Photo editing is one of the most in-demand skills at the moment. In eCommerce, many companies prefer hiring someone who rocks photo editing for their marketing and advertising team. Even in schools and typical offices, photo editing is mainstream. Talking about photo editing, there is one standard software that immediately appears in our mind—Photoshop.
Photoshop is undeniably one of the best photo editing weapons. But, working with Photoshop may be “too handful” and complicated for some of us, especially if you are new in the field of photo editing. Aside from this, not everyone can purchase Photoshop’s subscription plans. Luckily, there are still tons of Photoshop alternative one can find online.
Below is the list of programs like photoshop you can find on the internet. These photoshop like programs will give you just the same software as Photoshop uses. What’s more exciting? Some of them are free!
Image taken from MB Visuals
Free Photoshop Alternatives you should try
- GIMP
GIMP is one photoshop alternative that is loved by many. It is a software like photoshop that is known for being versatile. Once installing it, you can add several software plug-ins to have the photo editing tools you want. You can access basic photoshop alternative tools like color picker, crop, selection, eraser, and the text tool. You can also have some of its advanced photoshop like programs like the layers, smudge, blur, cloning tool, sharpen, and pen tools. GIMP can even offer you a limited set of photoshop alternative presets to make your photo edits look more amazing.
- PicMonkey
PicMonkey is among the many photoshop alternative examples which have a simple, yet still powerful interface. Bloggers commonly use it in creating colorful collages and even for scrapbooking. A photo editor can start editing this Photoshop alternative by simply dragging an image onto the web application’s main homepage. There, you can immediately start making collages depending on what you want them to look like. If you want, you can choose to start editing using a blank slate and design it creatively, depending on your taste. Although PicMonkey is a free photoshop like program, it offers premium plans, including a small monthly charge for gaining access to its premium version, giving you a lot of extras.
- Fotor
Fotor is one free photoshop competitor that is mainly compatible with Mac and Windows users. It is a photoshop alternative that gained a “revolutionary photo editing app and design maker”. With these free photo editing programs like photoshop, you can start photo editing, making collages, and even begin making freehand digital designs. It is packed with a collection of unique themes and templates which users can use in making their photo editing designs.
- Canva
Canva is one of the most famous and aesthetic photoshop alternatives. It is one photo editing app that goes all out in terms of image editing. Canva claims that they can make designing and photo editing simple for anyone. This photoshop alternative is packed with thousands of amazing design elements like free stock photographs, templates, layouts, and different font styles. You can also use your own taken photos in creating your designs. You can design your business cards, desktop wallpapers, posters, social media posts, or banner images for your blog posts. Many of Canva’s photo editing elements are free, but you have the option to take it to the next level by purchasing some of its unique features.
- Pixlr Editor
Pixlr is a free photoshop alternative available through any type of device, as long as you have an internet connection. This software like photoshop, is a user-friendly photo-editing application that is also feature-wise. It comes with a primary photo editing function like refining selections, adding layers, or fixing touch-ups within your edits.
If you are already familiar with programs like photoshop, you will find Pixlr easy to use and is very intuitive. However, if you are a newbie in photo editing, you’re on your own. Finding helpful video tutorials for Pixlr is next to impossible.
- Sumo Paint
Sumo Paint is a photoshop alternative that is suitable for any type of device. It is one software like photoshop, which focuses on enhancing illustration, giving a photo editing vibe between Photoshop and Illustrator.
- Paint.Net
Paint.Net is among photoshop like programs that offer a fun alternative for designers who use Windows. It has a wide collection of tools and great features. It includes impressive features like creating layers, unlimited undo, and a lot cooler photo editing effects which can help you make your design. Paint.NET was first built initially as a product for a student project. Today, it has completely turned into a more reliable photo and graphics editor that many individuals now choose rather than Photoshop.
- Krita
Krita is a software like photoshop that is best for Mac, Windows, and Linux users. It has a website interface that is patterned on the flagship products of Adobe. It is one photoshop alternative that is considered superior by many. A fanbase of its devoted users was even made to advocate the use of Krita. Although Krita is primarily designed for designers and digital illustrators, it is still jam-packed with a set of the best photo editing tools one can use in making their designs.
- Rawstudio
Rawstudio is one of the best photoshop alternatives for Mac and Linux users. It is free software like Photoshop, which is primarily designed to manipulate and edit raw-taken photos. By using this photo editing application, you can create an edited raw photo without worrying about its pixel quality. Rawstudio excels in the photo enhancing field, giving its users a robust tool in reviewing all their raw photos at once.
The original developer of Rawstudio had one simple goal when he made the app: to create a photo enhancing application that supports any raw format photo file from all digital camera users.
Image taken from KarenLo
Affordable Photoshop Alternatives you should never miss out
This next section will give you ideas on some affordable Photoshop alternatives you can use in photo editing. Though they may not be free, their subscription plans are cheaper than that of Photoshop, and still packed with amazing features.
- Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator is one of the best photo editing options for Mac users. It can offer you amazing quality of performance and photo editing speed for a total amount of at least forty bucks. It levels up the traditional way of graphical editing by running through a different part of your computer system, freeing up a large amount of your system’s memory. In simple words, it does not eat too much section in your storage. The fun part, Pixelmator is filled with all of Photoshop’s excellent tools and features while also offering other photo editing tools for drawing vector-based graphic designs.
- Affinity Photo
When it comes to the best Photoshop competitor, Affinity Photo is among the strongest. This Photoshop alternative makes things easier for photo editors through its easy-to-navigate transitions and use of keystroke shortcuts. It also provides many photo editing features for its users. Affinity Photo also offers the best pricing for its subscription plans. You can make a one-time payment for its software, and it's already yours.
You can find some of the basic tools like red-eye removal, crop, resizing, drawing tools, and selection. You can also find advanced features, including lens distortion correction, clone stamp, color adjustment settings, blur, set of brushes, layer masks, and other advanced photo editing tools. One of its key features includes batch processing which allows you to make the same adjustment you did on a photo to other images.
- Acorn
Acorn is software like photoshop, which is best for Mac users. This Photoshop alternative cracked certain photo editing elements from Photoshop for its features, removing the extras to give its users a simple yet fast and effective image editing program. For only thirty dollars, you can already have that photoshop feel with these photoshop like programs. Although Acorn is not a complete photo editing replacement for photoshop, it can smoothly work with RAW image files, so you may find these photo editing applications helpful.
- ArtRage
Artrage is a photoshop alternative that offers specific needs for a professional painter. It is one fierce photoshop competitor that has several brushes and brushes heads users can choose from. This photoshop alternative is available on desktop and can also perform well on mobile devices and more fun to use on tablets.
- Corel Paintshop Pro
Corel is one photoshop alternative that has been helping photo editors for years. It has created an impressive collection of tutorials and made support features to help you learn their software. Once using it, you will find collections of preset filters that allow you to give your photos a unique and artistic effect. You can even manually adjust your own chosen images and design them however you want them to look.
The interface of this photoshop alternative is clean and organized into two primary tabs: Manage and Edit. Using the Edit tab, you will find the essential photo editing tools like selection, crop, resizing, shaping tool, and many other advanced tools. This software like Photoshop, also includes touch-up tools to help remove blemishes and unwanted elements while editing your images. Meanwhile, the Manage tab allows you to search on your computer for your own set of photos. Once you found what you wanted to use, you can start organizing the photos depending on their rating, categories, date, and location.
Image taken from Drawing on Experience
Start Creating Your Own Photo Editing Portfolio with Strikingly
Now that you’ve done editing your photos, what's the next thing to do? Share it with the world!
Online Personal Photography portfolios are one best weapons in securing yourself, several followers. Through portfolios, you can easily share your masterpieces with others and even gain more opportunities like being hired by companies. Many businesses nowadays even choose to use online portfolios in searching for the best candidate for their team. They even personally browse on different online websites to find the best match. So why not start creating yours?
Want to know more on how to start creating your online photo editing portfolio?
Chat with us, and let’s work for it together.
Image taken from Leo Liu Design
