Top Adobe Photoshop Alternatives

Adobe Creative Cloud is a set of creative industry standard tools that are popular among most companies, businesses, marketers, students, and freelancers today. It was founded approximately 40 years ago based on the simple creative idea of developing innovative tools to change the world. Today, Adobe offers a range of groundbreaking technology that equips everyone, everywhere to imagine, create and bring your imaginations and digital experiences to life. 

Whether you are a beginner in the creative field or a professional in the creative industry, you are trained and expected to know Adobe Creative Suite. 

As a beginner, if you are passionate about learning design, enroll yourself in a graphic design course from Arena Animation. 

Why Choose an Adobe Photoshop Alternative?

Adobe Photoshop is a detailed image editing and graphic design software. It is one of the best software that a beginner or a professional can use in their graphic design journey. However, the best tool also has challenges like taking up a lot of space on the device which may lead to slowing down of the computer, beginners may find it complex to understand the function of each tool. Adobe Software also come in subscription models costing quite a sum per month which is not feasible for students or individuals who are just starting out. 

Arena Animation – one of the best graphic design institutes in Kolkata offering unique courses. These courses are equipped with highly demanded skills in the job market today. 

Due to these challenges faced by students, Arena Animation also assists you in finding newer alternatives to Adobe Photoshop to keep practising your design skills and improve your creativity. 

Popular Adobe Photoshop Alternatives for Free

Arena Animation’s graphic designing courses in Kolkata offer a comprehensive syllabus that includes concepts that are required to build a successful career in graphic design along with the alternate options and how they work. 

Below listed are 15 Adobe Photoshop alternatives that are available free of cost. 

Luminar Neo

• AI-powered tools simplify photo editing.
• Ideal for photographers with a user-friendly interface.
• Cost: Paid, with a free trial available.

Apple Photos

• Pre-installed on Mac, offers basic editing tools.
• Limited to Mac/iOS, lacks advanced features like layers.
• Cost: Free on Mac/iOS.

Microsoft Windows 10 Photos

• Basic photo editing with one-click fixes.
• Limited functionality, only available on Windows 10.
• Cost: Free on Windows 10.

GIMP

• Open-source with advanced features like layer masks.
• The interface may not be intuitive for beginners.
• Cost: Free and open-source.

Photo Pos Pro

• Offers Novice and Expert modes for easy transition.
• Full features require a paid version, limited in Novice mode.
• Cost: Free version available, paid for full features.

RawTherapee

• Great for RAW photo editing, includes Retouch profiles.
• Complex interface, and fewer tutorials available.
• Cost: Free and open-source.

Pixlr

• Web-based editor with layer support, easy to use.
• Requires constant internet, and some features need Flash.
• Cost: Free, but an optional paid version is available for more features.

Paint.NET

• Simple, user-friendly with basic editing tools.
• Limited functionality, only available on Windows.
• Cost: Free.

Darktable

• Lightroom alternative with simple tools for beginners.
• Advanced features are absent, and lags with large files.
• Cost: Free and open-source.

LightZone

• Easy to use for basic colour correction and exposure.
• Lacks layers, and basic editing tools with limited help.
• Cost: Free.

PhotoScape X

• Supports batch editing, RAW processing, and GIFs.
• Can be slow with large files, interface can be confusing.
• Cost: Free, with a paid Pro version.

Photopea

• Online editor with PSD file support and layer editing.
• Ads in the free version, limited advanced editing tools.
• Cost: Free, with a premium version for extra features.

InPixio

• Simple one-click filters, easy for beginners.
• The free version is limited, full features require payment.
• Cost: Free version with paid upgrades.

Polarr

• Filter-based editing with mobile app support.
• Lacks advanced tools, a subscription is needed for full features.
• Cost: Free, with a paid subscription for advanced features.

Inkscape

• Vector graphic-focused, great for designers.
• Can lag with large files, limited for photo editing.
• Cost: Free and open-source.

The listed alternatives include both paid and free tools, using them for practising your skills regularly may help you understand where you stand as a graphic designer.

Top Alternatives to Adobe Creative Suite

We have discussed the best alternatives to Adobe Photoshop in the previous section, here let us see the popular alternatives for Adobe Creative Suite. 

Adobe Creative Suite offers a comprehensive set of tools for creative professionals, but if you are in search of cost-effective or specialised alternatives, consider these top options available in the industry:

Affinity Suite: 

Comprising Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, and Affinity Publisher, this suite provides tools for photo editing, vector graphics, and desktop publishing at a much lesser cost. 

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite: 

A versatile and paid alternative that includes CorelDRAW for vector design, Corel PHOTO-PAINT for image editing, and additional tools for various other design needs. It is the best option for users who need an all-in-one solution. 

Inkscape: 

An open-source vector graphics editor is free and excellent for creating scalable designs. It is the best choice for users who want strong vectors without having to pay for them.

GIMP: 

As a free, open-source image editor, GIMP offers a wide range of features compared to Adobe Photoshop. It is suitable for photo editing, graphic design, and even digital painting. 

Blender: 

For 3D modelling, animation, and rendering, Blender is a powerful open-source tool. It provides extensive capabilities for those who need 3D design and animation tools. 

Canva:

It is a user-friendly online platform for graphic design and social media content creation. Canva’s easy to navigate interface and pre-designed templates make it ideal for quick and easy design tasks. It is free with an optional paid subscription.

These alternatives cater to different aspects of creative work and offer various features to suit your specific needs, often at a more affordable price or with free options. 

However, a graphic design course from an esteemed graphic design training institute equips you with the necessary practical and theoretical knowledge to excel in this industry. Arena Animation offers an expansive syllabus at an affordable graphic design course fee, situated at prime locations in the city which allows many aspiring youngsters to dive into this creative field.

Enroll in the best graphic design institute in Kolkata and be assured of building a successful career!