The 5 best FREE web-based Photoshop alternatives
Posted by: Jakk Ogden // Category: Guest PostA guest post by Jakk Ogden
After using Photoshop for many years, and growing tired of its many lost functions the updates seem to slap on, as well as it being fairly pricey, I decided to do some homework and try to get to the bottom of which web-based alternatives are available to everybody – my standards were simple – the UI had to be clean, the features good for amateurs and most of all they all had to be free to use.
After 4 months of trying out different free web-based Photoshop alternatives, I have found the top five which I would recommend for quick editing, touch ups, cropping, re-sizing and effect placement. Not just that, but if you need an editor which supports complex layers some of these freebies do that! You can see the list below;
1. Picnik
Picnik is arguably the best free web-based photo editor out there – it integrates with Flickr easily and the features are well above average. Picnik is also very good for people who want more advanced features and effect options, setting it up is easy and UI is very intuitive. Picnik can support highly complex layers.
2. Paint.net
I had a hard job choosing between this and Picnik. Paint.net is so popular, that I use it regularly myself – although not more so than Picnik. It is simple, the UI intuitive and is great for cropping and effects. It has the ability to load multiple images simultaneously and supports complex layers.
3. Photoshop Express
Well worthy of being in the top three, this web-based editor doesn’t have the ability for complex layers, but you get loads of online space – over 2GB in fact. It can be recommend just for that !
4. Snipshot
Snipshot is very easy to use, and is one of the only web-based editors not to display advertisements! Nice to look at, nice to use and although not quite as advanced as the top three, this is still one you should check out.
5.Splashup
Splashup is by far the nicest looking editor, but since when did that matter? Feature wise this editor is okay, and advertisements are fairly minimal. Simplicity wise this editor is one of the best, and even children before 6 can use it!
Other great editors to consider;
Arcsoft
Arcsoft edits photo’s easily and just gets the job done for basic image resizing, cropping and brightness/contrast-sharpen. Great for basics, and great for a time schedule.
Picasa
Very easy to use and very quick to edit, it is mostly aimed at people who want to quickly crop their photos, Picasa is a very popular tool and is widely regarded as one of the best.
Gimp
Gimp has awesome lens flares: supernova, hidden planet.. great for adding mystical fairies glowing near your friends faces – or just some wacky fun! It has many of the features of Photoshop – and so could be considered a direct alternative.
This has been a guest post by Jakk Ogden – the creator of Technology Blogged | The Technology Blog with a human face
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Tags: 5 best photoshop alteratives, free photoshop alternatives, jakk ogden, Paint.Net, photo editing with piknic, photoshop express, picasa, picnik paint, technology blogged, top 5 free image editing programs, top 5 free paint programs, top 5 paint programs, top image editing programs
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:22 am
I use Picnik the most too. The list is very good and covers all the best ones – Gimp is one of my faves along with Picnik.
James´s last blog ..Kayne West makes his return to blogging, still hasnt fixed his caps lock key
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February 2nd, 2010 at 8:01 am
Yeah Picnik is definately the best. Paint.net is also fantastic for touch up’s and special effects
Jakk Ogden´s last blog ..Apple iPad 3G UK release date confirmed
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February 2nd, 2010 at 8:06 am
I’m behind on the times here, I’m still using my copy of PhotoShop, I going to check out some of these sites, specially Picnik
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February 2nd, 2010 at 8:18 am
Go for it mate! Honestly some of them *top 3* are excellent. If you do not use many of the functions of Photoshop, then Picnik is a good free substitute
Jakk Ogden´s last blog ..Apple iPad 3G UK release date confirmed
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February 2nd, 2010 at 11:04 am
Some really cool info here.. I was looking for such alternatives myself and did not know they even existed.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 11:22 am
I use piknik and gimp. both work great and save me 500$ lol
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February 2nd, 2010 at 11:33 am
Its always a plus when they’re free!
Jakk Ogden´s last blog ..Apple iPad 3G UK release date confirmed
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February 2nd, 2010 at 11:31 am
Thanks. I have just avoided doing any image editing because I didn’t have a good program. I intend to check these out and then use my favorite.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 11:34 am
Good stuff
I hope you like them! 
Jakk Ogden´s last blog ..Apple iPad 3G UK release date confirmed
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February 2nd, 2010 at 11:19 pm
I use Picasa and have been very pleased with it. I like that it stores my photos in folders for me too. I’m going to check out the other programs though to see if they have better features that I can use.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 4:28 am
Picasa is what I do for quick photo crops, rotations and to quickly browse through all my photo’s. For all my image editing, borders, touching up I use Paint.net before. I had never even heard about Picnik before this post, and its completely web based so I am very interested in seeing what it can do.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 10:12 am
Great List. The first three listed are especially good. Picasa is pretty good for quick crops and rotations, also good at organizing everthing. I’ve also directed a few people to Picnik. They were looking for a little more than what Picasa offered on the editing side, and they found it easy and effective. Great post!!!
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February 4th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Thks mate
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February 4th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Picnik FTW.
I use the free version of Picnik, and it suits most of my needs. My friend James uses the paid version, which adds a ton of effects, and costs $25 a year. For me, the free version is more than sufficient.
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March 14th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Some really great alternatives there Jakk, nice article
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