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Fog Panther alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Fog Panther: free version can only save in its own .fog format, and linux only. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Fog Panther, 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 468.8
2Krita logoKritaOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 454.4
3Affinity logoAffinityFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS0 of 039.5
  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

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Fog Panther

    Free and open source on Linux, with a far larger plugin ecosystem and community.

    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 ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is GIMP a good Fog Panther alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Licence
    GNU GPL
    Checked Oct 29, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, macOS, Windows
    Checked Oct 29, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 29, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Main uses
    Retouching, composition, image authoring
    Checked Oct 29, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Krita logo

    2. Krita

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android

    54.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Fog Panther

    Free, open-source painting and image editor on Linux with excellent tablet support.

    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 ×0.352
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is Krita a good Fog Panther 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 29, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
    Checked Oct 29, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Android
    Google Play builds
    Checked Oct 29, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Affinity logo

    3. Affinity

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

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS

    39.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Fog Panther

    Pro photo, design and layout tools with CMYK, on Windows, Mac and iPad.

    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 ×0.338
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1530
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is Affinity a good Fog Panther alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best Fog Panther alternative for…

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

GIMP logo

Best Fog Panther alternative for most people

GIMP

Free and open source on Linux, with a far larger plugin ecosystem and community.

Krita logo

Best Fog Panther alternative for a free option

Krita

Free, open-source painting and image editor on Linux with excellent tablet support.

Photopea logo

Best Fog Panther alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Photopea

Browser-based Photoshop-style editor that opens PSDs on any OS, free with ads.

GIMP logo

Best Fog Panther alternative for open source

GIMP

Free and open source on Linux, with a far larger plugin ecosystem and community.

Adobe Photoshop logo

Best Fog Panther alternative for Mac

Adobe Photoshop

The industry standard Fog Panther imitates, if you can move to Windows or macOS.

Affinity logo

Best Fog Panther alternative for Windows

Affinity

Pro photo, design and layout tools with CMYK, on Windows, Mac and iPad.

GIMP logo

Best Fog Panther alternative for Linux

GIMP

Free and open source on Linux, with a far larger plugin ecosystem and community.

Adobe Photoshop logo

Best Fog Panther alternative for iPhone and Android

Adobe Photoshop

The industry standard Fog Panther imitates, if you can move to Windows or macOS.

Adobe Photoshop logo

Best Fog Panther alternative for working in the browser

Adobe Photoshop

The industry standard Fog Panther imitates, if you can move to Windows or macOS.

Fog Panther alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Fog Panther?

GIMP ranks first right now. Free and open source on Linux, with a far larger plugin ecosystem and community. Adobe Photoshop and Photopea follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Fog Panther?

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 Fog Panther?

Yes: GIMP and Krita.

Which Fog Panther alternatives work on Linux?

GIMP and Krita run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Fog Panther?

The complaints we hear most: free version can only save in its own .fog format; linux only; still a 0.x release, so younger than GIMP or Krita.

How is this list ranked?

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