Photopea
beats Pixlr by 24 points
Photopea
Free
Pixlr
From $7.99/mo
Photopea wins decisively (72 vs 57) as the most capable free browser editor with 50+ file formats, layers, masks, and RAW development. Pixlr offers a familiar Photoshop-like UI with AI tools, but its aggressive paywall (3 free saves/day) severely limits free usage. Photopea gives you more for free.
Score breakdown
Each dimension rated 1–5. Higher is better across all four.
What users say
Photopea
"The most powerful free Photoshop alternative that runs in your browser"
Pros
Pixlr
"Solid Photoshop-like editor undermined by aggressive paywall restrictions"
Pros
How to Choose Between Photopea and Pixlr
Start with one question: do you need free, powerful editing with file format support, or a polished UI with AI tools you’ll pay for?
| If you… | Consider… |
|---|---|
| Need max editing power without paying | Photopea — layers, masks, Smart Objects, RAW dev, all free |
| Work with PSD, AI, RAW, or SVG files | Photopea — 50+ file formats including Figma imports |
| Want AI-powered quick edits | Pixlr — generative fill, noise reduction, conversational AI editing |
| Prefer a modern, polished interface | Pixlr — clean UI split into X (quick) and E (advanced) modes |
| Edit regularly but don’t want a subscription | Photopea — completely free, no daily limits or credit systems |
| Need layers and blending modes in a browser | Both — Photopea has layers natively; Pixlr E offers them too |
The deciding factor is usually budget. If you’re willing to pay $7.99/month for a polished AI-assisted editor, Pixlr works well. But Photopea gives you comparable (often deeper) editing capability for free, making it the practical choice for most users.
How They Score on 1vs
| Metric | Photopea | Pixlr |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 72/100 | 57/100 |
| File Format Support | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Editing Depth | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| AI Tools | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Free Tier Value | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ease of Use | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
Photopea’s 72/100 comes from unmatched format support and genuine free access. Pixlr scores 57/100 — its polished UI and AI tools are strong, but the restrictive free tier (3 saves/day) severely limits practical usability for anyone not ready to pay.
When to Choose Each
Choose Photopea if you want the most powerful free browser editor available. It supports 50+ file formats including PSD, AI, RAW, SVG, and Figma — something no other free online editor can match. Layers, masks, Smart Objects, content-aware fill, AI inpainting, RAW development, and batch processing are all included at zero cost. The interface mirrors Photoshop closely, making it the natural choice for anyone transitioning from desktop editing software. Performance can be slow with very large files, but the depth of editing capability is unmatched in the free browser-based category.
Choose Pixlr if you prefer a clean, modern interface with accessible AI-powered tools and do not mind paying for regular use. Pixlr splits into Pixlr X (quick, automated edits) and Pixlr E (advanced layer-based editing). The AI generative fill, noise reduction, AI sharpening, and text-prompt editing (Nano Banana) are polished and easy to use. Zapier ranked Pixlr #4 for its conversational AI editing interface. However, the free tier is extremely restrictive — only 3 saves per day and 10 starter credits — meaning the $7.99/month paid plan is effectively required for any real workflow.
Key Differences
| Dimension | Photopea | Pixlr |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Completely free | $7.99/mo, 3 free saves/day |
| File formats | 50+ (PSD, AI, RAW, SVG, Figma) | Standard image formats |
| Layers | Yes, full layer support | Yes, in Pixlr E only |
| RAW development | Yes | No |
| AI tools | AI inpainting, content-aware fill | Generative fill, noise reduction, sharpening |
| UX style | Photoshop-like, dense interface | Modern, clean, split into X and E |
| Best for | Power users wanting free Photoshop | Quick AI edits in a polished UI |
For more free editor comparisons, check our Fotor vs Pixlr comparison to see how Pixlr stacks against another AI-focused editor, or read our Canva vs Photopea comparison for a free-vs-paid design editor showdown. Also see our Canva vs Pixlr comparison for another free-editor alternative.
Pricing & value
| Metric | Photopea | Pixlr | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes | No | Photopea |
| Starting price | Free | From $7.99/mo | Photopea |
Is Photopea better than Pixlr?
Is Pixlr really free?
Which has better AI tools?
Our pick