Article Summary
Exploring free Photoshop alternatives means finding capable image editing tools without the subscription cost. This article covers Photopea, PicMonkey, and Canva, highlighting key features, platform availability, and ideal use cases. You'll know exactly which free Photoshop alternative fits your workflow.
Are you looking for the best free Photoshop alternatives? What about premium ones? Then, you’ll want to scour this article for my recommendations.
I started using Photoshop back in 1991, and we had zero alternatives! Fast forward to today, and your options for alternatives to Adobe Photoshop are mind-numbing!
No worries, though. Read on to discover the best Photoshop alternatives based on my 30 years of experience.
1. Photopea: The best alternative to Photoshop on the go
Don’t have a laptop or desktop? Or need to complete some projects while traveling? Then, you may want to consider PhotoPea. PhotoPea is a browser-based app that is “identical” to Photoshop! Oh, and it’s 100% free.
PhotoPea interface in Chrome browser. Photo by: Chris Parker
When I say “identical,” the interface will look familiar…it’s the same. But, it does not have all the same tools and advanced features as Photoshop.
Editing photos and designing in PhotoPea
Here’s a list of the essential tools you’ll need as a graphic designer and/or photographer that come with PhotoPea:
- Layers
- Layer Styles
- Layer Masks
- Smart Objects
- Ability to open .PSD files
- Large selection of Filters
- Clone, Heal, and Patch tools for retouching
- Text Layers
- And more
How to get PhotoPea
Since Photopea is browser-based, you can just use it. Photopea works best with the Chrome browser. I’ve tried other browsers, like Safari, Firefox, and Explorer. They work but don’t seem to be as compatible as Chrome.
Go to Photopea.com to access this free Photoshop alternative.
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