There are a wide range of very capable alternatives to Photoshop just waiting for you to discover. Whether you're looking elsewhere because you can't justify the hefty standalone price tag, or you want to support smaller development houses, or you just don't need all the bells and whistles that come with the latest version of Photoshop, we've got you covered.
Check out our selection below, and let us know in the comments if we've missed your favourite Photoshop alternative!
Best Adobe Photoshop Alternative tools are below:
Check out our selection below, and let us know in the comments if we've missed your favourite Photoshop alternative!
Best Adobe Photoshop Alternative tools are below:
1. GIMP (cross-platform)
The big daddy of free image-editing software, GIMP is a free ‘shop alternative for the power user. There's full support for layers and masks, a good range of sophisticated brush controls and even a rough content-aware fill via unofficial plugins like this. For those pining for Auntie Adobe, there's a version of GIMP called GIMPshop that sports all the GIMP functionality with a Photoshop-imitation layout.
2. Paint.NET (Windows-only)
Paint.NET might not be fancy, but it has an intuitive interface and plenty of the same features as Photoshop—though you might find yourself missing those features that it lacks. Despite the name, Paint.NET is really best used for photo editing since it doesn’t have many illustrative tools, though it’s also open source with an impressive support base.
3. Pixlr (web-based)
Pixlr is a great online Photoshop alternative, especially if you need to do work when you’re nowhere near your home computer. It has an impressive amount of clout for a program that works in your web browser, and it stands out for having three different levels of editing power to choose from: playful, efficient or advanced. There’s even a mobile app version for designers who are on the go and need to make quick fixes.
The big daddy of free image-editing software, GIMP is a free ‘shop alternative for the power user. There's full support for layers and masks, a good range of sophisticated brush controls and even a rough content-aware fill via unofficial plugins like this. For those pining for Auntie Adobe, there's a version of GIMP called GIMPshop that sports all the GIMP functionality with a Photoshop-imitation layout.
2. Paint.NET (Windows-only)
Paint.NET might not be fancy, but it has an intuitive interface and plenty of the same features as Photoshop—though you might find yourself missing those features that it lacks. Despite the name, Paint.NET is really best used for photo editing since it doesn’t have many illustrative tools, though it’s also open source with an impressive support base.
3. Pixlr (web-based)
Pixlr is a great online Photoshop alternative, especially if you need to do work when you’re nowhere near your home computer. It has an impressive amount of clout for a program that works in your web browser, and it stands out for having three different levels of editing power to choose from: playful, efficient or advanced. There’s even a mobile app version for designers who are on the go and need to make quick fixes.
4. Splashup (web-based)
Splashup is an online image editing program with a clean design interface that’s highly reminiscent of Photoshop. It doesn’t have a ton of features, but it does support layers and pixel-level control. Splashup is a good tool for beginners, especially since it allows for easy sharing on the web’s top photo sharing sites like Flickr and Facebook.
5. Inkscape (cross-platform)
Inkscape uses a vector-based environment, so it’s a much better option for illustration than most other free alternatives to Photoshop; in fact, it’s almost more of an Illustrator alternative (though it can still be used for basic bitmap edits like photo retouching). The program’s native format is Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), so you don’t have to worry about your project looking fuzzy if you try to resize it. Overall, Inkscape is a great choice for any designer who wants to learn vector illustration on a tight budget.
6. Seashore (Mac-only)
Seashore is a fairly basic image editor that's visually quite pleasing, with a UI that apparently "blends right in" with the rest of Mac OS X. You can make up your own mind on that, but the editor itself isn't bad. No editable text layers is annoying though.
Seashore is open source Mac-only editing software based on GIMP, but with an interface designed to match the MAC OS X aesthetic. The result is a good-looking program that may not exactly be equivalent to Photoshop, but ultimately produces attractive results with ease.
7. Pixia (Windows-only)
Pixia is a Japanese program which has found popularity in the west and has since been translated into English. Pixia was created mainly for digital illustrations (specifically for manga and anime artists), but it has plenty of useful features for design and photo manipulation as well. The biggest downside to Pixia would be the outdated-looking interface, but if you don’t mind your editing software looking a bit “retro,” this may be the right tool for you.
8. Photo Pos Pro (Windows only)
Photo Pos Pro (works quite well as a tongue-twister, by the way) is a Photoshop replacement that promises much, and delivers a little bit. The interface features cutting-edge Windows XP graphics, but it has a slightly confused purpose: on the one hand, it's trying to be a pro, Photoshop-style tool with dense menus and powerful options; on the other, it's still got a freaking "tip of the day" popping up, interrupting me and making me want to visit the inventor of pop-ups with a chainsaw and murderous intent.
9. Picasa (cross-platform)
Google’s Picasa software might not have the full capacity of Photoshop, but it’s a good program for making last-minute edits. Picasa does have a few unique tricks up its sleeve such as batch editing and photo-management tools, not to mention easy integration and sharing on Google platforms.Google's Picasa isn't a Photoshop competitor; regardless, it's got many of the same basic features as Photoshop, including a half-decent Clone Stamp replacement. If you're only looking to make image-wide corrections, with a few little re-touches here and there, this is a superb option. The photo-management and batch editing options are just a plus.
10. Photoplus (Windows only)
More of a basic image editor, Photoplus is relatively user-friendly but lacks the vast majority of features that the more advanced options sport. It also doesn't have keyboard shortcuts - one omission which drives me completely loopy after about 5 minutes. The pop-ups asking me to buy the full version weren't particularly attractive either.
Hope this article useful for you. Are you favorite tools or website not in the list? Feel free to mention it in comments below.
Splashup is an online image editing program with a clean design interface that’s highly reminiscent of Photoshop. It doesn’t have a ton of features, but it does support layers and pixel-level control. Splashup is a good tool for beginners, especially since it allows for easy sharing on the web’s top photo sharing sites like Flickr and Facebook.
5. Inkscape (cross-platform)
Inkscape uses a vector-based environment, so it’s a much better option for illustration than most other free alternatives to Photoshop; in fact, it’s almost more of an Illustrator alternative (though it can still be used for basic bitmap edits like photo retouching). The program’s native format is Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), so you don’t have to worry about your project looking fuzzy if you try to resize it. Overall, Inkscape is a great choice for any designer who wants to learn vector illustration on a tight budget.
6. Seashore (Mac-only)
Seashore is a fairly basic image editor that's visually quite pleasing, with a UI that apparently "blends right in" with the rest of Mac OS X. You can make up your own mind on that, but the editor itself isn't bad. No editable text layers is annoying though.
Seashore is open source Mac-only editing software based on GIMP, but with an interface designed to match the MAC OS X aesthetic. The result is a good-looking program that may not exactly be equivalent to Photoshop, but ultimately produces attractive results with ease.
7. Pixia (Windows-only)
Pixia is a Japanese program which has found popularity in the west and has since been translated into English. Pixia was created mainly for digital illustrations (specifically for manga and anime artists), but it has plenty of useful features for design and photo manipulation as well. The biggest downside to Pixia would be the outdated-looking interface, but if you don’t mind your editing software looking a bit “retro,” this may be the right tool for you.
8. Photo Pos Pro (Windows only)
Photo Pos Pro (works quite well as a tongue-twister, by the way) is a Photoshop replacement that promises much, and delivers a little bit. The interface features cutting-edge Windows XP graphics, but it has a slightly confused purpose: on the one hand, it's trying to be a pro, Photoshop-style tool with dense menus and powerful options; on the other, it's still got a freaking "tip of the day" popping up, interrupting me and making me want to visit the inventor of pop-ups with a chainsaw and murderous intent.
9. Picasa (cross-platform)
Google’s Picasa software might not have the full capacity of Photoshop, but it’s a good program for making last-minute edits. Picasa does have a few unique tricks up its sleeve such as batch editing and photo-management tools, not to mention easy integration and sharing on Google platforms.Google's Picasa isn't a Photoshop competitor; regardless, it's got many of the same basic features as Photoshop, including a half-decent Clone Stamp replacement. If you're only looking to make image-wide corrections, with a few little re-touches here and there, this is a superb option. The photo-management and batch editing options are just a plus.
10. Photoplus (Windows only)
More of a basic image editor, Photoplus is relatively user-friendly but lacks the vast majority of features that the more advanced options sport. It also doesn't have keyboard shortcuts - one omission which drives me completely loopy after about 5 minutes. The pop-ups asking me to buy the full version weren't particularly attractive either.
Hope this article useful for you. Are you favorite tools or website not in the list? Feel free to mention it in comments below.
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