Photographers who use Photoshop know some features might be unavailable or imperfect, despite the software’s capability and features. Hence, there are many reasons for them to seek Photoshop alternatives. Sometimes, you need something specific from your photo editor but find out that Photoshop just doesn’t have it. You shouldn’t be stuck with an old pal, however. There are plenty of options out there, both free and paid, for beginners and professional editors alike.
This would leave you with no other choice than to find something better suited to do what needs to be done. While this could seem like a good reason to consider alternatives such as Adobe Lightroom CC, people often prefer to stick to one set of tools they already feel comfortable with.
This is why it’s so important to know the limitations of Photoshop before deciding whether an alternative might be better for you.
Why do you need to replace Photoshop with an alternative?
If you are here looking for a Photoshop alternative, then rejoice, as you are in safe hands. Although Photoshop has reigned supreme for decades, it is by no means a perfect photo editing tool. Its price tag alone is a nightmare for casual users.
And then there is the whole “overstuffed” debacle it’s infamous for. Thus, we have decided to point out a few reasons why you might consider leaving Photoshop for a suitable alternative:
- First, we have to say that Photoshop offers a lot of editing tools. Yes, it sounds great, but believe us, it is not, it only serves to confuse people and sometimes feels unnecessary.
- This brings us to the next point, Photoshop is not beginner-friendly. When you open it, you can become overwhelmed with all those options, tools, and menus.
- It is also too expensive for anyone wanting to simply give it a try.
- On top of that, it can’t run smoothly on the entry-level, and even some intermediate systems.
- The software can also be buggy at times, hindering your tasks
- Despite being a leading editing tool, it lacks support for vector images and has even discontinued the 3D design feature.
List of 12 Best Photoshop Alternatives
There’s a growing availability of inexpensive, high-quality photo editing software. This means there’s an increased demand for Photoshop alternatives, and this list of photo editing software presents our top choices. We ranked these tools based on their features, value for money, and convenience.
1. Crello (VistaCreate)
Crello lets you create projects, edit photos and other graphic visuals in minutes, and collaborate with your clients on the go. Their pre-designed templates embrace current design trends, while a built-in drag-and-drop editor makes the application easy to use. Crello is a superb design tool for designers in need of more possibilities.
Its versatility in customization and expansion also makes it popular among creative individuals who have a distinct look and feel. Another interesting element is that the service allows for group work on design projects using multi-user accounts.
Crello Features:
- 50K+ design templates
- 50M+ creative assets
- Background removal feature
- Brand Kit with colors, logos, and fonts
- Free fonts, music, animations, backgrounds, and objects
- Team account
- Unlimited Brand Kits
- Unlimited storage
2. GIMP
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is open-source software available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. As you can see, this photo editor has a clean interface with an intuitive layout, so it’s pretty easy to learn all the basics in just a few hours of playing around with it. You may wonder what makes GIMP stand out from other alternatives on our list.
Well, it contains many features only found in expensive professional software such as Photoshop or Lightroom, which will help save time during editing sessions. It’s also worth mentioning that, thanks to the plethora of plugins created by third parties, GIMP is even more powerful.
GIMP Features:
- File handling
- Animation
- Extensible
- Advanced manipulation
- Painting tools
- Multiple file handling
3. PIXLR
Pixlr is a browser-based photo editor that has been around for quite some time now. It’s available as a web app, Chrome extension, and in the form of mobile apps. Therefore, it can be used from just about anywhere you have an internet connection.
The photo editing process with Pixlr is very simple since all the options are laid out in front of you on easy-to-use panels. Additionally, this software offers many features only found in drastically costlier alternatives like Photoshop or Lightroom. They could come in handy if you make use of them often enough.
PIXLR Features:
- Layers & effects
- Color replace
- Brushes & adjustments
- Image retouching and filters
- Object transformation
- Texts & fonts
4. Canva
Canva is a web-based photo editor created mainly for social media graphics. It’s not as feature-rich as Photoshop or other alternatives on our list. Nevertheless, it can be useful for applying quick fixes before posting your photos online, especially due to its simplicity and ease of use.
Canva has both a free version with limited functionality and a paid one with access to more features. Thus, feel free to check out their website to see what’s available.
Canva Features:
- Drag-and-drop support
- Thousands of design layouts
- Social media support
- Video editing tools
5. Fotor
Fotor is a powerful online photo editor that offers many desirable features. More importantly, its free version has very few restrictions. The user interface looks quite simple, too. However, once you start using it, you’ll notice how intuitively laid out all the tools are.
Also, despite this lack of clutter (which we like), everything can be easily found thanks to clear labels on toolbars. Fotor also boasts sharing options for social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, so if that’s your thing, definitely give it a try.
Fotor Features:
- 30+ stylized photo frames
- Advanced beauty features
- Basic editing and effects
- Basic portrait touch-up
- Classic content
- Basic HDR technology
- Exclusive 100+ photo editing effects
6. GifMaker
GIFs are awesome, simple as that. They’ve been around for a while now, and aren’t going anywhere. However, to make one, you need a good photo editor — enter GifMaker. As the name suggests, this tool is all about creating GIF images from your photos.
It’s free to use with no limitations whatsoever. Thus, feel free to try it out if animated pictures are something you enjoy posting on social media websites or blogs, or just making them yourself when needed.
GifMaker Features:
- Camera video recording support
- Combine more than one image into one GIF
- Easy video-to-GIF conversion
- High-quality GIF
- High-speed crop & resize features
- Mobile screen recording to GIF support
- Stickers support for GIF
7. Krita
Krita is an open-source Photoshop alternative that comes with a clean, intuitive, and customizable interface. It’s available on many platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. The software offers advanced features like vector layers for text or shapes and RAW editing support.
Krita is compatible with 3D designs, digital painting, and GIMP preparation for 3D printing. This program has a large community of developers and excellent artists who contribute artwork and methods. Krita is an outstanding Photoshop replacement if you’re searching for an active user base that’s invested in discussing and sharing art.
Krita Features:
- 3D Printing and designing support
- Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Excellent tablet support for drawing
- Highly customizable brush engine
- Large community
- Vector and raster capabilities
8. Affinity Photo
We all are familiar with Photoshop. Although Photoshop is a powerful tool, it has reliable alternatives available today. It is a scenario one could have imagined a decade ago. However, reality begs to differ as we have various options in place of PhotoShop; some might even be better. One such contender is Affinity Photo. The software can run on macOS, Windows, and even iOS.
However, the iOS version is sold separately. Sadly, it has yet to come up with an Android version. Since the software aims to be a direct competitor of Photoshop, it supports all of its native file formats, among others.
Affinity Photo Features:
- Suitable for professional photo editing
- Live real-time editing feature
- Can edit huge images
- Easy-to-use tools for quick transformations
- Full RAW development
- An extensive library of tools
- Works on all popular platforms
9. Procreate
Procreate is another Photoshop alternative that comes closest to the original. But it is only available as an iOS app. Adding to the injury; there seem to be no free versions available. Despite all this, the app is popular. It’s due to its low cost in comparison to Photoshop and its Apple Pencil support.
Procreate has a long history, as it is over a decade old. But it never stopped improving itself. What started as a simple drawing kit has become the go-to painting app on iPads as the app kept on reinventing itself over the years.
Procreate Features:
- Suitable for Apple devices
- Smooth interactions and fast response
- Works flawlessly with Apple Pencil
- Simple, powerful interface
10. PiZap
PiZap is a free online photo editor with many great features. It’s perfect for you if you are looking for some basic edits. It’s very easy to use, and if you need some help figuring it out, there are already tutorials available on the website, so check them out before starting your work.
PiZap offers social media integration, too, so sharing options should come in handy for those of you who like posting pictures on Facebook or Twitter all the time.
PiZap Features:
- Advanced editing tools
- Full-screen editing and no distractions
- Higher quality images
- Image and sticker search tools
- More fonts, stickers, and filters
- No ads
- Thousands of additional fonts, stickers, borders, collage templates, backgrounds, and stock images
11. Topaz
Welcome to Topaz Studio 2, an advanced AI-based suite of photo editing tools built for advanced-level photo editors. Topaz Labs uses a subscription model to allow you access to all products and services, not just Topaz Adjust.
Topaz has several applications such as Topaz Clarity, Topaz ReMask, Topaz Star Effects, and many more. They can all be installed on your computer system, allowing the software to run locally rather than in your browser. If you feel it’s worth spending $74.99 after using its free trial, go for it.
Topaz Features
- AI-enhanced photo editing features
- Denoising effects
- Gigapixel AI
- Sharpening tools
- Video enhancers
12. LuminarAI
LuminarAI is most recognized for its AI-enhanced photo editing, which is not a layer-based program. There’s a control panel on the right side of the screen, allowing you to change complex exposure settings, as well as advanced AI features. LuminarAI’s capacity to automatically identify and conceal sections of the picture makes it a useful Photoshop substitute.
We suggest you check out features like “Augmented Sky” and “Atmosphere.” It’s great for portrait editing with AI tools such as “Portrait Bokeh” and “Eye Enhancer,” which allow you to add brushed, gradient, and circular masks. Adobe Lightroom-like local masking allows you to use brushed, gradient, and radial masks just like Lightroom.
LuminarAI Features:
- Brushes
- Cropping
- Effects
- Enhanced AI editing
- Masks
- Plugin support for macOS
- RAW image editing support
- Templates for high-level editing
Our recommendation for a Photoshop alternative
This brings us to our recommendations regarding an alternative to Photoshop – Crello. It is a way lighter tool that allows you to create images within minutes. It also utilizes pre-installed templates, making your tasks much easier. There is even support for teamwork using multi-user accounts.
Then there is Pixlr, a web-based photo editor that can run on any platform. Although it might feel somewhat basic, it gets the job done.
Canva is another suitable replacement for Photoshop, albeit with far fewer features. However, it is simple and easy to use. Lastly, we have Procreate, which provides an almost identical Photoshop experience but is limited to iOS.