Alternatives to Photoshop
Explore new independent apps, including vibe-coded projects, that can replace Photoshop for some or all of your work. Each listing explains its fit, platforms, and tradeoffs.
Adobe’s professional raster image editor.
A local image editor focused on layered PSD compatibility
Edit layered PSD and PSB files with familiar Photoshop-style workflows. Patchy supports editable text, masks, layer styles, Smart Objects, and non-destructive image tools across desktop and browser.
Patchy is a partial Photoshop alternative for layered image editing, with a focus on opening PSD and PSB files while preserving editable text, vectors, masks, layer styles, and Smart Objects. Photoshop has broader support and features; Patchy documents limits around color modes, GPU acceleration, and some file-specific effects.
Working with layered PSD and PSB files in an open-source editor
Some Photoshop features and file effects are not supported or remain preview-locked
A free Mac image editor for layered compositing.
Compositor brings layers, masks, selections, filters, retouching, and PSD import to a free, open source Mac app built around familiar image editing workflows.
Compositor covers much of the layering, masking, retouching, and compositing work that brings Mac users to Photoshop. Its Mac requirements and PSD import limits make it a narrower choice.
Layered image work on a recent Apple silicon Mac.
There is no Linux or Windows release from this project.
An open source image editor with a photo library and browser build.
Schist combines layered image editing, RAW work, and photo organization. Its source tree includes desktop, mobile, and browser builds, and the project still describes the app as alpha software.
Schist offers layers, masks, retouching, RAW development, and support for Photoshop files, while adding a photo library. It is still in alpha and has documented format and platform limits.
People who want an open source editor on Linux, desktop, or the web.
Schist is still in alpha.
A free desktop photo editor with layered PSD support.
Photon Studio is a free image editor for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It opens and saves layered PSD and PSB files, includes familiar editing tools, and works locally without an account.
Photon Studio handles many familiar Photoshop tasks, including layered PSD editing, retouching, masks, adjustments, and keyboard shortcuts. It is a free desktop option, but it is not open source.
People who need to open and save layered PSD or PSB files.
It is distributed under Tenzen Studio's license rather than an open source license.
A local photo library with RAW development and image editing.
FerrumPix combines photo organization, RAW development, and layered image editing on Linux and Windows, with experimental macOS and ARM64 builds. It can also connect to Immich or Nextcloud.
FerrumPix covers photo editing, RAW development, layers, and masks, with a photo library alongside the editor. It fits photo workflows more closely than the full range of Photoshop design work.
Photographers who want local photo management and editing together.
macOS and ARM64 builds are still experimental.
A free image editor with layers, masks, and PSD support.
PhotoCraft is ArtCraft's open source image editor. It has layered editing, masks, adjustment layers, brushes, and PSD and PSB support, with desktop and browser builds available in early alpha.
PhotoCraft covers layered image editing, masks, adjustments, retouching, and PSD work without a subscription. Its early alpha status makes it a choice to test carefully before replacing an established Photoshop workflow.
People who mainly use Photoshop for layered image editing.
PhotoCraft is still early alpha.
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Content last reviewed October 13, 2026