Adobe Photoshop alternatives
Killing $22.99/mo (~$276/yr) — here are 3 verified escapes, honest trade-offs included.
head-to-head
| Adobe Photoshop | GIMP | |
|---|---|---|
| price | $22.99/mo | Free |
| self-hostable | no | no |
| license | proprietary | GPL-3.0 |
| verified | — | 2026-08 |
free & open source (1)
cheaper, but not open source (2)
Photopea cheaper
Free (ads) / ~$5/mo ad-free
Photoshop-like editor in the browser; opens PSD files natively.
trade-offs: Browser-only · Some advanced features behind paywall
Affinity Photo cheaper
One-time license (~$70)
Professional-grade editor with no subscription — pay once.
trade-offs: Closed source · Smaller plugin ecosystem than Adobe
faq
What is the best free alternative to Adobe Photoshop?
GIMP is the top free option — Full-featured raster editor covering most photo-editing workflows.
How much can I save by switching from Adobe Photoshop?
Adobe Photoshop costs $22.99/mo, so switching to a free alternative saves roughly $276/year per seat.
Can Adobe Photoshop be self-hosted?
Adobe Photoshop itself cannot be self-hosted, but check each alternative's badges above for self-hosting support.