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Best Free Alternatives to Adobe Photoshop
Stop paying $19.99 - $34.49/mo. Discover professional-grade tools that won't break your budget.
Category: Design & Digital ImagingVerified for 2025
Top Recommended Replacements
Affinity Photo 2
Best Professional Alternative
Why we like it
No subscription; professional RAW processing, 32-bit color support, and PSD import/export; feature-set almost entirely mirrors Photoshop's core desktop capabilities; exceptionally fast performance on Apple Silicon.
Keep in mind
Lacks the high-end Generative AI features (Firefly) native to Photoshop; smaller plugin ecosystem.
Photopea
FREEBest Browser-Based Clone
Why we like it
A near-perfect 1:1 UI clone of Photoshop that runs entirely in your browser; supports .PSD, .AI, and .XD files natively; supports Photoshop brushes and layers; no installation required.
Keep in mind
Web-based performance can lag on very large high-res files; ad-supported unless you pay a small monthly fee ($5-$8).
Krita
FREEBest for Illustrators
Why we like it
The gold standard for digital painting; incredible brush engine and stabilization; professional-grade animation tools; completely free with no hidden costs.
Keep in mind
Less focused on traditional photo retouching and 'Liquify/Content-Aware' tools compared to Photoshop.
GIMP
FREEBest for General Editing
Why we like it
The veteran open-source alternative; massive plugin library (like G'MIC); supports advanced scripting; runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Keep in mind
UI is notoriously difficult for Photoshop users to learn; lacks non-destructive adjustment layers (though planned for future versions).
Corel PaintShop Pro
Best Windows Budget Choice
Why we like it
A solid, feature-rich alternative for Windows users; includes decent AI-powered object removal and background replacement; familiar 'Photoshop-like' layout.
Keep in mind
Windows only; some features feel dated compared to Adobe's latest AI advancements.
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