Adobe Photoshop is a fantastic editing platform for your design agency, but if you want to try something new, or are trying to cut down on your outgoings, then we have a few alternatives for you! Some of these platforms are free, cheaper than photoshop or they are around the same price but offer different features for you to utilise. So, let’s explore these different platforms to help you find the right one for your business, whether you are just starting out or you are a professional branding agency Manchester or London based!
Pixlr
The first alternative to Photoshop on our list is Pixlr, a strong contender that many people choose to use over Photoshop. To start with, this is a much cheaper platform as it only costs $5 a month and you have the option to trial the platform if you’d like to get a feel for it before needing to commit to a subscription, although not all of the features of the paid version are available at this point.
In terms of the software itself, you can use Pixlr on different devices, so you can edit on the go on your smartphone and tablet if you want to. Pixlr has an intuitive interface with the basic tools you need, so simplicity is definitely a benefit. Also, there is good customer support, making it simple to learn how to use this software.
Overall, we would say that this tool is great for beginners who want to get started with editing, as it has everything you need and it is affordable.
Pixelmator Pro
Next up we have Pixelmator pro, another editing software that costs $39.99 for the year, which works out cheaper than paying for the monthly subscription. This also has a trial version so you can find out if it’s the right fit for you.
There are so many benefits to Pixelmator Pro such as dual-texture brushes, advanced paint blending technologies and full graphic tablet support. It is known as an easy platform to use as well, again making it suitable for beginners.
However, there has been feedback that some features are missing and it is a much more basic software overall, as well as being a bit slow. Again, this is another good platform for beginners but perhaps not best suited to advanced designers.
Affinity Photo
In terms of comparisons, Affinity Photo has been named the number one alternative to Photoshop. The features are on a par with Photoshop and it is also much cheaper, giving the platform an important position in the editing field. You can have a 90-day free trial to get used to how it works and then from there, it costs $54.00 on Windows and Mac or $9.99 on your iPad. The subscription is free from there.
Overall, this is a fantastic alternative to Photoshop, so if you are a more advanced designer looking for something different, try Affinity Photo.
Photopea
Photopea is another image editor that has all of the basic features you will need to work with raster and vector graphics. Similarly to Photoshop, it works with layers and masks, but it doesn’t require any installation or downloading files. This is another newbie-friendly editor that is a close online alternative, however more advanced or professional users have found that the capabilities of the software are not sufficient for commercial use. Monthly licences are $5 for a single user and discounts per user are offered when you add more!
Overall, for a simple editing platform, this can work well. If you are looking for a more advanced option, opt for Affinity Pro.