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Top Alternatives to Acorn

Looking for Acorn alternatives? We've curated 28 top alternatives that offer similar functionality. Whether you need options, free plans, or open source solutions, explore our comprehensive list to find the perfect fit for your needs.

Commercial

Acorn Alternatives

Below you'll find the best alternatives to Acorn. We've analyzed these options based on features, user ratings, and compatibility to help you find the right solution. Each alternative offers unique advantages that might better suit your specific needs and budget.

GIMP

GIMP

Open Source Photos & Graphics Photo Editing

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a powerful, free, and open-source raster graphics editor used for image manipulation, retouching, composition, and authoring. It supports a vast array of file formats and provides sophisticated tools comparable to commercial alternatives, making it a versatile choice for photographers, designers, and artists.

Unique Features

  • Completely free and open-source, with no licensing costs.
  • Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Extensive set of tools for photo editing, graphic design, and digital art.

Compared to Acorn

Completely free and open-source, with no licensing costs. compared to Acorn
Steeper learning curve compared to some entry-level editors. unlike Acorn
Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop

Commercial Photos & Graphics Desktop Application

Adobe Photoshop is the industry-standard professional image editing software. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools for manipulating, retouching, and creating raster graphics. From simple photo adjustments to complex digital art, Photoshop empowers users across various creative disciplines.

Unique Features

  • Industry-leading professional image editing capabilities
  • Extensive and powerful toolset for a wide range of tasks
  • Robust support for non-destructive editing

Compared to Acorn

Industry-leading professional image editing capabilities compared to Acorn
Subscription-based pricing model unlike Acorn
Paint.NET

Paint.NET

Free Photos & Graphics Desktop Application

Paint.NET is a free and intuitive image and photo editing software designed for Windows. Initially developed as a university project, it has grown into a powerful yet easy-to-use tool, featuring layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.

Unique Features

  • Intuitive and easy-to-use interface, great for beginners.
  • Supports layers and transparency for complex editing.
  • Unlimited undo history allows for risk-free experimentation.

Compared to Acorn

Intuitive and easy-to-use interface, great for beginners. compared to Acorn
Windows-only, not available on macOS or Linux. unlike Acorn
Krita

Krita

Open Source Photos & Graphics Digital Painting

Krita is a powerful, free, and open-source painting program designed for professional artists and illustrators. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for digital painting, sketching, image editing, and animation, making it a versatile solution for various creative workflows.

Unique Features

  • Free and open-source with no hidden costs.
  • Powerful and highly customizable brush engine.
  • Comprehensive layer management capabilities.

Compared to Acorn

Free and open-source with no hidden costs. compared to Acorn
Can have a learning curve for beginners. unlike Acorn
Pixelmator

Pixelmator

Commercial Photos & Graphics Desktop

Pixelmator is a powerful yet user-friendly image editor designed exclusively for macOS. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for photo editing, digital painting, and graphic design, leveraging macOS technologies for optimal performance.

Unique Features

  • Optimized performance for macOS
  • Intuitive and clean user interface
  • Powerful photo editing and retouching tools

Compared to Acorn

Optimized performance for macOS compared to Acorn
Limited compatibility with very complex PSD features unlike Acorn
Autodesk Pixlr

Autodesk Pixlr

Freemium Photos & Graphics Web Application

Autodesk Pixlr is a robust, free online photo editor offering a wide array of tools for image fixing, adjustment, and filtering directly within your web browser. It's ideal for both quick edits and more complex manipulations without requiring software installation.

Unique Features

  • Free to use with no software installation required.
  • Provides a wide range of powerful editing tools, including layer support.
  • Accessible from any device with a web browser and internet connection.

Compared to Acorn

Free to use with no software installation required. compared to Acorn
Performance can be affected by internet speed and image complexity. unlike Acorn
Photoscape

Photoscape

Freemium Photos & Graphics Photo Editor

PhotoScape is a versatile and user-friendly photo editing software designed for beginners and enthusiasts alike. It offers a wide range of tools for organizing, fixing, and enhancing your digital photos with ease. From batch editing and animated GIFs to screen capturing and RAW conversion, PhotoScape provides a comprehensive suite for your everyday photo needs.

Unique Features

  • User-friendly and intuitive interface, easy to learn.
  • Comprehensive suite of photo editing and management tools.
  • Excellent batch processing capabilities for efficiency.

Compared to Acorn

User-friendly and intuitive interface, easy to learn. compared to Acorn
Lacks advanced layer manipulation features found in professional editors. unlike Acorn
Microsoft Paint

Microsoft Paint is a foundational image editing and creation tool included with all versions of Microsoft Windows, offering basic functionalities for drawing, coloring, and manipulating images.

Unique Features

  • Included free with all Windows versions
  • Extremely simple and easy to learn
  • Low system resource usage

Compared to Acorn

Included free with all Windows versions compared to Acorn
Lacks advanced features like layers and transparency unlike Acorn
Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo

Commercial Photos & Graphics Desktop Application

Affinity Photo is a professional raster graphics editor designed for photographers and digital artists on macOS and Windows. It offers powerful tools for image editing, retouching, and complex layer manipulation without a subscription model, making it a compelling alternative to industry-standard software.

Unique Features

  • One-time purchase cost saving over time
  • Excellent performance and handles large files well
  • Comprehensive set of professional editing tools

Compared to Acorn

One-time purchase cost saving over time compared to Acorn
Smaller ecosystem of third-party plugins compared to competitors unlike Acorn
Adobe Photoshop Express

Adobe Photoshop Express

Freemium Photos & Graphics Mobile Photo Editor

Adobe Photoshop Express is a user-friendly, free mobile image editing application from Adobe, offering quick and powerful tools for enhancing photos on the go. It focuses on essential edits for mobile users.

Unique Features

  • Intuitive and User-Friendly Interface
  • Effective Retouching Tools (Healing Brush, Portrait Enhancements)
  • Good Collection of Filters and Creative Effects

Compared to Acorn

Intuitive and User-Friendly Interface compared to Acorn
Lacks Advanced Desktop-Level Features (Layers, Complex Masking) unlike Acorn
Corel PaintShop Pro

Corel PaintShop Pro

Commercial Photos & Graphics Desktop Application

Corel PaintShop Pro is a comprehensive raster and vector graphics editor for Windows, offering powerful photo editing, image creation, and graphic design tools. It provides a cost-effective alternative for users seeking professional-level image manipulation with extensive features and support for Photoshop-compatible plugins.

Unique Features

  • One-time purchase price, no subscription required.
  • Comprehensive set of photo editing and graphic design tools.
  • Supports both raster and vector editing.

Compared to Acorn

One-time purchase price, no subscription required. compared to Acorn
Windows operating system only. unlike Acorn
Seashore

Seashore

Open Source Photos & Graphics Desktop

Seashore is a user-friendly, open-source image editor designed for Mac OS X, offering essential editing tools and layer support within a simple interface. It's based on the GIMP's technology and focuses on providing core image manipulation capabilities for casual users and hobbyists.

Unique Features

  • Free and open source
  • User-friendly interface for basic tasks
  • Good layer support for non-destructive editing

Compared to Acorn

Free and open source compared to Acorn
Limited feature set compared to professional editors unlike Acorn
Sumo Paint

Sumo Paint

Freemium Photos & Graphics image-editing

Sumo Paint is a versatile, browser-based image editor and painting application. It offers a robust set of tools for both photo manipulation and digital art creation, accessible directly through your web browser without requiring installation.

Unique Features

  • Accessible directly in a web browser, no installation required.
  • Good range of digital painting tools and brush customization.
  • Supports layers for complex image manipulation.

Compared to Acorn

Accessible directly in a web browser, no installation required. compared to Acorn
Performance can be affected by internet speed and computer hardware. unlike Acorn
Photoline

Photoline

Commercial Photos & Graphics Desktop

PhotoLine is a comprehensive raster and vector graphics editor for Windows and Mac OS X, offering advanced image manipulation, color management, and desktop publishing capabilities.

Unique Features

  • Comprehensive raster and vector editing capabilities in one application.
  • Strong support for high color depth and professional color models.
  • Robust non-destructive editing workflow.

Compared to Acorn

Comprehensive raster and vector editing capabilities in one application. compared to Acorn
User interface may have a learning curve for newcomers. unlike Acorn
Adobe Photoshop Elements

Adobe Photoshop Elements

Commercial Photos & Graphics Desktop Photo Editor

Adobe Photoshop Elements is a user-friendly photo editing software designed for beginners and enthusiasts. It simplifies complex tasks with guided edits, automated features, and intuitive organizational tools, making it easy to enhance, organize, and share your memories.

Unique Features

  • User-friendly interface with multiple modes for different skill levels.
  • Excellent Guided Edits make complex tasks achievable for beginners.
  • Powerful automated features save time and simplify workflows.

Compared to Acorn

User-friendly interface with multiple modes for different skill levels. compared to Acorn
Lacks some advanced features found in professional Photoshop. unlike Acorn
Artweaver

Artweaver

Freemium Photos & Graphics Raster Graphics Editor

Artweaver is a powerful, free painting and image editing program for Windows, designed for creative digital painting and photo manipulation. It offers a wide range of realistic brush types and tools to simulate natural media.

Unique Features

  • Excellent realistic brush engine with extensive customization.
  • Supports layers and common image editing tools.
  • Unique event recording feature for tutorials and workflow review.

Compared to Acorn

Excellent realistic brush engine with extensive customization. compared to Acorn
Interface might feel slightly less polished compared to some commercial alternatives. unlike Acorn
PicsArt

PicsArt

Freemium Photos & Graphics Photo Editor

PicsArt stands out as a comprehensive mobile and web-based creative platform, offering robust image editing, collage creation, drawing tools, and a vibrant social community for sharing and discovering artistic content. It caters to both beginners and more experienced users looking to enhance their photos and express their creativity.

Unique Features

  • Extensive range of editing tools for various needs.
  • Comprehensive collage creation features.
  • Capable digital drawing module included.

Compared to Acorn

Extensive range of editing tools for various needs. compared to Acorn
Interface can feel cluttered due to the number of features. unlike Acorn
FireAlpaca

FireAlpaca

Free Photos & Graphics Digital Painting

FireAlpaca is a free digital painting and drawing software available for both Windows and Mac. Designed with simplicity in mind, it offers core drawing tools and features like layers, brushes, and tablet support, making it accessible for beginners learning digital art.

Unique Features

  • Completely free to download and use.
  • User-friendly and intuitive interface, ideal for beginners.
  • Good tablet support with pressure sensitivity.

Compared to Acorn

Completely free to download and use. compared to Acorn
Lacks some advanced features found in professional software. unlike Acorn
Fotor

Fotor

Freemium Photos & Graphics Web Application

Fotor is a comprehensive online photo editor and design tool, offering a wide array of features for both professional image manipulation and creative graphic design. It combines robust editing capabilities with user-friendly design templates.

Unique Features

  • Accessible directly through a web browser, no installation required.
  • Combines photo editing and graphic design features in one platform.
  • Offers a large library of pre-designed templates for various uses.

Compared to Acorn

Accessible directly through a web browser, no installation required. compared to Acorn
Performance can be dependent on internet connection speed. unlike Acorn
PicMonkey

PicMonkey

Freemium Photos & Graphics Web-based

PicMonkey is a comprehensive online photo editing and design tool, ideal for social media, marketing materials, and personal photo enhancements. It provides an intuitive interface with powerful features for retouching, effects, graphics, and templates.

Unique Features

  • User-friendly interface suitable for beginners and experienced users.
  • Combines powerful photo editing and graphic design tools in one platform.
  • Extensive library of templates for quick graphic creation.

Compared to Acorn

User-friendly interface suitable for beginners and experienced users. compared to Acorn
Subscription required to access full features and content. unlike Acorn
MyBrushes

MyBrushes

Commercial Photos & Graphics Digital Painting Software

MyBrushes is a powerful digital painting and drawing software designed for macOS, offering an expansive collection of customizable brushes, robust layer support, and an infinite canvas for both professional artists and enthusiasts to create stunning artwork.

Unique Features

  • Highly customizable and extensive brush collection.
  • Robust layer management system for complex artwork.
  • Unique infinite canvas feature provides unlimited creative space.

Compared to Acorn

Highly customizable and extensive brush collection. compared to Acorn
Image editing capabilities are basic. unlike Acorn
Photopea

Photopea

Free Photos & Graphics Photo Editing

Photopea is a powerful, free online image and photo editor that runs directly in your web browser. It supports a wide range of file formats including PSD, AI, XD, Sketch, PDF, XCF, and RAW, making it a versatile alternative to desktop software. With a familiar interface similar to Adobe Photoshop, it offers advanced editing tools for photographers, graphic designers, and digital artists.

Unique Features

  • Completely free to use with no installation required.
  • Supports a vast range of file formats, including PSD, AI, and RAW.
  • User interface is very similar to Adobe Photoshop, reducing the learning curve.

Compared to Acorn

Completely free to use with no installation required. compared to Acorn
Requires an internet connection to function. unlike Acorn
GraphicConverter

GraphicConverter

Commercial Photos & Graphics Image Editor

GraphicConverter is a powerful image editing and file conversion software for macOS. It supports a vast array of image formats, offering comprehensive tools for photo retouching, batch processing, and image management, making it a versatile solution for both amateur and professional photographers and designers.

Unique Features

  • Extensive support for a wide range of image file formats.
  • Powerful and efficient batch processing capabilities.
  • Competent image editing features, including layers and retouching tools.

Compared to Acorn

Extensive support for a wide range of image file formats. compared to Acorn
User interface can feel a bit dated compared to more modern applications. unlike Acorn
Microsoft Expression Design

Microsoft Expression Design was a professional graphic design tool for creating vector and raster images, primarily for web use. It offered a range of design and illustration features, including vector drawing, image editing, and support for various file formats.

Unique Features

  • Strong support for SVG format
  • Hybrid vector and raster editing capabilities
  • Intuitive user interface

Compared to Acorn

Strong support for SVG format compared to Acorn
Discontinued software with no updates or support unlike Acorn
Serif PhotoPlus

Serif PhotoPlus is a powerful image editing software for Windows, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for photo manipulation, retouching, and creative effects. It was known for its user-friendly interface and robust feature set, catering to both beginners and experienced photographers.

Unique Features

  • Feature-rich for its price point
  • User-friendly interface
  • Supports layers and non-destructive editing

Compared to Acorn

Feature-rich for its price point compared to Acorn
Software is discontinued and no longer supported unlike Acorn
PixBuilder

PixBuilder is a free and powerful photo editing software for Windows users, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for image manipulation, color correction, and digital drawing. Ideal for both beginners and enthusiasts looking for a capable, no-cost image editor.

Unique Features

  • Completely free to download and use.
  • Strong support for layers and non-destructive editing.
  • Ability to open Adobe Photoshop (PSD) files.

Compared to Acorn

Completely free to download and use. compared to Acorn
Limited range of advanced filters and effects compared to commercial alternatives. unlike Acorn
PicSay

PicSay

Freemium Photos & Graphics Mobile Application

PicSay is a comprehensive photo editor for Android devices, designed to empower users with a wide array of tools for enhancing and manipulating their images. It offers intuitive features for color correction, applying effects, retouching photos, and adding creative elements like text and graphics, making photo editing accessible and enjoyable on the go.

Unique Features

  • Comprehensive set of editing tools
  • Includes features like healing brush and retouching
  • Offers creative options like overlays and gradients

Compared to Acorn

Comprehensive set of editing tools compared to Acorn
User interface could benefit from modernization unlike Acorn
PhoXo

PhoXo

Open Source Photos & Graphics Image Editor

PhoXo is a free and powerful image editing software, providing a comprehensive suite of tools for photo manipulation, digital painting, and creating visual effects. It's a robust alternative for users seeking advanced editing capabilities without the cost of premium software.

Unique Features

  • Completely free to use, offering significant value.
  • Comprehensive set of image editing and digital art tools.
  • Supports layers for non-destructive editing and complex compositions.

Compared to Acorn

Completely free to use, offering significant value. compared to Acorn
User interface can feel somewhat dated. unlike Acorn

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