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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
1GIMP logoGIMPOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
2Pixelmator Pro logoPixelmator ProPaidNomacOS, iOS4 of 457.2
3ON1 Photo RAW logoON1 Photo RAWPaidNoWindows, macOS4 of 452.3
4Krita logoKritaOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 447.8
5Affinity logoAffinityFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS0 of 044.0
  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

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Adobe Photoshop

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

    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 Compare with Adobe PhotoshopDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 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)
  2. Pixelmator Pro logo

    2. Pixelmator Pro

    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)
  3. ON1 Photo RAW logo

    3. ON1 Photo RAW

    Best for: Photographers who want one perpetual-licence app to organise, develop and layer images

    PaidWindows, macOS

    52.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Adobe Photoshop

    Combines Lightroom-style organising with layers and masks in one app, sold as a perpetual licence.

    Pros

    • Combines catalogue, RAW development and layers in one app
    • One-time purchase still offered alongside subscriptions
    • Many AI tools included, from noise reduction to keywording

    Cons

    • Module-heavy interface takes time to learn
    • Can feel slower than single-purpose editors
    • Yearly versions mean regular paid upgrades to stay current
    Visit ON1 Photo RAW Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.353
    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 ON1 Photo RAW a good Adobe Photoshop alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    One-time purchase
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026on1.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Installs
    2 computers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026on1.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026on1.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Mac, Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026on1.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Krita logo

    4. Krita

    Best for: Illustrators and concept artists who want a free, full-featured painting app

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android

    47.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Adobe Photoshop

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

    Pros

    • Free and GPL-licensed
    • Excellent brush engines and drawing assistants
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android

    Cons

    • Not built for photo editing
    • Can slow down on very large canvases
    • No iPad version
    Visit Krita Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.338
    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 Krita a good Adobe Photoshop alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Android
    Google Play builds
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(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

    44.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Adobe Photoshop

    Free for individuals and covers layers, masks and retouching, with no subscription to keep paying.

    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 ×0.360
    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 Adobe Photoshop alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

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.