GIMP

GIMP is the world's most widely used free and open source alternative to Photoshop. It's not as simple as online editors, but has no rivals for those who want professional power without a subscription.

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is an open source raster graphics and photo editing software, freely available for Windows, macOS and Linux. Its power is comparable to Photoshop in many contexts: it supports work on layers, masks, advanced selections, color correction, filters and effects, drawing and cloning tools, and handling of many file formats including PSD (Photoshop's native format). A feature that distinguishes it from commercial competitors is extensibility: GIMP supports plugins (Script-Fu, Python-Fu) that significantly expand its features, and a large community contributes additional filters, scripts and integrations. The learning curve is real and steeper than online editors: the interface requires practice and many features are accessed through menus and keyboard shortcuts rather than intuitive visual elements. GIMP is widely used by designers, photographers, web developers and anyone with professional editing needs who doesn't want or can't afford Adobe's costs. It's also the typical choice in Linux environments where Photoshop isn't available.

For designers, photographers, web developers and Linux users who want a professional photo editing tool with no subscription costs, willing to invest time in learning.

GIMP is completely free and open source under the GPL license. There are no paid plans, premium versions or subscriptions: the entire application with all features is freely downloadable from the official website (gimp.org) for Windows, macOS and Linux. Voluntary donations to the project are possible.