10 Best Free Alternatives to Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is the most famous photo editing software in the world. However, it has one big problem: it is expensive. In 2025, paying a monthly subscription of $20 or more is difficult for many students, hobbyists, and beginners.

The good news is that you do not need to pay to create amazing images. The world of free software has grown incredibly fast. Today, there are free tools that offer layers, masks, and even powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) features that rival Adobe.

Whether you need to retouch a portrait, design a social media post, or paint a digital masterpiece, there is a free tool for you. Here is our list of the 10 best free alternatives to Adobe Photoshop in 2025.

1. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Best For: Professionals who want the most power.

If you want a tool that does almost everything Photoshop does, GIMP is the answer. It has been around for over 25 years and is the “king” of free open-source software.

In 2025, GIMP is better than ever. The release of GIMP 3.0 in March 2025 finally introduced “non-destructive editing,” which means you can change your edits later without ruining the original image. It also has a cleaner, modern look that is easier to understand than older versions.

• Key Features: It supports advanced layers, masks, and color grading channels.
• Pros: It is completely free forever and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• Cons: It can be hard to learn if you are a total beginner.

2. Photopea

Best For: People who want the exact “Photoshop feel” in their browser.

Photopea is a miracle of modern web technology. It is an advanced photo editor that runs entirely inside your web browser (like Chrome or Edge). You do not need to download or install anything.

The best part about Photopea is that it looks and acts almost exactly like Photoshop. The menus, shortcuts, and tools are in the same places. If you have used Photoshop before, you will feel right at home. It can also open and save standard Photoshop files (.PSD), making it perfect for quick edits on the go.

• Key Features: Supports PSD, AI, and XD files; identical interface to Photoshop.
• Pros: No installation required; works on any computer with internet.
• Cons: It has ads on the side of the screen (unless you pay to remove them).

3. Pixlr (Pixlr E and Pixlr X)

Best For: Users who love AI tools.

Pixlr is another web-based editor, but it focuses on speed and modern AI magic. It comes in two versions: Pixlr X (for quick, simple edits) and Pixlr E (for advanced, detailed work).

Pixlr is a standout in 2025 because of its AI features. It includes tools like “Generative Fill” and “Generative Expand,” which allow you to use text prompts to add or extend parts of your image. For example, if your photo is too small, the AI can invent a realistic background to fill the empty space.

• Key Features: AI Remove Object, AI Face Swap, and Generative Expand.
• Pros: Very fast and works on mobile browsers too.
• Cons: Some of the best AI features require “credits” or a subscription.

4. Canva

Best For: Social media creators and non-designers.

Canva is not a traditional photo editor like Photoshop, but for 90% of people, it is actually better. If your main goal is to make Instagram posts, YouTube thumbnails, or flyers, Canva is the easiest tool to use.

Canva uses a “drag-and-drop” system. You choose a template, drop in your photo, and you are done. In 2025, Canva added powerful photo editing tools like “Magic Edit,” which lets you swap objects in a photo just by typing.

• Key Features: Huge library of templates and easy background removal.
• Pros: Extremely easy to use; great for teams.
• Cons: Not good for detailed pixel-level editing or drawing.

5. Paint.NET

Best For: Windows users who want a simple, fast editor.

Paint.NET started as a replacement for the simple “Microsoft Paint” app, but it grew into a powerful tool. It is only available for Windows computers.

It is much simpler than GIMP or Photoshop, which makes it perfect for beginners. However, it still has important features like layers, unlimited undo, and special effects. It is very lightweight, so it runs smoothly even on old, slow laptops.

• Key Features: Simple interface, support for plugins, and fast performance.
• Pros: Completely free and very easy to learn.
• Cons: Only works on Windows; fewer advanced features than GIMP.

6. Krita

Best For: Digital painters and illustrators.

While Photoshop is great for photos, many artists use it for painting. If you are an artist, Krita is likely the best free choice for you. It is designed specifically for digital painting and animation.

Krita has a “brush engine” that is famous for feeling like real paint. It also has unique tools like a “stabilizer” to help you draw smooth lines if your hand is shaky. It even supports animation, allowing you to create cartoons.

• Key Features: Over 100 professional brushes and a pop-up color palette.
• Pros: Great for drawing tablets; open-source.
• Cons: The text tools are a bit weak; not designed for photo retouching.

7. Darktable

Best For: Photographers who work with RAW files.

If you are a photographer, you might know Adobe Lightroom. Darktable is the best free alternative to Lightroom, but it also replaces many Photoshop tasks for color correction.

It is a “non-destructive” editor. This means it never changes your original file. You can adjust the exposure, colors, and shadows as much as you want, and you can always go back to the start. It is perfect for processing “RAW” files from professional cameras.

• Key Features: Professional color management and bulk editing.
• Pros: Powerful shadow and highlight recovery; manages your photo library.
• Cons: The interface is complex and takes time to learn.

8. Fotor

Best For: Quick, one-click enhancements.

Fotor is an online tool that focuses on making photos look good fast. It is great for people who want to fix a selfie or improve a landscape photo without learning technical skills.

It uses AI to automatically detect the subject of your photo. It has one of the best “Background Removers” available for free. You can also use it to create collages or add simple text to your images.

• Key Features: AI Object Removal and “One-Tap Enhance”.
• Pros: Very user-friendly; great for quick social media fixes.
• Cons: The free version has limitations and watermarks on some premium features.

9. PhotoScape X

Best For: Batch editing (editing many photos at once).

PhotoScape X is a hidden gem. It looks a bit different from other editors, but it is packed with features. It is especially good if you have 50 photos from a vacation and you want to make them all look bright and colorful at the same time.

It includes a “Batch Editor” that lets you resize, rename, and filter hundreds of photos in seconds. It also has fun tools like stickers, frames, and a collage maker.

• Key Features: Batch processing, GIF maker, and screen capture.
• Pros: Very fast for processing many files; beginner-friendly.
• Cons: The interface looks a bit cluttered and old-fashioned.

10. Adobe Express (Free Version)

Best For: Adobe fans on a budget.

Ideally, you want to leave the Adobe ecosystem to save money, but Adobe actually offers a very good free tool called Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark).

This is Adobe’s answer to Canva. It runs in your browser and gives you access to basic Adobe editing tools. You can remove backgrounds, resize images, and use thousands of free fonts and design assets. It connects with the famous Adobe Firefly AI engine for some tasks.

• Key Features: Quick Actions (remove background, convert to JPG) and social media templates.
• Pros: High-quality output; trusted brand.
• Cons: It pushes you to upgrade to the paid plan often.

How to Choose the Right Tool?

With so many options, it can be confusing. Here is a simple guide to help you pick:

• If you want to become a professional editor: Choose GIMP. It forces you to learn layers and channels properly.
• If you need to edit a PSD file right now: Choose Photopea. It opens the file instantly in your browser.
• If you want to design an Instagram Story: Choose Canva or Adobe Express. They are faster and have better templates.
• If you want to draw art: Choose Krita. It is the best for digital painting.
• If you just want to remove a background or fix lighting: Choose Pixlr or Fotor.

Conclusion

In 2025, you do not need to break the bank to be creative. The “industry standard” tools are great, but for most users, free alternatives are more than enough. Whether you choose the raw power of GIMP, the convenience of Photopea, or the AI magic of Pixlr, you have everything you need to make stunning images today.

Stop worrying about the subscription fee and start creating!