What if you've already used your trial, you'll probably have to resort to one of the following Photoshop alternatives.

Photoshop alternatives: Edit images without Adobe!

Almost all of us have worked with programs for editing images, and you probably have too. At the latest when an anniversary, a birthday or Valentine's Day is just around the corner, we need gifts. Personal gifts with your own photos of your loved ones are particularly well received. And which program often comes to mind first when it comes to image editing? Right. Adobe Photoshop. But what if you've already used your trial, you'll probably have to resort to one of the following Photoshop alternatives.

In most cases, however, it is not enough if you simply take a photo with your mobile phone and have it printed on a mug or in a photo book without editing it. Usually, you have to crop the picture, adjust the colour and, in the worst case, do some retouching.

Who would have thought it, but being able to edit images without Photoshop is not only possible, it is usually much easier and if not even free of charge, then much cheaper, despite the same result. Today we will introduce you to seven different Photoshop alternatives.

AffinityPhoto

All the features of Adobe Photoshop, a professional user interface and cheaper too? This is exactly what Affinity Photo offers you. The image processing software costs a one-off fee of 46 euros and is, therefore, cheaper than a single monthly license for Adobe Photoshop. Note that Affinity Photoshop's user interface is just as complex as Adobe Photoshop's. If you are a beginner, you should bring a little time to familiarize yourself with the operation of the program. If you only want to use simple functions such as cropping images or inserting text, there are other significantly cheaper alternatives available.

Photopea

Photopea is a browser photo editing program with 1.5 million users a month and is one of the most popular of its kind. Again, you will find some features that you would also find in Photoshop. Photopea is free and can optionally be paid for with a small donation to the developers. There are still some catches. Since Photopea can only be accessed via a browser, you must ensure that you have an internet connection. If you don't have an internet connection and you're sitting at the campsite or on the regional train, it will be a little more difficult to work with Photopea.

Since projects completed in Photopea are only exported in a reduced quality, you should use other programs for photos for work or for a wall poster. Editing images without Photoshop is still possible with Photopea and a perfect solution for small projects, such as correcting or cropping photos.

Pixlr X

Pixlr X also offers an alternative to Photopea. This image processing program can only be called up in the browser. In addition to being free, Pixlr X is very similar in content to both Photoshop and Photopea. As in Photopea, the pros and cons are very similar. In one thing, however, Pixlr X still stands out. With a direct connection to an archive of free stock photos, you save yourself the hassle of searching for suitable images for your project. If you already use Photopea and don't necessarily need the stock photos, additional training in Pixlr X is less worthwhile. However, Pixlr X is ideally suited as an alternative to Photoshop. So if you are looking for a browser photo editor, the choice is yours.

Paint.NET

Caution. This isn't the classic Microsoft Paint we used to doodle funny pictures with when we were young. Paint.NET is an established and extremely popular player among freeware photo editors. You can't work with vectors or an endless palette of effects like you can in Photoshop, but with a little motivation and creativity, you can still create professional-looking images.

With Paint.NET you can not only crop images but also adjust colours and image properties, retouch unwanted elements or insert images into images. In addition to many other built-in features, you may be lucky enough to find community-created plugins that meet your needs. Being able to edit images without Photoshop is particularly convenient in Paint.NET since the user interface is minimalistic and visually very similar to our well-known Microsoft Paint. The fact that Paint.NET doesn't cost a penny makes this program a very attractive alternative.

Gimp

A classic among amateurs and professionals, as well as a worthy competitor in the image editing industry, is the well-known Gimp. Gimp is like Paint.NET, only a bit more comprehensive, more professional, but also more complex. The Gimp lets you crop, adjust, and do extensive colour editing just like Photoshop. With various plugins, you can also adapt the program to your needs. The user interface may seem a bit complicated at first glance, but looks can be deceiving. Give Gimp a try, learn a little and you'll fall in love. It speaks for itself that Gimp was first released in 1995 and is still one of the most used image editing programs today.

Photoscape X

Photoscape X is on par with Adobe Photoshop, and not without reason. Without exception, the program includes all the functions of Adobe Photoshop and even comes with extras. With the integrated GIF maker you can create your own GIF files without much effort. But Photoscape X brings one last surprise. The software is free. But don't forget that Photoscape X, like Adobe Photoshop, is very extensive and requires time-consuming training. If you only need simple functions such as cropping photos or small corrections, you are much better off with Paint.NET or Gimp. Photoscape X is the best way to edit images professionally and free of charge without Photoshop.

Photo Grid - Collage Maker & Photo Editor

Basically, extensive editing of images on the PC is the most convenient. But sometimes you just don't have the opportunity to sit down at the PC in a short time and are therefore dependent on your smartphone. For such cases, there is the Photo Grid app. You can create collages and crop pictures from your phone in seconds, actually perfect for short-term ideas. The app is free and available for both Android and iOS. Keep in mind that photo editing apps only include basic functions of photo editing tools and are therefore always severely limited. However, if you just need to crop an image or want to make minimal changes to the image, Photo Grid is a good alternative to Photoshop.

Photoshop Alternatives: Make your choice and get started

Do you still ask yourself the question: "How can I edit pictures without Photoshop?". Probably not anymore. The only thing left to worry about now is choosing a suitable program for your needs. Consider what you want to do with your photos and how much editing you want to do with them. If the changes are really only minimal, you are in good hands with Photo Grid or even Microsoft Paint.

If the colour correction and cropping of images are a bit more accurate and professional, you should definitely get along well with Paint.NET, Gimp or Photopea. If you want to edit pictures in a particularly precise way and get the best out of them, then you can't do without Photoscape X or Affinity Photo. If you don't like a program, that's no problem. The alternatives to Photoshop are available in such a large number that sooner or later everyone will get their money's worth.