10 Best Free Photoshop Alternatives in 2017

For the next few minutes, you’d be treated to a list of 10 of the best free Photoshop alternatives. Don’t forget to let us know your favourite software.

Best Free Photoshop Alternatives

Let’s get started, shall we?

1. GIMP

For many who haven’t tasted the editing power of GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program), they’ll probably continue outsourcing their graphics design and photo editing jobs to individuals who will use this intuitive application to work their magic on those photos. GIMP has been around since the 90s and is one of the few photo editing programs that allows you to make your own changes to its source code and then redistribute your own version for free – Adobe would surely sue you for doing that. GIMP is a cross-platform software that works on Linux, Mac, and Windows. The software provides the user with some of the best high-quality photo manipulation tools and comes in handy when you want to create icons, user interfaces and lots more. There are however a few downsides to this software which though they are negligible, are worth mentioning. They include the lack of user support as well as the fact that it would take quite some time to become used to it.

2. Pixlr

Pixlr is yet another free alternative to Photoshop. Obviously, the software may not be as good as the Photoshop, but it doesn’t make sense to spend $800 on a Photoshop when all you need is just to retouch an image or design something simple. Pixlr is owned by Autodesk, the owners of AutoCAD, so you expect nothing less than quality. It comes with very useful features that ensure you do what needs to be done without spending much of your funds. This free alternative to Photoshop is available for Windows, Mac and Mobile, not forgetting that it is also browser based, so you can work on any internet enabled computer that doesn’t have the software installed on it. The full version, however, costs $15 yearly – it would amount to the price of Photoshop in about 55 years.

3. Paint.NET

This Windows only Paint.NET software is very similar to the preinstalled Paint software in Windows but is much more advanced than it in many ways. It is one of the few Photoshop alternatives that cannot actually compete with Photoshop if the latter were to be made free. However, it takes care of basic image editing and is less cluttered with tools as is the case in GIMP. Working with Paint.NET is a breeze and would only take a few hours to become very conversant with the software.

4. Canva

Canva is an “Amazingly Simple Graphic Design” tool. Canva packs the power of Photoshop as well as a free stock image library that can favorably compete with Shutter Stock into its web-based platform. Wherever you are in the world, designing and editing images on the go is very easy and requires little or no expertise. Just a few hours and you’re already working like a pro – you must have been conversant with a handful of other photo editing tools of course.

5. Seashore

Seashore isn’t the seashore along the beach. No. It’s a user-friendly software that is regarded by many as one of the few powerful Photoshop alternatives available for Mac after the likes of GIMP and the web-based apps like Canva and Pixlr. Seashore is only available for Mac’s Cocoa UI and packs a truckload of features that should serve the basic image editing needs of its users who aren’t keen on spending money purchasing Photoshop.

6. Pixelmator

There are quite a few Photoshop alternatives that have the privilege of working with the new MacBook with Touch Bar – even Adobe just released a version of Photoshop that works with the Touch Bar on the new MacBook – so it is imperative to make mention of Pixelmator as a worthy inexpensive substitute for Photoshop. Pixelmator costs just $30 and is strictly available for Mac. If you want to paint, retouch, cut out and do more stuff like creating vector images, then Pixelmator would do just fine in lieu of Photoshop.

7. PicMonkey

For such a web based free Photoshop alternative, one cannot help but imagine the inspiration behind such a name. The name notwithstanding, PicMonkey is a good image editing tool and an alternative to Photoshop that comes in handy when all you want to do is simply edit an image or two on your browser. It’s however, “too basic” to say the least, unlike its counterparts like Canva, which provide users with tons of great features.

8. Krita

If you’re a user of the Linux OS and you have been searching the internet for the best Photoshop alternatives, Krita might just be what you’re looking for. Krita is an open source free painting program for professionals using Linux. It’s easy to use and has a flawless GUI through which you can create beautiful illustrations and comics, concept arts as well as texture and matte painters. Krita is also available for Windows and Mac.

9. Adobe Photoshop Express

In a bid to ensure that the number of people looking for free Photoshop alternatives is reduced to the barest minimum, Adobe released the Adobe Photoshop Express which is simply a compilation of all the basic tools available in the main Photoshop software. The Adobe Photoshop Express is a cross-platform software available for Windows PC, Android, iOS, and Windows Phone/Mobile. This free version of Photoshop should satiate your hunger for a Photoshop substitute when you start using it.

10. Corel PaintShop Pro X9

The Corel PaintShop Pro X9 wraps up this list of free Photoshop alternatives. This software costs just about $80 and packs some of the awesome features found in the Corel Draw Graphics Suite X8 and Adobe Photoshop into one application. Hence, it is regarded by many as the ultimate photo editing software. What’s more? The software comes with some juicy bonus packs of effects free of charge, even as it allows you to capture your screen. Now that’s one feature image editing apps lack. Sharing the steps on how you created magnificent pieces using the software just got better with its screen recording feature.

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Photoshop has set a high standard that many developers of different image editing software have been unable to surpass till date. Instead of spending all your savings on Photoshop, these aforementioned free Photoshop alternatives will do the work to a great extent, to say the least.