Adobe Photoshop vs Photopea
Adobe Photoshop scores 8.5 to Photopea's 7.6 among the image editors we rate, and is the better pick for 3 of the 4 kinds of buyer below.
Adobe Photoshop wins, 8.5 to 7.6
Photopea runs only in a browser, while Photoshop runs on 5 platforms including phone apps. Both open and save layered PSD files and offer generative fill and expand. Photoshop generates whole images from a prompt and can upscale them with AI; Photopea does neither, sticking to editing what you already have. Photopea exports to 7 file formats against Photoshop's 5, and its own privacy policy says it never uses your files for anything else.
Pick Adobe Photoshop if you need AI image generation, upscaling or more platforms.
Pick Photopea if you want a browser only editor with more export formats.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- Generates images from a prompt: Adobe Photoshop yes, Photopea no
- AI upscaling: Adobe Photoshop yes, Photopea no
- Where it runs: 5 platforms against 1 platforms
- But Photopea leads on apps it connects to: 5 integrations against 3 integrations
- Cheapest paid plan, monthly: Adobe Photoshop $19.99, Photopea price shown only in the app
- SOC 2: Adobe Photoshop yes, Photopea no
- GDPR: Adobe Photoshop yes, Photopea no
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other image editors we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. Adobe Photoshop leads on 3 of 4 criteria.
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Published by only one of them
Where they match (12)
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
Adobe Photoshop
Photopea
Pros and cons
From each tool's full review, written from the same checked facts.
Adobe Photoshop
- Supports a full CMYK working space for print, not just soft-proofing.
- Non-destructive editing through adjustment layers and masks.
- Native PSD support that preserves every layer and effect.
- Batch command, Image Processor and droplets automate edits across many files at once.
- Sold only by subscription, with no perpetual license option on any plan.
- The full desktop app has no free tier; only the feature-gated mobile app is free.
- Generative AI features are capped at 25 monthly credits on the single-app plan.
Photopea
- Full editor is free to use, with no account required.
- Files are processed on your own device and never uploaded to a server.
- Fully supports opening and saving PSD, its main format.
- Supports a CMYK colour mode with colour profiles for print work.
- Premium's price is not published on the site; it only appears inside the app.
- Runs only in the browser, with no native desktop or mobile app.
- Its brush tools do not support pressure sensitivity from a tablet or stylus.
Adobe Photoshop vs Photopea: common questions
Which is better, Adobe Photoshop or Photopea?
Adobe Photoshop scores 8.5 and Photopea 7.6 out of 10 among the image editors we rate. Adobe Photoshop is ahead on what it adds beyond the basics, workflow and output and privacy and trust. Photopea is ahead on pricing.
Is Adobe Photoshop or Photopea cheaper?
Adobe Photoshop's cheapest paid plan is $19.99/mo (Photography plan, includes Lightroom) and Photopea's is Free (Premium removes ads). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
What can Adobe Photoshop do that Photopea cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: generates images from a prompt, aI upscaling, sOC 2 and gDPR.
