Best Adobe Photoshop Alternatives for Linux
The industry standard for photo editing and digital art, but expensive and not available on Linux.
Proprietary price: $20.99/month (Photography plan) or $54.99/month (All Apps)
GIMP
★★★★★The most powerful free image editor. Supports layers, masks, filters, and advanced editing tools. Can open and export PSD files.
Features
- Full layer support with masks
- Extensive filter and effects library
- Custom brushes and patterns
- PSD file compatibility
- Plugin and script support
- RAW image editing
Install
Krita
★★★★★Designed for digital painting and illustration. Excellent brush engine and drawing tools. Great for artists and concept designers.
Features
- Professional brush engine
- Drawing tablet support
- Animation features
- HDR support
- Resource manager for brushes
- PSD compatibility
Install
Photopea
★★★★☆Browser-based editor that looks and works like Photoshop. No installation required. Excellent PSD support.
Features
- Photoshop-like interface
- Works in any browser
- Full PSD support
- No installation needed
- Free with ads (premium removes ads)
- Cloud-based
Affinity Photo
★★★★★Professional photo editing app by Canva (formerly Serif). Completely free since the Canva acquisition. Known for exceptional performance, RAW editing, HDR merge, and non-destructive editing. Linux support has been announced and is expected soon.
Features
- Non-destructive editing with live filters
- Advanced RAW processing engine
- HDR merge and tone mapping
- Focus stacking and panorama stitching
- Full PSD import and export
- Completely free — no subscription or purchase
Inkscape
★★★★★Vector graphics editor, similar to Adobe Illustrator. Best for logos, icons, and scalable graphics.
Features
- SVG native format
- Vector drawing tools
- Path operations
- Text on path
- Extensions support
- AI/EPS import
Install
Our Verdict
GIMP is the most complete open-source Photoshop replacement. Affinity Photo is now completely free and offers a polished, professional experience with Linux support coming soon. Krita is ideal for digital painting and illustration. For quick edits without installing software, Photopea works great in your browser.