The best free design and photo software for Windows in 2026: Affinity, GIMP, Inkscape, Krita, darktable, Photopea, Penpot and Bitgrain, with what each one is for and what the catch is.
Free design software on Windows has got a lot better in the last two years. Affinity became free, GIMP 3 finally arrived, and browser tools can now handle work that needed a desktop app before.
Here's what's worth installing in 2026, sorted by what you want to make. Every tool here is free to use. Where there's a catch, I say what it is.
The classic free Photoshop alternative, and version 3 is a real improvement: non-destructive filters, better colour management and a modernised interface. The latest release is 3.2.6.
Catch: it works differently from Photoshop, so expect to relearn some habits.
Since October 2025 Affinity is a single free app combining Photo, Designer and Publisher. It's the most polished free option on this list and opens PSD and AI files.
Catch: you need a Canva account to install it, and AI features need a paid Canva plan.
A Photoshop-like editor in your browser. Nothing to install, and it opens PSDs.
Catch: it's browser-only, and large files can feel slow.
The closest free thing to Lightroom Classic: RAW development plus a full photo library. Version 5.6 runs on Windows, including ARM.
Catch: a steep learning curve.
Excellent RAW processing with very fine control.
Catch: no photo library.
Free, SVG-native and very capable for logos, icons and illustration.
Catch: multi-page documents are still being reworked for version 1.5.
The best free painting app on Windows. Version 5.3 added a much better text tool.
Catch: it's built for painting, not layout.
Open source, browser-based, and the main free alternative to Figma.
Catch: fewer plugins than Figma.
I've been building Bitgrain, so I'll be clear about where it fits. It runs in the browser on Windows (and anything else) and covers:
Your files are processed on your own PC, not uploaded.
Catch: the free tier exports at web resolution (up to 1500px) with a small watermark. Full resolution needs Pro, $6.99 a month or $129 once for ten years. Plain HEIC, RAW and TIFF conversions have no watermark.
If you're setting up a new Windows PC and want to cover most creative work for free:
That's everything most people used Adobe or Canva for, without a subscription.
Canva's free plan is fine for quick, simple graphics. The limits that push people away are no transparent PNG, no SVG, and RGB-only print PDFs. If those matter to you, one of the tools above will do the job.