Best Free Photoshop Alternative

Best Free Photoshop Alternative

Free Photoshop Websites No Download
Best Free Photoshop Alternative Reddit
Best Free Photoshop Alternative Mac
What is the best free Photoshop alternative out there?
Photoshop has been an industry standard for decades, but it's pricey for those who only use it occasionally – and for those who only use it for basic photo editing. Here is 17 free Photoshop alternative for basic photo retouching or graphic design, and some offer the best of both worlds. Best Free Alternatives to Photoshop # 8: Pixlr (Image Source) Pixlr is a veteran free Photoshop alternative, having been around for many years. However, recently, Pixlr updated their software to include two free Photoshop alternatives; a tool for advanced users and a tool for beginners. Pros of Photoshop Alternative: Pixlr. GIMP is considered by many to be one of the best free Photoshop alternatives out there. This open-source photo editor has been in the game for quite a long time: its initial release was 24 years ago, in 1996. (GIMOP stands for GNU image manipulation program, and is used by everyone from beginner artists to experienced photo editors.). Here are 5 totally free alternatives to Adobe Photoshop to help you edit images and GIFs. The Best Photoshop Alternatives That Are Totally Free.
We get this question most from the photographers who just started their brand.
As a starter, it will be challenging for you to pay Adobe every month for using it.
Besides that, you can't get the most out of Photoshop as you will find its interface a little bit intimidating.
So, you don't want to spend $20.99 or $9.99 each month while you fail to get the 100% output.
Undoubtedly, Photoshop is the best photo editing software out there and lets you handle every editing task.
But as a newbie, in most cases, you face those two problems I mentioned earlier- first, you don't have enough budget.
And second, you find the interface of Ps difficult.
However, having a lack of budget or find the Ps difficult doesn't mean you fail to make your photograph pop up.
Indeed, a lot of photography apps available out there that help you to edit photos precisely.
In this guide, I have listed the top 5 free photo editing apps that you can use as a Photoshop alternative.
Of course, these apps don't come with advanced features like Photoshop but able to change the look of your photo from general to beautiful.
So, let's dive in.
Contents
6 05. Paint Net
Wha is the best free Photoshop alternative app in 2020?Gimp, Picmonkey, Pixlr, Krita, Paint Net, Photoshop Pos Pro, and Fotor are the best free Photoshop alternative apps in 2020.
Now, let's take a look at each of the app and figure out what features make them best.
01. GIMPGimp is an open-source photo editing app and has Photoshop alike features.
Like Photoshop, it has featured with advanced photo editing tools to edit your photos precisely.
Advanced pen tool, brush tool, perspective correction tool, and blemish remover makes GIMP great.
Using those tools, you can fix errors and remove unwanted elements from your photo flawlessly.
As GIMP has come with almost every tool for editing, you can handle basic to pro-level editing workflows.
However, GIMP has also some shortcomings. It doesn't offer non-destructive editing workflows.
Therefore, like Photoshop, it has no drawing capabilities.
Either way, it has a steep learning curve. So, as a beginner, you can find GIMP difficult to use.
Pros
Come with a lot of editing tools
Let you do basic to advanced retouching workflow
Advanced layer system
Completely free to use
Cons
Steep learning curve
Complex interface
02. PicmonkeyPicMonkey is one of the best free Photoshop online alternative apps on this list.
Although PicMonkey doesn't have Photoshop alike features but makes editing simple with its user-friendly interface.
The interface of PicMonkey is clean and easy to understand.
As a result, anyone who has no remarkable skills in editing can edit photos using it a while.
It included a lot of basic photo editing tools including Crop Canvas, Rotate, Background color, and Resize tools.
Crop canvas tool lets you scale up your photo changing the aspect ratio.
You can also change the width and height of the photo putting your desired value.
Auto Adust section of PicMonkey lets you change the exposure, color tint, and the sharpness of your photo precisely.
The best part is all the tools related to auto-adjust are slider-based. It means you can easily adjust exposure, clarity, and color tint moving the sliders from right to left.
For pro editing, you can use the Clone, Dode, Burn, Levels, and Curves tools.
Touch up module of PicMonkey has specially designed for portrait photographers.
This module included a bunch of retouching tools including Blemish Fix, Wrinkle removal, eye enhancement tools, and much more.
Using these tools, you can easily make your portrait photo stunning.
Moreover, PicMonkey has come with a lot of effects, textures, and templates to make editing simple and fun.
Indeed, it is an all-in-one photo editing apps that let you edit photos, create photo collages, and graphic elements.
Features
Loaded with a lot of basic and retouching tools
1000+ free templates
Free effects and presets
Photo collages templates
Free graphic elements
Pros
Easy to use
User-friendly interface
No steep learning curve
Complete free to use
Cons
Not perfect for advanced level editing
Limited features in the free version
03. Pixlr- Photo Editor OnlinePixlr is the best photo editor online that you can use instead of Photoshop.
Intuitive interface, Ai editing tools, and a ton of effects doesn't only make editing workflow easy & quick but also offer next-level experience.
On top of that, Pixlr lets you edit almost every file format including JPEG, PNG, PSD, SVG, and more.
The AI cutout tool of Pixlr lets you remove the background from your photos magically but precisely.
You don't need to do the repetitive workflows as Ai tools handle them better.
A ton of customizable filters of Pixlr makes photo editing more fun, more efficient, and quick.
You can change the photo filter effects by moving the slider right to the left.
Best of all, it has come with a plethora of decorative texts, overlays, stickers, icons, and borders.
Using them, you can make creative designs and elements with ease. The best part is you don't need to create them from scratch.
Features
Ai photo editing tools
Loaded with basic and advanced editing tools
Numerous filters and effects
Free photo collage templates
Plethora of retouching tools available
Pros
Intuitive interface
Easy to edit
No learning curve
Cons
Limited features in the free version
Not perfect for advanced retouching workflows
04. KritaIf you are looking for a free Photoshop alternative for painting, then Krita is your go-to software.
Krita is a free open-source painting software created by creative artists.
It has come with advanced brushes, layer systems, vector & text tools, and shape tools.
In short, Krita has come with every tool you need to create drawing and painting.
The interface of Krita is intuitive and lets you customize it the way you want.
Something I love most about Krita is its customizable brush options. It includes over 100 brushes for creating different effects.
The drawing assistant tools of Krita is another feature I like most. These tools help you to erase points and straight lines.
Features
HDR painting tools
Layer management tool
Advanced brushes
Select and transform tool
Pros
Perfect for digital painting and drawing
Intuitive interface
Free to use
Cons
Not perfect for retouching, even basic editing workflows
05. Paint NetPaint Net is also a free photo editing software for Pc. You can use it both for editing and painting.
Like Krita, its interface is also intuitive and easy to understand.
To handle and edit multiple images at once, it has a different Tab.

Something that makes Paint Net best than Krita is its special effects, powerful editing tools, layer support.
More above that, it has an active community that offers help and tutorials to be a master on Paint Net.
Unlike Krita, Paint Net has come with a lot of editing tools. Using them, you can enhance your photo quality.
Using Paint Net, you can adjust brightness, clarity, saturation, hue, and much more.
Indeed, Paint Net lets you perform both painting and editing workflows.
Features
Powerful editing tools
A lot of special effects including red-eye removal, distortion, noise, and blurring
Adjustment tools
Customizable interface
Layering system
Pros
Free to use
Helpful online community
Cons
Only compatible with PC
Is there anything like Photoshop but free?Honestly, there is no photo editing software both for free and paid that is equivalent to Photoshop.
But, you can enjoy near or at least minimum feature using the free photo editing software I included above.
Gimp is something that mimics the look and interface of Photoshop. Even it has every photo editing tools as Ps has.
Best of all, you can handle almost every photo editing from basic to advanced using GIMP.
So, if you want to use Photoshop for free, then it is recommendable to use GIMP.
How do I get Photoshop for free in 2020?Exactly, there is no legal way to get Photoshop free for a lifetime.
However, you can enjoy all the features of Photoshop for a limited time downloading the trial version.
Free Photoshop Websites No DownloadHere are some legal ways to get Photoshop for free.
Download the free trial version of Photoshop
Use the mobile version app
Try out the free Photoshop alternative apps
Following the three simple ways, you can get Photoshop for free.
However, if you want to get Photoshop for a lifetime, then it is recommendable to join its subscription plan.
Can you get old versions of Photoshop for free?Yes, you can get old versions of Photoshop for free.
You can get Adobe Photoshop CS2 for free and download it without following any illegal method.
To get more details about it, you can check out this article.
Is downloading Photoshop for free illegal?
Specifically, it depends on the downloading method you are following.
If you download the free trial version of Photoshop, then it is not an illegal way to get Photoshop for free.
But it is illegal if you are trying to download the pirated version of Photoshop.
I recommend you never try to download pirated software. It is not only illegal but also very dangerous for your computer.
Computer crash is something that associates with the use of a pirated version of Photoshop.
ConclusionHonestly, there is no free and paid image editing software that equivalent to Photoshop.
Best Free Photoshop Alternative RedditBut you can use the software I mentioned in this guide as a free alternative to Photoshop.
Gimp is on the priority list if you want to perform both basic and pro-level editing workflows.
Of course, Gimp is a little bit difficult to use for amateurs but lets you handle every photo manipulation project.
You can also use PicMonkey or Pixlr as they are easy to use.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a free Photoshop alternative for drawing, then use Krita or Paint Net.
Which photo editing apps are you going to try? Have you used these apps before? Which one performs the best?
Let me know your opinion by leaving a comment below.
Sohel RanaSohel Rana is the founder, content crafter, and SEO's at Pic Editor Review. He has grown his passion over years about writing on software, how-to guide, and product description.
 January 01, 2020 
 18 min to read 
If you need to make a few tweaks to your images, but do not want to use Photoshop, you are in luck as there are several superb solutions. Here are the 15 best alternatives in no particular order:
1. Luminar 4 (Free Trial 7 days)
When time for editing your photos is a luxury, Luminar 4 can help. Luminar 4 lets you transform your photos in a flash and synchronizes all the edits that you have made effortlessly. What makes it so great is that you can easily browse all your photos as it automatically organizes your photos which makes navigation simple. Luminar Libraries also boast a very modern interface which optimizes the viewing experience.
Luminar 4 offers many great adjustable styles, features, and tools that you will fall in love with such as its AI Sky Enhancers, Advanced Contrast, and Dehaze to mention only a few.
2. Pixlr (Free Version Available)
Pixlr boasts an interface that is really not much different from Photoshop. It offers hundreds of overlays, borders and other effects. If you simply want to crop your image or whiten your teeth on your iOS or Android device, Pixlr is the right tool for the job. With Pixlr, you can complete all the editing tasks that a good basic photo editor will allow.
3. PicMonkey (Trial 7 days)
The beauty of PicMonkey is found in its easy-to-use interface. If you need to put together a collage, this is your tool to use. All you have to do is upload your images and drag them into the right spot.
4. Adobe Photoshop Elements (Free Trial 30 days)
Do not be fooled by the name, Adobe Photoshop Elements is not the actual Photoshop. However, countless users have experienced that the Adobe Photoshop Elements app offers all the tools that they require to enhance their images. In short, this app has been reduced to the essentials.
With the help of its Adjustment and Blend layers, you can turn any photo into the most amazing image in barely any time at all. Thanks to its guided mode, it is also geared towards beginners.
When it comes to finding a Photoshop alternative, your only challenge will be to identify the software solution that works the best for your unique needs. Why not give them all a try? You might just discover that the best course of action will be to use a couple of these tools instead of just one.
5. Sketch (Free Trial 30 days, MacOS only)
If you are working on a Mac and in need of a budget-friendly alternative to Photoshop, Sketch is the answer. Sketch is a vector graphics app that has the design field all excited, specifically website designers. As it is so popular, you will be able to access countless plug-ins that have been created by the community that will make this app even more functional.
Its user interface is easy to understand and boasts several features such as gradients and layers that are similar to Illustrator and Photoshop. What is more, it also offers a color picker and style presets. You can use one of the basic shapes to create your own graphic or start from scratch with the help of the pencil tool. This app is really so flexible!
6. GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)
GNU is an open-source cross-platform image editor. As its interface is very similar to Photoshop, it will not take you too long to familiarize yourself with GIMP. Though, users who do not have any image editing experience will find the different GIMP tutorials very useful.
It offers color correction, enhancement as well as painting tools to mention only a couple of its features and is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac.
7. Acorn (Trial 14 days)
Best Free Photoshop Alternative MacMac users who are searching for image editing software need to look no further than Acorn. It is a cost-effective solution if you do not have access to Photoshop. What makes it so great is that it is quick, enjoyable to use and offers useful features.
Some of its features include non-destructive filters, custom brushes and layer styles to mention only a few. The software is easy to use, but, you can rest assured, there are tutorials available for both beginners as well as image editing experts.
8. Affinity Photo (Trial)
Affinity Photo is for sure one of the best Photoshop alternatives. It is ideal for professional designers and photographers as it is completely compatible with Photoshop as well as other file formats. What makes it such a great alternative is that it is not nearly as expensive as Photoshop. Though, users can rest assured as it will still deliver the same performance (if not better).
It is compatible with Mac and Windows. If you are using an iPad, you will be happy to know that Affinity Photo for iPad is also available.

Something that makes Paint Net best than Krita is its special effects, powerful editing tools, layer support.
More above that, it has an active community that offers help and tutorials to be a master on Paint Net.
Unlike Krita, Paint Net has come with a lot of editing tools. Using them, you can enhance your photo quality.
Using Paint Net, you can adjust brightness, clarity, saturation, hue, and much more.
Indeed, Paint Net lets you perform both painting and editing workflows.
Features
Powerful editing tools
A lot of special effects including red-eye removal, distortion, noise, and blurring
Adjustment tools
Customizable interface
Layering system
Pros
Free to use
Helpful online community
Cons
Only compatible with PC
Is there anything like Photoshop but free?Honestly, there is no photo editing software both for free and paid that is equivalent to Photoshop.
But, you can enjoy near or at least minimum feature using the free photo editing software I included above.
Gimp is something that mimics the look and interface of Photoshop. Even it has every photo editing tools as Ps has.
Best of all, you can handle almost every photo editing from basic to advanced using GIMP.
So, if you want to use Photoshop for free, then it is recommendable to use GIMP.
How do I get Photoshop for free in 2020?Exactly, there is no legal way to get Photoshop free for a lifetime.
However, you can enjoy all the features of Photoshop for a limited time downloading the trial version.
Free Photoshop Websites No DownloadHere are some legal ways to get Photoshop for free.
Download the free trial version of Photoshop
Use the mobile version app
Try out the free Photoshop alternative apps
Following the three simple ways, you can get Photoshop for free.
However, if you want to get Photoshop for a lifetime, then it is recommendable to join its subscription plan.
Can you get old versions of Photoshop for free?Yes, you can get old versions of Photoshop for free.
You can get Adobe Photoshop CS2 for free and download it without following any illegal method.
To get more details about it, you can check out this article.
Is downloading Photoshop for free illegal?
Specifically, it depends on the downloading method you are following.
If you download the free trial version of Photoshop, then it is not an illegal way to get Photoshop for free.
But it is illegal if you are trying to download the pirated version of Photoshop.
I recommend you never try to download pirated software. It is not only illegal but also very dangerous for your computer.
Computer crash is something that associates with the use of a pirated version of Photoshop.
ConclusionHonestly, there is no free and paid image editing software that equivalent to Photoshop.
Best Free Photoshop Alternative RedditBut you can use the software I mentioned in this guide as a free alternative to Photoshop.
Gimp is on the priority list if you want to perform both basic and pro-level editing workflows.
Of course, Gimp is a little bit difficult to use for amateurs but lets you handle every photo manipulation project.
You can also use PicMonkey or Pixlr as they are easy to use.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a free Photoshop alternative for drawing, then use Krita or Paint Net.
Which photo editing apps are you going to try? Have you used these apps before? Which one performs the best?
Let me know your opinion by leaving a comment below.
Sohel RanaSohel Rana is the founder, content crafter, and SEO's at Pic Editor Review. He has grown his passion over years about writing on software, how-to guide, and product description.
 January 01, 2020 
 18 min to read 
If you need to make a few tweaks to your images, but do not want to use Photoshop, you are in luck as there are several superb solutions. Here are the 15 best alternatives in no particular order:
1. Luminar 4 (Free Trial 7 days)
When time for editing your photos is a luxury, Luminar 4 can help. Luminar 4 lets you transform your photos in a flash and synchronizes all the edits that you have made effortlessly. What makes it so great is that you can easily browse all your photos as it automatically organizes your photos which makes navigation simple. Luminar Libraries also boast a very modern interface which optimizes the viewing experience.
Luminar 4 offers many great adjustable styles, features, and tools that you will fall in love with such as its AI Sky Enhancers, Advanced Contrast, and Dehaze to mention only a few.
2. Pixlr (Free Version Available)
Pixlr boasts an interface that is really not much different from Photoshop. It offers hundreds of overlays, borders and other effects. If you simply want to crop your image or whiten your teeth on your iOS or Android device, Pixlr is the right tool for the job. With Pixlr, you can complete all the editing tasks that a good basic photo editor will allow.
3. PicMonkey (Trial 7 days)
The beauty of PicMonkey is found in its easy-to-use interface. If you need to put together a collage, this is your tool to use. All you have to do is upload your images and drag them into the right spot.
4. Adobe Photoshop Elements (Free Trial 30 days)
Do not be fooled by the name, Adobe Photoshop Elements is not the actual Photoshop. However, countless users have experienced that the Adobe Photoshop Elements app offers all the tools that they require to enhance their images. In short, this app has been reduced to the essentials.
With the help of its Adjustment and Blend layers, you can turn any photo into the most amazing image in barely any time at all. Thanks to its guided mode, it is also geared towards beginners.
When it comes to finding a Photoshop alternative, your only challenge will be to identify the software solution that works the best for your unique needs. Why not give them all a try? You might just discover that the best course of action will be to use a couple of these tools instead of just one.
5. Sketch (Free Trial 30 days, MacOS only)
If you are working on a Mac and in need of a budget-friendly alternative to Photoshop, Sketch is the answer. Sketch is a vector graphics app that has the design field all excited, specifically website designers. As it is so popular, you will be able to access countless plug-ins that have been created by the community that will make this app even more functional.
Its user interface is easy to understand and boasts several features such as gradients and layers that are similar to Illustrator and Photoshop. What is more, it also offers a color picker and style presets. You can use one of the basic shapes to create your own graphic or start from scratch with the help of the pencil tool. This app is really so flexible!
6. GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)
GNU is an open-source cross-platform image editor. As its interface is very similar to Photoshop, it will not take you too long to familiarize yourself with GIMP. Though, users who do not have any image editing experience will find the different GIMP tutorials very useful.
It offers color correction, enhancement as well as painting tools to mention only a couple of its features and is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac.
7. Acorn (Trial 14 days)
Best Free Photoshop Alternative MacMac users who are searching for image editing software need to look no further than Acorn. It is a cost-effective solution if you do not have access to Photoshop. What makes it so great is that it is quick, enjoyable to use and offers useful features.
Some of its features include non-destructive filters, custom brushes and layer styles to mention only a few. The software is easy to use, but, you can rest assured, there are tutorials available for both beginners as well as image editing experts.
8. Affinity Photo (Trial)
Affinity Photo is for sure one of the best Photoshop alternatives. It is ideal for professional designers and photographers as it is completely compatible with Photoshop as well as other file formats. What makes it such a great alternative is that it is not nearly as expensive as Photoshop. Though, users can rest assured as it will still deliver the same performance (if not better).
It is compatible with Mac and Windows. If you are using an iPad, you will be happy to know that Affinity Photo for iPad is also available.
9. Pixelmator Pro (Trial 30 days)
Pixelmator is not a new Photoshop alternative, but recently the Pixelmator Pro version which uses a user-friendly single-window interface has been added to the mix. On top of that, the Pixelmator Pro version also boasts non-destructive image editing and offers features that include split view and a hidden interface that allows you to view your images without any distractions.
It is only available for Mac users.
10. SumoPaint (Online + Desktop)
The different standard features that you would expect in a Photoshop alternative, SumoPaint has to offer. There are shapes, brushes, gradients, text, and pencils that you can effortlessly access.
Though a word of warning to Photoshop users - a couple of its tools work differently and there are some limitations. Overall, this image editor remains very capable and can load in a flash.
11. Paint.net
Paint.net is a powerful and practical tool that Windows users can rely on instead of Photoshop. It is a capable and functional tool that concentrates less on artistic creation and more on photo editing.
It offers a decent variety of tools and special effects that include brightness/contrast and repeat selections. It might not boast all the serious editing tools, but that only means that it is not as difficult to master making it the ideal image editor tool for beginners.
12. Canva (Free Basic Plan + Trial 30 days)
Canva is where you will find countless layouts, stock photos, fonts and other great design elements. The best part is that several of these you can use at zero cost. You can use this app to design your business card or put together a birthday card.
13. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite (Trial 15 days or Full Paid or Monthly sub)
Windows users will love the tools that CorelDRAW has to offer. This Photoshop alternative boasts an interactive tool that will help you to straighten your image or adjust the perspective. Though, one of its most impressive features is its stylus control that reacts to a different pressure.
If you are working with Windows 10, this is the perfect fit. Windows users will also be happy to know that it supports 4K displays and multi-monitor viewing.
14. Photoshop all apps. Photolemur (Free Version with watermark available)
Best choice for beginners or people who have no time to edit photos. Enhancing your images has never been easier thanks to Photolemur. By using AI, this automatic photo enhancer app enhances your images without you having to lift a finger. You simply need to import your images to Photolemur and it will get the job done automatically. This means that you do not require any prior editing experience to complete tasks like getting rid of imperfections. It is oh-so easy and available for both Mac and Windows.
15. Serif PhotoPlus
Many people have already relied on this app for years. It is ideal for users who are only starting with image editing now as it offers great support for new users in the form of videos and tutorials. What is more, users can get great tips on their active forum for fellow users. Thanks to its latest release, Serif PhotoPlus users will be also able to work with their RAW image files much easier.