Photopea Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

Photopea is a free editor that runs in your browser and opens PSD, PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF and RAW files, which is why so many freelancers and small business owners bookmark it. If you've reached for it before, you'll know the appeal. You might still want another route, perhaps because you'd rather work offline, need a particular kind of tool, or just fancy a change.

Here are ten Photopea alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. Some run in the browser like Photopea, some are programs you install, and one or two lean towards painting rather than photos. I've taken the descriptions from each tool's own website, so check the current details there before you commit. If you also use a chatbot to plan edits or write alt text, my comparison of Claude and ChatGPT can help you choose one.

Photopea alternatives at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free version, free open-source software or a free download. Trial only means a free trial without an ongoing free version. No means the site states neither. Offers change, so confirm on the site itself.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
BeFunky	Browser editor	Photo edits, collages and simple graphics in one place	Yes
darktable	Desktop app	Developing RAW photos from a camera	Yes
FireAlpaca	Desktop app	Digital painting and drawing	Yes
GIMP	Desktop app	Layers, masks and heavy retouching	Yes
Krita	Desktop app	Painting, concept art and illustration	Yes
LunaPic	Browser editor	Fast one-off edits with no install	Yes
Paint.NET	Desktop app	Straightforward editing on Windows	Yes
Photo Pos Pro	Desktop app	Photo editing with layers on Windows	Yes
Pinta	Desktop app	Simple drawing and image editing	Yes
Pixlr	Browser editor	Browser editing with two editor styles	Yes

Ten free image editors you can use instead of Photopea

BeFunky

Best for: Quick fixes, collages and social graphics in the browser, with no account needed to start.

darktable

Best for: Photographers who shoot RAW and want an open-source workspace for developing and organising their pictures.

FireAlpaca

Best for: Illustrators and hobby artists who want a light painting program for Windows or Mac.

GIMP

Best for: People who want a full open-source editor with layers and masks on Windows, Mac or Linux.

Krita

Best for: Artists who paint or draw digitally and want brushes and layers, rather than photo retouching.

LunaPic

Best for: One-off edits like cropping, filters and simple effects when you're on a borrowed or locked-down computer.

Paint.NET

Best for: Windows users who want something friendlier than a full pro editor, with layers and effects.

Photo Pos Pro

Best for: Windows users after a layered photo editor plus a few online tools for quick automatic fixes.

Pinta

Best for: Anyone who wants a light, open-source editor that runs on Linux, Mac, Windows and BSD.

Pixlr

Best for: People who like Photopea's browser approach and want a choice between a quick editor and a more advanced one.

What Photopea users tend to miss when they switch editors

Most people don't leave Photopea over one big thing. They miss a handful of small habits: opening a PSD from a client, nudging a layer, using a clipping mask, or saving a quick web image without any set-up. Write your own list of those habits before you try anything else, because that list is how you'll judge each option.

It helps to be honest about the type of work you do. Cropping and tidying product photos is a very different job from building layered artwork, and the two call for different tools.

• Layered files. If clients send PSDs, test one in any new editor before you rely on it.
• Browser or installed. A browser editor is quick to open. An installed program can work offline and often copes better with big files.
• Photos or drawings. Photo tools focus on exposure, colour and retouching. Painting programs focus on brushes and canvases.
• Export options. Check the formats you need, such as transparent PNG, WebP or a print-ready file.

Browser editors and installed programs: which suits a small business

A browser editor suits you if you work across several computers, share a machine with colleagues, or only edit now and then. There's nothing to update and you can start in seconds. The trade-offs are that you need a connection and that very large files can feel slow.

An installed program is better if you edit often, handle big images or want to work on a train with no signal. It takes a little set-up and a bit of disk space, but you keep your files on your own machine. Plenty of people keep one of each, a quick browser tool for small jobs and a fuller program for the serious ones.

If you'd like help choosing tools across a whole business, not just photo editing, you can read about working with an AI consultant in the UK.

Questions to ask before you move your Photopea projects

• Can it open the file types my clients and suppliers send me?
• Does it keep my layers when I save and reopen a file?
• Is there a free version, and what does the site say it limits?
• Does it add anything to my exported images that I'd need to remove?
• Will it run on the computer I'll really be using?
• Where do my files go, and does the tool store them online?

Using any photo editor safely and fairly

Only edit photos you own or have permission to use, and be honest when an edit changes what a picture shows, especially on adverts and product listings. If a tool offers AI features, read its rules on real people's likenesses and commercial use. This is general guidance, not legal advice, so check your own situation if a project matters.

It's also sensible to download installed programs only from the maker's own site, keep your security software current, and be cautious with free add-ons from places you don't know.

Why a smaller photo editor can be a sensible pick

Smaller editors often do one job well and keep the menus short. A tool built for painting or for simple fixes may feel better than a huge program with a hundred panels you never open. Before you commit, check that the site is still being updated, skim its help pages and try one real project from start to finish.

Do you make a photo editor or image editing app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

A short checklist before you settle on a Photopea alternative

Pick two options that match the kind of work you do most. Edit the same real image in each, export it in the format you normally need, and note which one felt quicker. Keep whichever one suited you better in that small trial, and set yourself a reminder to review it in a few months.

Frequently asked questions

What can I use instead of Photopea?

You can use another browser editor, an open-source program on your own computer, or a painting app, depending on whether your work is photo retouching, layered design or drawing. This page lists ten options in no particular order.

Do I need to install anything to edit photos?

Not always. Browser editors work without installing, while installed programs run offline and often handle bigger files more comfortably.

Can these tools open PSD files?

Support differs from tool to tool. Check the site's help pages for the file types it opens, and try one of your own files before you rely on it.

Are free photo editors good enough for business use?

Often yes for everyday jobs like cropping, resizing and tidying product photos. Check each tool's terms for commercial use, and keep copies of your original files.

Is it safe to download editing software?

Download only from the maker's own website, keep your security software up to date and be wary of bundled extras you didn't ask for.