Overall Winner

Photopea

beats Pixlr by 18 points

Pixlr 45/100

Photopea 🏆 63/100

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

Dimension

Pixlr

Photopea

Price & Value

★★☆☆☆

★★★★★ wins

Features

★★★★☆

Ease of Use

★★★☆☆

Reviews

★★☆☆☆

★★★☆☆ wins

Each dimension rated 1–5. Higher is better across all four.

What users say

Pixlr

"Solid Photoshop-like editor undermined by aggressive paywall restrictions"

Pros

Familiar Photoshop-like interface with layer support Good AI tools including generative fill and noise reduction Decent free tier for casual editing

Photopea

"The most powerful free Photoshop alternative that runs in your browser"

Pros

Completely free with all Photoshop-level features unlocked Supports 50+ file formats including PSD, AI, RAW, and SVG No installation needed — runs entirely in the browser

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

Pricing & value

Metric	Pixlr	Photopea	Winner
Free tier	No	Yes	Photopea
Starting price	From $7.99/mo	Free	Photopea

Is Photopea better than Pixlr?

For power and features, yes. Photopea supports 50+ file formats vs Pixlr's more limited set, offers RAW development, and is completely free. Pixlr has a more polished UI and stronger AI-powered quick editing, but the restrictive paywall makes free use impractical.

Is Pixlr really free?

Not really. Pixlr limits free users to 3 saves per day with 10 starter credits. For regular editing, the paid plan at $7.99/month is required. Photopea is genuinely free with all features unlocked.

Which has better AI tools?

Pixlr has more accessible AI tools for quick edits (generative fill, noise reduction, sharpening). Photopea offers AI inpainting and content-aware fill but focuses on traditional editing power over AI automation.

Our pick

🏆 Photopea

Visit Photopea Consider Pixlr