Compare
Free Photoshop alternatives
Seven free editors, each good at something different. There is no single “free Photoshop”: pick by the work you do and the computer you have. Facts below are from each project’s own site on October 31, 2026; GIMP is the one we tested in depth.
On this page 9 sections
Short answer
Quick picks
- A polished all-in-one editor, free, Windows and Mac: Affinity (by Canva).
- Works in the browser, PSD as its main format: Photopea.
- Free and open source on every system, including Linux: GIMP, with PhotoGIMP for Photoshop’s keys.
- Digital painting: Krita.
- Raw photo development (Lightroom’s job): darktable.
- Quick, simple edits: Paint.NET on Windows, Pinta elsewhere.
Compared
| Editor | Price | Windows | macOS | Linux | Open source | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIMP 3.2.6 | Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ GPL-3.0 | Photo editing and retouching, graphics, scripting |
| Affinity (Canva) | Free for individuals; AI tools need a Canva premium plan | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | Photo editing, design and layout in one app |
| Photopea | Free in the browser | Any modern browser | — | Opening and editing PSD files, quick edits anywhere | ||
| Krita 5.3 | Free (paid store versions support it) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ GPL-3.0 | Painting and illustration |
| darktable 5.6 | Free | ✓ | ✓ Apple Silicon | ✓ | ✓ GPL-3.0 | Raw photo development and photo library |
| Paint.NET 5.1 | Free (paid Store version to support it) | ✓ | — | — | — | Simple edits on Windows |
| Pinta | Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Simple edits on any system |
GIMP: the open-source all-rounder
GIMP 3.2.6 covers the core of Photoshop: layers and masks, selections, Levels and Curves, healing and cloning, and since version 3 most filters stay editable on the layer. Version 3.2 added link layers (similar to linked smart objects) and vector layers. In our feature check, 123 of 171 Photoshop features have the same or a close equivalent in GIMP; the rest is a mix of missing tools (art history brush, warp text, layer comps and others), AI and content-aware features, full CMYK editing, video and 3D.
- Same 78 46%
- Close 45 26%
- Workaround 28 16%
- Plug-in 4 2%
- None 16 9%
Its weak point for Photoshop users has always been the interface: other keys, another toolbox. PhotoGIMP fixes most of that with Photoshop’s shortcuts and tool order. Pick GIMP if you want something free that will stay free, runs on Linux, and needs no account. GIMP vs Photoshop in detail.
Affinity: free, polished, but closed
Affinity is now one app for photo editing, vector design and page layout, and Canva states it is “free for individuals”. It runs natively on Windows and on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs; an iPad version is announced. AI features such as Generative Fill need a Canva premium plan. It is not open source and there is no Linux version. The older Affinity Photo 2, Designer 2 and Publisher 2 remain supported but will not get new updates.
Photopea: Photoshop’s interface in a browser
Photopea runs in the browser with an interface modeled on Photoshop, and it treats PSD as its main format, for opening and saving. Its site says files are processed on your device, not uploaded. That makes it a quick way to open a PSD from a client on any computer with a modern browser, Chromebooks included.
Krita: for painting, not photo editing
Krita calls itself “a professional free and open source painting program”, and painting is its focus. Version 5.3.4.1 is current (October 2026) on Windows, macOS and Linux, plus Android; iPad is not supported. It can edit photos, but GIMP or Affinity are better for that.
darktable: Lightroom, not Photoshop
If your Photoshop use was mostly Camera Raw and Lightroom, darktable is the free replacement: raw development, a photo library and non-destructive edits. Version 5.6 runs on Windows (including Arm), Apple Silicon Macs and Linux; Intel Macs have no official build. GIMP opens raw files through it, so the two work as a pair, like Camera Raw and Photoshop (how).
Paint.NET and Pinta: simple and quick
Paint.NET (5.1, Windows only) is a fast, simple editor with layers and effects, much more than Paint and much less than Photoshop. Pinta is a similar free, open-source editor for Linux, macOS, Windows and BSD. Both suit resizing, cropping, annotating and small fixes.
How to choose
| If you need… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Photoshop’s shortcuts and toolbox on a free editor | GIMP + PhotoGIMP |
| To open and save PSD files without installing anything | Photopea (or Affinity) |
| Linux | GIMP, Krita, darktable, Pinta |
| Generative AI | Affinity with a Canva premium plan (or Photoshop) |
| Print design and page layout | Affinity |
| Painting with a tablet | Krita |
| Raw photos and a library | darktable |
| Vector illustration and logos (Illustrator’s job) | Inkscape, a free, open-source vector editor |
| A Chromebook or a computer you cannot install on | Photopea |
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Photoshop?
Is GIMP or Photopea better?
Is GIMP or Krita better?
Which is better, GIMP or Affinity Photo?
Is there a free version of Photoshop?
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