Photoshop Alternatives: Top 6 Free Photo Editing Tools

Photoshop is the most popular and commonly used software for graphic design and photo editing. However, not everyone can afford the price of a subscription for such demanding software. Fortunately, there are many free Photoshop alternatives that are powerful editing tools for designers, photographers, and creatives like you! 

In this blog, FreePixel has come up with the 6 best free Photoshop alternatives you can use to create stunning visuals without spending money.

1. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

GIMP is the most popular free and open-source raster graphic editor, the best alternative to Photoshop, perhaps. It includes photo manipulation, layer editing, and advanced filters. The customizable interface and large user community of GIMP make it great for those who want to have a professional-quality image editor. It also supports plugins, which can expand its functionality in many ways, so it can be very versatile.GIMP is one of the best photo editing tools for mac.

Key Features:

• Advanced photo manipulation tools
• Customizable user interface
• Extensive plugin support

2. Canva

Canva is an incredibly popular online tool that makes graphic design accessible to anyone, even without experience. It has a wide range of pre-designed templates for social media, presentations, posters, and much more. Canva has a drag-and-drop interface, making it very easy to create and edit photos and more. It is not as advanced as Photoshop for photo manipulation, but it’s a great tool for designing eye-catching content.

• Key Features:
• User-friendly drag-and-drop interface.
• Free Templates for various types of designs (social media, presentations, etc.)
• A wide library of fonts, images, and design elements

3. Krita

Krita is free and open-source software that focuses on 2D animation, digital painting, and illustration. If professional digital artists want to put some really nice artwork straight from scratch, this works just great. Powerful brushes, layers management, and advanced color management make it quite a great alternative to Photoshop for illustrators as well as concept artists.

Key Features:

• Excellent brush engine for digital painting
• Layer management tools
• Customizable workspace for artists

4. Pixlr

Pixlr is a free, AI-driven creative tool available as software-as-a-service (SaaS). This image editing software has a desktop edition as well as mobile applications; its friendly features make it the best option for beginners or casual users who need a powerful yet cheap alternative to Photoshop. Pixlr is extremely convenient for editing social media posts.

Key Features:

• Simple and in-built interface
• Web-based and mobile apps
• Essential photo editing tools

5. Photopea

Photopea is a web-based graphic and photo editor. In its layout and functionalities, it is similar to Photoshop, so working in your browser doesn’t require any kind of downloading. Photopea does support PSD files; it will be perfect for all who need to edit their Photoshop files without this software installed.The app works with both raster and vector images, including file types like Photoshop’s PSD, JPEG, PNG, DNG, GIF, SVG, PDF, and more. It offers a good array of tools and features to give users the ease to accomplish quick edits to very complicated designs, using the facilities of vector graphics.

Key Features:

• Works directly in your browser
• Supports PSD files
• Easy-to-use interface

6. Inkscape

Inkscape is an excellent free alternative to Adobe Photoshop Illustrator when it comes to vector-based graphics. It is suitable for logos, icons, and any other workable, scalable artwork. This includes drawing tools and supports file formats like SVG. It can also be taken to extreme customization levels. Although it does not compete in the same league in image manipulation tools as Photoshop, Inkscape is a fine alternative for designers who need more work in vector art.

Key Features:

• Vector graphics editor
• Supports SVG files
• Extensive drawing tools

Conclusion

While Adobe Photoshop is the best tool for photo editing, its high cost can be a challenge for many. Thankfully, there are several free alternatives available that are highly capable and provide a wide range of tools and features suited for designers, photographers, and digital artists. Whether you’re looking for advanced editing, simple designs, or specialized illustration tools, these free options offer impressive flexibility and functionality. 

Be sure to explore the FreePixel collection of millions of high-quality photos, vectors, illustrations, and more to make your free editing experience even more exciting.