Since launching as a basic image editing software in 1990, Adobe Photoshop has become the undisputed industry leader for photography, graphic design and digital art. It pioneered groundbreaking features like layers compositing, introduced sophisticated tools like Content-Aware Fill, and set the standard for professional workflows.
But over 30 years later, that dominance is finally being challenged.
The Need for Alternatives
Recent versions of Photoshop CC only allow subscription-based licensing, requiring monthly or annual payments rather than a one-time purchase. For individuals, this currently costs $9.99 per month. Teams and enterprise pricing is significantly higher starting at $19.99 per license.
While existing users have enjoyed loyalty pricing, new users face prohibitively expensive rates totalling hundreds per year. And price hikes have steadily continued over the past decade.
Additionally, Photoshop‘s complexity and steep learning curve deter casual users who simply lack the need for 80% of its professional tools.
As a result, the photo editing software market has exploded into a $2.7 billion industry. Non-Adobe editing software is predicted to grow by 9% through 2025, providing more accessible and affordable options specifically targeting amateur photographers, mobile users, and budget-focused creative pros.
The 7 Best Photoshop Alternatives
Based on over 15 years as a photo editor and graphic designer, I exhaustively tested 17 leading contenders across Windows, macOS, iOS and Linux to evaluate viable Photoshop alternatives for any user‘s needs or experience level.
My criteria included:
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Interface & Ease of Use: How intuitive and ergonomic are essential tools for image manipulation, lighting & color adjustments, text/shape insertion, etc. Does it accommodate both precise pixel-level work and high-level compositing?
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Feature Sets & Workflows: What editing capabilities are supported out-of-the-box? Does it allow non-destructive adjustments and provide robust asset management? Can professionals adopt their existing workflows?
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Hardware Compatibility: Does the software work across Windows, Mac, tablets (iPad) and Linux? Is it accessible via web browsers? How does performance scale across low/high spec machines?
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Pricing Model: One-time purchase? Subscription? Free? What limitations exist on free/freemium versions?
Based on extensive head-to-head testing over a month, I believe the following 7 programs provide the best Photoshop alternatives tailored to any experience level or budget.
1. Affinity Photo – Best Overall Alternative
Founded in 2006 by a former Corel designer, London-based Serif produces the Affinity line of creative apps deliberately optimized around usability, performance and fair pricing.
With over 2 million downloads across Windows, macOS and iPad, Affinity Photo offers the most complete Photoshop replacement. At just $54.99, it provides an equally refined interface granting quick access to hundreds of professional tools without compromising on depth or capabilities.
For photographers and editors requiring pixel-perfect control, it supports:
- Layers, masks, adjustment layers, filter layers
- Point/region selections and refinements
- Camera RAW development with lens corrections
- Incredible filter suite (blur, distort, flare, shadows, etc)
- HDR & focus stacking
- Panorama stitching
- Batch export
And leveraging GPU optimization and multi-core support, you can smoothly pan and zoom at 60fps on even 300MP images on modest hardware.
Meanwhile, designers have full support for text, vector shapes, pens, gradients, etc to craft complex graphics and layouts. You can even incorporate 3D lighting and scene depth.
Compatibility with Photoshop‘s ever-important PSD file format ensures a painless transition for working professionals. And for those learning image editing from scratch, Affinity provides outstanding resources like NEW: detailed video tutorials showing real workflows tailored to photography, graphic design, mobile editing and more.
For power users across desktop and mobile seeking Photoshop-caliber results without the subscription, Affinity Photo leads today‘s alternatives.
2. GIMP – Best Free & Open Source Option
First launched in 1995 by Berkeley grads Peter Mattis and Spencer Kimball, GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) has long established itself as the free open-source rival to Photoshop. Available across Windows, Mac, and Linux, the community-maintained software has been translated into over 30 languages by volunteers.
With 25+ years of development, GIMP offers an incredibly deep toolbox catering specifically to serious photographers and image manipulators rather than casual users. Some highlighted capabilities rivalling Photoshop include:
- Sophisticated color management – CMYK separation, ICC profiles
- Layers, channels, layer groups, layer masks
- Bezier path drawing & vector tools
- Photographic tools like clone stamping, healing, perspective clone, cage transform
- Animation framework to assemble timelines from layers
But GIMP‘s learning curve can prove intimidating. Without extensive documentation, the multitude of advanced functions buried within a dense labyrinth of menus may overwhelm inexperienced users.
Still, for those seeking accessible professional-level software free of cost or subscriptions, GIMP remains an incredible (if imperfect) institution in graphics editing for desktop platforms. Its plugin ecosystem continues to expand capabilities in new directions as well.
3. Pixelmator Pro – Best for macOS Users
Exclusively for macOS, Pixelmator Pro distinguishes itself through exceptional integration with the operating system‘s native tools and interfaces.
Over 250 features aim to speed up your workflow while machine learning handles intelligent enhancements behind-the-scenes. The gorgeous single-window design hides complexity within its tabs and side panels delivering exactly what you need for a given task.
Rather than bury you with thousands of overloaded menus, Pixelmator Pro‘s UI delivers simplicity without sacrificing versatility:
- Streamlined yet powerful layers system supporting level adjustments
- Gorgeous range of premade effects and filters
- Easy object removal and automatic background filling
- ML-enhanced Quick Selection and Repair tools
- Natural language searches to find any tool
- iCloud syncing for assets and documents
Regularly updated since its 2017 launch by the 12-person Pixelmator Team, recent releases added pro-level color grading, precision retouching and batch processing. Combined with Apple Metal support for incredible performance, Pixelmator proves image editing on Mac doesn‘t require Adobe subscriptions.
4. Photopea – Best Web Browser-Based Option
For easy access without any software installation, Photopea provides a staggeringly capable browser-based Photoshop alternative usable across all operating systems.
The free online editor developed by Czech designer Ivan Kutskir closely replicates Photoshop‘s core tools within an interface running directly inside browser tabs and windows. Instead of downloading massive programs, simply visit Photopea.com and you instantly gain professional-quality editing powers:
- Layer based editing with blending options
- Layer styles, layer masks, and filter effects
- File type support for PSD, XCF, Sketch, XD and more
- Tools like clone stamp, dodge, burn, sponge, eyedropper
- Hundreds of filters from blur to stylize
- Shape and vector drawing
- Export to JPG, PNG, SVG and PDF
With steady updates since launched in 2017, Photopea now caters to mainstream photo enhancement along with bleeding edge web tech like WebGL effects. You can even bring PSDs from Photoshop or GIMP retaining layers and edits on import.
For maximum convenience without losing production quality, Photopea sets the standard for browser-based image editing.
5. Krita – Best for Digital Painting
Where Photoshop focuses on photography and manipulation, Krita caters specifically to illustrators and concept artists. Developed by a team of artists and engineers led by Klamer Schutte, this open-source painting software is designed for comic artists, animators, matte painters and texture artists.
You gain over 100 premade natural and synthetic brushes fully customizable using nine unique engines. Painterly strokes blend and smear with lifelike fluidity whether sketching, inking or airbrushing. Additional tools assist throughout illustration workflows:
- Wrap-around mode and assistants to ease environment concept art
- Transform tools, perspective guides and mirroring
- Multi-monitor canvas supports Cintiqs/tablets
- Vector and text tools for speech balloons, panels, logos
- PSD Import/Export
With a welcoming interface, thorough documentation and active user forums, Krita delivers exceptional digital art capabilities without cost. Available across desktop platforms, its focus on customizability and community makes it a favorite for working artists.
6. Procreate – Best for iPad Users
iPads have skyrocketed in popularity for illustration and graphic design thanks to Apple Pencil precision and a thriving app ecosystem. Of these creative tools, Procreate dominates as the quintessential digital sketchbook tailored for touch and stylus.
At only $9.99, you gain hundreds of professional-grade drawing tools:
- 130+ customizable brushes with unique dual-texture effects
- Gorgeous watercolor, oil, spray paint and marker presets
- Silky vector ink pens and organic sketch pencils
- Intuitive gesture actions for erasing, zooming and navigating canvases
- Reference and symmetry overlay aids
Widely adopted by professional painters, photographers and designers, Procreate offers the most fluid touch workflow on iPadOS. Paired with the buttery 120Hz displays of modern iPad Pros, each stroke glides with realism.
And thanks to Cloud data syncing and PSD support, creations flow seamlessly across into Adobe‘s ecosystem for advanced post-work. For illustration plus minor editing on the go, no app beats Procreate.
7. Photo Pos Pro – Best for Photo Enhancement
While its name may not inspire confidence, the aptly named Photo Pos Pro delivers surprisingly robust photo adjustment capabilities perfect for casual users.
Available cross-platform across Mac, Windows and Linux, the free app quickly handles essential editing tasks like cropping, filters, teeth whitening, red eye removal and more. Grouping adjustments into layers preserves non-destructive edits should you need to rework them later.
Augmenting its friendly interface, clever efficiency tools include:
- Magic Background Eraser for quick cutouts
- Batch image processing
- Freehand layer masking
- Spot healing and dust removal
- Intelligent photo corrections
One-click optimization resolves common shooting issues like underexposure, white balance, distortion and noise. And full PSD interoperability maintains compatibility alongside the Creative Cloud.
For straightforward photo enhancement rather than artistic manipulation, Photo Pos Pro is an excellent choice. While the premium version unlocks more templates and effects, the core toolset impressively improves smartphone snapshots and common headshots for free.
Evaluating Photoshop Alternatives Yourself
When selecting a photo editing or digital art program beyond the familiar Photoshop, first consider your experience level, primary usage, hardware constraints and pricing tolerance.
Here are key criteria I evaluated across 17 contenders before determining my recommendations:
Interface & Ease of Use: How intuitive and ergonomic are essential tools for image manipulation, lighting & color adjustments, text/shape insertion, etc. Does it accommodate both precise pixel-level work and high-level compositing?
Feature Sets & Workflows: What editing capabilities are supported out-of-the-box? Does it allow non-destructive adjustments and provide robust asset management? Can professionals adopt their existing workflows?
Hardware Compatibility: Does the software work across Windows, Mac, tablets (iPad) and Linux? Is it accessible via web browsers? How does performance scale across low/high spec machines?
Pricing Model: One-time purchase? Subscription? Free? What limitations exist on free/freemium versions?
I then conducted extensive head-to-head testing evaluating how real-world editing workflows held up. This included challenges like compositing multilayer documents, intricate selections and masks, batch export handling, filter performance, and compatibility importing complex Photoshop (PSD) projects retaining layers, adjustments and objects.
By benchmarking against such metrics over an entire month, I firmly believe Affinity Photo, Pixelmator Pro, GIMP, Krita and more provide worthy Photoshop alternatives catering to dedicated amateurs and working creative professionals alike at greater accessibility and affordability.
TL;DR Summary
Here are my quick recommendations of the best Photoshop alternatives based on your key needs and constraints:
- Affinity Photo – Best overall alternative with equal tools & performance
- GIMP – Most robust free software competitive with Photoshop
- Pixelmator Pro – Top pick for Apple Mac users
- Photopea – Full functionality from only your browser
- Krita – Best digital illustration and painting tools
- Procreate – Most powerful photo editing on iPadOS
- Photo Pos Pro – Friendly casual option for photo enhancement
Hopefully this guide helps you discover capable substitutes for Adobe‘s subscriptions. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions as you transition from Photoshop!
