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THE TOP 19 PHOTOSHOP ALTERNATIVES

ImagineFX

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July 2025

Confused by the endless choice of digital art apps on the market? We're here to help with a breakdown of the best options for you

THE TOP 19 PHOTOSHOP ALTERNATIVES

The leading digital art software available today provides more choice and variety than ever, from painting software that can simulate real physical media to photo-editing tools that provide the versatility for all kinds of digital art. We've tested and reviewed a wide range of art software using real-world workflows to compare all the options for different needs. And with all that experimentation in the bag, we put together a handy guide to compare and rate our picks of the very best in terms of features and tools, versatility, ease of use, and price.

imagePROCREATE

The powerful iPad software is a fan favourite with a wealth of brushes for a bargain price

We still consider Procreate to be the best digital drawing and painting software that we've tested. It doesn't have the massive array of features and use cases that are provided by Photoshop, but what it can boast of are powerful brush tools and a smooth UI that have won it a big following among artists. It also ticks the box for great value as a one-time purchase.

imageThe size and quality of Procreate’s customisable pre-installed brushes out of the box is impressive, and now it’s hired Adobe's former brush designer Kyle T. Webster that will only grow. There are plenty more Procreate brushes available to download too since the app has a strong community.

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