Free alternatives to Adobe Photoshop
7 free programs that can replace Adobe Photoshop, each pairing checked by Radar's AI reviewer or by Radar.
Adobe Photoshop is one of the best-known image editors, used by photographers, designers, retouchers and marketing teams to edit photos, build compositions and create graphics. It is sold as a subscription and sits at the center of a larger set of Adobe apps.
The biggest risk when you switch is your files. Check:
- PSD files: open a few of your own in GIMP or Krita and see whether layers, text, masks, smart objects and layer styles hold up.
- Plugins, brushes and actions: list the ones you use and look for counterparts.
- Color for print: if you work with print shops, test color profiles and CMYK output.
- Clients and coworkers: if they send or expect PSD files, decide how you will exchange work.
- Learning curve: shortcuts and menus differ, and some tools lean more toward painting than photo retouching.
The list below shows the alternatives found, so compare them with your own list of needs.
| Program | Ease | You need | Risk signals | Stars | Downloads this week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhotoCraftA Photoshop-style image editor with layers, masks, type and real PSD files, installed like a normal program. | Ease Adownload and open · Windows | Nothing extra | Attention · 2 | 75,573+2,708 in 6 days | 634,996 |
PhotoCraft: The project itself says it is not a replacement for Adobe Photoshop. | |||||
| GraphiteFree graphics editor that runs in the browser for vector drawing, design and procedural art. | Ease Adownload and open · Web | Nothing extra | Attention · 2 | 27,802+74 in 6 days | — |
| CompositorA free Mac image editor with layers, masks, selections and filters, built to work like Photoshop. | Ease Adownload and open · macOS | Nothing extra | Attention · 2 | 18,280+330 in 5 days | 6,662 |
| KritaDraw and paint digital art, comics and illustrations with brushes, layers and drawing-tablet support. | Ease Adownload and open · Windows | Nothing extra | Few signals | 10,671+37 in 6 days | — |
| GIMPEdit photos, retouch pictures and create digital art with a free, full-featured image editor. | Ease Adownload and open · Windows | Nothing extra | Few signals | 6,559+14 in 6 days | — |
| ComfyUICreates and edits images, video and audio with AI models on your own computer, by wiring boxes together on a canvas. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Graphics card | Attention · 2 | 144,364+1,077 in 5 days | 162,977 |
| Stable Diffusion web UICreate and edit images from text descriptions on your own computer, with Stable Diffusion models in a browser page. | Ease Cinstall 1 or 2 tools · Windows | Python, Graphics card, Other tools | Attention · 2 | 165,207+53 in 5 days | 14,580 |
Frequently asked questions
Which free alternative to Adobe Photoshop is the easiest to install?
PhotoCraft has the highest ease rating among the 7 options: A (download and open · Windows).
Is there a free alternative to Adobe Photoshop for Windows, Mac and Linux?
Windows: PhotoCraft, Krita, GIMP, ComfyUI, Stable Diffusion web UI. macOS: PhotoCraft, Compositor, Krita, GIMP, ComfyUI, Stable Diffusion web UI. Linux: PhotoCraft, Krita, GIMP, ComfyUI, Stable Diffusion web UI.
Are the alternatives to Adobe Photoshop really free?
All 7 are completely free.
How can I tell whether an alternative is trustworthy?
Each card shows the risk signals found, with the evidence. 2 of the 7 have no signal rated attention or high. See also the guide How to find a GitHub project's official repository and avoid fake copies.