Why it's an alternative to Adobe Photoshop: Free, advanced image editor in the browser that opens PSD, XCF, Sketch, XD and RAW files.
made by
Ivan Kutskir
Ivan Kutskirself-reported revenue: ~$200K/mo
2 indie alternatives · Design Tools
Indie alternatives to Adobe Photoshop (2026)
Photoshop is the industry-standard image editor, available only through an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. Many people want a capable editor without the subscription. Below are 2 alternatives built by independent makers — Photopea and Acorn — with what each does differently, who makes it and any revenue they have shared publicly.
Adobe Photoshop alternatives at a glance
Jump to any product for the full write-up.
The 2 best indie alternatives to Adobe Photoshop
Each product is made and run by an independent maker or a small, self-directed team.
Why it's an alternative to Adobe Photoshop: Affordable, one-time-purchase image editor for Mac, powerful enough for most photo and design work.
made by
Gus Mueller
Gus MuellerWhy choose an indie-made tool?
You talk to the maker
With a small product, support requests and feature ideas usually reach the person who wrote the code, and many makers build in public and reply to users directly.
Focused and fairly priced
Small teams tend to do one job well instead of bundling every feature into enterprise tiers, and many indie tools offer one-time licenses, open-source editions or free plans.
Built by real people
These 2 alternatives come from 2 makers in Czechia United States. Paying them funds a sustainable, independent business.
Meet the makers: Ivan Kutskir, Gus Mueller.
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Adobe Photoshop alternatives FAQ
What are the best indie alternatives to Adobe Photoshop?
IndieMakerList lists 2 indie-made alternatives to Adobe Photoshop: Photopea (by Ivan Kutskir) and Acorn (by Gus Mueller).
Why do people look for alternatives to Adobe Photoshop?
Photoshop is the industry-standard image editor, available only through an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. Many people want a capable editor without the subscription.
Who builds these Adobe Photoshop alternatives?
They are built by 2 independent makers from 2 countries, including Czechia and United States, rather than a large company. Each maker has a profile on IndieMakerList with their other products and links.
Are these Adobe Photoshop alternatives still maintained?
Yes. As far as IndieMakerList knows, all 2 are active and still run by the makers who built them.
How much revenue do indie alternatives to Adobe Photoshop make?
Publicly reported figures include Photopea: ~$200K/mo. These numbers are self-reported by the makers and not independently verified.
Built an indie alternative to Adobe Photoshop? Submit a maker to IndieMakerList →