5 Free Photoshop Alternatives With Great Performance

May 16, 2021
Creatype Studio
Share:
Table of Content
Table of Content

Adobe Photoshop is a standard software used for graphic designing. However, we all know how it requires bigger RAM for this software to run smoothly. Without an adequate processor, you might experience a computer freeze. Additionally, this software is quite expensive for beginners.

However, you don’t have to worry since there are free Photoshop alternatives you can try. While the features may not be as extensive as Photoshop offers, these alternatives still provide great features for your editing project.

1. Photopea

 

photoshop alternatives
learnubuntumate.weeby.com

 

Photopea is a web-based alternative to Photoshop. Just visit their website, and you can immediately work on a project. This software offers various tools that you can usually use in premium photo editing tools.

With Photopea, you can crop images, change colours, blur, add text, and many more. Once you finished editing, you can save your file in PNG, JPEG, SVG, or any other format options. Overall, Photopea is the most similar image editing program to Photoshop.

2. GIMP

 

daviesmediadesign.com

 

GIMP not only offers tools for photo editing or graphic creation but also provide code support for developers. Therefore, developers will be able to use their design across websites and customize them to suit their needs.

It offers many great photo editing features so that users can easily touch up their photos. It can be used in GNU/Linux, OS X, Windows, and various other operating systems.

However, GIMP has some potential downsides that you will need to consider. It may require downloading other design tools to make the most of the software. It also has an outdated UI that some designers may think difficult to work with.

3. PhotoScape X

 

photoshop alternatives
downloadbull.com

 

Another Photoshop alternatives are PhotoScape X which offers plenty of powerful tools. You will have all the normal editing tools plus bulk-editing features such as resizing in batch, format change in batch, and overall, more streamlined editing.

This one is a great alternative for Photoshop if you add a little touch to an image or even creating images from scratch. This software works well on Windows and Mac. However, the free version still has limited free tools. But if you only use image-editing software just for a little touch-up, this limitation shouldn’t be a problem.

4. Fire Alpaca

 

fire alpaca.com

 

Fira Alpaca works well on Mac and Windows and has simple functionality for building graphics. This software provides templates for creating graphics; however, you can also create your own from scratch.

With this software, you can have a 2D viewing option and 3D viewing as well. Due to its simplicity, Fire Alpaca is the perfect Photoshop alternatives if you think Adobe software is too complex. However, if you need more complex functionality, this one might not work for you.

5. Krita

 

photoshop alternatives
glints.com

 

Krita is a free painting program and even dubbed as TechRadar’s best painting software in 2019. It is an open-source program and has no limit in terms of editing tools. As such, you will find more than 100 brush types, nine brush engines, and a brush stabilizer.

This software is intuitive and lightweight, making it a perfect alternative for Photoshop and even better than GIMP. While it does have great brush selection, note that this software is more focused on digital painting. You will not have photo editing features that you usually find in Photoshop. But if you’re looking for a free digital painting program, then this is the one for you.

Those are five lists of Photoshop alternatives with great features that you should try. While they have some possible downsides, they are still worth trying, especially if you’re still a beginner in graphic designing and hasn’t ready to invest money for Photoshop premium.

Related Post

Impactful AI Personalization Landing Page Optimization Trends
November 21, 2025
AI personalization landing page optimization trends are changing how marketers engage visitors. By customizing content in real time, landing pages can increase conversion rates. This aligns with a report from SuperAGI, which shows that optimized pages can boost conversions by 20–30%. However, even the smartest AI can’t replace strong branding and design. Without cohesive visuals,…
READ MORE
Why Responsive Web Design Is Good for SEO: 10 Key Reasons
November 19, 2025
Everyone loves a responsive, high-speed website, which explains why responsive web design is good for SEO. Beyond improving user satisfaction, a responsive layout also boosts the site’s ranking and visibility on search engines. Let’s learn the key reasons it makes such a big difference.  Key Takeaways: Responsive web design improves SEO by supporting mobile-first indexing,…
READ MORE
Top 10 Mistakes in Web Design That Can Break Your Website
November 17, 2025
Even well-intentioned websites can fail if they overlook the basics. While occasional mistakes are normal, repeating them in professional projects can lead to long-term consequences. The top 10 mistakes in web design are surprisingly common, and avoiding them can dramatically improve performance and user satisfaction. Key Takeaways: Common web design mistakes like slow loading speeds,…
READ MORE
Font Licensing for Websites that Developers Must Know
November 14, 2025
Understanding font licensing for websites is essential for anyone who designs, develops, or manages digital content. Without the right permissions, even large brands can face serious legal trouble that leads to lawsuits, financial losses, and major reputation damage. For example, in 2012, Brand Design Co. sued NBCUniversal over misuse of its Chalet font. Oxygen Media…
READ MORE