If Adobe Express does not cover your needs, this guide provides an overview of free alternatives organized by the Adobe application they most closely replace.
Quick Reference
| Adobe Application | Free Alternative | Runner-Up | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photoshop | Photopea | GIMP | Photopea: browser-based, no install or license needed |
| Illustrator | Inkscape | Figma | Figma: full Pro plan free for verified higher ed users |
| Premiere Pro | DaVinci Resolve | Kdenlive | Resolve: no educational license needed, unlimited installs |
| After Effects | DaVinci Resolve Fusion | Blender | Both free, no licensing restrictions |
| Audition | Audacity | DaVinci Resolve Fairlight | Both free, open-source or unrestricted |
| Lightroom | Darktable | RawTherapee | Both open-source, unlimited installs |
Note: DaVinci Resolve alone replaces three Adobe applications (Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition) within a single free download.
Free Alternatives to Adobe Photoshop
Photopea
- Platform: Any web browser — no installation required
- Website: photopea.com
Photopea closely replicates the Photoshop interface and feature set in a web browser. It opens and saves PSD files natively and supports layers, blend modes, masks, smart objects, adjustment layers, RAW file processing, and most of Photoshop’s core filters. It can also open Illustrator (AI), Sketch, and XD files.
Because Photopea requires no installation, account creation, or licensing, it is well suited for shared computer labs, Chromebook environments, and situations where software deployment is impractical. Students and employees can access it immediately from any campus computer.
Limitations: Very large or complex files may strain browser memory. Some of Photoshop’s newest AI-powered features (neural filters, generative fill) are not available, though basic generative tools are included.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Website: gimp.org
GIMP is a mature, full-featured image editor offering layers with blend modes, advanced selection tools, customizable brushes, gradient mapping, channel editing, path tools, and an extensive plugin ecosystem (Python-Fu and Script-Fu). It integrates with RAW processors like RawTherapee and Darktable for a complete photo editing pipeline.
As open-source software, GIMP can be installed on any number of institutional computers with no licensing cost or restrictions, making it straightforward to deploy across labs and departments.
Limitations: The interface differs significantly from Photoshop, which may require adjustment time. No native CMYK support (workarounds exist). Non-destructive editing is not available by default.
Krita
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Website: krita.org
Krita is designed primarily for digital illustration and painting rather than photo editing. It features an advanced brush engine with stabilizers and mirroring tools, a 2D animation timeline with onion skinning, vector tools, HDR painting support, and resource management for brush packs and textures. It is well-suited for art, design, and animation courses.
Limitations: Not designed for photo manipulation, retouching, or print production workflows. Limited CMYK export capability.
Free Alternatives to Adobe Illustrator
Inkscape
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Website: inkscape.org
Inkscape provides a comprehensive set of vector editing tools: pen tool with node editing, boolean path operations, text on path, pattern fills, mesh gradients, SVG filter effects, and export to SVG, PDF, EPS, and PNG. Recent versions include improved SVG2/CSS3 support and a pages feature for multi-page documents.
As an open-source application, Inkscape can be deployed across campus without licensing constraints. It is commonly used in higher education for teaching vector graphics fundamentals, including the same pen tool, node editing, and path operations students would encounter in Illustrator.
Limitations: Performance may lag with very complex documents. The print production pipeline is less polished than Illustrator’s.
Figma (Free Tier and Education Plan)
- Platform: Browser-based, with desktop apps for Windows and Mac
- Website: figma.com
- Education program: figma.com/education
Figma is a browser-based design tool with vector editing, a component system, auto-layout, prototyping, and real-time multi-user collaboration. Multiple users can work on the same file simultaneously, leave comments, and share designs via link.
Higher education details: Figma for Education provides verified higher education students and educators with free access to the full Professional plan, which includes unlimited files, unlimited version history, and collaboration with unlimited team members. Higher education users also receive access to Figma Make and Figma Sites. The Education plan is valid for two years and renewable upon re-verification.
Limitations: Not ideal for complex print production or large-format print design. The standard free tier (without education verification) is limited to 3 shared files.
Canva (Free Tier)
- Platform: Browser-based, mobile apps
- Website: canva.com
Canva is a template-driven design platform for creating social media graphics, presentations, posters, videos, documents, and marketing materials. The free tier includes thousands of templates, a drag-and-drop editor, and access to stock photos, icons, and fonts.
Limitations: No custom vector path editing. Some premium templates and stock assets require a paid plan. Limited fine-grained control over typography compared to dedicated vector editors.
Additional Options
- Vectorpea (free, browser-based) — From the same developer as Photopea. Handles basic vector editing and opens AI and SVG files.
Free Alternatives to Adobe Premiere Pro
DaVinci Resolve (Free Version)
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Website: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve
- Training resources: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/training
DaVinci Resolve is a professional-grade application that combines video editing, color grading, visual effects (Fusion), and audio post-production (Fairlight) in a single program. Its color grading toolset is an industry standard used in major film and television productions. The free version covers the vast majority of professional editing needs.
Higher education details: The free version of DaVinci Resolve can be installed on unlimited institutional computers with no special educational license, verification, or application required. Students can also install it on personal devices at no cost. Blackmagic Design actively supports educational use and provides a free certified training curriculum and official training materials for instructors. Many film and media programs have adopted Resolve as their primary editing platform, in part because students retain full access to the same software after graduation — there is no subscription to expire.
Limitations: The free version caps export resolution at 4K and does not include some advanced noise reduction, motion blur, and multi-GPU acceleration features. Some collaboration tools are restricted to the Studio version. The interface is organized differently from Premiere Pro (using “pages” rather than panels), which requires some adjustment.
Kdenlive
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Website: kdenlive.org
Kdenlive is a multi-track video editor with keyframe animation, an effects and transitions library, proxy editing, audio mixing, and broad format support via FFmpeg. It offers a more straightforward editing experience than Resolve for users who need capable multi-track editing without the learning curve of a full production suite.
Shotcut
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Website: shotcut.org
Shotcut supports a wide range of video and audio formats, offers a multi-track timeline, filter-based effects, hardware-accelerated encoding, and 4K export. It is lightweight and suitable for general-purpose editing tasks.
Additional Options
- OpenShot (free, open-source) — Beginner-friendly video editor with a simple interface and drag-and-drop editing.
Free Alternatives to Adobe After Effects
DaVinci Resolve Fusion
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Website: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve
Fusion is the compositing and motion graphics engine built into DaVinci Resolve, accessible via its Fusion page. It uses a node-based workflow (the same paradigm used by high-end VFX tools like Nuke) and supports 2D and 3D compositing, particle systems, motion tracking, keying, rotoscoping, and text animation. Because it is integrated into Resolve, users can move between editing, compositing, color grading, and audio within a single application.
Limitations: The node-based workflow differs significantly from After Effects’ layer-based approach. The learning curve is steeper for users accustomed to layer-based compositing.
Blender
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Website: blender.org
Blender is a comprehensive 3D creation suite that includes modeling, animation, rendering, a video editor, a node-based compositor, 2D animation tools (Grease Pencil), physics simulations, and motion tracking. It is used in professional production pipelines by studios including Netflix, Epic Games, and Ubisoft, and is widely adopted in university animation, game design, and visual effects programs.
As fully open-source software, Blender can be deployed on unlimited institutional computers without licensing restrictions.
Limitations: The learning curve is significant, particularly for users new to 3D workflows. It is not the fastest path to simple 2D title animations or lower thirds.
Additional Options
- Natron (free, open-source) — Node-based compositor modeled on Nuke, focused exclusively on compositing.
- Synfig Studio (free, open-source) — 2D vector animation tool for motion graphics and character animation.
Free Alternatives to Adobe Audition
Audacity
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Website: audacityteam.org
Audacity is a widely used audio editor that supports multi-track recording and editing, noise reduction, equalization, compression, normalization, reverb, and a range of additional built-in effects. It supports VST and LADSPA plugins and exports to WAV, MP3, FLAC, OGG, and other formats. It is commonly used in higher education for podcast production, oral history projects, music courses, and media production programs.
As open-source software, Audacity can be deployed on any institutional hardware without licensing restrictions and runs on older systems with modest hardware requirements.
Limitations: Limited real-time effects monitoring. No MIDI support. The multi-track workflow is less sophisticated than a full digital audio workstation. Spectral editing capabilities are more limited than Audition’s.
DaVinci Resolve Fairlight
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Website: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve
Fairlight is Resolve’s built-in audio post-production suite, offering unlimited tracks, channel strip processing with EQ and dynamics on every track, bus routing, audio repair tools, ADR tools, and sound library management. For users already working in Resolve for video editing, Fairlight provides integrated audio post-production without requiring a separate application.
GarageBand
- Cost: Free (included with Mac and iOS devices)
- Platform: Mac, iOS, iPad
- Website: apple.com/mac/garageband
GarageBand provides multi-track recording, virtual instruments, loops, amp simulations, and a set of effects including EQ, compression, reverb, and delay. For institutions with Apple hardware, it requires no additional deployment — it is pre-installed on every Mac and iPad.
Limitations: Available only on Apple platforms. Limited plugin support compared to full digital audio workstations.