Adobe Photoshop costs $22–$55/month. In 2026 you don't need to pay that. There are free alternatives powerful enough for professional photo editing, background removal, retouching, and graphic design — some running entirely in your browser with no download or signup. This guide covers the 8 best free Photoshop alternatives, including one major change: Affinity Photo 2 is now completely free after Canva acquired Serif in 2024.
Quick Comparison: Best Free Photoshop Alternatives 2026
| Tool | Platform | Best For | PSD Support | No Signup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photopea | Browser | Photoshop users, PSD files | ✅ Full | ✅ |
| Affinity Photo 2 Now Free | Desktop | Professional editing | ✅ Full | ✅ |
| GIMP | Desktop | Power users, open-source | ✅ Good | ✅ |
| Pixlr E | Browser | Quick online edits | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ |
| Paint.NET | Windows | Simple adjustments | ✅ Via plugin | ✅ |
| Krita | Desktop | Digital painting | ✅ Good | ✅ |
| RawTherapee | Desktop | RAW photo processing | ❌ | ✅ |
| ChangeImageTo.com | Browser | Background removal, resize | ❌ | ✅ |
1. Photopea — Best Browser-Based Free Photoshop Alternative
Photopea
Photopea is the closest thing to Photoshop that runs entirely in a browser tab. The interface is nearly identical: layers panel, tools panel, adjustment layers, blend modes, smart objects. If you know Photoshop, you can start working in Photopea immediately. It's the go-to choice when you need to edit a PSD file online for free.
It supports 40+ file formats including PSD, AI, Sketch, HEIC, WebP, and PDF. The free tier is ad-supported but fully functional.
Pros
- No download or signup required
- Opens and saves PSD files natively
- Mirrors Photoshop layout exactly
- Works on any device with a browser
- Supports AI, Sketch, XD files too
Cons
- Needs internet connection
- Ad-supported on free tier
- Slower than desktop on large files
- Some advanced features missing
Best choice for: Anyone who needs a Photoshop-like interface in the browser, or needs to open PSD files without Photoshop installed.
2. Affinity Photo 2 — Professional Desktop Editor, Now Free 2026 Update
Affinity Photo 2
This is the biggest story in free photo editing for 2026. After Canva acquired Serif (Affinity's parent company) in 2024, Affinity Photo 2 — previously a $70 one-time purchase — became completely free. No subscription, no ads, no feature restrictions.
Affinity Photo 2 is a serious professional tool: non-destructive adjustment layers, full RAW development, HDR merge, focus stacking, frequency separation for retouching, and 32-bit HDR editing. It opens and saves Photoshop PSD files with full layer compatibility.
Pros
- Now completely free — no subscription
- Non-destructive editing throughout
- Full RAW processing included
- Excellent background removal tools
- PSD import/export, full layer support
- Available on iPad too
Cons
- Requires download (~500MB)
- Not browser-based
- Learning curve for new users
- Future pricing uncertain (Canva-owned)
Best choice for: Anyone who wants the closest experience to Photoshop on desktop without paying. This is now the strongest free Photoshop alternative overall.
3. GIMP — Most Powerful Free Open-Source Editor
GIMP
GIMP has been the definitive free Photoshop alternative for over 25 years. It's open-source, receives regular updates, and has a thriving plugin ecosystem. GIMP covers the full spectrum: advanced layer management, curves, levels, color grading, script-fu automation, and batch processing via plugins.
Pros
- Completely free, always will be
- Huge plugin ecosystem
- Runs on Windows, Mac, Linux
- Powerful scripting and batch tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- No native non-destructive layers
- UI less polished than Photoshop
- No CMYK support natively
Best choice for: Linux users, open-source enthusiasts, and power users who want maximum control.
4. Pixlr E — Best Free Online Photo Editor for Quick Edits
Pixlr E
Pixlr E is a capable browser-based editor with a cleaner interface than Photopea. It offers layers, masks, filters, healing tools, dodge and burn, and AI-powered tools like AI Cutout (background removal). The free tier handles most photo editing tasks.
Pros
- Clean, modern interface
- AI-powered background removal included
- No signup for basic editing
- Fast loading in browser
Cons
- Some AI features require free account
- Less powerful than Photopea for PSD work
- Free tier shows ads
Best choice for: Quick one-off edits in browser with a friendlier interface than Photopea.
5. Paint.NET — Best Free Editor for Windows Users
Paint.NET
Paint.NET is lightweight (under 10MB), fast to open, and has an intuitive interface beginners pick up in minutes. It has layers, plugin support, and excellent performance — often the better choice over GIMP for Windows users who want simplicity.
Pros
- Very fast and lightweight
- Easy to learn
- Good plugin library
- Free, no subscription
Cons
- Windows only
- Limited vs GIMP or Affinity Photo 2
- No RAW processing natively
Best choice for: Windows users who need quick photo adjustments without the GIMP learning curve.
6. Krita — Best Free Tool for Digital Art and Illustration
Krita
Krita is designed for digital painting, but does photo work too. Its brush engine is arguably better than Photoshop's for illustration, it includes animation support, and strong color management. PSD compatibility is solid for most use cases.
Pros
- Best-in-class brush engine
- Animation timeline built in
- Excellent for illustration
- Completely free
Cons
- Not optimized for photo retouching
- Heavier resource usage
- Less intuitive for Photoshop users
Best choice for: Artists, illustrators, and anyone doing digital painting.
7. RawTherapee — Best Free RAW Photo Processor
RawTherapee
If you shoot in RAW format and want professional processing without Lightroom's subscription cost, RawTherapee is the answer. It supports virtually every RAW format, with non-destructive editing and detailed controls for tone mapping, noise reduction, sharpening, and color grading.
Pros
- Completely free Lightroom alternative
- Supports all major RAW formats
- Non-destructive editing throughout
- Excellent noise reduction tools
Cons
- RAW only — not a general editor
- Steep learning curve
- Interface is dated
Best choice for: Photographers who need to process RAW files without paying for Lightroom.
8. ChangeImageTo.com — Free Online Tools for Specific Tasks
ChangeImageTo.com
Not a full Photoshop replacement — but for the most common image tasks, removing backgrounds, changing backgrounds, compressing, resizing, and checking image quality — ChangeImageTo.com does them faster with zero learning curve. AI-powered results in under 10 seconds, no account required.
Pros
- No signup, no download required
- AI background removal in seconds
- Background color change, resize, compress
- Works on any device
Cons
- Task-specific only
- No layer editing or compositing
How to Choose the Right Free Photoshop Alternative
Need to edit PSD files or work like Photoshop? Use Photopea (browser) or Affinity Photo 2 (desktop, now free).
Want the most powerful free desktop editor? Use Affinity Photo 2 — it's now the strongest option for professional work without paying anything.
Prefer open-source with Linux support? Use GIMP — it's been free for 25 years and will stay that way.
Need to remove a background or resize images fast? Use ChangeImageTo.com — one click, no setup.
Do digital painting or illustration? Use Krita. Process RAW photos? Use RawTherapee.
Need to Remove a Background, Resize, or Compress Images?
Try ChangeImageTo.com free — no signup, AI-powered, results in seconds.
Remove Background Free →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free Photoshop alternative in 2026?
For browser-based editing, Photopea is the top choice — it mirrors the Photoshop interface and opens PSD files for free. For desktop users, Affinity Photo 2 (now completely free) and GIMP are the most powerful options.
Is Affinity Photo 2 really free in 2026?
Yes. After Canva acquired Serif (Affinity's parent company) in 2024, the entire Affinity suite — including Affinity Photo 2, Designer 2, and Publisher 2 — became completely free with no subscription. This is the biggest change in free photo editing in 2026.
Is there a free browser-based Photoshop alternative?
Yes. Photopea is the closest to Photoshop — it runs entirely in your browser and supports PSD files. Pixlr is another solid option. Both work on any device without installation or signup.
Can I open and edit PSD files for free?
Photopea opens and saves PSD files for free directly in your browser. GIMP and Affinity Photo 2 (both free desktop apps) also support PSD files with full layer compatibility.
What is the best free tool for removing image backgrounds?
For one-click background removal, ChangeImageTo.com's background remover is free with no signup. GIMP and Photopea have manual background removal tools for more control. Affinity Photo 2 (now free) also has an excellent background removal tool.
Is GIMP as good as Photoshop?
GIMP covers about 80% of Photoshop's use cases for free: layers, masks, curves, filters, RAW processing (via UFRAW), and a strong plugin ecosystem. Main gaps: no native non-destructive adjustment layers, no CMYK support, and a steeper learning curve.