Alternatives · 2026
Alternatives to Adobe Photoshop
Industry-standard raster image editing and compositing app.
4 hand-curated alternatives from MintedSaaS's directory. See the Adobe Photoshop listing →
Adobe Photoshop is the dominant professional image editor used by designers, photographers, and creative studios to manipulate raster images at pixel level. It's known for its non-destructive editing capabilities, extensive filter library, and tight integration with other Creative Cloud apps like Illustrator and After Effects. Photographers often use it to retouch and color-grade, while digital artists rely on it for compositing and effects work. The software runs on Windows and Mac, with a subscription model that ties it to Creative Cloud.
People reach for Photoshop alternatives when they need similar editing power without the monthly subscription cost, want to work on Linux, or prefer to own their software outright. Designers switching from agency work to freelancing often explore free or one-time-purchase options. Others choose alternatives because they prioritize different workflows — vector editing over raster, real-time collaboration, or simpler interfaces for focused tasks like background removal or batch processing.
What we offer that competes
Krita
Open-source digital painting app aimed at illustrators.
GIMP
Free open-source raster image editor for photos and graphics.
Affinity
Pro-grade design tools sold as one-time licences.
What to look for
- Whether the tool runs natively on Linux, Windows, and Mac (not just two platforms).
- Whether you can purchase once and own the software forever, or if a subscription renews automatically.
- Whether the tool supports PSD import and export without losing layer data or adjustment history.
- Whether the interface and tutorials are designed for photo retouching versus digital painting versus vector design.
- Whether the tool allows offline use without an internet connection or account login.
- Whether the brush engine offers customizable dynamics, symmetry modes, and animation frame support.
FAQ
What are the best free alternatives to Adobe Photoshop?
GIMP and Krita are both free, open-source raster editors with strong communities and mature feature sets. GIMP focuses on general-purpose image editing with a steep learning curve, while Krita emphasizes digital painting and illustration with more intuitive brush controls.
Are there one-time purchase options instead of subscription?
Affinity Photo is a one-time purchase for $70 on desktop with no recurring fees. Krita is free and fully open-source, so there's no licensing model at all.
Which Photoshop alternative works on Linux?
GIMP and Krita both run natively on Linux with feature parity to their Windows and Mac versions. Photoshop is limited to Windows and Mac only.
Can I do professional photo retouching in alternatives to Photoshop?
Affinity Photo and GIMP both handle professional retouching workflows, though Affinity Photo has more polished tools for frequency separation and healing. Krita is designed for painting and illustration rather than photo work.
Which Photoshop alternative is best for digital painting?
Krita was built specifically for digital painting and offers superior brush customization, symmetry tools, and animation timelines compared to Photoshop or GIMP.
Do any Photoshop alternatives support real-time collaboration?
Figma is a web-based design tool that does live multiplayer editing, but it's vector-focused rather than raster. For raster editing specifically, none of the major Photoshop alternatives offer built-in real-time co-editing.
What file formats do Photoshop alternatives support?
All major alternatives (GIMP, Krita, Affinity Photo) import and export PSD files, so you can move projects between Photoshop and these tools without starting from scratch.
Can I use Photoshop alternatives offline?
GIMP, Krita, and Affinity Photo all work offline without any internet requirement. Figma requires a web connection but caches projects locally.