How to Get Photoshop Free
People searching for free Photoshop usually want one of three things: a way to try the desktop editor at no cost, a browser tool that opens a PSD, or a permanently free editor. This page covers all three and is clear about where each one ends.
Short answer
Photoshop is not permanently free. The desktop editor is free only during Adobe's time-limited trial; Adobe's browser and mobile tools have free tiers with narrower features; and editors such as Photopea, GIMP and Krita are free for good. Everything else claiming a permanent free licence is a modified copy.
Is Photoshop actually free?
Not permanently. Adobe sells the desktop application on a subscription and offers a time-limited free trial of it. That trial is the only way to run the full desktop editor without paying, and it does end. Anyone telling you otherwise is usually describing a modified installer, which is a different and much worse proposition — we cover why on our page about cracked copies.
Alongside the trial there are genuinely free ways to do photo editing work. Adobe publishes browser and mobile tools with narrower feature sets, and the open-source world has several mature editors that cost nothing and never expire. Which route is right depends on the job, not on the brand name.
What each free route gives you
A trial gives you the complete desktop toolset for a limited window — the right choice if you have a specific project with a deadline. A browser editor is better for occasional work on a borrowed machine. A free desktop alternative is the one to pick if you edit regularly and do not want a recurring bill.
Photoshop free trial
Adobe offers a time-limited trial of the desktop application for Windows and macOS.
- Installs the full desktop editor for the trial period.
- Requires an Adobe account sign-in during installation.
- Trial length and current terms are set by Adobe — check the official page before starting.
Photoshop on the web
Browser-based editing for lighter tasks, without a desktop install.
- Runs in a modern browser, so no installer is needed.
- Opens and edits PSD documents stored in the cloud.
- Availability and included features are defined by Adobe.
Mobile options
Adobe publishes mobile photo-editing apps for phones and tablets.
- Useful for retouching and quick composites away from a desktop.
- Feature sets differ from the desktop application.
- Check the store listing for current availability in your region.
Creative Cloud offers
Adobe periodically runs promotional plans that include Photoshop.
- Promotions change, so treat any offer you read elsewhere as unverified.
- Always confirm terms on Adobe's own checkout page.
We do not publish prices here because they change by region and over time.
Student and teacher pricing
Discounted plans are available to eligible students and educators.
- Eligibility usually requires proof of enrolment or employment.
- Institutions sometimes provide access directly — ask your IT department first.
Free alternatives
If you need a permanently free editor, several mature open-source and browser tools handle most photo work.
- Photopea, GIMP, Krita and Paint.NET all read layered PSD files to varying degrees.
- No trial limits and no subscription.
Before you install
Will it run on your computer?
The desktop editor is demanding, particularly on memory and disk. Check the specification for your platform before starting a trial, so you don't spend the trial period troubleshooting.
Windows
- Operating system
- Windows 10 (v22H2) or Windows 11, 64-bit
- Processor
- Multicore Intel, AMD or ARM processor with SSE 4.2 / AVX2 support
- RAM (minimum)
- 8 GB
- RAM (recommended)
- 16 GB or more
- Graphics card
- GPU with DirectX 12 support (feature level 12_0), less than 7 years old
- Graphics memory
- 1.5 GB minimum; 4 GB for 4K displays
- Hard disk space
- 10 GB minimum; 100 GB recommended on a fast SSD
- Screen resolution
- 1280 × 800 minimum; 1920 × 1080 or higher recommended
- Internet
- Required for activation, subscription validation and online services
macOS
- Operating system
- macOS Sonoma 14 or later
- Processor (Apple silicon)
- Apple M1 chip or later
- Processor (Intel)
- Multicore Intel processor with 64-bit and SSE 4.2 support
- RAM (minimum)
- 8 GB
- RAM (recommended)
- 16 GB or more
- Graphics card
- GPU with Metal support
- Graphics memory
- 1.5 GB minimum; 4 GB for 4K displays
- Hard disk space
- 10 GB minimum; 100 GB recommended on a fast SSD
- Screen resolution
- 1280 × 800 minimum; 1920 × 1080 or higher recommended
Full detail, including notes on GPU support, is on the system requirements page.
Installing without surprises
Desktop installation runs through Adobe's own installer and normally asks you to sign in so a licence can be applied to the machine. That sign-in is expected and is not a sign that something has gone wrong. Our installation guide walks through the sequence step by step, including where the installer puts files and how to confirm the version afterwards.
What to avoid
- Pages offering a permanent free licence for the desktop application — that product does not exist.
- Archives that ship with a password, or instructions to switch off your security software.
- Download pages with several competing buttons where the real link is the small one.
- Browser extensions or "activators" promising to unlock features.