Quick verdict
Bottom line: You no longer need a Photoshop subscription for most editing. Affinity is now free and professional, Photopea runs in a browser and opens PSD files, and GIMP remains the free open-source workhorse — pay only if you need Adobe’s ecosystem or specific AI tools.
Photoshop is still the industry reference for raster editing, but it is subscription-only at $22.99 per month on an annual plan for the single app, with no free desktop version after a short trial. For photographers, students, and occasional editors, that recurring cost is hard to justify when capable tools now cover layers, masks, RAW editing, and PSD support for free or a one-time fee.
Quick picks: Photoshop alternatives compared
| Tool | Free plan | Paid price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affinity | Yes, full app free | Canva Premium for AI Studio | Professional editing without subscription |
| Photopea | Yes, browser, ad-supported | Premium removes ads | PSD edits with nothing to install |
| GIMP | Yes, open source | Free | Customisable desktop editing |
| Krita | Yes, open source | Free | Digital painting and illustration |
| Pixlr | Yes, browser | Paid Pro tiers | Quick social and AI edits |
| Pixelmator Pro | Trial | $49.99 one-time | Mac users |
| Luminar Neo | No | About $99/year | AI photo enhancement |
| Corel PaintShop Pro | Trial | $79.99 one-time | Windows photographers |
Prices checked October 2026. Affinity’s free model was announced in October 2025 after Canva acquired Serif.
Why do people look for Photoshop alternatives?
Price is the top reason, followed by complexity and platform. Many users only crop, retouch, remove backgrounds, or build social graphics a few times a month, yet pay every month. Others dislike being locked into Creative Cloud, want a one-time purchase, or need an editor that runs in a browser or on Linux. The alternatives below split cleanly by job: full desktop replacement, instant browser editing, painting, or AI-first enhancement.
1. Affinity — best overall replacement
Affinity unifies the former Photo, Designer, and Publisher apps into one free application for Windows and macOS, with non-destructive editing, RAW support, layers, and masks. It previously cost about $70, which makes the free move significant. The catch is narrow: generative AI features in Canva AI Studio require a Canva Premium account, and you need a free Canva account to use Affinity.
2. Photopea — best browser option
Photopea looks and feels close to Photoshop and opens PSD, XCF, Sketch, and XD files directly in your browser, with nothing to install. That makes it ideal for opening a client’s PSD on a borrowed machine or making a quick layer edit. The free tier is ad-supported, and heavy files can feel slower than a desktop app.
3. GIMP — best free open-source editor
GIMP has been the free Photoshop alternative for years: layers, masks, custom brushes, plugins, and scripting on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It rewards users who customise their workspace and learn its shortcuts. Its interface is less polished than Affinity’s and it lacks Photoshop’s newer generative AI, but for core editing it costs nothing, forever.
4. Krita — best for illustrators
Krita is free and open source, built for painting rather than photo retouching, with strong brush engines and animation tools. Illustrators and concept artists often prefer it to Photoshop for drawing. If your work is mainly correcting photos and compositing, Affinity or GIMP will fit better; if you draw, start here.
5. Pixlr — best for quick online edits
Pixlr runs in the browser with AI background removal and simple layer editing aimed at social content and marketing graphics. It is faster to learn than a full desktop editor and has free access with paid tiers for more assets and ad-free use. It is not a deep retouching suite, so treat it as a quick-fix tool, not a studio replacement.
6. Pixelmator Pro — best for Mac users
Pixelmator Pro is a one-time $49.99 purchase for macOS with a clean Apple-native interface, AI editing tools, and strong colour work. Mac users who want a polished editor without a subscription often land here. It is Mac-only, so cross-platform teams should choose Affinity or Photopea instead.
7. Luminar Neo — best AI photo enhancer
Luminar Neo focuses on AI-assisted photo improvement — sky replacement, portrait tweaks, and one-slider enhancements — at about $99 per year in recent listings. Photographers who want results quickly, with less manual masking, will like its approach. Traditional layer-by-layer compositors may find it less precise than Affinity or Photoshop.
8. Corel PaintShop Pro — best Windows one-time buy
PaintShop Pro offers AI tools and RAW editing for Windows at a one-time $79.99 price for the Pro edition. That ownership model is its main appeal versus a subscription. It is Windows-only and has a smaller tutorial and plugin ecosystem than Photoshop, but for a home or small-studio Windows setup it covers the essentials.
Verdict: which Photoshop alternative should you choose?
Start with Affinity if you want a real desktop replacement for free, Photopea if you need PSD editing right now in a browser, and Krita if you draw. Pay for Pixelmator Pro or PaintShop Pro only if you prefer a one-time owned app on your platform. Keep Photoshop if your income depends on Creative Cloud collaboration, specific plugins, or Firefly workflows your clients already use.
FAQ
Is Affinity really free now?
Yes. After Canva acquired Serif, Affinity relaunched in October 2025 as a single free app. Only Canva AI Studio features require a premium Canva account.
What is the closest free alternative to Photoshop?
Photopea is closest in layout and PSD handling in a browser; Affinity is closest as a full professional desktop editor.
Can free alternatives open PSD files?
Yes. Photopea, Affinity, and GIMP can open PSD files, though complex effects, smart objects, and fonts may not translate perfectly.
How much does Photoshop cost in 2026?
The single-app plan is $22.99 per month on an annual plan billed monthly. The Photography plan with Photoshop and Lightroom is listed at $19.99 per month.