Adobe Photoshop alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave Adobe Photoshop: subscription only, with no perpetual licence, and steep learning curve for occasional users. We ranked 7 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Adobe Photoshop, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. GIMP currently ranks first.
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Show all 7 alternativesThe best Adobe Photoshop alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for most people
GIMPFree and open-source layered editor for Windows, Mac and Linux with plug-ins and scripting.
Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for a free option
KritaFree and open source, and stronger than Photoshop for digital painting and illustration.
Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for a free plan you can upgrade
PhotopeaRuns in the browser, mimics the Photoshop interface and opens PSD files for free.
Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for open source
GIMPFree and open-source layered editor for Windows, Mac and Linux with plug-ins and scripting.
Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for Mac
Pixelmator ProA Mac-native editor with layers and AI tools, available as a one-time Mac App Store purchase.
Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for Windows
PaintShop ProA Windows editor bought once rather than rented, with layers and RAW support.
Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for Linux
GIMPFree and open-source layered editor for Windows, Mac and Linux with plug-ins and scripting.
Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for working in the browser
PhotopeaRuns in the browser, mimics the Photoshop interface and opens PSD files for free.
Adobe Photoshop alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to Adobe Photoshop?
GIMP ranks first right now. Free and open-source layered editor for Windows, Mac and Linux with plug-ins and scripting. Pixelmator Pro and PaintShop Pro follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to Adobe Photoshop?
Yes. GIMP (open source), Photopea (free plan + paid), Krita (open source) 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?
Yes: GIMP and Krita.
Which Adobe Photoshop alternatives work on Linux?
GIMP and Krita run on Linux.
Why do people switch from Adobe Photoshop?
The complaints we hear most: subscription only, with no perpetual licence; steep learning curve for occasional users; heavy on system resources for large documents.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Adobe Photoshop, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.