I never thought I was going to cancel all my Adobe subscriptions, but subscription fatigue and underwhelming updates helped me finalize the decision to pull the plug. And it turns out I didn't need Adobe software, not when there's a whole world of free and one-time purchase alternatives that are just as capable. Some of the tools aren't only "good enough," they're actually fun to use, too.

After Effects and Photoshop were my primary subscriptions, so here's a breakdown of the apps I replaced them with.

5 DaVinci Resolve

A professional-grade video editing and motion effects tool

DaVinci Resolve is an absolute beast when it comes to video editing and VFX. There's a reason it's used in professional settings like movie studios. At first glance, the interface can be a bit intimidating if you're coming from After Effects, mainly due to the multiple editing pages. But this is a good thing; you're basically getting multiple editors in one.

The Cut page is perfect for simple edits; I recommend staying on this page when you first start using the software, just to get attuned to the interface. Then move on to the Edit page for more advanced timeline-based editing, and the Color page for professional color grading. These three pages are all you need to create high-quality footage.

What attracted me most to DaVinci Resolve, however, was its Fusion page — it's a hub for all your visual effects and motion graphics, and it's node-based, which makes it more hands-on than After Effects' workflow. I'm also very impressed by the Fairlight page, which is a full-fledged audio editor. The only downside to Resolve is that it's resource-hungry, but so was After Effects, so it's not much of a trade-off.

4 Kdenlive

Perfect for keyframe editing

I've been using Kdenlive for some time now for simpler edits that still require keyframing. In many ways, it reminds me of After Effects and is also a powerful alternative to Premiere Pro. The layout, interface, and tools don't require a steep learning curve; if you know the basics of video editing, you can jump right in.

Kdenlive is perfect for green-screen editing and animated transitions, which is why I use it for YouTube and TikTok videos. On top of that, it's free and open-source, so there's no subscription, watermarks, or ecosystem traps. I can also use it on my Chromebook through the Linux environment, which practically makes it a portable editor.

3 GIMP

The best free, open-source image editing and design tool

I'm a big fan of GIMP, and it's probably one of your favorites too if you love open-source editors. It's not just a Photoshop alternative; GIMP is a powerful, although slightly quirky, tool in its own right. It's been around forever and still gets active updates (and useful ones, which is more than I can say for Photoshop).

GIMP might not feel very intuitive if you're coming straight from Photoshop, but that's only because it's not developed to be a Photoshop clone. However, I have been using it for the same editing tasks as Photoshop — it handles layering, masking, coloring, patterns, and brushing just as well. And I pretty much live in the GMIC plugin, which can handle anything you throw at it. It's not the fastest app, but that's not a deal-breaker for me.

2 Photopea

A free Photoshop clone

Something that I highly value in an accessible creative toolkit is a browser-based app, which is what Photopea is. And it's not just a Photoshop alternative, it's a Photoshop clone. It was specifically designed to mimic the Photoshop environment and editing experience, and its toolkit reflects that. You can easily import and edit PSD files, work with layers and smart objects, and it even has some vector functionality.

Photopea also surpasses GIMP in some areas, such as better text handling. This is my go-to tool for doing advanced editing quickly; it's absurdly good for being completely online and free.

1 Picsart

A comprehensive graphic design tool

Picsart isn't exactly a direct replacement for any of my Adobe subscriptions, unless you count the access I had to Adobe Express via my Photoshop subscription. But it's better than Express and surpasses Canva in many ways. I've been using Picsart for image editing and casual design work for years, both the mobile and browser apps.

It's the most intuitive and creative tool I have in my kit. I can remove a background in one tap, produce a fancy Instagram story from its endless template selection, and apply some of the strangest filters that other editors lack. It also transforms into a drawing tool with a host of brush options.

Admittedly, I do pay for the subscription because I got curious about what was hiding behind the paywall; however, even as a free user, I used to get more than enough functionality out of Picsart.

Was leaving Adobe worth it?

Cutting Adobe loose felt risky at first, but it turned out to be liberating, especially since I already had a fantastic toolkit to fall back on. I'm not saying these apps are 1:1 replacements — if you're coming from Adobe like me, there will be an adjustment period. But these tools are seriously worth exploring,

I've saved money, reduced bloat on my system, and discovered new ways to create in the absence of tools that were unique to Adobe. GIMP and Photopea are all you need for creating professional images. Add Picsart to that, and you have a full graphic design kit. DaVinci Resolve is a 5-in-1 tool, and it's nice to have Kdenlive as an easier alternative.

If you've been thinking about ditching the Creative Cloud suite, I can confirm that life after Adobe is doable, if not better.