3 Free & Open Source Alternatives to Adobe Photoshop (2026)

Compare 3 free and open-source alternatives to Adobe Photoshop: GIMP, Krita, and Photopea. Pros, cons, pricing, and screenshots tested 2026.

Adobe Photoshop

Paid ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.0

Adobe Photoshop is the industry-standard raster graphics editor for photo editing, digital painting, compositing, and graphic design, used by professionals worldwide.

Pricing Paid

Alternatives 3 free options

Category Design Tools

Rating 4 / 5

💡

Why people look for alternatives Adobe Photoshop requires a paid subscription for full access. Many users seek free or open-source alternatives that offer similar functionality without the ongoing cost or vendor lock-in.

[Adobe Photoshop screenshot]

Visit Adobe Photoshop →

Quick Comparison

Tool	Pricing	Best for	Rating
GIMP	Free & Open Source	—	★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.0
Krita	Free & Open Source	—	★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.0
Photopea	Freemium	—	★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.0

Detailed Reviews

GIMP

A powerful open-source raster graphics editor for photo retouching, image composition, and authoring, available on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.0

Free & Open Source

1 screenshot — click to enlarge

Screenshot 1

✓ Pros

• Completely free and open source under GPL — no subscription or one-time fee required
• Supports a wide range of file formats including PSD for Photoshop compatibility

✕ Cons

• Interface and workflow differ significantly from Photoshop, requiring a learning curve
• Lacks advanced features like non-destructive layer effects and native CMYK editing

Krita

A professional open-source painting program designed for digital art, illustration, and concept art, with an exceptional brush engine.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.0

Free & Open Source

1 screenshot — click to enlarge

Screenshot 1

✓ Pros

• Fully free and open source under GPL with a welcoming and active community
• Exceptional brush engine and drawing tools that surpass Photoshop for digital artists

✕ Cons

• Optimised for painting and illustration rather than photo editing or compositing workflows
• Performance can struggle on very large files compared to Photoshop

Photopea

A free browser-based photo editor with a Photoshop-like interface that reads and writes PSD files with no download or installation needed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.0

Freemium

Free with ads in the browser; Pro plan at $5/month removes ads and enables offline use.

1 screenshot — click to enlarge

Screenshot 1

✓ Pros

• Runs entirely in the browser — no installation, works on any operating system or device
• Reads and writes PSD, AI, XCF, and Sketch files natively

✕ Cons

• Not open source; requires an internet connection for the free ad-supported version
• Performance is slower than native desktop apps for large files or complex projects