Is Photopea a good alternative to Photoshop?
Yes, Photopea is an excellent alternative to Photoshop, especially if you want something that feels familiar and works right in your web browser without any downloads or installations. It's surprisingly similar to Photoshop and completely free to use, making it perfect for students and casual users.
What Makes Photopea Special?
Photopea is Photoshop that lives in your web browser. You don't need to download anything or install software on your computer. Just go to Photopea.com, and boom – you're editing photos. It works on any computer, Chromebook, or even tablet with an internet connection.
The most remarkable thing about Photopea is that it looks almost exactly like Photoshop. If you've seen Photoshop screenshots or tutorials, you'll feel right at home in Photopea. The menus, tools, and layout are so similar that many Photoshop tutorials work for Photopea too.
The Free Factor
Unlike Photoshop's $20 monthly subscription, Photopea is completely free. Some ads appear while you work, but they're not too intrusive. If you hate ads, you can pay about $5 per month to remove them, which is still way cheaper than Photoshop.
What's amazing is that one person – a developer named Ivan Kutskir – created and maintains Photopea mostly by himself. It's like a one-person alternative to Adobe's massive team, which is quite remarkable when you consider it.
What Can You Actually Do?
Photopea can handle almost everything you'd want to do with photos. You can remove backgrounds, adjust colors, fix blemishes, create digital art, design graphics, and work with layers just like in Photoshop. It even opens and saves Photoshop files (PSD format), which means you can collaborate with people who use the real Photoshop.
The tools work similarly to Photoshop's tools, so if you learn Photopea, you're essentially learning Photoshop skills that could help you later in school or work projects.
The Downsides to Consider
Since Photopea runs in your browser, you need a decent internet connection to use it smoothly. If your WiFi is slow or cuts out, your work might lag or you could lose progress. It also utilizes your computer's memory through the browser, so older computers may experience sluggish performance when editing large images.
Photopea also doesn't have some of the newest AI features that Adobe keeps adding to Photoshop, like automatic background removal or AI-generated content. However, for most basic and intermediate editing tasks, you won't miss these features.
Perfect for Students
For high school students, Photopea hits the sweet spot. You can use it on school computers, at home, or anywhere with internet access. There's no software to install (which school IT departments love), and it doesn't cost anything.
It's also great for trying out photo editing before deciding if you want to invest in paid software. You can learn all the fundamentals in Photopea and then make an informed decision about whether to upgrade later.
The Verdict
Photopea is probably the closest free alternative to Photoshop you'll find. It's perfect for students, casual users, or anyone who needs Photoshop-like features without the High price tag of Photoshop. While there are many best Photoshop substitutes available, Photopea stands out for its familiar interface and browser-based convenience.
If you're curious about photo editing or need to complete a school project involving image editing, Photopea is an excellent place to start. You might be surprised by how much you can accomplish with this free, browser-based tool.