2 open source alternatives to Adobe Photoshop
Industry-standard raster image editor. Here are the open source projects real teams use instead — ranked by fit, with honest pros and cons for each.
What people don't love about Adobe Photoshop
- Subscription pricing — you never own the software.
- Heavy install; requires powerful machine.
- Steep learning curve.
Current Adobe Photoshop pricing (for reference): From $22.99/month (single app).
Quick comparison
| Alternative | Best for | License | Self-host | Hosted cloud? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
GIMP Long-running open source raster image editor. |
The long-standing free alternative for most Photoshop tasks. | GPL-3.0 | ★☆☆☆☆ | Self-host only |
|
Krita Open source digital painting and illustration. |
Digital painting, illustration and concept art. | GPL-3.0 | ★☆☆☆☆ | Self-host only |
1. GIMP — The long-standing free alternative for most Photoshop tasks.
Long-running open source raster image editor.
Strengths
- Full feature set for photo retouching and painting.
- Huge plugin ecosystem.
- Totally free — no subscription.
Weaknesses
- UI is dated and takes time to learn.
- Non-destructive editing (layers/effects) is limited vs Photoshop.
- Performance on very large files can lag.
GIMP homepage · Source on GitHub · Adobe Photoshop vs GIMP →
2. Krita — Digital painting, illustration and concept art.
Open source digital painting and illustration.
Strengths
- Built for illustrators and concept artists.
- Rich brush engine and animation support.
- Regular releases with bug fixes.
Weaknesses
- Not built for photo editing workflows.
- Performance on very large canvases varies.
- No desktop subscription means slower paid support paths.
Krita homepage · Source on GitHub · Adobe Photoshop vs Krita →
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