11 Free Adobe Photoshop Alternatives (Softwares)

At the point this article was created, Adobe Photoshop CS3 still cost about USD $649 per copy. I think it’s safe to say that not everyone will afford to get a copy or willing to get a copy if all one need to do is just basic image editing stuff. That’s probably one of the main reason why there’s still a fairly large crowd out there actively looking for free alternatives to Photoshop to help them in their daily basic design jobs. If you are not going into advance image editing, you should know that there’s always free software out there capable to perform what Photoshop can.

There’s also free web services that allows you to perform basic image editing online. Here’s few examples I’ve previously mentioned in this blog:

If you are not convinced by the stability of online services and looking for something that installs on your machine and are able to work even if you are without Internet connection, here’s some free alternatives to Adobe Photoshop, software versions. Full content after jump.

Gimp

Gimp works across several different platform (Linux, Mac, Windows, FreeBSD, Sun OpenSolaris) and is perhaps one of the best free alternatives out there so far. Gimp has a large user community, with great list of tutorials on the official sites.

Download Gimp
Paint.net

[Windows only] This photo editor runs on Windows. It has a large and growing community of users, with lots of tutorials and plugins.

Download Paint.net
Pixia

[Windows only] This free photo editor originates from Japan, with English versions to download. Supports layers, masks, and some basic tools of Photoshop.

Download PIxia
Seashore

[Mac only] Seashore is an open source image editor for Mac OS X’s Cocoa framework. It features gradients, textures and anti-aliasing for both text and brush strokes. It supports multiple layers and alpha channel editing. It is based around the GIMP’s technology and uses the same native file format.

Download Seashore.
Inkscape

Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics editor similar to Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Freehand, or Xara X. What sets Inkscape apart is its use of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), an open XML-based W3C standard, as the native format.

Download Inkscape.
Xara Xtreme

Xara Xtreme for Linux is a powerful, general purpose graphics program for Unix platforms including Linux, FreeBSD and (in development) OS-X. Formely known as Xara LX, it is based on Xara Xtreme for Windows, which is the fastest graphics program available, period.

Download Xara Xtreme.
ChocoFlop

[Mac only] ChocoFlop is an image editor for Mac OS X, based on the CoreImage technology. It is currently in beta stage and available freely.

Download ChocoFlop.
Photoplus

[Windows only] PhotoPlus is the amazing photo editing software that enables you to fix and enhance digital photos, create stunning bitmap graphics and even web animations.

Download Photoplus.
CinePaint

CinePaint is a deep paint image retouching tool that supports higher color fidelity than ordinary painting tools.

Download CinePaint.
Krita

[Linux only] Krita is an image processor for KOffice, which should be suitable for all your image creation and editing needs.

Download Krita.
Mac Preview

[Mac only] You may think this is just any normal image preview tool, but the fact is Mac’s Preview can perform more. Folks at Usingmac describe how you can use Mac’s Preview tool to perform basic image editing.
PhotoFiltre

[Windows only] It allows you to do simple or advanced adjustments to an image and apply a vast range of filters on it. It is simple and intuitive to use, and has an easy learning curve.

Download PhotoFiltre

Comments

Omar G May 26th, 2008

You forgot one of the best FREE digital imaging programs:

http://photofiltre.free.fr/download_en.htm

There are many filters that you can add, and it works great! One of the best!
Reply
hongkiat May 26th, 2008

@Omar Thanks for the heads up, updated :-)
Reply
maike May 26th, 2008

GREAT!!

Thanks for sharing…
Reply
Erica May 26th, 2008

Great list hongkiat. Personally, I prefer GIMP studio.
Reply
Myo Kyaw Htun May 26th, 2008

Great list! man. I’ve shared this post to my buddies
Reply
Danny May 26th, 2008

My favs are .net Paint, Picnik and GIMP.
Reply
Ramy May 26th, 2008

Nice list. I used to use GIMP, before I bought Photoshop.
Reply
Fachia May 26th, 2008

I think GIMP is the one that has more similarity to Photoshop than others mentioned up there. Nice list ..
Reply
V May 27th, 2008

Nicely Complied.
I think GIMP is the best amongst all if you really think Photoshop is too complicated.
GIMP has all the features.
Reply
Cleo July 4th, 2008

Thanks Hong Kiat! I searched google and found your site. I had intended to purchase photoshop, now I’m not buying anymore. Good stuff! I like GIMP.
Reply
Brett July 26th, 2008

I have tried many Photoshop Alternatives, and the best one I have found and Recommend is PhotoFiltre, Its an easy as Program to use. Now I have a Laptop as well but on Linux, I am waiting for PhotoFiltre-LX to come out, which is in the making.
So if you are looking for a good easy Photo Editing Program, Do try PhotoFiltre.
Reply
bert boan August 13th, 2008

Good list. Have you tried Acorn or Pixelmator? I’m trying to find an upgrade to Photoshop Elements 2.0 but I don’t want to go all the way to Photoshop.
Reply
Ek kian August 15th, 2008

hi Hong Kiat :)
if you are looking for free photoshop alternative then consider GimPhoto.

actually GimPhoto is GIMP modification with new PS menu layout, packed with many great plugins, such as: separation, save for web, batch process, noise removal and photography filters, and also improved with new brushset, new gradientset, every aspect is tweaked to improve user usability.

http://www.gimphoto.com
Reply
cautionsign August 17th, 2008

I personally prefer Paint.NET :D Because I like to extend the Filter or effects.
Reply
jaz September 1st, 2008

adobe still the best.
try this adobe photoshop 7 retail with serial
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CWIQJRR8
if you cant download it jaz contact me
find a way if you want
Reply
photoshop free tutorials October 10th, 2008

really amazing and useful resource thanks for sharing
Reply
Hattie October 29th, 2008

I like your list, and have tried Gimp and Foto filtre. They are a bit too deep for me; I just play at it. I have found a nice easy download for amateurs like me at Vicman software. Their Photo toolkit 1.7 is free and very convenient to use. Take a look, maybe it can offer something, even to experts. Thanks for posting your list, it simplified my searches.
Reply
rio2000 November 4th, 2008

great list

i am using gimp and inkscape sometime xara
Reply
Sajid Iqbal November 17th, 2008

Very good list but I must say that you mixed vector softwares like Inkspace & Xara Xtreme with raster app Photoshop. There is great difference between these two.
Reply
shankar March 19th, 2009

good
Reply
indra March 22nd, 2009

go
Reply
Jishnu April 4th, 2009

Very Nice Software Information.. i suggest GIMP is the best photoshop alternative software.
Reply
mj.musbah May 5th, 2009

123
Reply
Wynmar June 9th, 2009

thanks^^,
Reply