CHOOSING YOUR TOOLS7 min read · Checked October 11, 2026

Free open-source Photoshop alternatives

The best editor depends on what you make. Photo retouching, painting, quick annotations, and RAW development have different needs. Start with your task and test the files you already use.

For general photo editing: consider GIMP

GIMP is an established free image editor for photo manipulation, compositing, and graphic design. Its documentation covers layers, masks, selections, and background isolation. It is a useful reference workflow when evaluating a newer editor.

A capable tool can still take time to learn. Try one real task before judging the interface, and use the current manual for the installed version. PSD import should not be treated as full Photoshop feature parity.

For painting and illustration: consider Krita

Krita is built around digital painting. Its brush and illustration workflows make it a relevant choice for artists, rather than a direct substitute for every photo-editing task.

Krita documents PSD support and its limitations. If exchanging layered files matters, verify the features your files use, especially text and effects, in both directions.

For simpler everyday edits: consider Pinta

Pinta focuses on drawing and image editing with a more compact toolset. For crops, annotations, and basic layer work, a simpler application can reduce the amount you need to learn.

Check the current user guide and platform requirements. Ease of use is personal; compare the number of steps and missing controls for your own task rather than relying on a universal beginner score.

For RAW photo development: consider darktable

darktable is designed for a photographic RAW workflow and non-destructive image development. That is a different job from building a multilayer poster or painting an illustration.

You may need more than one application: develop a photograph first, then move an exported image into a layer-based editor for compositing. Preserve your original RAW files.

Where PhotoCraft belongs in your evaluation

ArtCraft describes PhotoCraft as a free, open-source editor with layers, masks, local operation, and PSD support. Its Rust implementation and rapidly changing releases may interest people evaluating a newer desktop editing workflow.

Check the release notes, package availability, and open issues for your platform. Treat project claims as a reason to investigate, then test your required operations and file round trips. We have not run a hands-on comparison of these editors.

Use a small decision checklist

Write down your must-haves: operating system, offline use, photo or illustration tools, transparency, layered interchange, and accessibility needs. Eliminate tools that cannot meet a required constraint.

Try the remaining tools with the same licensed sample and task. Record success, missing features, confusing steps, and export quality. A reliable fit for your actual work is more useful than an unsupported ranking.

Sources & further reading

Last checked October 11, 2026. Source pages and software releases may change. This website is independent of ArtCraft.