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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
1Adobe Photoshop logoAdobe PhotoshopPaidNoWindows, macOS, Web +25 of 561.8
2Krita logoKritaOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 454.4
  1. Adobe Photoshop logo

    1. Adobe PhotoshopTop pick

    Best for: Professionals who need the standard retouching and compositing tool and PSD compatibility

    PaidWindows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Fog Panther

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

    Pros

    • Deepest retouching, masking and compositing toolset available
    • PSD is the de facto exchange format for layered images
    • Generative Fill and other AI tools built into the normal workflow
    • Huge pool of tutorials, plug-ins and trained users

    Cons

    • Subscription only, with no perpetual licence
    • Steep learning curve for occasional users
    • Heavy on system resources for large documents
    Visit Adobe Photoshop Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    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 Adobe Photoshop a good Fog Panther alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Purchase options
    Subscription only (Creative Cloud)
    Checked Oct 29, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 29, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Refund window
    14 days after trial ends
    Checked Oct 29, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free mobile version
    Yes, with paid premium features
    Checked Oct 29, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Generative AI
    Generative Fill and Generative Expand
    Checked Oct 29, 2026adobe.com(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)

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.