For creators, designers, and even regular users, free photo editing software like Photoshop has become necessary if they want powerful editing tools without paying expensive subscription fees. As of 2026, the features of the modern editors include AI enhancements, layer-based editing, graphic design features, and professional retouching capabilities, which can be compared to those of premium software. In fact, these tools are enough to give you almost unlimited creative freedom if you are just polishing photos, designing social media visuals, or crafting digital artwork. Moreover, we are going to demonstrate how CapCut can be the perfect free tool for quick and high-quality photo and video editing.
Why do you need free photo editing software like Photoshop
If you want to get your hands on powerful creative tools without having to pay expensive subscription fees, then you need free photo editing software such as Photoshop. These free alternatives give you the ability to edit photos, create graphics, and enhance visuals through the use of features like layers, filters, AI enhancements, and retouching tools. No matter if you are a student, a beginner, a content creator, or a professional who is conscious of his/her budget, they have all the essentials that are necessary for you to come up with stylish and high-quality outputs, and all this for free.
Best free photo editing software like Photoshop
CapCut desktop video editor
CapCut desktop is a leading free photo editing software like Photoshop in that it provides a full suite of AI-powered design tools that anyone can use and achieve professional results. Its sophisticated AI engine, Seedream 4.0, is packed with revolutionary features such as the ability to generate images in 8K quality, create visuals in multiple styles, and also blend, restyle, and composite various images to an extremely fine detail level. Moreover, CapCut AI design tool has all the necessary editing tools, such as background removal, color correction, filters, text effects, and so on, and they are all supported by cloud storage and custom export features. Try CapCut's free AI-powered photo editor today and transform your creative workflow with Seedream 4.0's next-generation editing power.
- Massive stock of image templates that help you create designs quickly without starting from scratch.
- Advanced AI tools, including AI upscale, AI inpaint, AI remove, AI expand, and more, for high-precision edits.
- Diverse creative elements such as stickers, filters, effects, and text styles for visually rich designs.
- AI-powered image background remover that cuts out subjects with clean, professional accuracy.
- Editable elements that allow you to customize graphics, layers, and design components effortlessly.
- AI color correction to instantly enhance tones, lighting, and overall aesthetics in one click.
- Some advanced features may require a paid plan.
Steps to edit photos using CapCut for free
- STEP 1
- Access the AI design tool
Open CapCut and go to "AI design." Upload the desired image and give a descriptive prompt to edit it. Click "Send."
- STEP 2
- Custmize the photo
Add text, shapes, stickers, frames, and other design elements. Navigate to "AI tools" and choose from "Inpaint," "Expand," "Remove," or "Upscale" to fix imperfections or enhance details.
Click "More" to adjust parameters like color, size, lighting, filters, and details, giving your photo a polished, professional look.
- STEP 3
- Export the image
Finally, click "Download" to select "Download" or "Copy as PNG" to save the photo.
GIMP
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a powerful and widely used free photo editing software similar to Photoshop for a very long time, that brings a professional toolkit to the table for photographers, designers, illustrators, and digital artists. Being a totally open-source platform, it allows users absolute liberty to personalize the features, add community plugins, or even change the source code. GIMP is still the first tool of many users striving for Photoshop-level capabilities but without paying for a subscription, as it can deliver pixel-perfect photo manipulation and retouching to the creation of original artwork, UI mockups, and graphic elements.
- Fully free and open-source, with changes and additions managed by the community.
- Provide a set of fine image manipulation tools that are perfect for retouching, restoring, and advanced editing.
- Very flexible with a wide range of plugins and can be scripted with languages like Python, C++, Scheme, etc.
- Great to use for graphic design purposes, like icons, UI components, and mockups.
- It has very good features for color management, which makes the program suitable for both digital and print workflows.
- Interface can feel less intuitive or polished compared to Photoshop.
Photopea
Photopea is one of the free, easy photo editing software programs like Photoshop that works right from your browser. It's essentially a free Photoshop alternative that provides a professional editing environment without the need for any installation. It is fully local to your device – thus no uploads, no privacy issues, and very fast file handling. Equipped with full PSD support, sophisticated layer controls, masking, blending, vector tools, and cutting-edge AI features, Photopea offers a desktop-class editing experience right from your browser. Its support of a wide range of file formats and RAW photos turns it into a great tool for photographers, designers, students, and small businesses who are looking for a quick, inexpensive solution to Photoshop.
- Runs fully in the browser, no download or installation required.
- Local processing ensures privacy—files never leave your device.
- Offers full PSD support, including opening, editing, and saving.
- Supports 40+ file formats, including RAW, AI, INDD, SVG, PDF, and more.
- Advanced editing tools: layers, masks, smart objects, vector graphics, liquify, puppet warp, etc.
- AI background remover and text-based content replacement.
- Free version includes ads, which may distract some users.
Pixlr
Pixlr is a free photo editing software tool that is nearly as powerful as Photoshop. It can be used straight from your browser, mobile, or desktop without the need for an installation. The software is packed with AI-powered features yet remains user-friendly and thus can be used by beginners, social media lovers, and professionals. The tool set offered by Pixlr includes AI background removal, AI image generation, generative fill and expand, face swapping, super scale, noise reduction, and a vast array of filters and effects, and thus, it is possible for users to make eye-catching visuals in very little time and with great efficiency.
- AI-powered tools: background remover, image generator, generative fill/expand, face swap, super scale, noise reduction.
- Batch photo editing for faster workflow.
- Filters and effects like HDR, Bokeh, Glitch, Mirror, and Colorize.
- Accessible anywhere: works on browser, mobile, and desktop.
- No installation required and an easy-to-use interface for beginners.
- Creative templates and design tools for social media, banners, collages, and more.
- It can feel less customizable compared to full desktop editors like Photoshop or GIMP.
Krita
Krita is an open-source, free digital painting and illustration software that targets the needs of artists, illustrators, and animators. It comes with a tough-to-beat professional workspace that includes fully customizable UI, 100+ stock brushes, brush stabilizers, vector tools, and radical brush engines. Besides that, Krita is also capable of effortless pattern making, animation, and sophisticated color management, hence, suitable for creative artwork as well as professional projects. By offering PSD support, HDR painting, GPU acceleration, and Python scripting, Kritka is a matchless powerhouse anyone can use to create complex illustrations and 2D animations, and it is absolutely free of charge.
- Customizable interface with dark/light themes and movable dockers.
- Over 100 brushes plus 9 unique brush engines for diverse painting styles.
- Vector and text tools for comic panels and artwork design.
- Wrap-around mode for seamless textures and pattern creation.
- 2D animation support with timeline, onion skinning, and frame management.
- Focused on painting/illustration, less suited for photo editing.
PhotoScape X
PhotoScape X is a light and simple free Mac photo editing software like Photoshop aimed at the most common users and hobbyists who wish to improve and change their photos but do not want to spend time learning. In fact, it provides numerous instruments for editing, combining, batch processing, GIF creation, and printing, thus becoming a versatile all-in-one photo editor. PhotoScape X, which is compatible with both Windows 10 and Mac, extends to users not only the basic changes of the image like brightness, contrast, and color correction but also the creative ones like the use of the frame, filters, writing text on the photo, and mosaics.
- Simple and intuitive interface, suitable for beginners.
- Comprehensive editing tools: resize, crop, brightness, color adjustment, filters, frames, and text.
- Batch editor for processing multiple photos at once.
- Combine & merge features for creating collages and composite images.
- Animated GIF creation from multiple images.
- Screen capture and RAW to JPG conversion.
- Less suitable for professional-grade retouching or high-end graphic design.
Which free photo editing software like Photoshop should you try
Tips for editing photos professionally
- Use high-resolution images: Always try to start with the best quality image to keep the details intact. CapCut's Seedream 4.0 enables you to create and save images in 4K resolution, which makes your photos look fresh and professional.
- Adjust exposure and lighting: Make the photo look natural by correcting brightness, contrast, highlights, and shadows. CapCut's AI-powered color correction tools set the changes fast and accurately.
- Leverage layers and masking: Use layers and masks to work non-destructively and apply the effect selectively. CapCut provides a feature that lets you layer elements and add masks, which means you can have full control over the edits.
- Remove unwanted elements: Get rid of distracting pieces by the methods of inpainting or background removal. CapCut's AI background remover is a tool that helps you to separate the subjects or remove the parts of the image that you do not want.
- Enhance colors: Do color grading or adjusting in order to raise the color and keep the contrast. CapCut's AI color match is the perfect assistant if you want to have the same tone in different pictures in a short period of time.
- Sharpen and retouch details: Work on the photo's textures, clarity, and small details to give it that final look of a professional job. CapCut has the likes of upscale and inpaint, which can help you enhance sharpness and fairly restore the image quality.
- Export correctly: Make the perfect choice of format and resolution based on the way you are planning to use the photo. CapCut is compatible with JPEG, PNG, and custom export settings that can extend your final images to look great and professional on any platform.
In short, free photo editing software like Photoshop is still the preferred tool for those who require exactness, complete freedom of creativity, and sophisticated editing features; thus, it is perfect for complicated works. Conversely, CapCut is good in terms of quickness and AI-enabled automation that makes it possible for users to come up with beautiful visuals in no time and with little effort, even if they have no editing knowledge. Which one you choose depends on whether you want to have total control or get the work done in a fast and intelligent way. Both tools can be used in a contemporary creative workflow. Go ahead and try out CapCut if you want to take your photo editing to the next level with AI-powered efficiency!
FAQs
- 1
- Is there any free photo editing software for Macs like Photoshop?
Yes! Tools like CapCut offer professional-grade editing features on both Mac and Windows, including layers, filters, and AI-powered enhancements. Its AI design tool allows you to generate images and edit them with diverse features for free.
- 2
- Can I use free photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop without watermarks?
Absolutely. CapCut's AI design tool lets you edit and export images in high quality without adding watermarks, perfect for personal and professional use.
- 3
- Can I find good free photo editing software like Photoshop on Reddit?
Yes, Reddit communities often recommend CapCut as a reliable free alternative to Photoshop, highlighting its AI tools, ease of use, and wide export options.