If you need to edit or manipulate a photo or other image, in all likelihood you've considered using Adobe Photoshop to do so. First released almost thirty years ago, this powerful editing software is preferred by some of the world's top designers and can be utilized to create almost anything the imagination can conjure up. Many graphics-intensive movies and video games, as well as stunning works of art, have come to fruition with the help of Photoshop at some point along the way during the creative process.
![Adobe Photoshop Free Adobe Photoshop Free](/uploads/1/2/3/7/123781780/167240911.png)
Although you can pay monthly as opposed to a one-time fee, the price of running Photoshop can prove to be prohibitive. Hope is not lost, however, as there are several alternatives available which offer some of Photoshop's features and will not cost you a penny to use. Each of these free applications offers their own unique functionality, and some may be better suited than others when it comes to meeting your specific needs.
For example, not all free Photoshop alternatives support the Adobe application's default PSD format. Others, meanwhile, will not be able to recognize some multi-layered Photoshop files. Limitations aside, one of the free options listed below (or a combination of several) may be exactly what you are looking for to create or modify an image.
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GIMP
What We Like
- Constantly updated with new features.
- Highly customizable and extensible.
What We Don't Like
- Limited support for layers, macros, and custom shapes.
- Cluttered UI with annoying floating windows.
One of the most full-featured Photoshop alternatives, GIMP (short for GNU Image Manipulation Program) offers such a large set of features that even the most complex tasks can be achieved without any strain on your budget. They say that you get what you pay for, but in GIMP's case, that idiom doesn't necessarily ring true. With a very active developer community that has historically listened to user requests and feedback, this free option continues to grow as raster editor technology expands.
While not always as intuitive as Photoshop in terms of functionality and design, GIMP makes up for some of its perceived clumsiness with several in-depth tutorials for both beginning and advanced users that help you use the majority of its components with little or no pre-existing knowledge of the open source application. With that said, if you're only looking for the very basics in a raster-based graphics editor then GIMP may actually be a little too much and you may benefit from one of the simpler alternatives on our list.
Available in almost twenty languages for Linux, Mac, and Windows platforms, GIMP recognizes almost all file formats that you'd expect from a paid editor like Photoshop including GIF, JPEG, PNG and TIFF among others, as well as partial support for PSD files (not all layers may be readable).
Also similar to Photoshop, a large number of third-party plugins are available that enhance GIMP's functionality further. Unfortunately, the main repository that houses them is outdated and hosted on an insecure site, so we cannot recommend utilizing registry.gimp.org at this time. However, you can also find some GIMP plug-ins hosted on GitHub. As always, download at your own risk when dealing with unverified third-party repositories.
- Linux
- macOS
- Windows
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Pixlr
What We Like
- Extensive layer support with multiple blending modes.
- Includes built-in filters and adjustment tools.
What We Don't Like
- No social media integration.
- Layer masks tool is cumbersome to use at first.
A browser-based alternative to Photoshop, Pixlr is owned by well-known software developers Autodesk and is quite robust when it comes to available features and allows for progressive editing and enhancing as well as original image design.
The Pixlr Express and Pixlr Editor web apps will run in most modern browsers as long as you have Flash 10 or above installed and offer a significant number of integrated filters along with limited layer support. Pixlr recognizes the main culprits when it comes to graphical file formats such as JPEG, GIF, and PNG and also allows you to view some PSD files, although those larger in size or complex in nature may not open.
The web-based Pixlr even has a handy Webcam feature built right into its dashboard that lets you capture and manipulate photos on-the-fly.
In addition to the browser version, Pixlr also has free apps for both Android and iOS devices that let you perform a number of editing features from your smartphone or tablet. The Android app is so popular, in fact, that it has been installed on well over 50 million devices.
- Chrome OS
- Linux
- macOS
- Windows
- Android
- iOS
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Paint.NET
What We Like
- Streamlined interface is a breeze to navigate.
- Helpful keyboard shortcuts.
What We Don't Like
- UI lacks a tool for managing plug-ins.
- Text can't be edited after it's deselected.
A free Photoshop alternative strictly for Windows versions 7 through 10, the Paint.NET interface is reminiscent of the operating system's Paint application; the traditional image editing tool for PC users worldwide. The similarities are no coincidence, as the original developer's intent was to replace MS Paint with something a little better.
That was a long time ago, and Paint.NET has since grown by leaps and bounds to the point where it's comparable in some ways to the more advanced editing software on the market, both free and paid. This includes the ability to use multiple layers and blending, all the while maintaining a fairly simple interface that lends itself to even the most novice user. If you do get stuck, the Paint.NET forums are an invaluable source for assistance where inquiries are sometimes answered in mere minutes. Couple that with the tutorials found on the same website and this Windows-only graphics editor offers a user-friendly experience.
Although Paint.NET does not provide some of the higher-end functionality of Photoshop or even GIMP, its feature set can be expanded upon through the use of third-party plugins. For example, the application does not natively support PSD files but can open Photoshop Documents once the PSD plugin is installed.
The self-proclaimed fastest image editor available, Paint.NET can run in almost two dozen languages and is free to use for both business and commercial use with no restrictions.
- Windows 7 or higher
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PicMonkey
What We Like
![Photoshop Photoshop](/uploads/1/2/3/7/123781780/895224799.png)
- Supports cloud storage integration.
- You can make custom collages without signing up.
What We Don't Like
- No layer support.
- Free version is rather limited.
Another platform-independent, web-based design and editing tool with a lot to offer is PicMonkey, which was seemingly designed with the neophyte user in mind but also packs a punch for those looking for more state-of-the-art features. As long as you have a browser running Flash, PicMonkey is accessible on virtually any platform and lets you start your creation from scratch or begin editing an existing image file in under a minute.
PicMonkey will not replace Photoshop's more advanced functionality and you won't have much luck with PSD files, but it is ideal for working with filters and even creating collages from within your favorite browser. The free version offers quite a bit in terms of features, but you'll need to pony up some cash if you want access to some of the app's exclusive effects, fonts, and tools as well as an advertisement-free experience.
The premium adaptation of PicMonkey features a 7-day free trial that can be activated by providing your email address and payment information. If you want to continue using its advanced functionality long-term, though, a monthly fee of $7.99 or $47.88 for an annual membership is required.
With an oft-updated blog featuring a bevy of tips and tutorials, you should be able to figure out whether or not PicMonkey is the right option to suit your needs within the week-long trial period.
Smartphone and tablet users may also want to try the free PicMonkey Photo Editor app, available for both Android and iOS platforms.
- Chrome OS
- Linux
- macOS
- Windows
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SumoPaint
What We Like
- Great layer support.
- Affordable pro package.
One of our personal favorites, SumoPaint's interface will look very familiar if you have past Photoshop experience. The similarities are more than just skin deep, too, as its layering functionality and fairly wide range of editing tools, including several brushes and wand types, make it a formidable alternative.
The free version of SumoPaint runs in most Flash-enabled browsers and is mainly supported by on-page ads. There is also a Chrome Web App available for Chromebooks as well as users running Google's browser on other desktop operating systems.
More intricate projects may not be suitable for SumoPaint, and its file support is somewhat limited and does not include Photoshop's default PSD format. You can open files with traditional image extensions such as GIF, JPEG, and PNG while edits can be saved in the app's native SUMO format as well as JPEG or PNG.
If you try the free version and feel that SumoPaint is what you've been looking for, then you may want to give Sumo Pro a whirl. The paid version allows for an ad-free experience as well as access to additional features and tools for about $4 per month if you pay for a year in advance. Sumo Pro also offers a downloadable version of its software that can be used while offline, as well as access to a dedicated technical support team and cloud storage.
- Chrome OS
- Linux
- macOS
- Windows
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Krita
What We Like
- Customizable interface.
- Brush tools feature detailed previews.
What We Don't Like
- Updates are often unstable.
- Consumes a lot of CPU resources.
An interesting editing and painting tool, Krita is an open source application that has seen its feature set expand significantly in recent years. With a nifty palette and a seemingly endless amount of brush customizations which can be stabilized to smooth out even the most unsteady hand, this Photoshop alternative supports most PSD files and offers advanced layer management.
Free to download, the regularly updated desktop application also utilizes OpenGL and allows you to author and manipulate HDR images among many other benefits. Available for Linux, Mac, and Windows, Krita boasts a fairly active forum containing sample artwork created by members of its user community.
There is another version of Krita optimized for ultrabooks and other touchscreen PCs, named Gemini, available from Valve's Steam platform.
- Linux
- macOS
- Windows
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Adobe Photoshop Express
What We Like
- No registration required.
- Excellent white balance adjustment with numerous presets.
What We Don't Like
- Requires an internet connection to use.
- Only edits JPEG files.
While Adobe charges a fee to use its main Photoshop software, the company does offer free image editing tools in the form of the Photoshop Express application. Available for Android, iOS and Windows tablets and phones, this surprisingly capable app allows you to enhance and tweak your photos in a number of ways.
In addition to correcting issues such as red eye with just a tap of the finger, Photoshop Express also makes it easy to apply unique effects and incorporate custom frames and borders before sharing your pictures on social media or elsewhere from right within the app itself.
- Windows 8.1 or higher (desktop or tablet)
- Windows Phone 8.1 or higher
- Windows 10 Mobile
If you’re here, you’re probably searching for an easy way to use Photoshop for free. That’s getting harder to find: Whether you’re editing a fantastic meme or trying to get professional work done for a client, Photoshop is almost entirely a subscription service these days with periodic updates, and the old methods of using a past version of the software don’t really function anymore.
So let’s talk about the best way to experience Photoshop for free, and the rare cases in which old downloads may be the best option for you. You may also want to check out other free photo-editing software available online, or look for the best photo editing apps for iOS or Android if you prefer to work on mobile. But for the best results, you will probably want a great photo editing monitor to work on.
Download your free trial
Right now, the top way to use Photoshop without paying anything is to sign up for the free trial, and then cancel before that trial ends. Adobe offers a free seven-day trial of the latest version of Photoshop, which you can start whenever you want.
Step 1: Navigate to the Adobe website and select Start your free trial when you are ready to begin. Adobe will offer you three different free trial options at this point. You probably want to choose the middle option, which is just Photoshop. The left-hand option, however, will give you access to other photo tools you may find useful for your trial.
Step 2: The download should automatically begin. This download will work with both MacOS and Windows 10 as long as you have several GB of storage space for the app and related software.
Step 3: Find the Photoshop_Installer.dmg file and open it. Adobe will then download both Photoshop program and the Creative Cloud desktop app onto your computer, because this allows it to tempt you with a variety of other Adobe apps in addition to Photoshop. If necessary, you will now need to fill out a few quick questions and sign in with an Adobe Account, or create a new a Creative Cloud membership — this is the membership that you will have to pay for after the trial.
Step 4: You can now use Photoshop for seven days, which starts on the day that you download the free trial. Make sure you cancel the trial and remove your Creative Cloud account if necessary so that you don’t start paying for anything!
Adobe makes it very difficult for you to sign up for an additional free trial after your first, and keeps a record of the downloads that have been made on your computer. If you fully delete Photoshop or use a different computer — and sign in with a new Adobe account — you may be able to get another free trial, but it doesn’t always work.
Using Photoshop CS2
Once, Photoshop CS2 (Creative Suite 2) was available for a free download if you had purchased this old version of Photoshop sometime in the past. Since many people looking for a free Photoshop app just want the options that CS2 provides, this worked out well for many long time Photoshop users who didn’t want to use a subscription service or download new versions.
Unfortunately, there are now huge caveats with this process that make it largely unworkable for most users. These include:
- Adobe has disabled activation servers for CS2 and Acrobat 7 due to issues with their age (both around 7 years old). They are neither supported nor updated.
- An original serial number from a past purchase was required to download and use CS2. This is no longer the case—now you can only use the specialized version of CS2 with a single serial number provided by Adobe (see below). Your original software is no longer supported.
- Windows 10 has had growing problems trying to use Photoshop CS2 due to outdated compatibility. It is now quite difficult to get the software running on Windows.
- MacOS has not been compatible with CS2 since OS X 10.7 Mountain Lion, and current versions of MacOS can no longer support it.
Basically, the only reason you should consider CS2 now is if you had previously bought that version of Photoshop, use it on a Mac, and are willing to keep that Mac at a much earlier version of MacOS—prior to OS X 10.7 Mountain Lion.
Unfortunately, keeping your operating system rolled back to this extent (MacOS is now one 10.14 Mojave) can open up your Mac to security dangers, and may make other apps or features incompatible, and will become increasingly unusable in the future. We only suggest this option if you desperately need to use Photoshop for a task, and have a dedicated Mac that you can keep rolled back for this project, but don’t use for sensitive information.
If this in the case, then head to the Adobe download webpage and select CS2. Adobe will then have you say I accept to various warnings about disabled servers and outdated software. Then you can check out the CS2 and Acrobat 7 (both are required) system requirements, choose a language for downloading, and then start downloading the proper files for the right operating system. Note the serial number on the right that you must use. Good luck!
Editors' Recommendations
The name 'Photoshop' has become synonymous with photo editing, but you don't need to pay for Adobe's industry-standard software to make your photos look amazing; there are free alternatives that can help you achieve amazing results without opening your wallet.
Simple photo-enhancing software has its place, but a genuine Photoshop alternative needs more than just red-eye correction and a handful of retro filters; it has to offer layers and masks, batch-editing, and a wide assortment of automatic and manual editing tools. It also needs plugins to fill any gaps in its feature-set, and enable you to work as efficiently as possible.
Some of Photoshop’s unique features (like asset-linking via Adobe Creative Cloud) mean it will always remain the professional’s tool of choice, but the rest of us have an excellent choice of free alternatives.
1. GIMP
The best free Photoshop substitute – powerful and flexible
Supports layers and masks
Interface can be confusing
Powerful and adaptable, GIMP is the best free Photoshop alternative. With layers, masks, advanced filters, color adjustment and transformations – all of which are fully customizable – its feature set it unbeatable.
One of GIMP’s best features is its wealth of user-created plugins and scripts – many of which come pre-installed and ready to use. Some of these replicate popular Photoshop tools (such as Liquify), and there’s a package of animation tools for bringing your photos to live via blending and morphing. If all that isn't enough, you can even add Photoshop plugins to GIMP.
If that all sounds a little intimidating, don’t worry – GIMP’s excellent user manual includes step-by-step tutorials and troubleshooting guides to get you started.
The latest version of GIMP offers a new interface that puts all of its toolboxes, palettes and menus together in one window. This gives it a smart, Photoshop-like appearance, though its extensive patchwork of user-created tools means you’ll have to spend a little time experimenting and perusing the documentation to learn how to get the best results from each one.
2. Photo Pos Pro
A well designed Photoshop alternative, with a few restrictions
Intuitive design
Size of exported files limited
If you haven’t heard of Photo Pos Pro, you’re in for a treat. This free Photoshop alternative aims to give the best of both worlds, offering interfaces for both novice and advanced users. The novice option puts one-click filters and automatic adjustments at the fore, while the latter closely resembles Photoshop. Both are well designed, and more intuitive than GIMP’s endless lists and menus.
Like Photoshop, Photo Pos Pro offers both layers and layer masks, as well as superb clone and healing brushes. All the expected color-refining tools are present and correct. There’s support for batch-editing and scripts to save time on routine tasks, you can import images directly from a scanner or camera.
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Photo Pos Pro offers plugins in the form of extra frames and templates, and you can create and save your own filters for future use.
Its main drawback is the limit on the size of saved files (1,024 x 2,014 pixels), but if you like the basic version and want to upgrade, Photo Pos Pro Premium is currently discounted to £17.67 (US$20, AU$30) – a very reasonable price for a top-rate Photoshop alternative.
3. Paint.NET
A little light on features compared to GIMP, but easy to master
Supports layers
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Less customizable than GIMP
Open source Photoshop alternative Paint.NET started life as a substitute for Microsoft Paint, but over the years it’s grown into a powerful photo editor in its own right.
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Like GIMP and Photo Pos Pro, Paint.NET offers an excellent selection of automatic filters, plus manual editing tools for fine adjustments. It also supports layers, though you’ll need to install a plugin for masks. Batch editing is included by default, and its clone stamp makes it easy to erase blemishes and distractions.
Paint.NET isn’t quite as feature-filled as GIMP, but its smaller community of volunteer coders means its interface is more consistent and easier to use overall (though not as slick as Photo Pos Pro).
Paint.NET is a particularly good Photoshop alternative for working with multiple photos thanks to quick-access tabs that use thumbnails to represent each open image at a glance.
It's also very fast, and runs well even on low-powered PCs. There’s no limit on the size of saved images, but it takes third place due to its smaller range of options and customizable tools.
4. Pixlr Editor
A browser-based tool more powerful than some desktop apps
Photoshop-style tools
Pixlr Editor is no ordinary free Photoshop alternative – it’s the work of AutoDesk, one of the biggest names in computer-aided design and 3D modelling software, and is as impressive as its pedigree implies.
There are several versions available, including web, desktop and mobile apps. Here we’re looking at the Pixlr Editor web app, which is the only one that supports layers.
Pixlr Editor features a prominent ad on the right-hand side that limits the size of your working space but that’s its main drawback. You get all the expected Photoshop-style tools (including sharpen, unsharp mask, blur, noise, levels and curves to name just a few), as well as artistic filters and automatic optimization options. Nothing is hidden behind a paywall.
Pixlr Editor also gives you a toolbox very much like GIMP’s, with brushes, fills, selection, healing and clone stamp tools – all customizable via a ribbon above the workspace. There’s support for both layers and masks, and although Pixlr Editor can't edit pictures in batches, it will cheerfully handle multiple images at once in different tabs.
Sounds too good to be true? It might soon be. In 2015, Autodesk announced that it was working on an HTML5 version of its lightweight photo editor Pixlr Express, claiming that Flash “deserves everyone’s heartfelt salutation as it sails off into the sunset”. Pixlr Editor is also built in Flash, but no HTML5 replacement has been announced, so we suspect that it might not be long for this world.
For now, though, it’s a truly excellent Photoshop alternative – particularly if you don’t have the time or permission to download a desktop application.
5. Adobe Photoshop Express
Photoshop's best tools in a touchscreen-friendly package
Good looking filters
No plugin support
Adobe Photoshop Express is a lightweight version of the industry-standard photo editor available free for your browser, and as a downloadable app for Windows, iOS, and Android.
Photoshop Express is the simplest of the tools here, but Adobe’s expertise in photo editing means it’s far superior to other quick-fix software. It packages Photoshop’s most useful picture-enhancing sleek, minimalist interface that’s particularly well suited to touchscreens. Sliders enable you to adjust contrast, exposure and white balance of your photo dynamically, and there are automatic options for one-click adjustments. Once you’re satisfied with the results, you can either save the edited photo to your PC or share it via Facebook.
The main appeal of Photoshop Express is its simplicity, but this is also its biggest drawback. There are no layers, plugins, or brush tools, and you can’t crop or resize your pictures.
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If you’re looking for a powerful image editor for your smartphone or tablet, Photoshop Fix (for restoring and correcting images) and Photoshop Mix (for combining and blending images) are also well worth investigating. Photoshop Mix even supports layers, and both apps integrate with Adobe’s Creative Cloud software, making it an excellent counterpart to the desktop version of Photoshop, as well as a superb tool in its own right.
- Working with video instead? Check out our guide to the best video editors