface.

PhotoScape X logo

Best Acorn alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

PhotoScape X

Free Mac editor for quick fixes, collages and batch resizing.

GIMP logo

Best Acorn alternative for open source

GIMP

Free and open source, if you can accept a less Mac-like interface.

Affinity logo

Best Acorn alternative for Mac

Affinity

Free for individuals, with professional photo, vector and layout tools.

GIMP logo

Best Acorn alternative for Windows

GIMP

Free and open source, if you can accept a less Mac-like interface.

GIMP logo

Best Acorn alternative for Linux

GIMP

Free and open source, if you can accept a less Mac-like interface.

Photopea logo

Best Acorn alternative for working in the browser

Photopea

Free browser editor for occasional PSD work.

Acorn alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Acorn?

Pixelmator Pro ranks first right now. More features and AI tools for Mac, also available as a one-time purchase. GIMP and PhotoScape X follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Acorn?

Yes. GIMP (open source), PhotoScape X (free plan + paid), Photopea (free plan + paid) and Affinity (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Acorn?

Yes: GIMP.

Which Acorn alternatives work on Linux?

GIMP runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Acorn?

The complaints we hear most: mac only; no AI generative tools; less depth than Pixelmator Pro or Affinity.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Acorn, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.