Free Photoshop alternatives for different creative workflows
Choose a free alternative by the work you actually do. GIMP targets photo manipulation, Krita focuses on digital painting, and Canva offers a free entry point for template-based visual content. Each is relevant to a different part of a Photoshop workflow.
Canva
A visual design platform for templates, photo editing and branded content, with free and paid plans.
Explore alternativesGIMP
An open-source image editor for retouching photographs, creating composites and original artwork.
Explore alternativesKrita
A free, open-source painting application with brushes, layers and animation tools for digital artists.
Explore alternativesChoose by workflow
Start by testing a real project. For retouching and composites, inspect GIMP's tools. For brushes and layered artwork, explore Krita. For reusable layouts and visual content, check Canva's free-plan limits. Free access does not mean every feature or asset is included, and none of these listings guarantees full Photoshop file compatibility.
| Compare | Canva | GIMP | Krita |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Pricing model | freemium | free | free |
| Verified platforms | Unknown | windows, macos, linux | windows, macos, linux |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
| Open source | Unknown | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Offline | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| API | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| AI features | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
| Cloud | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Beginner friendly | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Professional | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| License | Unknown | GNU GPL | GNU GPL |
| Verified features | photo editing, templates | photo editing | digital painting, layers, vector graphics |
| Use cases | Social posts and campaign graphics, Presentations and reusable layouts, Consistent branded content | Retouching photos without a subscription, Creating image composites, Preparing graphics on Linux | Digital illustration and concept art, Comics and painted textures, Hand-drawn 2D animation |