# Alternatives to Photoshop

The raster editing standard.

Photoshop ranks #2 of 10 in Image editing, with an Alt Score of 96. It is proprietary, sold by subscription from $22.99/month and available on Windows, macOS, iOS and Web. 12 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/photoshop/
Category: Image editing

## Where Photoshop stands out

- **Content-aware / AI fill** — 2 of 9 apps with a verified answer have this

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: Photographers, designers, illustrators, and other creative professionals who need to edit photos or build complex layered images. Also used by hobbyists and students doing photo retouching or digital art.
- **What you get**: A raster image editor built around layers, masks, and selection tools for compositing, retouching, and painting. Includes generative AI fill and expand tools, camera raw editing, and a large library of filters, brushes, and adjustment layers. Non-destructive editing via adjustment layers and smart objects. Available on desktop (Mac/Windows), iPad, and a browser-based web version, with files synced through Creative Cloud.
- **How it works**: You open or import an image, then build up edits using layers, masks, and selection tools, applying adjustments, filters, or AI-generated content as needed. Work is saved in the PSD format and can be exported to standard image formats or synced across devices via Creative Cloud, which requires a paid subscription.

## Profile

- **License**: Proprietary (verified 2026-07-11)
- **Pricing model**: Subscription (verified 2026-07-11)
- **Starts at**: $22.99/month (verified 2026-07-11)
- **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, iOS, Web
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-11)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [Photopea](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/photopea.md) | 96 | Proprietary | Web |
| 2 | [GIMP](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/gimp.md) | 74 | GPL-3.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 3 | [Krita](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/krita.md) | 70 | GPL-3.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
| 4 | [Pixelmator Pro](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/pixelmator-pro.md) | 70 | Proprietary | macOS |
| 5 | [Affinity Photo](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/affinity-photo.md) | 62 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, iOS |
| 6 | [Luminar Neo](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/luminar-neo.md) | 62 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS |
| 7 | [Polarr](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/polarr.md) | 51 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android, Windows |
| 8 | [Paint.NET](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/paintnet.md) | 48 | Proprietary | Windows |
| 9 | [PhotoScape X](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/photoscape-x.md) | 40 | Proprietary | macOS |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| Image editing checklist | Photoshop | Photopea | GIMP | Krita | Pixelmator Pro | Affinity Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Subscription | Freemium | Free | Free | One-time | Freemium |
| Starts at | $22.99/month | $5/month | ? | ? | $49.99 | ? |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Web | Web | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | macOS | Windows, macOS, iOS |
| Layers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Non-destructive editing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| RAW support | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| CMYK support | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial | ? | Yes |
| PSD compatibility (open / save) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Content-aware / AI fill | Yes | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial |
| Vector tools included | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Batch processing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| Plugins ecosystem | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | ? | ? |
| Runs in browser | Partial | Yes | No | ? | No | No |
| GPU acceleration | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | ? |
| Scripting / macros | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | ? |

## Sources

Sources for Photoshop. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **Pricing model**: Subscription — <https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/compare-plans.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Photoshop can be purchased as a standalone app for US$22.99/month, and annual billing is available at US$263.88/yr.”
- **Starts at**: $22.99/month — <https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/compare-plans.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Photoshop can be purchased as a standalone app for US$22.99/month, and annual billing is available at US$263.88/yr.”
- **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, iOS, Web — <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adobe-photoshop-photo-editor/id1457771281> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Adobe Photoshop brings everything that defines the iconic desktop photo editor to iOS and iPadOS, complete with customizable interfaces optimized for touch (and Apple Pencil).”
- **Status**: active — <https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/scripting.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “UXP Scripting is a low-code initiative that lets a single JavaScript file use Photoshop and UXP APIs to accomplish simple tasks.”
- **License**: Proprietary — <https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Free Trial and Online Photo & Design App”
- **Layers**: Yes — <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adobe-photoshop-photo-editor/id1457771281> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Unlimited layers, precise editing tools, and cutting-edge AI features are included to transform your images and workflow.”
- **Non-destructive editing**: Yes — <https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/nondestructive-editing.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Smart Objects are layers that contain image data from raster or vector images and preserve an image's source content with all its original characteristics, enabling you to perform nondestructive editi”
- **RAW support**: Yes — <https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/using/introduction-camera-raw.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Camera Raw software is included as a plug-in with Adobe Photoshop and adds functionality to Adobe Bridge.”
- **CMYK support**: Yes — <https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/color-modes.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Use the CMYK mode when preparing an image to be printed using process colors.”
- **PSD compatibility (open / save)**: Yes — <https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/desktop/save-and-export/export-files-to-different-formats/photoshop-file-formats-overview.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “PSD is the default format and the only one (besides PSB) that keeps all features intact.”
- **Content-aware / AI fill**: Yes — <https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/desktop/create-open-import-images/create-images/edit-images-with-generative-fill.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Generative Fill allows you to add, remove, or modify content in images using text prompts in Photoshop on desktop.”
- **Vector tools included**: Yes — <https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/desktop/draw-shapes-paths/draw-lines-curves/draw-paths-with-the-pen-tool.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “The Pen tool creates a line path which can be used to make a vector shape — a flexible, scalable object that maintains its sharp edges at any size, unlike pixel-based lines and shapes.”
- **Batch processing**: Yes — <https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/desktop/automate-tasks/process-a-batch-of-files/batch-process-files.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “To batch process files, select File > Automate > Batch and then select the action you want to use from the Set and Action dropdown menus.”
- **Plugins ecosystem**: Yes — <https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/photoshop-marketplace-plugins.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “You can check out hand-picked plugins from Editor's choice and Essential Plugins Collections in the Plugins Marketplace in addition to thousands of plugins and integrations from developers in one conv”
- **Runs in browser**: Partial — <https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/web/get-set-up/learn-the-basics/adobe-photoshop-faq.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Photoshop is available online on Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge version 102 and above (64-bit), and Firefox version 111 and above on desktop.”
- **GPU acceleration**: Yes — <https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/desktop/get-started/technical-requirements-installation/photoshop-and-graphics-processor-gpu-card-usage.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “On macOS, a GPU with Metal Support and 1.5 GB of GPU memory is required.”
- **Scripting / macros**: Yes — <https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/actions-actions-panel.html> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “An action is a sequence of recorded tasks, such as menu commands, tool operations, and panel adjustments, that you can play back on a single file or across multiple files.”

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Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/