How to Use Photopea: The Free Photoshop Alternative Anyone Can Master in 2026
Photopea is a free, browser-based image editor that works almost identically to Adobe Photoshop — without the $20+ monthly subscription or any downloads. You just open a browser tab and start editing. In 2026, it remains the go-to option for beginners, students, and small business owners who need professional-quality editing tools at zero cost. This guide walks you through everything: setting up your first project, importing images, using tools, working with layers, and exporting your finished file. Whether you want to design a social media post, remove a background, or touch up a photo, Photopea handles it all. Most beginners complete their first project in under 30 minutes.
What You Need
- ✓A modern web browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox (both free)
- ✓An internet connection to load Photopea at photopea.com
- ✓An image file to edit (JPG, PNG, or PSD) — optional for starting fresh
- ✓No account, software download, or payment required to begin
Step 1: Open Photopea and Start a New Project
Go to photopea.com in your browser — the editor loads fully within seconds, no account or installation needed. You will see the full interface immediately: a central blank canvas area, a left toolbar with all editing tools, a top menu bar with File, Edit, Image, Layer, Select, and Filter menus, and a right-side panel showing Layers, Channels, and Properties. To create a new project, click the 'Create new project' button in the center welcome screen. A dialog box opens with preset size options. Choose from ready-made sizes like Instagram Post (1080x1080px), YouTube Thumbnail (1280x720px), or enter your own custom width and height. For web graphics, set resolution to 72ppi. For anything you plan to print, use 300ppi. Set the background to white for a solid start, or choose transparent if you need a see-through canvas for logos or stickers. Click 'Create' and your blank canvas appears instantly. Learn three navigation shortcuts right away: Ctrl+mouse wheel to zoom in and out, Spacebar+drag to pan around the canvas, and Ctrl+0 to fit the entire image back to screen. Undo any mistake with Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on Mac). Optional: click the 'Account' button to register for free and save projects to the cloud.
Pro Tip: Use the built-in presets for social media sizes instead of guessing dimensions — they are already optimized and save you time on every new project.
Photopea
Completely free and runs in any browser with no download. The interface mirrors Photoshop so closely that any tutorial written for Photoshop will work here too.
Visit →Step 2: Import and Open Your Images
There are three ways to bring images into Photopea. The fastest method is drag-and-drop — just grab an image file from your computer's folder and drop it directly onto the Photopea canvas. It appears as a new layer automatically. The second method is File > Open from Computer, which opens a standard file browser dialog where you select your JPG, PNG, PSD, or other supported file. The third method is File > Open from URL, where you paste a direct image link from the web. Photopea also connects to Google Drive and Dropbox if you paste a shared file link. When you import an image that way, it loads as its own layer in the Layers panel on the right. If you want to place one image on top of another (like putting a logo onto a photo), open your background image first, then go to File > Place and select your second image. It appears as a new layer above the background. Hold Shift while dragging the corner handles to resize it proportionally, then press Enter to confirm. To protect your original image from accidental edits, immediately duplicate the layer by pressing Ctrl+J — work on the duplicate and leave the original untouched beneath it.
Pro Tip: Always duplicate your original image layer with Ctrl+J before making any edits. This gives you a safe backup on the same canvas without creating a separate file.
Photopea
Handles PSD, AI, XD, Sketch, JPG, and PNG files seamlessly in the browser using WebAssembly technology — no slow uploads to a server required.
Visit →Step 3: Use the Core Editing Tools
The left toolbar contains every tool you need for basic editing. Here are the most important ones and how to activate them. Press V to switch to the Move tool — click and drag any layer to reposition it on the canvas. Press C for the Crop tool — drag the handles around the area you want to keep and press Enter to apply. Press T for the Text tool — click anywhere on the canvas, type your text, then use the top bar to change font, size, and color. Press B for the Brush tool — adjust brush size and hardness in the top bar (start with a 30px soft brush at 80% opacity for smooth strokes). Press E for the Eraser tool, which removes parts of a layer. To adjust colors on your foreground/background, click the two overlapping squares at the bottom of the toolbar. For photo corrections, go to Image > Adjustments. Use Brightness/Contrast to fix dark or overexposed photos — drag the Brightness slider to +20 as a starting point. Use Hue/Saturation to boost or reduce colors. Use Curves for precise tonal control (a gentle S-curve adds contrast quickly). For a non-destructive approach that lets you re-edit adjustments later, click the half-black circle icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add an Adjustment Layer instead of applying changes directly to the image.
Pro Tip: Double-click any layer in the Layers panel to open Layer Styles — this is where you add drop shadows, glows, and borders to text or shapes without any complex steps.
Photopea
All tool keyboard shortcuts match Adobe Photoshop exactly, so learning here transfers directly if you ever upgrade to Photoshop later.
Visit →Step 4: Remove a Background from a Photo
Background removal is one of the most requested tasks for beginners, and Photopea makes it doable without any paid AI tools. First, open or import the photo you want to edit. Duplicate the layer with Ctrl+J so you have a backup. On the duplicate layer, select the Quick Selection tool — find it by right-clicking the Magic Wand icon in the left toolbar. Click and drag over the subject you want to keep. Photopea highlights the selected area with a moving dotted line called 'marching ants.' If the selection grabs too much, hold Alt and drag over areas to remove them from the selection. Once your subject is roughly selected, click 'Select and Mask' in the top bar. In the dialog that opens, use the Radius slider to soften the edge — try 2-3px for people with defined edges, or higher for hair and fur. Click OK to apply. Now go to Select > Inverse to flip the selection so the background is selected instead of the subject. Press Delete on your keyboard to remove the background. The checkered gray pattern that appears means the area is now transparent. Go to Layer > Flatten Image only if you want a solid background, or leave it transparent and export as PNG to preserve the cutout.
Pro Tip: After removing a background, add a solid color layer below your subject by clicking the + icon in Layers and filling it with a color using Edit > Fill. This makes your cutout look clean and professional instantly.
Photopea
The Select and Mask feature works identically to Photoshop's version, giving beginners a professional-quality background removal tool at no cost.
Visit →Step 5: Add and Style Text
Adding text in Photopea takes about 30 seconds once you know the steps. Press T to activate the Text tool, then click anywhere on the canvas where you want your text to appear. A blinking cursor shows you can start typing. After typing, highlight your text by pressing Ctrl+A, then use the top options bar to change the font family (type a font name like 'Montserrat' or 'Arial'), font size (start around 48pt for headings), and color (click the color swatch in the top bar). To move your text after typing, switch to the Move tool by pressing V, then drag the text to the correct position. For visual effects, double-click the text layer in the Layers panel to open Layer Styles. Click 'Drop Shadow' and set Distance to 3px and Size to 5px for a subtle shadow that lifts text off the background. Click 'Stroke' to add a colored border around letters — set size to 2px and choose a contrasting color. Click 'Outer Glow' to add a soft halo effect, useful for text placed on busy backgrounds. Click OK to apply all styles. Text remains fully editable — press T, click your text layer, and retype anytime. To resize text non-destructively, press Ctrl+T and drag the corner handles while holding Shift.
Pro Tip: Keep fonts to a maximum of two per design — one for headings and one for body text. Mixing too many fonts makes designs look amateur and hard to read.
Photopea
Photopea supports Google Fonts natively — click the font name field and browse hundreds of free fonts without downloading anything separately.
Visit →Step 6: Organize Your Work with Layers
Layers are the foundation of non-destructive editing — they let you adjust individual elements without affecting anything else. The Layers panel sits on the right side of the screen. Each item in your design (image, text, shape, adjustment) appears as its own row. The layer at the top of the list appears in front on the canvas; layers at the bottom appear behind. To reorder layers, click and drag them up or down in the panel. To control how transparent a layer is, adjust the Opacity slider at the top of the Layers panel — try 70% for a subtle overlay effect. Blending Modes sit next to the Opacity slider in a dropdown that says 'Normal.' Change it to Multiply to darken a layer and blend it with layers below, or Screen to lighten and combine. These are powerful for creating light leak effects or compositing images together. Group related layers by selecting multiple layers (Shift+click each one) then pressing Ctrl+G — this collapses them into a folder in the panel, keeping complex projects organized. Click the eye icon next to any layer to hide it temporarily without deleting it. Lock a layer by clicking the padlock icon so you do not accidentally move or edit it. Name each layer by double-clicking its name in the panel and typing something descriptive like 'background photo' or 'headline text.'
Pro Tip: Use Clipping Masks to apply a texture or color to a specific layer only — hold Alt and click between two layers in the panel. The top layer clips to the shape of the one below it.
Photopea
Photopea supports up to 50+ history states so you can undo mistakes far back, and the Layers panel works identically to Photoshop including groups and clipping masks.
Visit →Step 7: Export and Save Your Finished Project
Photopea gives you two types of saving to understand. First, save your working file as a PSD so all your layers stay intact for future edits. Go to File > Save as PSD and download the file to your computer. This is your editable source file — always keep it. Second, export a flattened image for actual use. Go to File > Export As and choose your format. Use PNG if your image has a transparent background (like a logo or sticker cutout) — PNG preserves transparency perfectly. Use JPG for photos and social media posts where file size matters — set quality to 85-90% for a good balance of clarity and small file size. Use PDF if you are sending something to a printer. In the Export As dialog, you can also resize the image before exporting — type a new width and the height adjusts automatically if the lock icon is active. Click Save to download the exported file to your computer. For quick one-click saves, use File > Export As > Quick Export as PNG. If you created a free Photopea account, use File > Save to Cloud to store your PSD online and access it from any device. The entire export process takes under one minute.
Pro Tip: Never export as JPG if your design has text on a transparent background or uses cut-out shapes — always use PNG for anything with transparency to avoid white boxes appearing where you expect clear areas.
Photopea
Free plan exports all formats including PSD, PNG, JPG, and PDF with no watermarks added. Premium plan at $5/month removes ads and adds more cloud storage.
Visit →Common Mistakes to Avoid
Editing directly on the original image layer instead of a duplicate
Fix: Always press Ctrl+J immediately after opening an image to duplicate the layer. Work on the copy and leave the original layer locked at the bottom as your safety net.
Saving a transparent image as a JPG file
Fix: JPG does not support transparency — it fills clear areas with white automatically. Any time your design has a cutout, logo, or see-through element, export as PNG instead.
Forgetting to create a new layer before painting or drawing
Fix: Click the + icon at the bottom of the Layers panel before using the Brush or Pencil tool. Painting directly onto a photo layer permanently damages it.
Not adjusting Opacity or Flow when using the Brush tool, resulting in harsh solid strokes
Fix: Look at the top options bar when the Brush tool is active — set Opacity to 50-70% and Flow to 60% for softer, more natural-looking brush strokes you can build up gradually.
Ignoring layer order and wondering why objects appear behind the wrong elements
Fix: Remember that layers higher in the Layers panel appear in front on the canvas. Drag a layer upward in the panel to bring it forward in the design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Photopea is free to use with no time limits, watermarks, or feature restrictions. The free version is ad-supported, meaning you will see banner advertisements while you work. The optional Premium plan costs $5 per month and removes all ads, adds cloud storage for your projects, and increases the number of history states. For most beginners, the free version covers everything needed.
No account is required to start editing immediately. Just go to photopea.com and the editor loads in your browser within seconds. Creating a free account is optional but adds the ability to save projects directly to Photopea's cloud storage, which lets you access your work from any device. Without an account, save your work by downloading PSD files to your computer.
Yes, Photopea opens PSD files with full layer support, including adjustment layers, layer masks, smart objects, layer styles, and blending modes. It also opens Adobe Illustrator AI files, Sketch files, and XD files. This makes it extremely useful if a colleague or client sends you a PSD file and you do not have Photoshop installed. You can edit the file and save it back as a PSD without losing any layers.
For beginner and intermediate tasks — photo editing, background removal, social media graphics, text effects, and basic compositing — Photopea covers about 85-90% of what Photoshop does. The interface layout, keyboard shortcuts, and tools are nearly identical, so skills learned in Photopea transfer directly to Photoshop. The main differences are that Photopea lacks some advanced features like neural filters, content-aware fill, and 3D tools. For anyone just starting out in 2026, Photopea is the smartest free starting point.
Photopea works in any browser including mobile browsers on phones and tablets. However, the experience on small screens is cramped because the interface was designed for desktop use. On an iPad with a keyboard and mouse or stylus, the experience is significantly better. For serious editing work, a desktop or laptop computer with a full-size screen is strongly recommended. Photopea does not currently have a dedicated mobile app.
Conclusion
Photopea gives beginners access to professional-level image editing tools at absolutely no cost in 2026. By following these seven steps — setting up your project, importing images, using core tools, removing backgrounds, styling text, organizing layers, and exporting correctly — you can produce polished graphics, edited photos, and social media content within your first session. Start with a simple project like resizing a photo or adding text to an image, then gradually explore more advanced features. Visit photopea.com and make something today.