Free Alternatives to Adobe Photoshop in a Nutshell

Spot your favorite among Free Alternatives to Adobe Photoshop. Compare all advantages and make an informed final choice.

What are the 10 best Free Adobe Photoshop competitors and alternatives?

The 10 best free competitors and alternatives to Adobe Photoshop for small businesses include DocHub, Pixlr, Paint.NET, Photopea, Krita, Inkscape, Canva, PhotoScape, Fotor, Sumo Paint

All the details you need to know about Free Alternatives to Adobe Photoshop

DocHub

Transform how you manage your routine workflows. DocHub provides free and compliant editing and eSignature tools to streamline your tasks. Create, edit, eSign, and securely store your complete documents and forms with DocHub.

Key feature
  • Reminders and alerts: Boost your individual and business document workflows with timely reminders and alerts that continuously and timely update you on your workflow's progress.
  • Document annotation tools: Annotate your documents for free with DocHub, leave comments, highlight relevant paragraphs, and manage your pages on any platform.
  • Convert various document formats: DocHub allows you to retain complete control over any document format out there, transform your PDFs into other formats, and vice versa.
Try DocHub for free
video background

Pixlr

Pixlr is a user-friendly online photo editor that provides a range of editing tools and effects, making it a great alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

Key feature
  • One-Click Enhancements: Pixlr offers one-click enhancements that automatically adjust brightness, contrast, and color levels to improve the overall look of your photos with a single click.
  • Creative Filters: Pixlr provides a wide selection of creative filters, such as vintage, grunge, and artistic effects. These filters allow you to add unique styles and moods to your images.
  • Collage Maker: Pixlr includes a collage maker tool that lets you combine multiple photos into a single image. You can choose from various templates and customize the layout to create stunning collages.

Paint.NET

Paint.NET is a free image editing software that offers a simple and intuitive interface, making it suitable for beginners and casual users.

Key feature
  • User-Friendly Interface: Paint.NET features a clean and easy-to-use interface, with intuitive tools and menus. It allows users to quickly navigate and perform basic image editing tasks without any hassle.
  • Special Effects: Paint.NET provides a range of special effects, such as blurring, sharpening, and distortion. These effects can be applied to enhance the visual appeal of your images or create unique artistic effects.
  • Plugin Support: Paint.NET supports a wide range of plugins, allowing users to extend its functionality. These plugins offer additional tools, filters, and effects, giving users more options for image editing and manipulation.

Photopea

Photopea is a free online photo editor that closely resembles Adobe Photoshop in terms of functionality and interface.

Key feature
  • PSD File Support: Photopea supports PSD files, which are the native file format of Adobe Photoshop. This allows users to open, edit, and save PSD files without the need for Adobe Photoshop.
  • Advanced Editing Tools: Photopea offers a wide range of advanced editing tools, including layers, masks, brushes, and adjustment layers. These tools enable users to perform complex image editing tasks with precision and control.
  • Smart Objects: Photopea supports smart objects, which are editable and non-destructive layers. Users can apply transformations, filters, and adjustments to smart objects without permanently altering the original image.

Looking for the right PDF solution?

DocHub makes it easy to edit, sign and share documents

Try it for free

Krita

Krita is a free and open-source digital painting software that provides powerful tools for artists and illustrators.

Key feature
  • Brush Engine: Krita's brush engine offers a wide variety of brushes and brush settings, allowing artists to create realistic and expressive digital paintings. Users can customize brush properties like size, opacity, and texture.
  • Layer Management: Krita provides advanced layer management features, including layer groups, layer masks, and blending modes. These features enable artists to organize and manipulate their artwork with ease.
  • Animation Support: Krita supports animation features, allowing artists to create frame-by-frame animations or use timeline-based animation tools. It provides essential animation features like onion skinning and keyframe editing.

Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor that offers powerful tools for creating and editing scalable vector graphics.

Key feature
  • Vector Editing: Inkscape provides a comprehensive set of vector editing tools, including shape creation, path editing, and node manipulation. Users can create and edit vector graphics with precision and control.
  • Text Support: Inkscape supports text editing and manipulation, allowing users to create and modify text elements within their vector graphics. It offers various text formatting options and supports different fonts.
  • SVG File Format: Inkscape uses the SVG file format, which is a widely supported standard for vector graphics. Users can import and export SVG files, ensuring compatibility with other vector graphics software.

Canva

Canva is a versatile online design tool that offers a wide range of templates and design elements for creating graphics, presentations, and social media posts.

Key feature
  • Template Library: Canva provides a vast library of professionally designed templates for various purposes, such as social media posts, presentations, posters, and more. Users can easily customize these templates to suit their needs.
  • Drag-and-Drop Editor: Canva features a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, allowing users to easily add and arrange elements on their designs. It requires no design experience and enables users to create visually appealing graphics effortlessly.
  • Collaboration Tools: Canva offers collaboration tools that allow multiple users to work on the same design project simultaneously. Users can invite team members, share designs, and provide feedback in real-time.

Work smarter with DocHub

Simplify document editing, signing, distribution and form completion

Try it for free

PhotoScape

PhotoScape is a free photo editing software that offers a range of tools and features for basic image editing and enhancement.

Key feature
  • Batch Editing: PhotoScape allows users to apply edits and enhancements to multiple photos simultaneously, saving time and effort. Users can resize, crop, adjust colors, and apply effects to a batch of photos at once.
  • Photo Viewer: PhotoScape includes a built-in photo viewer that allows users to browse and view their photos in a convenient and organized manner. It supports various viewing modes and provides basic photo management features.
  • Animated GIF Creator: PhotoScape features a tool for creating animated GIFs from a series of images. Users can adjust the animation speed, add text or stickers, and create fun and engaging GIFs to share with others.

Fotor

Fotor is a free online photo editor that offers a range of editing tools and effects, making it suitable for both beginners and advanced users.

Key feature
  • Photo Enhancement: Fotor provides one-click photo enhancement tools that automatically adjust brightness, contrast, and color levels to improve the overall look of your photos. It instantly enhances your images with a single click.
  • Collage Maker: Fotor includes a collage maker tool that allows users to combine multiple photos into a single image. It offers various templates and customization options, making it easy to create stunning collages.
  • Tilt-Shift Effect: Fotor offers a tilt-shift effect that can be applied to photos, giving them a miniature or toy-like appearance. Users can adjust the focus area and intensity of the effect to create unique and eye-catching images.

Sumo Paint

Sumo Paint is a free online image editor that provides a wide range of tools and features for digital painting and photo editing.

Key feature
  • Brushes and Effects: Sumo Paint offers a variety of brushes and effects that allow users to create digital paintings and apply artistic effects to their photos. It provides a wide range of options for creative expression.
  • Layer Support: Sumo Paint supports multiple layers, enabling users to work with complex compositions and easily make adjustments to their artwork. Layers can be rearranged, blended, and customized to achieve desired results.
  • Online Community: Sumo Paint has an online community where users can share their artwork, participate in challenges, and connect with other artists. It provides a platform for inspiration, learning, and collaboration.
!
Note: Some of these free alternatives may have limitations in their free versions or offer premium features at a cost.

Choose a better solution

Edit, sign and share documents and forms with ease

Try DocHub for free

Shortlist: Top 3 Free Adobe Photoshop Alternatives

DocHub

DocHub offers quick access to all essential tools relevant to daily document management. Get a free, flexible, and secure document management solution. Access eSigning, editing, creation tools, and cloud-based integrations in one place.

Key features
  • Automatic save and backup: DocHub ensures that all your documents are kept secure and updated with advanced free autosave and backup features.
  • Advanced Audit Trail: Maintain transparency and accountability at every stage of document management, enhance compliance and security, and quickly spot errors with the free audit trail feature.
  • Multi-platform accessibility: Create, edit, and eSign your documents on any platform for free with DocHub’s adaptable and flexible interface and mobile device support and optimization.

Pixlr

Pixlr offers a user-friendly interface with powerful editing tools, making it suitable for beginners and professionals alike. Its cloud-based platform allows access from anywhere, enhancing flexibility.

Key features
  • Intuitive Interface: Pixlr features a simple, easy-to-navigate interface, enabling users to quickly learn and start editing images.
  • Rich Templates and Assets: Users can choose from a vast library of templates, stickers, and overlays, boosting creativity and saving time on design.
  • Cloud Accessibility: Being a cloud-based tool, Pixlr allows users to save their work online and access it from any device, promoting flexibility.

Photopea

Photopea replicates many features of Adobe Photoshop, making it a great alternative for those who can't afford the subscription. It's web-based, meaning there’s no installation required, and it’s free to use.

Key features
  • Layer Support: Photopea supports layers just like Photoshop, enabling detailed and complex edits for users who need precision.
  • Photoshop File Compatibility: Users can easily open and edit PSD files, making it convenient for those transitioning from Photoshop to a free option.
  • Multiple File Formats: Photopea supports a variety of file formats, including PSD, JPG, and PNG, enhancing versatility for different projects.

Overall, these free alternatives to Adobe Photoshop offer a great combination of features, usability, and affordability, making them suitable for small businesses that need to create, edit, and manage PDFs efficiently without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions about Free Alternatives to Adobe Photoshop

Contact us
Alternatives to docHub Photoshop Canva. GIMP. Pixlr. PicMonkey. Fotor Photo Editor. ACDSee. Affinity Photo. PhotoWorks.
GIMP is regarded as a very good image editor and even a free alternative to Photoshop, but never regarded as a replacement. There could be, and likely is, real, logical, statistical reasons for this, but at least part of this, is Photoshop has a trusted name that IS image editing.
GIMP. The GNU Image Manipulation Program, or GIMP, is one of the best-known free alternatives to Photoshop on the market. As a very feature-rich solution for photographers, GIMP can do almost anything that Photoshop can.
Yes, GIMP is really free. The application is whats known as FOSSfree and open-source software. Its free to download and free to use, and developers can even create their own new software that employs its code. If you really love it and want to support it, you can donate to its developers via Patreon.