Corel PaintShop Pro Review

As a Windows-only image editor, Corel PaintShop Pro opens and saves layered PSD files and pairs them with its own AI tools for background removal, upscaling and object erase. It is bought once rather than rented as a subscription. Pressure-sensitive tablets and a template library round out the toolset.

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Research-based review. Features and prices are checked on the vendor's own website, and the score is worked out from those facts. We haven't tested it hands-on yet.

The verdict

PaintShop Pro suits Windows users who want AI editing tools in an app bought once, while Photoshop adds CMYK editing and generative fill on a subscription.

Pros

Bought once as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, and kept afterward.
Native AI tools for upscaling, denoising, style transfer and background replacement ship in the base app.
Imports and exports PSD files with layers for moving work to and from Photoshop.
Supports third-party plugins including Adobe plugins and brushes, Topaz Labs and the Nik Collection by DXO.

Cons

No permanent free plan, only a 30-day free trial.
Windows only, with no Mac version.
No working CMYK colour mode; editing stays in RGB with conversion only at export.

From $79.99 one-timeFree plan NoFree trial Yes

5.9/10

Spec Score

Corel PaintShop Pro against 9 photo editors

of 9 photo editors

-0.6

vs the average

75%

from published facts

Ahead of other photo editors

Nothing clearly above the average

Behind other photo editors

Workflow and output-1.2Privacy and trust-1.0Pricing-0.7

Every criterion

Tap a row for the facts

What it adds beyond the basics5.3

+0.1 vs avg

+0.1 vs 5.2 avg18.6 of 35 points

Opens and saves layered Photoshop filesyes1.7 / 1.7

Generative fill and expandno0 / 1.4

Generates images from a promptno0 / 1.2

Selects a subject or sky by itselfno0 / 1.2

AI image editing (erase, relight)yes0.9 / 0.9

One-action background removalyes0.9 / 0.9

AI upscalingyes0.9 / 0.9

Works in CMYK for printno0 / 0.9

Pressure sensitivity from a tablet or stylusyes0.5 / 0.5

Template libraryyes0.4 / 0.4

Why these numbers

Opens and saves layered Photoshop files: PSD appears in both the Import Formats and Export Formats lists on the tech-specs section, confirming both directions with layers.

Generative fill and expand: Magic Fill/SmartClone are traditional content-aware fill tools, not prompt-based generation of new pixels. Vision FX (a separate one-time-purchase plugin, out of this record's scope) is the only prompt-based tool found.

Generates images from a prompt: Same as ai_generation_from_prompt: base app has no image-generation feature of its own; Vision FX (separate purchase) is excluded from this record's scope per tools.json.

Selects a subject or sky by itself: This describes ML-assisted precision of a selection the user makes (Refine Brush, Selection tools, Auto Selection/Smart Selection brush), not a one-click automatic subject/sky/background detector; no such one-click 'select subject' feature was found on the product, features or AI guide pages.

AI image editing (erase, relight): Native to both Standard and Ultimate editions.

One-action background removal: Described as replacement rather than plain removal, but is a one-click AI action that cuts the subject from its background.

AI upscaling: Native to both editions.

Works in CMYK for print: Corel's own help centre says editing happens in RGB; CMYK support is limited to channel splitting, RGB-to-CMYK conversion for printing, and saving/opening a CMYK TIFF (which is converted back to RGB if reopened for editing). Per the CMYK ruling, export/conversion-only support is false.

paintshoppro.com/en/products/pa…· 26 Sep 2026 paintshoppro.com/en/learn/ai/ph…· 26 Sep 2026 kb.corel.com/en/127040· 26 Sep 2026

Workflow and output4.5

-1.2 vs avg

-1.2 vs 5.7 avg9.9 of 22 points

File formats it exports3 export formats2 / 3

Where it runs1 platform0.5 / 3

Third-party pluginsyes2 / 2

Apps it connects to0 integrations0 / 2

Why these numbers

File formats it exports: Counted from export_formats. Only png/jpg/gif of this checklist's enum are in the export list. SVG and PDF are import-only (present in the Import Formats list but absent from Export Formats); the rest (psd, tiff, webp, eps, ai...) are outside this checklist's enum.

Where it runs: Counted from platforms; a browser app also counts as running on Windows and Mac. System requirements list Windows only; no Mac, iOS, Android or web version exists for PaintShop Pro.

Apps it connects to: Counted from integrations. Checked product, features and compare pages; no named third-party SaaS integrations found. Adobe/Topaz Labs/Nik Collection support is third-party plugin compatibility (see plugin_support), not a named service integration.

paintshoppro.com/en/products/pa…· 26 Sep 2026 paintshoppro.com/en/products/pa…· 26 Sep 2026

Pricing8.5

-0.7 vs avg

-0.7 vs 9.2 avg21.3 of 25 points

Cheapest plan you can edit in, monthlynot published, typical value used7 / 7

Commercial use allowednot published, half points1.5 / 3

Privacy and trust5.0

-1.0 vs avg

-1.0 vs 6.0 avg9 of 18 points

Does not train AI on what you uploaddoes not applyn/a

SOC 2does not applyn/a

GDPRdoes not applyn/a

Source published under an open licenceno0 / 2

Ways to reach support3 support channels2 / 2

Why these numbers

Source published under an open licence: Commercial proprietary software; no open-source licence claim found anywhere in the pages checked.

Ways to reach support: Counted from support_channels. help_center is the on-page knowledge-base search (backed by kb.corel.com). No forum/community specific to PaintShop Pro was found; a sales phone number is listed on corel.com's contact page but is for 'Talk to sales', not confirmed as product support.

paintshoppro.com/en/support· 26 Sep 2026

yesnonot published average for photo editors

How the Spec Score works

Scored from what Corel PaintShop Pro publishes on its own site. Not a hands-on test.

Compared with 9 photo editors. Facts checked 26 Sep 2026.

A fact the vendor does not publish gets half the points, or the typical value for a number, and says so. It never counts as a no. How we score.

Corel PaintShop Pro is a Windows photo editor sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, with native AI tools for upscaling, denoising and background replacement built into the base app. What decides whether it suits you is largely the platform and the licence: it runs on Windows only, and you buy it once instead of renewing it.

Corel PaintShop Pro homepage screenshot — Corel PaintShop Pro, Homepage

What is Corel PaintShop Pro?

PaintShop Pro is made by Corel, a company headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. It is an installed desktop application for Windows, sold in two editions: PaintShop Pro 2023 and PaintShop Pro 2023 Ultimate, which bundles extra apps on top of the same core editor. An internet connection is needed to install and activate the licence, not to edit day to day.

Editing images in Corel PaintShop Pro

PaintShop Pro develops raw files from over 800 camera models inside its AfterShot Lab, and it imports and exports PSD files with layers so you can move work to and from Photoshop. Editing uses non-destructive layers with masks for composites and precise selection. Batch processing automates edits such as watermarks, frames or resizing across many photos at once, and the app supports pressure-sensitive tablets and Windows Ink for pen input. Third-party 64-bit plugins are supported, including Adobe plugins and brushes, Topaz Labs and the Nik Collection by DXO.

CMYK is not a working colour space here: Corel's own support pages state editing happens in RGB, and CMYK is limited to conversion for printing and reopening a saved CMYK file, which converts back to RGB. AI runs through named, one-click tools in the base app rather than a prompt: AI Upsampling enlarges images, AI Denoise and AI Artifact Removal clean up noise, AI Style Transfer applies artistic effects, and AI Background Replacement swaps out a background. There is no prompt-based image generation in PaintShop Pro itself; Vision FX, a separate plugin sold on its own, adds that instead.

Working with other people

PaintShop Pro is built for one person editing locally: there is no real-time collaboration and no comments or review workflow. Automation runs through Scripts, an in-app recorder for repeating a series of edits, rather than a developer API. Support runs through Corel's ticketed email, live chat and help centre.

Corel PaintShop Pro pricing: what each edition gives

PaintShop Pro 2023 is $79.99 and PaintShop Pro 2023 Ultimate is $99.99, both one-time purchases you keep rather than a subscription. Ultimate bundles additional apps on top of the same core editor. There is no permanent free plan; instead there is a 30-day free trial with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Privacy and support

PaintShop Pro is installed software that edits your photos locally, so questions about training on your images do not arise the way they do for a cloud tool. Corel's privacy policy addresses EU, EEA, UK and Swiss residents' data rights at length and names an EU entity, though it does not hold SOC 2 certification. Support runs through email tickets, live chat and a help centre.

Who Corel PaintShop Pro suits

PaintShop Pro suits anyone on Windows who wants a full raster editor bought once rather than rented, with native AI tools for upscaling, denoising and background work, PSD compatibility, and support for third-party plugins from Adobe, Topaz Labs and Nik Collection. Batch processing and pen pressure support also suit photographers working through many files or drawing directly.

It suits less well anyone on a Mac, since no Mac version exists, or anyone doing CMYK print work, since editing stays in RGB with only conversion at export. It also suits less well anyone who wants prompt-based image generation built in, since that lives only in the separately sold Vision FX plugin.

How Corel PaintShop Pro compares

Corel PaintShop Pro scores 5.9 out of 10 among the photo editors we rate. These three do the same job and are the closest to it, compared on what each vendor publishes.

5.9Corel PaintShop Pro

8.5Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop's cheapest plan is the Photography plan, which also includes Lightroom, at $19.99 a month; Corel PaintShop Pro is bought once instead of rented. Photoshop generates images from a prompt and fills or expands a photo with generative AI, and automatically selects a subject or sky, none of which PaintShop Pro does. PaintShop Pro still has AI erase and relight tools, one click background removal and AI upscaling, and runs on Windows only; Photoshop also runs on the iPad and in a browser.

Pick Adobe Photoshop if you want generative AI fill, prompt image generation and more platforms.
Pick Corel PaintShop Pro if you want a one time purchase with AI editing tools included.

Corel PaintShop Pro vs Adobe Photoshop →

5.9Corel PaintShop Pro

6.9Affinity

Affinity

Affinity is free, but every AI feature needs a paid Canva plan; PaintShop Pro includes AI erase, relight, background removal and upscaling at no extra cost. Affinity opens layered PSDs but flattens them on export, while PaintShop Pro opens and saves PSD files with layers intact, and is bought once rather than rented. Affinity works in CMYK for print and Canva trains on your uploads by default; PaintShop Pro doesn't support CMYK.

Pick Affinity if you want a free app and don't mind AI behind a Canva plan.
Pick Corel PaintShop Pro if you want layered PSD export and built in AI tools.

Corel PaintShop Pro vs Affinity →

5.9Corel PaintShop Pro

5.9GIMP

GIMP

GIMP is free and open source, with no AI editing tools of any kind: no generative fill, background removal or upscaling. PaintShop Pro is a paid app you buy once, and adds AI erase and relight, one click background removal and AI upscaling on top of the basics. GIMP still opens and saves layered Photoshop files, the same as PaintShop Pro, and both let you install third-party plugins.

Pick GIMP if you want free, open source software and don't need AI tools.
Pick Corel PaintShop Pro if you want built in AI erase, relight and background removal.

Corel PaintShop Pro vs GIMP →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Corel PaintShop Pro cost?

PaintShop Pro 2023 is $79.99 and PaintShop Pro 2023 Ultimate is $99.99, both one-time purchases with no subscription. A 30-day free trial is available; there is no permanent free plan.

Does PaintShop Pro open Photoshop's PSD files?

Yes. It imports PSD files and exports back to Photoshop's format with layers intact.

Can PaintShop Pro generate images from a text prompt?

No, not in the base app. Its AI tools are one-click features such as upscaling, denoising, style transfer and background replacement. Prompt-based generation is only available through Vision FX, a separate plugin sold on its own.

Does PaintShop Pro train on my photos?

Because it is installed software that edits locally, there is no server your photos pass through for its own editing tools. Corel's privacy policy covers account and transactional data, not the images you edit in the app.