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Photoshop$22.99/mo Photography / $54.99/mo Single App

Photoshop is the industry standard for raster graphics editing. It's used by photographers, designers, and artists worldwide for image manipulation, compositing, and digital painting.

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6 Photoshop Alternatives in 2026

Considerations for Photoshop

  • Subscription pricing at $22.99/mo is expensive vs one-time purchase alternatives
  • Steep learning curve for casual users and beginners
  • Heavy software that requires modern hardware for smooth performance
6 alternatives comparedConfirm current terms with providers
Photopea
Best for: Free online image editor
Top PickFreeBest Value
Photopea is a browser-based image editor that supports PSD, AI, Sketch, XD, and Figma files. It's essentially Photoshop in your browser — free.
  • Opens and edits native PSD files without conversion
  • Layers, masks, blend modes, and full color management
  • Runs in any browser — no install needed on any device
Free tier: Listed as free — verify limitsPricing: Free (ads) / $5/mo Premium
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GIMP
Best for: Open-source image editing
FreeOpen Source
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open-source image editor. It offers professional-grade photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring.
  • Full suite of painting, selection, and transformation tools
  • Customizable interface with themes and window layouts
  • Extensive plugin ecosystem for batch processing and effects
Free tier: Listed as free — verify limitsPricing: Free (open source)
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Affinity Photo
Best for: One-time purchase professional editor
Best Value
Affinity Photo is a professional image editor with a one-time purchase model. It rivals Photoshop in capability with faster performance and no subscription.
  • One-time purchase — no monthly subscription ever
  • Native Apple Silicon support for exceptional Mac performance
  • Full PSD compatibility with layer support and smart objects
Free tier: Check providerPricing: $69.99 one-time (Mac/Win) / $18.49 iPad
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Acorn
Best for: Affordable layered photo editing on Mac
Best Value
Acorn from Flying Meat is a layered image editor for macOS with non-destructive filters, vector shapes, RAW import and text tools. It is a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, and a 14-day free trial is available from the developer.
  • Layers, masks, blend modes and non-destructive filters
  • RAW import, vector shapes and text tools in one app
  • One-time purchase with no subscription
Free tier: Check providerPricing: $29.99 one-time
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Pixelmator Pro
Best for: Full-featured image editing for Apple users
Best Value
Pixelmator Pro is Apple’s image editor for Mac, covering photo retouching, layered design, painting and machine-learning tools such as super resolution and background removal. It is sold as a $49.99 one-time Mac app and is also included in the Apple Creator Studio subscription.
  • Non-destructive photo adjustments and layered design
  • Machine-learning tools such as super resolution and background removal
  • One-time purchase on Mac, or part of Apple Creator Studio
Free tier: Check providerPricing: $49.99 one-time (Mac) / $12.99/mo Apple Creator Studio
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Paint.NET
Best for: Free layered image editing on Windows
FreeBest Value
Paint.NET is a free image and photo editor for Windows with layers, unlimited undo, adjustments, effects and a large plugin community. The classic download is free; a paid Microsoft Store version adds automatic updates and helps fund the project.
  • Layers, unlimited history and a wide range of effects
  • Large plugin library for extra file formats and tools
  • Free classic download for Windows, with portable builds
Free tier: Listed as free — verify limitsPricing: Free (optional paid Microsoft Store version)
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