Free alternatives to Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop: Photo editing and raster graphics. Here are 3 free or open-source options.

Tool	Type	Best for
GIMP	Open source	Photo retouching and general raster editing on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Photopea	Free tier	Quick edits and opening PSD files without installing anything.
Krita	Open source	Digital painting and illustration.

The alternatives in detail

GIMP Open source

A full-featured desktop image editor with layers, masks, filters and plugin support.

Best for: Photo retouching and general raster editing on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Limits to know: The interface takes time to learn and some Photoshop file features are not fully supported.

Visit GIMP

Photopea Free tier

A browser-based editor that opens PSD files and has a Photoshop-like layout.

Best for: Quick edits and opening PSD files without installing anything.
Limits to know: The free version is supported by ads. Check the site for the current paid option.

Visit Photopea

Krita Open source

A painting program built for digital artists, with brush engines and animation tools.

Best for: Digital painting and illustration.
Limits to know: Less suited to photo retouching than GIMP.

Visit Krita

When is Adobe Photoshop still worth paying for?

A free option is often enough, but not always. If you depend on specific features, file compatibility or support, check the limits above first. Visit Adobe Photoshop to compare.

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