Adobe Photoshop is widely known as a top-tier photo editing application, but its subscription-based model and cost can be prohibitive for some users. If you’re seeking alternatives, we’ve curated a list of five excellent options that can fulfill your image editing needs.
Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo offers a one-time purchase of $70 for its desktop version, making it a cost-effective alternative to Photoshop’s subscription model. Packed with powerful features like a vast brush library, fast image loading, retouching tools, and more, Affinity Photo has earned accolades such as Apple’s App of the Year. It is available for macOS and Windows.
Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Pro, priced at $50, caters to Mac users with its intuitive interface and features like automatic edits, raw editing, HDR support, and seamless integration with Apple’s Photos app. It also offers robust tools for editing vector shapes, making it suitable for both photographers and illustrators.
Photopea
Photopea, a free online photo editor, mimics Photoshop’s layout for user familiarity. It offers a wide range of features without any paywalls, making it a powerful and accessible tool for editing images right in your web browser.
GIMP
GIMP, a free and open-source photo editing app, boasts a wide array of tools and a supportive community for user-created plugins. While its interface may have a learning curve for Photoshop users, its customization options and versatility make it a strong alternative choice.
Krita
Krita excels in digital painting and illustration, offering powerful brush engines, non-destructive editing features, and a wealth of tools for artists. With a vibrant community and plugin support, Krita is a compelling choice for macOS, Windows, and Linux users.
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