eGigFree alternatives to Photoshop
GIMP is the closest free photo editor to Photoshop, Krita is better for drawing and painting, and Inkscape replaces Illustrator for logos. Licences and dates read from each project’s public code page on 31 Oct 2026.
Choose by the job
| Software | Good for | Licence | Last code change |
|---|---|---|---|
| GIMP | Photo editing, retouching, layers and masks | GPL | 30 Oct 2026 |
| Krita | Painting and illustration, with a graphics tablet | GPL-3.0 | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Inkscape | Logos, icons and print layouts in vector, in place of Illustrator | GPL-2.0 or later, a few exceptions | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Penpot | Website and app screens | MPL-2.0 | 31 Oct 2026 |
Before you switch
- Photoshop PSD files open in GIMP and Krita, but text layers, smart objects and some effects may not survive.
- If you sell design work, ask your client which file format they need before you quote.
- For print work with CMYK colours, test your full route to the printer, because the free tools handle it differently from Adobe’s.
- Learn from the official manuals, and download only from each project’s own site: copies elsewhere can carry unwanted software.
Free on eGig
Do paid design work? See what to charge for a logo and freelance design projects.
Questions people ask
What is the best free alternative to Photoshop?
For most photo editing, GIMP. If you mostly paint or illustrate, Krita. Neither copies Photoshop exactly, so expect a few days of adjustment.
Can GIMP open PSD files?
Yes, it opens many PSD files with their layers. Some adjustment layers, smart objects and text may be flattened or look different, so check before you edit a client’s file.
Can I use free design software for commercial work?
Yes. These licences place no limit on selling the images and designs you make with the software. Fonts, stock images and brushes have licences of their own.
How we check this page
eGig has no paid placements here and does not make these products. A licence shown as “mixed” means the project’s licence file puts parts of it under different terms, so read that file before you rely on it, especially for business use. Check each project’s own site before you install anything, and download only from there. How we check facts.