photo editor · Photopea

Photopea

Free browser photo editor with layers, masks, raw opening and PSD files.

66/100

#3 of 9 photo editors
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

The free account has no time limit; Premium only removes ads and may add other benefits⁸.
Premium for one user is listed at €50 for 365 days, €15 for 90 days or €8 for 30 days, paid up front and not as a subscription⁹.
Opens DNG, CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RW2, RAF, ORF and FFF raw files^1,7.
Layers with raster and vector masks, adjustment layers and Smart Objects are documented^2,3,4.
It runs in a web browser; the vendor lists no desktop or mobile app^1,7.

Photopea suits people who want layers, masks, PSD files and raw opening for free, in a browser^1,2,8. Its Learn pages document adjustment layers, local brushes and AI healing tools^4,5,6. The catch: it is web only, its repository says it is not fully open source, and no photo library, HDR or panorama merge, batch run or AI noise tool is documented^4,6,7,11.

Best for: People who want a layered, Photoshop-style editor in a browser without paying.

Where the points come from

Systems2 of 12

Editing tools32 of 34

AI tools10 of 13

Workflow0 of 11

Price and licence22 of 30

Systems 2 of 12 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Systems	WebThe vendor's own web editor; no desktop or mobile app is listed^1,7.	2 / 12

Editing tools 32 of 34 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Camera raw editing	YesThe home page says Photopea opens DNG, CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RW2, RAF, ORF and FFF files^1,7.	10 / 10
Layers and masks	YesLayers panel plus raster and vector layer masks on each layer^2,3.	8 / 8
Non-destructive editing	YesAdjustment layers hold adjustments; Smart Filters on Smart Objects can be switched off or changed later⁴.	6 / 6
Local adjustments	YesBlur and Sharpen work on the layer content under the stroke; Dodge, Burn and Sponge change tone or saturation of parts of a layer⁵.	5 / 5
Opens and saves PSD	YesPSD is the main format; saving as PSD preserves the whole document structure^1,10.	3 / 3
HDR and panorama merge	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's Learn pages⁴.	0 / 2

AI tools 10 of 13 points

Rule	What is published	Points
AI subject and sky selection	YesThe home page lists "Remove background with one click" under its AI heading, with no beta label¹.	5 / 5
AI object removal	YesSpot Healing Brush removes objects; the vendor says Smart Tools use artificial intelligence⁶.	5 / 5
AI noise reduction or upscaling	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's Learn pages^4,6.	0 / 3

Workflow 0 of 11 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Built-in photo library	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's Learn pages¹¹.	0 / 5
Batch editing and export	Not publishedActions replay recorded steps and Variables make versions from a spreadsheet; no multi-photo batch run is documented¹¹.	0 / 4
Soft proofing	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's Learn pages; they explain ICC profiles but not soft proofing¹².	0 / 2

Price and licence 22 of 30 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Open source	NoThe vendor's GitHub repository says Photopea is not fully open source and holds only bug reports⁷.	0 / 3
Free trial	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's accounts page⁸; the free account is not a trial.	0 / 2
Free version	YesFree account open to anyone; Premium removes advertisement⁸.	8 / 8
No subscription needed	YesFree to use; the vendor's Go Premium window says Premium is one-time payments, not a subscription^8,9.	5 / 5
Price per month	$4.66/moPremium for one user, €50 for 365 days divided by 12; euro price shown in the editor's account window⁹. Converted at €1 = $1.1186¹³.	9 / 12

The rule behind each line: how we score photo editors.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

Plan	Price as listed	Per month	Notes
Free1 person	Free^8,9	$0	Shows ads; Premium removes them
Premium (365 days)1 person	€50 for 365 days⁹	–	Paid up front, no subscription; 90 days €15, 30 days €8

Prices are in euros and appear in the editor's account window; the vendor's accounts page says prices are shown there. The window also shows 'From €5/mo'^8,9.

Strengths

The free account has no time limit and shows ads only until you buy Premium⁸.
PSD files open and save, and the document structure is kept^1,10.
Raster and vector layer masks are documented, and each layer can have one of each².
Adjustment layers and Smart Filters keep edits changeable⁴.
The Spot Healing Brush is listed with other tools the vendor says use artificial intelligence⁶.

Limits

It is a web editor only; no desktop or mobile app is listed¹.
The vendor's repository says Photopea is not fully open source⁷.
No built-in photo library, HDR or panorama merge, or batch run over many photos is documented¹¹.
Premium prices appear only inside the editor's account window, in euros^8,9.

What Photopea says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

Photopea says it runs on your device and does not upload files¹.
Photopea says its Spot Healing Brush gives better results than Adobe Photoshop's⁶.

Other photo editors

1
ON1 Photo RAWPhotographers who want raw development, layers and AI tools in one app
76/100
$7.50/moprice per month
2
Luminar NeoPhotographers who want AI tools and a licence with no monthly fee for the editor
71/100
$12.02/moprice per month
4
ACDSee Photo Studio UltimateWindows users who want an editor and a photo library in one app
60/100
$15/moprice per month
5
Adobe PhotoshopPeople who edit with layers and masks and accept a subscription
60/100
$19.99/moprice per month

Photopea vs ON1 Photo RAW · Photopea vs Luminar Neo · All 9 photo editors

Sources

Photopea | Online Photo Editor, Photopea. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Photopea Learn: Masks, Photopea. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Photopea Learn: Layers, Photopea. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Photopea Learn: Adjustments and Filters, Photopea. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Photopea Learn: Advanced Tools, Photopea. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Photopea Learn: Smart Tools, Photopea. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
photopea/photopea, GitHub. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Photopea accounts, Photopea. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Photopea Go Premium window (editor script), Photopea. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Photopea Learn: Open and Save, Photopea. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Photopea Learn: Automate, Photopea. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Photopea Learn: Color Spaces, Photopea. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Euro foreign exchange reference rates: US dollar, European Central Bank. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: www.photopea.com · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Photopea.