Photoshop is a great tool, but it’s expensive, which can be a huge barrier to entry for many. There are some fantastic alternative image editing tools on the market, some of which offer features that aren’t actually even available in Photoshop. When my Adobe subscription lapses, these are the image editors I prefer to use — sometimes I use them even when I’m still paying for Photoshop, as some are easier to access or offer quicker, more convenient solutions.

6 Hypic

Image editing on-the-go with cross-platform access

This image editing app is created by the owners of TikTok and CapCut video editing software, ByteDance. While it’s available for some desktop applications, it shines best from the mobile app, providing plenty of image editing options on-the-go.

Not only does Hypic offer tons of free tools, but it also connects directly to CapCut mobile video editing software, so you can include your edited photos directly in short-form videos, and complete all the editing smoothly from your phone. This offers similar abilities as if you were to use Photoshop and share your assets to Premiere Pro.

Hypic Pro costs from $7 per month to use certain AI tools and filters, with many also being available for free. You can get a 7-day free trial, too. Hypic's AI tools are comparable to Photoshop's, including its neural filters like adding a smile to a portrait photo.

5 Photopea

Free browser-based Photoshop imitation

Famed as one of the most similar Photoshop alternatives, Photopea is a free open-source browser-based tool. It boasts a very similar interface to Photoshop, which is a great option if you don’t want to be overwhelmed with learning a new interface on your journey to letting go of Photoshop.

It does offer a premium version, like many Photoshop alternatives, but it’s not imperative to your image editing results that you pay for Photopea Premium. You can import and edit Adobe file types, such as .PSD and .AI, as well as typical file types like .JPEG, .PNG, .PDF .RAW, and those of other software like .FIG or .sketch.

There’s nothing limiting about using Photopea. You’ll feel like you’re using Photoshop and your computer system will be happier since it doesn’t require installing any software to slow things down.

4 Snapseed

Free photo editing on-the-go

Google’s Snapseed app is a great free mobile photo editing tool. Although it’s closer in comparison to Adobe Lightroom than Photoshop itself, you can use it to edit photos in similar ways as you’d manipulate them in Photoshop.

My favorite Snapseed tool is the Double Exposure tool, allowing you to create quick and realistic double exposure-effect images, something that would take time, multiple layers, and playing with selection and blend modes for too long if using Photoshop.

The benefit of the Snapseed app is that it’s available on both iOS and Android, and you can connect your Google Photos account to it for direct library access and photo management.

3 Adobe Express

Adobe’s best freemium editing tool

Adobe Express is obviously still an Adobe app, but it’s one of Adobe’s free apps, and you can use it without an Adobe subscription as long as you have an Adobe account. It does have a Premium upgrade for as low as $10 per month, but the free version of Adobe Express offers a lot anyway.

Express has plenty of similar tools as you'd find in Photoshop — of course, they’re exactly the same since it has the same developer, so this program should feel very comfortable. It contains many Adobe Firefly AI tools, such as Generative Fill, text-to-image generation, and 3D Text Effects.

If you’re leaving Photoshop for the first time, then Adobe Express is a great option for transitioning to new tools.

2 Canva

Convenient and fun image editing

When Canva first came on the scene, I scoffed at it for trying to become a serious graphic design and image-editing tool. But ten years later, it’s now one of my go-to options, and I’m continuously impressed by the tools offered.

Like Photoshop, Canva includes a host of AI tools in its Magic Media library. It also includes Canva Apps to give you even more editing options, as well as other tools like photo management and sharing, scheduling apps, further AI features, and fun experimental editing tools.

Although Canva is slowly becoming like Adobe with its increasing prices, the tools offered are often worth the price for most users. Canva also frequently offers free trials to Canva Pro, and the Canva Free option still offers plenty if you never want to pay.

I use Canva for quick and convenient photo editing, such as creating social media posts or video thumbnails for YouTube. Canva is available from the desktop, browser, and both mobile and tablet apps, and all files are accessible across each platform when you log in. It has great Team features and sharing options, along with a whole host of elements, text tools, and media for all uses.

In early 2024, Canva acquired Serif, the company that provides the Affinity Suite. This will change the game in the coming years, related to how Canva and Affinity software compare to Photoshop and Adobe as a whole.

1 Affinity Photo

The closest Photoshop alternative

Affinity Photo is the closest alternative to Photoshop in terms of power and tools available. The whole Affinity suite is a great alternative to Creative Cloud software, including its other programs: Affinity Designer, an Illustrator alternative, and Affinity Publisher, an alternative to Adobe InDesign.

Affinity Photo is available to purchase a perpetual license from $70, which works out to be much more cost-effective compared to Photoshop’s continuously increasing subscription prices, which start from $20 per month. At the time of writing, you can get a 120-day free trial of Affinity Photo 2 before needing to purchase the perpetual license for use. Typically, though, you can still get a 30-day free trial, which is more than Photoshop’s 7-day trial offerings.

The image editing tools in Affinity Photo closely resemble what you’ll find in Photoshop, although without AI tools. There are only a small handful of useful AI tools in Photoshop anyway, so you won’t be missing out much by not having any in Affinity Photo.

Don’t let Photoshop rule your image-editing journey

With a whole host of image editing options available, you don’t need to rely on Photoshop. Whether you’ve never subscribed to Photoshop, or you’re looking for a way out of your Adobe contract, these six tools offer plenty of options. Many alternatives to Photoshop replicate a similar interface, so you won’t have a steep learning curve. Some alternatives work hand-in-hand with other software, giving you the comfort of the cross-platform availability found in Photoshop. Overall, with any of the above tools, you’ll find freedom from the Photoshop giant, and there are plenty more tools available if these aren’t enough for you.