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Adobe Photoshop alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

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.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Pixelmator Pro logoPixelmator ProPaidNomacOS, iOS4 of 457.2
  1. Pixelmator Pro logo

    1. Pixelmator ProTop pick

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

    PaidmacOS, iOS

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Adobe Photoshop

    A Mac-native editor with layers and AI tools, available as a one-time Mac App Store 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 ×0.369
    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 Adobe Photoshop 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)

The best Adobe Photoshop alternative for…

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

GIMP logo

Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for most people

GIMP

Free and open-source layered editor for Windows, Mac and Linux with plug-ins and scripting.

Krita logo

Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for a free option

Krita

Free and open source, and stronger than Photoshop for digital painting and illustration.

Photopea logo

Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Photopea

Runs in the browser, mimics the Photoshop interface and opens PSD files for free.

GIMP logo

Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for open source

GIMP

Free and open-source layered editor for Windows, Mac and Linux with plug-ins and scripting.

Pixelmator Pro logo

Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for Mac

Pixelmator Pro

A Mac-native editor with layers and AI tools, available as a one-time Mac App Store purchase.

Pa

Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for Windows

PaintShop Pro

A Windows editor bought once rather than rented, with layers and RAW support.

GIMP logo

Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for Linux

GIMP

Free and open-source layered editor for Windows, Mac and Linux with plug-ins and scripting.

Photopea logo

Best Adobe Photoshop alternative for working in the browser

Photopea

Runs 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.