Best Adobe Alternatives to Use in 2023 [Free & Paid]

Movavi Video Editor is a powerful and user-friendly multimedia application designed to make it easy for both beginners and experienced users to edit videos. It offers lots of features, such as cutting, trimming, merging, applying visual effects and transitions, and many more.

In addition, this software also includes tools for audio editing, such as adding background music, removing noise, and adjusting the volume of different tracks independently.

Main features:

• Wide range of editing tools: cut, trim, merge, split, and more.

• Numerous effects and transitions: seamlessly add filters, stickers, titles, and transitions.

• Chroma key: easily remove the background from your video and replace it with an image or another video.

• Rich media library: the program comes with a rich media library, including intros and outros, stickers, and audio tracks.

Lightworks is ideal for professionals who prefer a keyboard-based workflow yet also need access to more advanced tools. Lightworks has been successfully used to create everything from simple commercials to full-blown documentaries and films. 

Main features:

• Non-linear editing: edit your movie seamlessly with Lightworks’ simple user interface.

• Multiple camera angles editing: Lightworks’ multi-camera angles and synchronization add professional flair to your movies.

• Advanced color correcting: professionals get access to tools that allow more precise color manipulation and grading.

DaVinci Resolve is a video-editing program with a comprehensive set of powerful professional-grade features. It was developed by Blackmagic Design, the company behind many professional-grade innovations in the video production world.

Main features:

• Advanced color correction: DaVinci Resolve is well-known for its legendary color correction capabilities.

• Rich collaboration tools: editors, colorists, and post-production managers can all work together simultaneously on the same project thanks to DaVinci’s detailed multi-user workflows.

• Full media management capabilities: DaVinci Resolve connects to a variety of cloud-based storage management systems, making it easy for you to manage your media assets wherever they are.

GIMP is a free, open-source editor for raster (non-vector) graphics. It is one of the most well-known alternatives to Adobe^® Photoshop^®. 

Main features:

• Photo retouching: GIMP provides various tools for easy photo retouching, including removing blemishes, red-eye, color adjustments, and more.

• Image editing: artists can freely draw and paint with GIMP’s variety of tools. The software also includes a number of built-in filters and special effects. 

• Layers and blending: seamlessly blend multiple images together through the use of layers, which let you work independently on each element of your design.

Affinity Photo is a professional-level photo editor that is a highly popular Adobe alternative. It works on macOS, Windows, and iPad. 

Main features:

• Professional photo-editing tools: from RAW editing and retouching to compositing and other photo-editing tools, Affinity Photo is highly regarded by professional photographers and photo editors alike.

• Digital illustration and painting: with a number of brushes, blending modes, and painting tools, Affinity Photo lets users seamlessly draw, paint, or retouch images in minutes.

• Detailed graphic design tools: like Adobe^® Photoshop^® and other photo editors, Affinity Photo supports layers, masks, and other advanced graphic design options.

Developed by Corel, the company behind CorelDRAW, WordPerfect, and other well-known software programs, PaintShop Pro is a highly popular Adobe alternative suitable for beginners. 

Main features:

• Editing and retouching tools: PaintShop Pro comes with a variety of photo-editing and retouching tools, including RAW editing, color correction, exposure correction, and more.

• Graphic design features: unlike other alternatives to Adobe, PaintShop Pro includes vector tools as well as graphic editing must-haves, like text tools, layers, and brushes.

• Creative filters: PaintShop Pro comes bundled with a variety of artistic filters and creative effects to add a touch of style and uniqueness to every design.

InkScape is a free, open-source graphics editor that creates vector images. It works with Windows, macOS, and Linux devices, making it a versatile competitor to Adobe^® Illustrator^®.

Main features:

• SVG support: InkScape supports Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) by default, allowing for compatibility between other applications that also support this common format. This allows users to create vector graphics that scale to any size without any loss of quality.

• Object manipulation: users can easily manipulate objects through the use of layers, including rotating, flipping, skewing, and scaling, making the editing process more seamless and efficient.

• Path editing: through the use of powerful path editing capabilities, users can efficiently create precision paths that allow for effects, Bézier curves, and much more.

Formerly known as Foxit Phantom PDF, Foxit PDF Editor is a powerful program that gives users excellent flexibility and features in a compact software program. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile platforms. 

Main features:

• Creating PDFs: the core feature of Foxit PDF Editor is the ability to create PDF files from a variety of different document formats, including Microsoft Office products, images, and web pages.

• Editing PDFs: users can edit PDFs directly in Foxit PDF Editor, including editing text, revising images, and managing pages.

• Security features: Foxit PDF Editor allows users to securely encrypt and password-protect their documents, adding a layer of protection to sensitive information.

Natron is a powerful option for those looking for alternatives to Adobe^® After Effects^®. It creates both visual effects and motion graphics and works with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. 

Main features:

• Keyframe animation: Natron makes use of keyframe animations, allowing users to define motion paths for a variety of elements, including opacity, rotation, position, and scale. 

• A variety of effects and filters: the software includes built-in effects and filters that can be applied to individual layers or compositions to create a wide range of unique styles. 

• 3D compositing: users can import and manipulate 3D models and combine them with 2D elements, creating seamless motion graphics with depth and dimensionality.

Skylum Luminar is a versatile alternative to Adobe^® Lightroom^® and is designed for professional and amateur photographers alike.

Main features:

• AI-powered editing: Luminar uses artificial intelligence to automate editing workflows, such as AI Sky Enhancer, AI Accent, and AI Structure, that allow for greater image enhancement in just one click.

• Customizable workspaces: Pro and beginning photographers alike will find Luminar’s customizable workspaces a huge time-saver by creating workflows and setting up the software to suit their unique needs and preferences.

• Creative filters and presets: from film looks to color grading, Luminar offers a wide range of professional-grade tools to add unique artistic effects to photos.

Figma is a web-based design tool that’s used for a wide range of designing tasks, including UX and UI designs and prototypes. 

Main features:

• Collaborative design: Figma lets multiple users work together in real-time, creating greater collaboration between teams.

• Interactive prototyping: Figma’s interactive prototyping lets users add animations and transitions, helping give interactivity to the final version.

• Reusable design assets: Figma allows designers to create and reuse assets that can be carried across projects, allowing for greater consistency and efficiency.