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Adobe Photoshop Elements alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Adobe Photoshop Elements: licence expires three years after redemption, and lacks many professional Photoshop tools and plug-in depth. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Adobe Photoshop Elements, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. PaintShop Pro currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1GIMP logoGIMPOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 455.3
  1. GIMP logo

    1. GIMPTop pick

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Adobe Photoshop Elements

    Free and open source, with no licence term to run out.

    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 ×0.363
    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 GIMP a good Adobe Photoshop Elements 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)

The best Adobe Photoshop Elements alternative for…

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

Pa

Best Adobe Photoshop Elements alternative for most people

PaintShop Pro

Also aimed at home users on Windows, sold once with no expiry date on the licence.

GIMP logo

Best Adobe Photoshop Elements alternative for a free option

GIMP

Free and open source, with no licence term to run out.

PhotoDirector logo

Best Adobe Photoshop Elements alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

PhotoDirector

Has a free version and a lifetime licence option, with many one-click AI fixes.

GIMP logo

Best Adobe Photoshop Elements alternative for open source

GIMP

Free and open source, with no licence term to run out.

Luminar Neo logo

Best Adobe Photoshop Elements alternative for Mac

Luminar Neo

AI-driven sky, portrait and relight tools with a perpetual licence for Mac and Windows.

PhotoScape X logo

Best Adobe Photoshop Elements alternative for Windows

PhotoScape X

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

GIMP logo

Best Adobe Photoshop Elements alternative for Linux

GIMP

Free and open source, with no licence term to run out.

PhotoDirector logo

Best Adobe Photoshop Elements alternative for iPhone and Android

PhotoDirector

Has a free version and a lifetime licence option, with many one-click AI fixes.

Adobe Photoshop Elements alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Adobe Photoshop Elements?

PaintShop Pro ranks first right now. Also aimed at home users on Windows, sold once with no expiry date on the licence. PhotoDirector and Luminar Neo follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Adobe Photoshop Elements?

Yes. PhotoDirector (free plan + paid), GIMP (open source), PhotoScape X (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 Adobe Photoshop Elements?

Yes: GIMP.

Which Adobe Photoshop Elements alternatives work on Linux?

GIMP runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Adobe Photoshop Elements?

The complaints we hear most: licence expires three years after redemption; lacks many professional Photoshop tools and plug-in depth; some AI features depend on generative credits.

How is this list ranked?

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