The Top 5 Free Alternatives to Photoshop

by Brenda Barron on Sep 10, 2023

When it comes to editing your images, Adobe Photoshop is one of the most popular software solutions around. Used by amateurs and professionals alike, Photoshop can help to turn any image into a masterpiece.

Unfortunately, the Creative Cloud subscription that you need to access Photoshop can make it quite expensive for people who are just launching their photography brand. What’s more, with so many tools to choose from on Photoshop, you might find that this tool is tougher to use than other options.

So, what are the top free alternatives to Photoshop? That’s what we’re here to find out. Today, we’ll be looking at:

1. 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. However, GIMP isn’t without its issues. For instance, many of the pre-set brushes have the same settings. Also, there are no drawing capabilities in GIMP either.

Pros:

• Lots of features
• Image slicing support
• History toolbar
• Blending and layer support modes

Cons:

• Complicated UI
• Strange text tool
• No RAW filter

2. Krita

Krita is another highly popular free alternative to Photoshop. In fact, it’s one of the tools most recommended by photographers in forums about editing and creative image design. The best thing about Krita is how similar it looks and feels to Photoshop. The toolbars look almost the same, and the dark theme reminds you of working with Adobe. Unfortunately, the tool is a little bit laggy at times, and there’s no RAW filter included.

Pros:

• Support for pens and drawing tablets
• Multiple pre-installed templates
• Lots of effects to choose from
• Guides and rulers supported

Cons:

• No history toolbar
• Slow at times
• Limited text feature
• No RAW filter

3. Paint.NET

Originally, Paint.NET was intended to be an enhanced version of the MS Paint tool. So, you’ll notice many features similar to your Microsoft application here. However, while Paint.NET might not be as powerful as Photoshop, it gives you a lot of features that may make it a great alternative for beginners. If you need free options for Photoshop that are compatible with Windows, this could be the solution for you. Paint.NET comes with layers and blending modes, as well as a history tool. Of course, it’s not quite as powerful as Photoshop.

Pros:

• Blending and layer support
• History tool
• Support for multiple file types
• Well-rounded editing tool

Cons:

• Outdated UI
• Lack of Guide support
• No RAW option
• No slice, patch or spot healing tool

4. Pixlr Editor

Although it’s a browser-based tool, the Pixlr editor is just as powerful as many desktop applications. Unlike other free alternatives to Photoshop, Pixlr editor was created by AutoDesk – a leading name in computer-aided design. There are multiple versions of Pixlr Editor available. The Editor features a wide variety of tools, including blur, sharpen, noise, levels, and curves. There’s also a toolbox that’s similar to GIMP’s, including stamp tools, healing, brushes, fills and more.

If you’re looking for a quick and simple way to improve your images, and you don’t want to worry about complex software, Pixlr is a great solution.

Pros:

• Access on any platform (because it’s browser-based)
• Layer and blending supported
• Customizable interface
• Healing and history tools

Cons:

• Flash download required
• No pen tool supported
• Not as much file support as Photoshop
• No guides and rulers

5. Photo Pos Pro

Finally, Photo Pos Pro is one of the best free alternatives to Photoshop on the market today. As an advanced piece of editing equipment designed for people who can’t afford Photoshop, Photo Pos Pro is brimming with fantastic capabilities. Similar to Photoshop, there are layers and layer masks, as well as healing and clone brushes. There are even options for scripts as well as match editing to help save you time with your edits.

Photo Pos Pros also comes with plugins to enhance your editing experience. You can also create and save filters that you want to use in the future.

Pros:

• Customizable interface for novices and experts
• Support for layers and masks
• Intuitive feature selection
• Closely resembles photoshop

Cons:

• Can be difficult to learn
• Software acts strangely at times
• Size of exported files is limited

So there you have it! Some of the best free alternatives to Photoshop available today. Which one do you plan on using?

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