Photopea: The Free Photoshop Alternative That Runs in Your Browser

If you're searching for a powerful, free Photoshop alternative that doesn't, Photopea very worth checking out. This online image editor packs a serious punch, offering features that rival any image editor, even Adobe's flagship software. Tools, text, layers, masks, all the formats are here and all accessible directly from your web browser.

Why Photopea Stands Out

Photopea operates entirely within your browser, meaning there's no need to install anything. It's compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS. If you can get to the web, Photopea is ready to go.

One of the standout features is its commitment to privacy. Unlike some online editors that upload your files to the cloud for processing, Photopea processes everything locally on your device. Your images never leave your computer unless you save them to a cloud service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or their PeaDrive.

Anyone who has used Photoshop will feel right at home with Photopea. All the functions and tools are there. Even my favorite sharpening technique—Filter>Other>>Highpass, then select overlay on the layer—is included and works flawlessly.

Feature-Rich Editing

Photopea doesn't skimp on tools. It offers:
Full support for PSD files, allowing you to open and save Photoshop documents seamlessly.

Advanced editing features like layers, masks, smart objects, adjustment layers, and vector tools.

A variety of filters and adjustments, including levels, curves, Gaussian blur, liquify, and puppet warp.

AI-powered tools for background removal and image generation, with premium users receiving 3,000 AI credits per month.

Broad File Format Support

Photopea is versatile when it comes to file formats. It supports:

Raster formats: PSD, PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, WEBP, TIFF, and RAW files like DNG, CR2, NEF, and more.

Vector formats: SVG, AI, PDF, and CDR.

Other formats: XD, Sketch, XCF, and even INDD files. Online PhotoSoftOnline PhotoSoft+4Software Advice+4WIRED+4
This extensive compatibility makes it a handy tool for designers working across different platforms and file types.

Pricing and Premium Features

Photopea offers a free version that's ad-supported and doesn't require an account. However, if you want to enhance your experience, there's a premium option available for $5 per month. Premium benefits include:
An ad-free interface.
Increased PeaDrive storage from 500MB to 5GB.
Double the editing history length.
3,000 AI credits per month for advanced features.

Pros and Cons

Totally free to use, unless you want an upgrade

Works on any operating system. Just needs a browser

No account needed for full editing functionality

Supports PSD, AI, Sketch, XD, and other pro-grade formats

Edits happen locally on your device. No cloud processing = more privacy

Premium upgrade is cheap and unlocks solid extras (more storage, no ads, AI tools)
But...

Interface can feel cramped on small screens

Performance depends on your hardware. Big files can slow things down and cause memory managment issues..

You need to be online to launch it

Geek Verdict

Photopea is a robust, free alternative to Photoshop that is accessible from your browser. Its extensive feature set, broad file format support, and commitment to user privacy make it a standout choice for anyone, especially casual users who don't want to pay a big subscription fee for a tool they will use occasionally. Some may prefer an installation of GIMP as a Photshop alternative. However, Photopea delivers impressive capabilities for editing photos, creating graphics, or working on design projects, in a very friendly and usable design that will be far more familar to someone swithing from Photoshop than GIMP. That said, professionals working with a lot of images will likely find the speed and memory constraints of working within a browser a bit cumbersome.