Video Overviews of Three Free Photoshop Alternatives
Photoshop is a great program, but often you don't need all of its features. These three free image-editing programs cover the essentials — and each one takes a slightly different approach.
The videos below give you a quick overview of each tool so you can decide which feels right for your workflow before committing to a download.
GIMP
GIMP is one of Photoshop's best-known alternatives — free, powerful, and available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It handles layers, masks, filters, and color correction, and has one of the largest user communities of any free creative tool.
Paint.NET
Paint.NET is a powerful desktop image editor for Windows. Its interface is clean and approachable — similar to Photoshop in layout — and it supports layers, unlimited undo, and a wide range of plugins. A strong choice if you're on Windows and want something lighter than GIMP.
Pixlr
Pixlr is a browser-based option — nothing to download, works on any device. It offers two modes depending on how much power you need: Pixlr E for advanced editing and Pixlr X for quick, simple adjustments. Great for on-the-go edits or when you're working on a computer that isn't yours.
Want More Options?
See the full comparison including Canva and Affinity Photo in The Best Free Alternatives to Photoshop.