Home / Design / Photoshop

Photopea — The Best Free Alternative to Photoshop in 2026

🎨 Photoshop costs money. These free alternatives don't. Compare the options below — 3 tested replacements, no subscriptions required.

The Alternatives

PhotopeaWeb-based

Full Photoshop clone in your browser — opens & saves PSD, layers, masks, same shortcuts.

Try Photopea free →

GIMPOpen-Source · Offline

The classic open-source image editor: layers, masks, plugins, 80+ languages.

Try GIMP free →

KritaOpen-Source · Offline

Built by artists for artists — brush engines that rival paid painting tools.

Try Krita free →

Quick Comparison

Alternative	Type
Photopea	Web-based
GIMP	Open-Source · Offline
Krita	Open-Source · Offline

✅ Verdict: For most people, Photopea is the closest free match for Photoshop. It's free, actively maintained in 2026, and covers what most users actually need. Try it first before considering paid options.

Is Photopea really free?

Yes — Photopea has a genuinely free tier with no watermark and no time limit. It is free to use, maintained by its company/community.

Can Photopea replace Photoshop completely?

For the tasks most users need — full photoshop clone in your browser — yes. Power users with niche workflows should test their specific use case; see the notes above for each tool's limits.

Where does my data live with Photopea?

Data is processed on the provider’s servers; check their privacy policy for sensitive use.