Effective Photoshop Alternatives You Should Know

Photoshop has been the industry standard for decades. Still, it may be prohibitively expensive for individuals who only use it infrequently – or for those who use it for basic picture editing – and those who don't know anything about it.

The following are several free Photoshop alternatives for basic picture editing and graphic design tasks, and some of them combine the best of both worlds in one package.

Photoshop has been the industry standard for decades. Still, it may be prohibitively expensive for individuals who only use it infrequently – or for those who use it for basic picture editing – and those who don't know anything about it.

Photoshop is a powerful picture editing and graphic design program, but it takes up a lot of disc space and might cause your computer to slow down significantly. It might also be tough to comprehend for those just starting.

Free Trials of The Best Photoshop Alternatives

Several Photoshop alternatives have matured into sophisticated tools with professional capabilities that are on par with or better than those found in the Adobe image editing program. Their free trials are available, and if they meet your requirements, you may purchase them at a discounted rate.

1. GIMP

The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP — that's what it stands for, so get your head out of the gutter) is one of the most well-known free alternatives to Photoshop, and it's excellent for photographers seeking something that can keep up with their modifications.

GIMP is bursting at the seams with functionality; if you can get over the inability to edit RAW photographs and put in the effort to become familiar with the convoluted user interface, this program will fulfill all of your needs.

2. Pixlr Editor

"A browser-based utility!" you exclaim. I can hear the screams of creative professionals worldwide, followed quickly by laughs when they realize that they will never be able to compete with the strength and powers of Photoshop.

That being said, I recommend that you take another look at Pixlr Editor, which is developed by the AutoDesk team and provides you with some quite strong capabilities. Curves, blur, sharpen, noise level tools, and many more features are available to you without spending single money.

Naturally, there are some disadvantages, such as the limited file compatibility, the lack of rulers or guidelines, and the absence of a pen tool, but this is a good alternative if you're working on Chrome (or Edge) and need a quick photo edit.

3. Paint.NET

If the name conjures up images of Microsoft Paint, that's a good thing. Originally intended to be a more powerful version of Microsoft's long-running graphics editor, this has evolved into something else.

But before you go on and dismiss this section, consider that Paint.NET is capable of far more than you may expect and that it manages to fit its multitude of functionality inside the intuitive user interface of Paint itself.

Layers and blending modes, rulers, and guidelines, as well as a powerful history tool, make this a compelling choice for beginning photographers. However, the absence of slice, patch, and spot healing capabilities, as well as the lack of RAW compatibility, will cause you to outgrow this as your photography career progresses.

4. Photo Pos Pro

Speaking of user interfaces, Photo Pos Pro adds something new to the table in addition to the fundamentals of a solid free Photoshop alternative, such as support for layers and masking.

From being a novice user to becoming a more experienced user, you will be eager to personalize the interface to suit your needs. Photo Pos Pro allows you to accomplish exactly that.

Yes, there are some tradeoffs, just as with the previously described software. The program has some unusual speed difficulties at times, and the size of exported files is limited.

However, you're still getting something that roughly replicates Photoshop's user interface, and it even comes with its extensions and plugins to make it even more usable.

5. Krita

We'll discuss another free option that professional photographers highly recommend at the end of this article. Krita has a similar appearance and feels to Photoshop, and it also supports rulers and grids.

It also comes with pre-installed templates, and it offers a large number of tools and effects to pick from. Krita is free to use.

Compared to Adobe's excellent alternative, the text feature is far more limited, there is no history function, and the software may be a bit sluggish at times. Still, if you look beyond those flaws, you'll find a fantastic editor that won't cost you a penny.

6. PicMonkey (Web, free)

PicMonkey's capability is hidden behind a straightforward and intuitive user interface. In addition to producing collages for scrapbooking, it's also great for beautifying glam photographs and generating visuals for your blog.

To begin, drag a picture onto the app's main screen and release it. Creating collages is simple: upload your photographs and drag them into position on the canvas. If you prefer, you may start with a blank slate and build your website in any way you see fit.