🎨 10 Best Photoshop Alternatives in 2025 (Free & Paid)
Photoshop is still powerful, but it’s expensive — and many users don’t need all of its features. Whether you're a beginner, student, or pro designer, here are the top 10 Photoshop alternatives in 2025 you can use for free or at a lower price.
✅ Free Photoshop Alternatives
- 1. Photopea – Online tool that looks and feels like Photoshop. Supports PSD, layers, smart objects.
Best for: quick editing without installing anything. - 2. GIMP – Powerful open-source editor. Great for photo editing, digital art, and graphic design.
Best for: pro-level free editing. - 3. Pixlr E/X – Modern online photo editor with filters, AI cutouts, templates.
Best for: Instagram thumbnails, YouTube art. - 4. Krita – Made for digital painting and concept art. Supports brushes, animation.
Best for: artists, illustrators, anime-style work. - 5. Canva (Free) – Drag-and-drop graphic tool with templates and team collaboration.
Best for: social media posts, resumes, branding.
💰 Paid Photoshop Alternatives (Cheaper & Powerful)
- 6. Affinity Photo (One-Time $69) – Full-featured pro editor with RAW support, batch export, and PSD compatibility.
Best for: serious photographers and designers. - 7. Corel PaintShop Pro – Long-time Photoshop rival with layer editing, AI tools, and HDR tools.
Best for: photo manipulation, photo retouching. - 8. Fotor Pro – AI-powered online photo editor with batch tools, touch-up, and effects.
Best for: bloggers, marketers, batch editing. - 9. Luminar Neo – Photo editor with powerful AI enhancements (sky replacement, relighting).
Best for: photographers who want fast results. - 10. BeFunky Plus – Easy-to-use with templates, collages, and cartoon effects.
Best for: creative quick edits and social content.
🧠 Which One Should You Use?
- Beginners or students: Photopea, Pixlr, or Canva
- Artists: Krita or Affinity Photo
- Photographers: Luminar, GIMP, or PaintShop Pro
- Casual users: BeFunky, Fotor
All of these alternatives are great depending on your workflow and budget.
✅ Final Words
Photoshop is no longer the only pro editing choice. In 2025, you can get 90% of the features for free or a small one-time payment.
Try a few and see which interface you vibe with. Happy editing!