Best Free Alternative To Photoshop For Windows

Touted as the most popular digital imaging & graphic designing software in the world, Photoshop is an industry standard. Which means everybody wants a slice, except at a hefty price of subscription and/ or monthly payment.

• Best Free Alternative To Photoshop For Windows 10
• Best Free Photoshop Alternative Mac

Photopea is a free alternative to Photoshop. When you arrive at their website, you can jump straight into a project, with many of the tools you're used to enjoying in premium photo editing tools. PicMonkey is not a replacement for Photoshop's advanced functions, and you're not lucky enough with PSD files, but it is the best alternative to Photoshop when it comes to working with filters and creating collages right off your browser. This software has two versions; free and paid. GIMP is a free open source Photoshop alternative for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is a full-fledged photo editing software just like Photoshop. In it, you can open and edit images of almost all formats like JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TGA, DNG, RAW, CRW, and more.It even supports Photoshop.

When planning to migrate from Adobe Photoshop to alternative software, make sure they are free and worth. But what if users could buy an alternative option for, hold your horses, free? With photo edits, logo generation and professional graphic designing all available on our system, without burning a hole in the pocket, here are ten powerful free alternative to Adobe Photoshop which are free to use for home and commercial purpose.

10 Free Photoshop Alternatives

GIMP

As GIMP is powerful and adaptable, GIMP is the best of the free Photoshop alternatives in my opinion. It comes with layers, masks, advanced filters, colour adjustment tools and transformations. These are customisable, which already makes it better than Photoshop. Photoshop has customisability in its panels, but there lies its limitations. Best Overall: Affinity Photo This is hands down the best alternative to Photoshop out there right now. It makes for an easy transition since it uses many of the same keystroke shortcuts.

Released in 1996, GNU image manipulation program is a multi platform supported, free, open source image machinator that is used for art creation, animation, image editing and enhancement with features like layers, filters, gradients amongst others. It is the most popular free substitute of Photoshop.

FILE SUPPORT: GIMP supports the following file formats in both readable and writable forms: PNG, GIF, JPEG, XPM, TIFF, BMP, SUNRAS. XWD, XBM, , MIFF, XCF, PIX,TGA, FLI, CEL ,SGI, PS, PNM, FITS, , AVI and PCXHRZ.

PROS:

• VERSATILE: Since the program is open source, coders can modify it to suit their requirements, making it highly versatile.
• FLEXIBLE: GIMP offers downloadable free internal plug-ins and allows external plug-ins to operate thereby giving more room for utility flexibility.
• TUTORIALS: Offers extensive tutorials from program basics to photo editing, painting and even
• EASY TO USE: Less complex tools.
• LESSER BUGS: Due to the open source nature of this program its active community constantly spots and fixes errors, thereby reducing the number and time taken to fix the bugs.
• LIGHTWEIGHT: Occupies lesser storage space than Photoshop.

CONS:

• SLOW FEATURE DEVELOPMENT: by-product of being a community program.
• LIMITED CLIENTELE: Useful for beginners and small scale businesses, rather than professional photographers, graphic designers and illustrators.
• NO MOBILE VERSION: As opposed to Photoshop, GIMP is not available for iPhone or android users although an adapted version XGIMP is available on both their app stores.

PLATFORM: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Solaris and BDS.

PRICE: Free

PIXLR

Developed by Autodesk, PIXLR is a free cloud based image editing software which boasts of photo sharing, filters, retouch option, advanced photo editing, manual image adjustments, screen grabber extension and paint from scratch.

FILE SUPPORT: JPEG, PNG,GIF, PSD and BMP.

PROS:

• NO MEMORY SPACE USAGE: There is no need for installing it on the system since it runs solely via a browser thereby occupying zero storage space on the hardware.
• MOBILE VERSION AVAILABLE: On both Google play and apple store with more than 130 million
• SIMPLER, FASTER, MULTILINGUAL INTERFACE.

CONS:

• NO TUTORIALS: Just a help button which incidentally is not of much support.
• LIMITED FILE SUPPORT: As opposed to GIMP, Pixlr offers much fewer file formats.
• LIMITED FEATURES: Suitable for low to medium level editing.
• CONSTRAINTS: Pop up ads and Pre-installation of flash 10 or above required.
• ADJUST IMAGE SIZE TOOL: Gives a blurry image.

PLATFORM: Any OS with a browser.

PRICE: Free.

GETPAINT.NET

An open source advance paint application, this raster graphic files editor has a seamless logical user interface as its biggest USP. This software is more like MS Paint, has more features and easy to use. It comes with several plugins that can enhance the features.

FILE SUPPORT: PDN, BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, TGA and DDS.

PROS:

• MULTILINGUAL: Available in 25 languages.
• PLUGIN & HELP: Due to its active online community, tutorials and plug-ins are easily accessible.
• UNLIMITED HISTORY RECORD
• COHERENT INTERFACE

CONS:

• LIMITED FUNCTIONS & TOOLS: no Dodge & Burn tool as well as limited Brushing functions.
• Text cannot be edited post application
• Limited filters in comparison to Photoshop
• Requires .NET Framework as a prerequisite.
• Needs at least 200 MB of memory space

PLATFORM: Windows 7 to 10.

PRICE: Free with an option of donation.

KRITA

Released in 2005, Krita is an open source digital art software used essentially for illustration, painting and drawing from scratch. It comes with advance tools like Mirroring, Layer Management, Layer Masks, Color Management and mnay more. The best part is it support PSD files, that means any Photoshop saved file can be edited in Krita software.

FILE SUPPORT:JPEG, PNG, TIFF, JP2, JPEG, ORA , XCF, PPM, GIF, EXR, HEIF, PDF and RAW amongst others.

PROS:

• VARIETY: of brush engines available since it is primarily for digital painting.
• TUTORIALS: Easily accessible training materials.
• SIMPLE LAYOUT: with toolbars homogenous to Photoshop.
• CUSTOMIZABLE: Since it is open source.
• UPDATES &NEW ADD-ONS: Bugs are fixed and new features are added in a hotfoot.

CONS:

• Cannot edit pre existing images.
• No text support for Photoshop PSD files although it can open some of them.

PLATFORM: MacOS, Windows, Linux and Graphic Tablets.

PRICE: Free with an option of donation.

SUMO PAINT

Built in 2008, Sumo paint is an image editing and painting software that works both as an illustrator and Photoshop and is available on cloud as well as for installation on system.

FILE SUPPORT: JPEG, PNG, GIF & SUMO formats.

PROS:

• VAST ART COMMUNITY: of over 4 million members.
• PIXEL EDITING AVAILABLE.
• LAYERING & MASKING FEATURE: for professional level image editing.

PLATFORM: Any OS with a browser.

PRICE: Free.

GETPAINT.NET

An open source advance paint application, this raster graphic files editor has a seamless logical user interface as its biggest USP. This software is more like MS Paint, has more features and easy to use. It comes with several plugins that can enhance the features.

FILE SUPPORT: PDN, BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, TGA and DDS.

PROS:

• MULTILINGUAL: Available in 25 languages.
• PLUGIN & HELP: Due to its active online community, tutorials and plug-ins are easily accessible.
• UNLIMITED HISTORY RECORD
• COHERENT INTERFACE

CONS:

• LIMITED FUNCTIONS & TOOLS: no Dodge & Burn tool as well as limited Brushing functions.
• Text cannot be edited post application
• Limited filters in comparison to Photoshop
• Requires .NET Framework as a prerequisite.
• Needs at least 200 MB of memory space

PLATFORM: Windows 7 to 10.

PRICE: Free with an option of donation.

KRITA

Released in 2005, Krita is an open source digital art software used essentially for illustration, painting and drawing from scratch. It comes with advance tools like Mirroring, Layer Management, Layer Masks, Color Management and mnay more. The best part is it support PSD files, that means any Photoshop saved file can be edited in Krita software.

FILE SUPPORT:JPEG, PNG, TIFF, JP2, JPEG, ORA , XCF, PPM, GIF, EXR, HEIF, PDF and RAW amongst others.

PROS:

• VARIETY: of brush engines available since it is primarily for digital painting.
• TUTORIALS: Easily accessible training materials.
• SIMPLE LAYOUT: with toolbars homogenous to Photoshop.
• CUSTOMIZABLE: Since it is open source.
• UPDATES &NEW ADD-ONS: Bugs are fixed and new features are added in a hotfoot.

CONS:

• Cannot edit pre existing images.
• No text support for Photoshop PSD files although it can open some of them.

PLATFORM: MacOS, Windows, Linux and Graphic Tablets.

PRICE: Free with an option of donation.

SUMO PAINT

Built in 2008, Sumo paint is an image editing and painting software that works both as an illustrator and Photoshop and is available on cloud as well as for installation on system.

FILE SUPPORT: JPEG, PNG, GIF & SUMO formats.

PROS:

• VAST ART COMMUNITY: of over 4 million members.
• PIXEL EDITING AVAILABLE.
• LAYERING & MASKING FEATURE: for professional level image editing.

CONS:

• No third party plug ins.
• Flash support

PLATFORM: Browser, Desktop, iOS, Android and iPad.

PRICE: Free with an option to upgrade to Pro or Pro Plus at a premium.

FOTOR

Fotor is a coherent, powerful and easy to use photo processing software for graphic designing and image editing. This software canbe use to put wide range of effects. Additionally, Fotor allow to adjust color, size, ligt, and many more, which is very much similar to Irfanview software.

FILE SUPPORT: GIF, JPEG, PNG, RAW, BMP and TIFF.

PROS:

• VARIETY: Design templates, stickers, effects available.
• COLLAGE option available.
• SIMPLE, INTUITIVE & QUICK to use
• BATCH PROCESSING

CONS:

• Not for professional photographers
• RESOLUTION BREAKOUT: post image sharing and editing

PLATFORM: MacOS, Windows & Web based.

PRICE: Free basic version with advanced option for monthly fee.

Try Fotor online

PHOTO POS PRO

Enriched with filters, layers, masks, adjustment, enhancement & drawing tools, Photos Pos Pro is a Pixel based graphic designer and artwork application.

FILE SUPPORT: JPEG, TIFF, JPEG, GIF, RAW and its own format FPOS.

PROS:

• COHESIVE: arrangement of toolbar and menu array
• NOVICE & ADVANCE LAYOUT available
• CUSTOMIZABLE INTERFACE
• PLUGINS AVAILABLE

CONS:

• LIMITED EXPORTED FILE SIZE
• LACK of KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
• INTERFACE: looks outdated
• NO DODGE AND BURN OPTION

PLATFORM: MacOS, Windows, Linux, IOS, Android.

PRICE: Freemium

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP EXPRESS

Developed by Adobe Corporation, Adobe Photoshop express is a sleek browser based flash requiring image editing and collage developing application with the ability to connect to social media platforms.

FILE SUPPORT: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, RAW

PROS:

• DIVERSE: Can be easily supported on systems with weaker specifications.
• INTER- ADOBE INTERACTIVITY: Quite interactive with other adobe products.

CONS:

• Not for professional image retouch
• maximum image resolution of 16mp
• The Mobile version is less intensive than the desktop version.

PLATFORM: Android, iOS & Windows phone & tablets along with Windows desktop and Chromebooks.

PRICE: Freemium

MyPaint

Created in 2004, MyPaint is an open source comprehensive painting software with a gamut of brush configurations and versatility that even uses charcoals, ink, paint and pencil. It does not support image processing.

FILE SUPPORT: ORA, JPEG, and PNG

PROS:

• LIMITLESS CANVAS
• STABLE VERSION FOR LINUX
• LARGE COMMUNITY: of users available on Tumblr and DeviantArt
• EASY TO USE & CLUTTERFREE INTERFACE

CONS:

• NO HELP: Offline tutorials unavailable
• NO PERIODIC DEVELOPMENT
• NO STABLE VERSION: for Windows and Mac users.

PLATFORM: MacOS, Windows, Linux, Browser and Wacom Graphic tablets.

PRICE: Free

PINTA

Released in 2011 with the first stable version, Pinta is a simple open source raster graphics editor inspired by Paint.NET.

FILE SUPPORT: BMP, ICO, ORA, TIFF, JPEG/JPG, TGA and PNG

PROS:

• LIMITLESS UNDO/REDO OPTION
• MULTILINGUAL SUPPORT: 55 languages
• MULTILAYER SUPPORT.

Best Free Alternative To Photoshop For Windows 10

CONS:

Best Free Photoshop Alternative Mac

• NO BLENDING MODE
• SYSTEM CONSTRAINT: Mono or GTK to be downloaded as prerequisite for Pinta to run

PLATFORM: Linux, Windows, Mac OS

PRICE: Free

So these are the opensource and free similar software to Adobe Photoshop. If you are using any other application to edit images, then let us know by leaving your valueable comment below.