The best Photoshop alternatives for Mac
macOS has some of the strongest Photoshop alternatives anywhere — including one built from the ground up for Apple silicon, and one full pro editor that's now completely free. Here's what to install and who each is for.
On a Mac, the best Photoshop alternative is:
- Native speed, buy once → Pixelmator Pro (~$49.99 one-time).
- Full pro editor, free → Affinity Photo.
- No install → Photopea, in any browser.
- Free & open → GIMP.
The Mac shortlist
4 Mac Photoshop alternatives worth installing
Ranked for macOS specifically — native performance and Mac integration matter here as much as raw features.
Metal-accelerated, Core ML tools, one-time ~$49.99 on the Mac App Store. The Mac-first choice. Note Apple is steering newer AI into a subscription. Compare →
A full professional editor, free on macOS since Oct 2025. Cross-platform if you also use Windows. Compare →
Runs in Safari or Chrome on any Mac, free, opens .psd. Great on a locked-down or shared Mac. Compare →
Free, open source, native macOS build; GIMP 3.0 added non-destructive editing. Compare →
Pixelmator Pro or Affinity Photo?
If you live entirely on Apple hardware and value native feel, Shortcuts and Photos integration, and buying software once, Pixelmator Pro is the natural pick. If you want the deepest professional toolset for free, or you also work on Windows, choose Affinity Photo. Many Mac users keep both — Pixelmator for quick native edits, Affinity for heavier work.
A note on Apple owning Pixelmator
Apple completed its acquisition of Pixelmator in February 2025. In January 2026 it confirmed the app is actively developed, with an iPad version and new AI features arriving through the Apple Creator Studio subscription ($12.99/month or $129/year). The one-time Mac purchase still exists, so nothing is forced on you today — but it's worth knowing the roadmap.
Common questions
Photoshop for Mac — common questions
What is the best Photoshop alternative for Mac?
Pixelmator Pro is the most Mac-native option: fast, Metal-accelerated, deeply integrated with macOS, and a one-time Mac App Store purchase of about $49.99. For a free cross-platform pro editor on macOS, Affinity Photo is the best pick.
Is there a free Photoshop alternative for Mac?
Yes. Affinity Photo is free on macOS since October 2025, GIMP is free and open source, and Photopea runs free in any Mac browser and opens .psd files. All three cost nothing.
Does Pixelmator Pro still cost a one-time fee after Apple bought it?
Yes. As of 2026 the Mac version of Pixelmator Pro is still a one-time Mac App Store purchase of about $49.99. Apple, which acquired Pixelmator in early 2025, is adding new AI features via the Apple Creator Studio subscription ($12.99/month or $129/year), but the standalone Mac app remains a one-time buy.