6 free photo editing apps to use instead of Photoshop by Adobe
The best free alternative to Photoshop is Photopea. The closest thing to Photoshop, opening .psd files with layers and most layer styles intact, with nothing to install.
Other great options: Affinity, GIMP, Krita, Paint.NET and Adobe Express.
Quick pick: Know Photoshop and need to open a .psd right now: use Photopea in your browser. Want a desktop app: Affinity (free since October 2025) or GIMP (open source). For digital painting: Krita.
Reviewed November 2026 against each vendor's official website.
Free plans and trial lengths are set by the vendor and can change. Check the official website before signing up.
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The closest thing to Photoshop, opening .psd files with layers and most layer styles intact, with nothing to install.
A browser-based image editor whose interface closely mirrors Photoshop. It opens .psd, .ai, .xd, .sketch and .pdf files with nothing to install.
Platforms: Web
Professional-grade editing that opens .psd files and supports CMYK for print; it needs a Canva account.
A professional design suite combining photo editing, vector and page layout in one app. Since late October 2025 Canva offers it free with a Canva account.
Platforms: Windows · Mac
Open source editor that opens .psd files with basic layers, good for retouching, compositing and product shots.
The longest-running open-source image editor, able to handle most Photoshop work. It does layers, masks, selections, color and compositing; version 3.0 (2025) added non-destructive filters.
Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux
Built for digital painting with a pen tablet, and it opens and saves .psd files.
An open-source digital painting app built for illustration, comics and frame-by-frame animation. There is also an Android tablet version.
Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux · Android
A light, easy Windows app for quick crops and color fixes.
A lightweight Windows image editor, far more capable than Paint yet easier than GIMP. Good for quick crops, composites and color fixes.
Platforms: Windows
Fast template-based design and free background removal on the web and mobile.
Adobe's quick design tool, similar to Canva, for social posts, posters, background removal and short videos. The free plan covers everyday needs.
Platforms: Web · Android · iPhone
| App | Type | Platforms | Ease of use | GitHub stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Photopea | Free | Web | Easy to use | — |
 Affinity | Free | Windows, Mac | Some learning curve | — |
 GIMP | Open source | Windows, Mac, Linux | Some learning curve | — |
 Krita | Open source | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android | Some learning curve | — |
 Paint.NET | Free | Windows | Easy to use | — |
 Adobe Express | Freemium | Web, Android, iPhone | Easy to use | — |
Open source: anyone can use, study and modify it, including businesses. Free: no cost, but the code is closed. Freemium: a lasting free plan with paid tiers for extra features. Source available: code is public but the license adds conditions.
The most popular picks are Photopea, Affinity, GIMP and Krita. Know Photoshop and need to open a .psd right now: use Photopea in your browser. Want a desktop app: Affinity (free since October 2025) or GIMP (open source). For digital painting: Krita.
Not the full desktop version: Adobe only offers a 7-day trial. Photoshop on mobile has a free tier with basic features. For long-term desktop use without paying, go with Photopea, Affinity or GIMP.
Photopea handles them best (layers and most layer styles are kept), followed by Affinity, GIMP and Krita. Complex layer effects and smart objects may look different.
No. Cracked copies often bundle malware that steals passwords and banking details, they get no security updates, and businesses running unlicensed software face legal and financial risk. The free options above cover most work.
Illustrator
Lightroom
CorelDRAW
InDesign
Canva
Figma