Pixlr alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Pixlr: free tier shows ads and limits saves, and AI features run on limited credits. We ranked 7 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Pixlr, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Photopea currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Photopea	Free plan + paid	No	Web	2 of 3	65.3
2	Fotor	Free plan + paid	No	Web, Windows, macOS +2	3 of 3	62.6
3	BeFunky	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	3 of 3	59.6
4	Adobe Express	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	2 of 3	54.0
5	Canva	Free plan + paid	No	Web, Windows, macOS +2	1 of 3	50.2
6	Affinity	Free plan + paid	No	Windows, macOS	0 of 0	43.1
7	GIMP	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux	4 of 4	38.6

1. PhotopeaTop pick
Best for: Occasional photo editing and opening PSD files without Photoshop
Free plan + paidWeb
65.3
score / 100
Why switch from Pixlr
Free browser editor that closely mimics Photoshop and opens PSDs.
Pros
Free and runs in the browser
Opens PSD and many other formats
Familiar Photoshop-style interface
Cons
Ads in the free version
Large files can be slow in the browser
Visit Photopea Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1577
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Photopea a good Pixlr alternative?
Verified facts
2 of 3 verified
Price
Free with ads; premium removes ads
Not checked yetphotopea.com(opens source in a new tab)
PSD support
Yes
Checked Oct 24, 2026photopea.com(opens source in a new tab)
Install required
No (browser)
Checked Oct 24, 2026photopea.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Fotor
Best for: Small businesses and social media managers who want quick edits and AI images in one tool
Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Pixlr
Online editor with stronger templates and AI headshots.
Pros
Many AI image tools in one place
Templates for social and marketing graphics
Available on web, desktop and mobile
Cons
Many features need credits or a paid plan
Interface is crowded with upsells
Less precise than dedicated editors
Visit Fotor Details 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 Fotor a good Pixlr alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Free plan
Basic, free forever
Checked Oct 25, 2026fotor.com(opens source in a new tab)
Background remover
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026fotor.com(opens source in a new tab)
AI agent
Included in paid plans
Checked Oct 25, 2026fotor.com(opens source in a new tab)
3. BeFunky
Best for: Beginners and small businesses who want quick photo edits, collages and graphics
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from Pixlr
Simple photo editor, collage maker and designer in one.
Pros
Photo editing, collages and design in one app
Usable without creating an account
Very beginner-friendly
Cons
Many effects and AI tools need BeFunky Plus
Limited layer and selection control
Not for professional retouching
Visit BeFunky Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
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 BeFunky a good Pixlr alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Free use
Yes, no account required
Checked Oct 25, 2026befunky.com(opens source in a new tab)
Mobile app
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026befunky.com(opens source in a new tab)
Batch editing
Yes, incl. bulk background removal
Checked Oct 25, 2026befunky.com(opens source in a new tab)
4. Adobe Express
Best for: Creative Cloud users making quick social and marketing content
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
54.0
score / 100
Why switch from Pixlr
Quick edits and templates backed by Adobe tools.
Pros
Adobe Stock and Fonts built in
Firefly generative AI
Quick actions for common edits
Cons
Fewer templates than Canva in some niches
Best value only with other Adobe apps
Visit Adobe Express Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1577
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Adobe Express a good Pixlr alternative?
Verified facts
2 of 3 verified
Free plan
Yes
Not checked yetadobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Generative AI
Adobe Firefly
Checked Oct 24, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Checked Oct 24, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
5. Canva
Best for: Non-designers creating social, marketing and presentation graphics
Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
50.2
score / 100
Why switch from Pixlr
Template-led design with basic photo editing.
Pros
Huge template library
Very easy to use
Generous free plan
Cons
Limited precision for UI design
Premium assets require Pro
Visit Canva Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1538
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Canva a good Pixlr alternative?
Verified facts
1 of 3 verified
Free plan
Yes
Not checked yetcanva.com(opens source in a new tab)
Templates
Large built-in library
Not checked yetcanva.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Web, desktop, mobile
Checked Oct 24, 2026canva.com(opens source in a new tab)
6. Affinity
Best for: Designers who want professional vector, photo and layout tools without an Adobe subscription
Free plan + paidWindows, macOS
43.1
score / 100
Why switch from Pixlr
Free professional desktop app for serious image work.
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 ×0.357
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 Pixlr alternative?
Verified facts
0 of 0 verified
No sourced facts yet.
7. GIMP
Best for: Anyone who wants a capable layered image editor at no cost, especially on Linux
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux
38.6
score / 100
Why switch from Pixlr
A free desktop editor with layers and plug-ins, with no ads or account.
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 ×0.37
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 Pixlr 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)

The best Pixlr alternative for…

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

Best Pixlr alternative for most people

Photopea

Free browser editor that closely mimics Photoshop and opens PSDs.

Best Pixlr alternative for a free option

GIMP

A free desktop editor with layers and plug-ins, with no ads or account.

Best Pixlr alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Fotor

Online editor with stronger templates and AI headshots.

Best Pixlr alternative for open source

GIMP

A free desktop editor with layers and plug-ins, with no ads or account.

Best Pixlr alternative for Mac

Canva

Template-led design with basic photo editing.

Best Pixlr alternative for Windows

Affinity

Free professional desktop app for serious image work.

Best Pixlr alternative for Linux

GIMP

A free desktop editor with layers and plug-ins, with no ads or account.

Best Pixlr alternative for iPhone and Android

BeFunky

Simple photo editor, collage maker and designer in one.

Best Pixlr alternative for working in the browser

Adobe Express

Quick edits and templates backed by Adobe tools.

Pixlr alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Pixlr?

Photopea ranks first right now. Free browser editor that closely mimics Photoshop and opens PSDs. Fotor and BeFunky follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Pixlr?

Yes. Photopea (free plan + paid), Fotor (free plan + paid), BeFunky (free plan + paid) and Adobe Express (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Pixlr?

Yes: GIMP.

Which Pixlr alternatives work on Linux?

GIMP runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Pixlr?

The complaints we hear most: free tier shows ads and limits saves; AI features run on limited credits; not suited to professional colour-managed work.

How is this list ranked?

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

Quick comparison

1. PhotopeaTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Fotor

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. BeFunky

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

4. Adobe Express

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

5. Canva

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

6. Affinity

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

7. GIMP

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

The best Pixlr alternative for…

Best Pixlr alternative for most people

Best Pixlr alternative for a free option

Best Pixlr alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Best Pixlr alternative for open source

Best Pixlr alternative for Mac

Best Pixlr alternative for Windows

Best Pixlr alternative for Linux

Best Pixlr alternative for iPhone and Android

Best Pixlr alternative for working in the browser

Pixlr alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Pixlr?

Is there a free alternative to Pixlr?

Is there an open-source alternative to Pixlr?

Which Pixlr alternatives work on Linux?

Why do people switch from Pixlr?

How is this list ranked?