Photopea is a free, browser-based image editor built around the Photoshop way of working: layers, masks, adjustment layers, smart objects and PSD files. For creators who already know those tools and make thumbnails or channel art, it's the closest thing to Photoshop you can open in a tab at no cost. The free version shows ads. Premium removes them and adds AI credits, sold as a one-time pass rather than a subscription.
What it does well
The Photoshop toolset, free. Photopea's site lists layers, masks, layer styles, smart objects, adjustment layers, channels and paths, plus filters such as Liquify and Puppet Warp. For a thumbnail that means cutouts, glows, strokes and color grading, all in a non-destructive layer stack.
File compatibility. PSD is Photopea's main format, and its site says it both opens and saves PSD files. It also opens PNG, JPG, WEBP, SVG, PDF, AI, HEIC, TIFF, Figma files and camera RAW formats such as CR3, NEF and ARW. That makes it handy for opening a designer's PSD without a Creative Cloud subscription.
Your files stay local. Photopea says it runs on your device's CPU and GPU, that there are no uploads, and that files never leave your device. Its docs add that once the page is loaded, you can disconnect from the internet and keep working.
Premium without a subscription. In the app's account panel, Premium is sold as one-time payments for 30, 90 or 365 days. When the pass ends, you return to the free version with ads. Nothing renews automatically.
Where it falls short
The free version is ad-supported, and ad removal is the main thing Premium sells.
AI is a Premium feature. Photopea advertises one-click background removal and text-prompt replacement of part of an image, but its account panel says "AI credits are available only to Premium users." We couldn't confirm which AI tools, if any, work without credits.
There's no Canva-style template engine built around creator formats. You build thumbnails from scratch or from Photopea's templates section, which suits people who know what they're doing.
Support is thin. Photopea's docs point you to its Reddit community for help, and there's no public pricing page. Prices appear only inside the editor.
Pricing in practice
Photopea is free. Premium for a single user costs €8 for 30 days, €15 for 90 days or €50 for 365 days, as shown in the editor's account panel on October 10, 2026, priced in euros. Premium adds no ads, 5 GB of PeaDrive storage (0.5 GB on free), 3,000 AI credits a month and twice the undo history. Team passes cost €150 a year for 5 users, €500 for 20 and €999 for 50.
Example: a creator who makes thumbnails every week. Assumptions: single-user Premium, list prices, euros. The 365-day pass works out to about €4.17 a month. Buying twelve 30-day passes would cost €96.
Who should pick it (and who shouldn't)
Pick Photopea if you think in layers, need to open or deliver PSD files, or want Photoshop-style control for thumbnails without a monthly bill.
Skip it if you want templates you fill in, generative AI at volume, or one tool that also handles video, social scheduling and brand kits.
Alternatives worth comparing
- Photoshop: the paid original, with Adobe's AI and plugins. See Photoshop alternatives.
- Canva: templates first and the fastest route to a decent thumbnail. Compare it with Adobe Express.
- Affinity Designer and Penpot for vector and layout work.
- Our best YouTube thumbnail tools guide pairs Photopea with research and testing tools.
SOURCES (CHECKED OCT 10, 2026)
| Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Layers, masks, layer styles, smart objects, adjustment layers, filters; PSD open and save; format and RAW list; runs locally with no uploads; AI background removal and replace | https://www.photopea.com/ | 2026-10-10 |
| Free vs Premium (PeaDrive 0.5 GB vs 5 GB, no ads, 3,000 AI credits/month, 2x history); Premium passes €8/€15/€50 single user and team prices; one-time payments; reverts to free with ads; AI credits Premium-only (in-editor Account panel) | https://www.photopea.com/ | 2026-10-10 |
| Runs in browser on any device; works offline once loaded; files never leave the computer; help via Reddit | https://www.photopea.com/learn/ | 2026-10-10 |
| Photopea API | https://www.photopea.com/api/ | 2026-10-10 |
| PLAN | PRICE | WHAT YOU GET |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | All editing features, ad-supported, PeaDrive 0.5 GB; AI credits are Premium-only |
| Premium, single user (30 days) | €8 /one-time | Priced in EUR in the app; no ads, PeaDrive 5 GB, 3,000 AI credits a month, 2x history steps; reverts to free after 30 days |
| Premium, single user (90 days) | €15 /one-time | Priced in EUR; one-time payment, not a subscription |
| Premium, single user (365 days) | €50 /one-time | Priced in EUR; one-time payment; about €4.17 a month over the year |
| Premium, team of 5 (365 days) | €150 /one-time | Also sold for 30 days (€20) and 90 days (€45); teams of 20 and 50 available |
Creators who know Photoshop basics and want layered thumbnail and graphics work, including opening PSD files, in a browser for free. — and anyone who wants Photopea to do the heavy lifting in this category.
Skip it if you want ready-made templates, heavy generative AI, or an ad-free editor without paying. — if that's a dealbreaker, see every design & visuals tool we've reviewed.
- Is Photopea really free?
Yes. Photopea's account panel lists all editing features on the free version, which is ad-supported and includes 0.5 GB of PeaDrive storage. AI credits are Premium-only.
- How much is Photopea Premium?
For a single user, €8 for 30 days, €15 for 90 days or €50 for 365 days, priced in euros in the editor on October 10, 2026. These are one-time payments, not a subscription.
- Does Photopea open and save PSD files?
Yes. Photopea's site says PSD is its main format and that it supports both opening and saving PSD files.
- Does Photopea upload my images?
Photopea says no. It says the editor runs on your device and files never leave it, and its docs say it keeps working offline once loaded.
- Is Photopea good for YouTube thumbnails?
Yes, if you're comfortable with layers. It covers cutouts, masks, layer styles and text effects for free, but it has fewer ready-made creator templates than Canva.
The best free Photoshop stand-in for creators who already know layers, and Premium is a cheap one-time pass rather than another subscription.
Editorially reviewed. An editorial evaluation of verified product information, official documentation, pricing and features, informed by Carlos Gil's professional experience. Available demos and screenshots may inform the review; documented product use is required for a hands-on label. Read our review standards.
Editorially reviewed by Carlos Gil. Based on Photopea's official website, in-editor account and Premium panel, and documentation, checked October 10, 2026. Photopea pays us nothing and the link to it is a plain link. How we review.
BestCreates is written and edited by Carlos Gil. Every tool is assessed against the same documented framework — the jobs creators hire it for, ease of use, pricing accuracy, support and integrations — and each review states in the open how it was assessed.
LAST UPDATED OCT 10, 2026
SIGNED BY CARLOS GIL · FOUNDER & EDITOR, THE BEST NETWORK · OUR DISCLOSURE POLICY