10 Best Photoshop Alternatives (Free and Paid)

Adobe Photoshop has established itself as the undisputed leader in the photo editing software genre. So much so that Adobe has obliterated most of the entry points for other software that would look to do the same- and that is, edit photos. But, for users who are interested in nothing much than regular photo touch ups, Photoshop is a software which is one too many! In case you are just a casual photo editing enthusiast, this article will discuss the best Photoshop alternatives that you can use, to serve your purpose.

What are the Problems with Photoshop?

Photoshop is a complete Photo Editor that you will ever come across, as such the tweaks and customizability that it offers will be offered nowhere else, but using Photoshop needs some technical know-how as it is not specifically for the regular, ‘minor touch-up’ person. Furthermore, to avail the original untarnished version of Photoshop, you will need to splash out a considerable amount of money. Also, having reinstated that it is not particularly for everybody, the software is definitely not user-friendly, and you will not be able to use it if you do not have a prior idea. In fact, if you want to make the best use of the software you will have no enroll yourself into a Photoshop course!

If all these look like a lot of hassle to you, then why don’t you look at a list of the ‘top alternatives of Photoshop’ provided? Read on to know more.

10 Best Photoshop Alternatives Countdown

In the countdown below we will delve into what could possibly be the best Photoshop alternatives that can seamlessly fit your bill. For your convenience, we have segregated the choices into four parts- free Photoshop alternatives offline, and the best Photoshop alternatives online, top alternatives of Photoshop in Linux and Open Source and the best-paid alternatives to Photoshop.

Free Photoshop Alternatives Offline

1. GIMP

The abbreviated form for ‘GNU Image Manipulation Program’, GIMP serves as a comprehensive editor across multiple Operating Systems. The amount of customizability that it offers while being one of the many free Photoshop alternatives is unparalleled.

GIMP stands out of the queue, by providing some professionalism to your photo editing despite not being as professionally built as Photoshop itself.

Platforms that support GIMP	Windows, Mac OS X, SkyOS, Linux, BSD and UNIX
Output file formats available	RAW formats, BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD and more!
Cost	Free
Noticeable features	Layers support, Selective editing, HDR, Re-touch, Noise Removal, Lens and Colour correction, Sharpening, Multiple plugins can be enabled and a lot more.

With the multiple buffets of features, this software is an absolute delicacy if you want to something almost as effective as Photoshop without any added charge.

2. Paint.NET

The Paint.NET was supposed to be an upgraded version of the original Microsoft Paint that we are all so well acquainted to. And why not? Paint, even in its very primitive form is quite efficient to perform some minor tweak. Thankfully, Paint.NET realizes the potential in the older version and hence has carried forward many features that had actually been nested in MS Paint.

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However, if you want Paint.NET to perform like a high-end, professional photo editing tool, then it would be too much to ask from it. Paint.NET, however, is a simple editor that is well apt at solving the small problems in editing a photo. Though less potent than Photoshop and GIMP, Paint.NET it very user-friendly and gives you an uncomplicated experience while you are at it. Paint.NET also does not support multiple platforms, but as long as you are a Windows 7 (or up) user, you’ll do just fine.

Platforms that support Paint.NET	Windows 7 or up
Output file formats available	RAW files, BMP, JPEG, GIF, TIFF and PNG.
Cost	Free
Noticeable features	Selective editing, Multiple layers, Histogram, Retouch, Resize, Noise removal, Sharpening and Colour correction, Multiple plugin support.

3. Seashore

This simple interface for photo editing is for the Mac users. Though less featured than GIMP, it has a similar native file formatting procedures as GIMP and is an open source software that performs on Mac’s Cocoa framework.

Perhaps the most convincing feature of the Seashore editor is that it has all the basic features you would want of it, to make your pictures beautiful, but still sports a very simple UI. So, if your aim is basic editing then it is powerful enough to suit your needs, and due to its simple aesthetics, can be among the best Photoshop alternatives for a Mac user.

Platforms that support Seashore	Mac OS X
Output file formats available	JPEG, PNG, TIFF and XCF.
Cost	Free
Noticeable features	Layers, Alpha channel support, gradients, transparency, Anti-aliased brushes, and Plugin support.

Best Photoshop Alternatives Online

1. Pixlr

Pixlr has established itself as a household name in the online editing of images. And why would it not? After all, that is the closest online relative to Photoshop, going by the customizability that it provides. It even has many keyboard shortcuts alike its gigantic software brother.

If you are stuck in the online world and do not know who to go to, for editing a few pictures to make your profile look more flamboyant, head Pixlr’s way! It also has smartphone apps to keep you engaged.

This online beauty comes for absolutely free and lets you work around all the small vertices that you want to cover in your editing. However, you must realize that it is only a makeshift replacement for professional editing software and therefore must use it rather cautiously. Too much rigging and your artwork could go down the drain. But for an online interface, this is one amongst the top Photoshop alternatives available.

Platforms that support Pixlr	Web-based, iOS, and Android
Output file formats available	BMP, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG.
Cost	Free
Noticeable features	Selection tools, Text overlays, Layers, Re-sizing, Red-eye removal, teeth whitener, Filters and Effects, etc.

2. PicMonkey

PicMonkey is a quirky little online interface that helps you add eye-catching effects to your photos. It also has collage modes and pre-sets for different kinds of posts- like a Facebook cover post or a profile picture post, etc.

However, the editor works on the ‘freemium’ revenue policy and has restrictions if you want only the free version. Purchasing the premium version will unlock many more fun theme-based settings and further tweaks.

Although not recommended for heavy editing, the Monkey is a perfect partner if you want to have basic changes and fun overlays on your pictures and collages.

Platforms that support PicMonkey	Web-based
Output file formats available	BMP, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG.
Cost	Free; Paid version costs $3.99-$8.33 depending on version
Noticeable features	Shapes, textures, text, effects, filters and overlays, etc.

3. SumoPaint

Also following the ‘freemium’ revenue model, the SumoPaint editor is much alike the previously discussed PicMonkey in a sense that it also tries to incorporate quirky features in its editing process. You can add fun hats and noses effect to make your pictures fun and lively. It also has free basic editing functionalities. Unlocking the premium version will give you access to more fun features and quirky objects to add.

Platforms that support SumoPaint	Web-based
Output file formats available	BMP, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG.
Cost	Free; Pro version costs $4/month
Noticeable features	Brushes, Pencils, text, gradient and other editing and formatting tools.

Top Alternatives of Photoshop in Linux or Open Source

1. Krita

Coming as a bundle with the KOffice suite, Krita has been lauded as one of the best photo-editing tools based on open platforms like Linux or UNIX. It seamlessly covers all the important basics of the trade without being top-heavy, and while it isn’t as complete and powerful as Photoshop, it is free and touted to be one of the best freeware on the Open Source platforms.

Platforms that support Krita	Windows, Linux, UNIX, BSD
Output file formats available	Any Windows compatible file
Cost	Free
Noticeable features	Brushes strokes, Gradient and other editing and formatting tools.

2. CinePaint

This free tool is a veteran that has found its application in Hollywood in the past. That should tell you a lot about how powerful an image editing software it is. It provides one of the most comprehensive image retouchings that you will find, that provides for editing images in 32-bit as well and can edit videos. The only catch, however, is that there is no stable Windows version.

Platforms that support CinePaint	Linux, UNIX, BSD, Mac OS X
Output file formats available	BMP, CIN, DPX, EXR, GIF, JPEG, OpenEXR, PNG, TIFF, and XCF.
Cost	Free
Noticeable features	32-bit image editing, Retouching, Frame Manager, Video retouching, etc.

3. GrafX2

This free tool is available across platforms, be it open source, Windows or the Mac OS. It has intuitive editing features that involve palette editing, tweaking transparency levels and brushes. It is also used to draw on indexed color modes.

Platforms that support GrafX2	Linux, DOS, Windows, Haiku, AmigaOS, MorphOS, Mac OS X, FreeBSD, Atari MiNT
Output file formats available	Any Windows-compatible media format
Cost	Free
Noticeable features	Transparency adjustment, Drawing in indexed colors, Palette editor, Colour cycling, Effects and Brushes

Best Photoshop alternatives [Paid]

1. Serif Photoplus X7

Why go for anything less than Photoshop when you are actually paying? Well, because this is not as ruthless on your budget as Adobe. The Serif Photoplus X7 comes with professional features, so much so that it is not advisable for regular users without a solid know-how of image editing. But if you are a pro, and just want a cheaper alternative, this is what your best bet looks like.

Platforms that support PhotoPlus X7	Windows
Output file formats available	RAW formats, BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, etc.
Cost	£79.99
Noticeable features	Crop, PhotoFix, Resize, Cloning, Studio editing effects, etc.

2. Paintshop Pro X7

This editor comes with a beautiful user interface, which makes the usage of the application very calming on the eye. When you are dealing with photography, you would always have an eye for aesthetics, and therefore this editor comes handy. Not just a pretty face, the editor also has a bunch of customizable facets lined up and support many plugins for brushes and gradients to give you the exact feel you’d be looking for.

Platforms that support Paintshop Pro X7	Windows
Output file formats available	RAW formats, BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, etc.
Cost	$63.99
Noticeable features	Magic Fill, Brushes, Text/shape cutting, Colour Material palette, enhanced dialog boxes, etc.

3. Pixelmator

This editor is only reserved for Mac users, is really fast! While extremely low-priced, this image editor works like any professional editor would giving you all the intricate editing facilities that you would want. It also features on the very latest Mac OS Yosemite and has iPad support as well.

Platforms that support Paintshop Pro X7	Mac OS X
Output file formats available	RAW formats, BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, etc.
Cost	$29.99
Noticeable features	Texts, Shapes, Sketching, Painting Tools and Brushes, Colour adjustments, Retouching, Effects, etc.

Conclusion:

That was all in our comprehensive list of Photoshop alternatives which covers everything from free Photoshop alternatives to the paid ones. Are there any from the list that you have used? If yes, how did you like it? Also, are there any more recommendations that you think could fit the bill? For all feedbacks, write to us.