The Best Free Photoshop Alternatives
posted by Michelle Rae Uy on June 18, 2019 in Photo / Video Editing, Cameras and Photography, Photo / Video Sharing, Computers and Software, Software & Games, Guides & Reviews, Top Picks :: 11 comments
Techlicious editors independently review products. To help support our mission, we may earn affiliate commissions from links contained on this page.
Adobe Photoshop is widely accepted as one of the most powerful photo editing tools for photographers, photo editors, and graphic designers. And, it’s the go-to tool for professionals for manipulating and retouching the images you see every day in ads and commercials.
However, most of us are not professional photo editors or photographers. And, a complex and comprehensive tool like Photoshop may be overkill, especially since you have to pay at least $9.99 per month for it.
While there are advantages to investing in paid applications, like a cleaner user interface, included cloud services and a wider variety of tools and effects. However, there are a lot of open source programs that offer just as good – if not better – features than Photoshop for free. Here are our three favorite free alternatives to Photoshop.
Best overall free photo editing software: GIMP
GIMP, or GNU Image Manipulation Program, is more than just a photo editor. It also has sophisticated image manipulation tools, which will appeal to pros as well as regular uers.
GIMP has the expected assortment of basic features, including cropping and straightening to adjusting brightness, contrast, and color balance to name a few. Plus it has more advanced tools, like layers, content rescaling, and animation, plus the ability to add blur, noise, and distortion, among other effects.
In fact GIMP offers most of the features that Photoshop has, even if it is missing things like other color modes besides RGB and the capability for non-destructive editing. Even better, GIMP’s interface is very customizable, and its features are expandable.
Since it is open source, GIMP community members can create plugins, and they often do, sharing them to the rest of the community for free.
For: macOS and Windows 10 users on Gimp
Best free photo editing software for under-powered computers: Pixlr Editor
If own an old, under-powered system or are using a computer with limited storage, like a Chromebook, Pixlr Editor is a great photo editing tool. And it has enough features for those who are looking to create graphics as well as edit exiting files.
Pixlr supports layers, masks and has a plethora of filters, including blur, noise, sharpen and tilt shift. And for basic editing, it has everything users need, from controlling brightness, contrast, shadows and highlights to adjusting hue, saturation and vibrance. You’ll also find tools like spot healing, dodge, burn, bloat and pinch.
Its interface is more minimalist than Photoshop, so it doesn’t look intimidating to folks who don’t have a lot of photo editing experience.
But that interface is also reminiscent of Photoshop, so folks who are familiar with Photoshop will have no problem transitioning to this tool.
It might not be as comprehensive as Photoshop. For instance, it doesn’t support the RAW format, for example, which is essential for more advanced photo editing. And, it’s missing a few manipulation and retouching tools like Liquify. However, Pixlr has certainly more than enough to cover most people’s photo editing needs.
For: macOS, Windows 10, and ChromeOS users on Pixlr
Best free photo editing software for beginners: PhotoScape X
PhotoScape X has a beautiful interface for a free photo editor. It starts with opening images. When you select a folder full of photos, you’ll see thumbnails of each image in a bin. Highlight the one you want and it appears in the editing window. When you want to move on to the next image, you simply reveal the bin showing the folder full of images and select the next one.
The editing interface is nicely labeled and accessible without being cluttered. Whenever you select a tool or setting, like sharpen or shadows/highlights, the application automatically analyzes the photo, adjusts it for you, and then shows you how you can further tweak that particular setting. A before and after slider lets you see exactly how changing the setting will affect the original shot before committing.
To top it off, PhotoScape supports RAW files so more advanced photographers who are ready to take that step up to RAW don’t have to switch to a different photo editing tool to edit their RAW. Professionals may want to step up to the PRO version ($39.99, Windows 10 only), which adds extremely useful tools like levels, curves, clone stamp, chromatic aberration and lens correction to the mix. But for beginners, PhotoScope X is a great free photo editing tool and an amazing tool for learning how to become a better photo editor.
For: macOS and Windows 10 users on Photoscape
[Image credit: laptop and camera via BigStockPhoto, screen shots: Michelle Rae Uy/Techlicious]
Open mix file
There are 7 other file types using
the MIX file extension!
.
mix — Power C object
.mix — Command & Conquer game file
.mix — Don Knuth’s MMIX emulator file
.mix — Project Dogwaffle mixing palette
.mix — 3ds Max motion mixer data
.mix — MotoGP game data
.mix — VentaFax voice message data
Bookmark & share this page with others:
What is mix file? How to open mix files?
The mix file extension was in the past used for Microsoft’s proprietary image format used in its Microsoft PhotoDraw and Picture It! products. Both of these programs are no longer supported.
The mix file is the default image file saved by these programs.
MIME types:
image/vnd.mix
This mix file type entry was marked as obsolete and no longer supported file format.
This type of file is no longer actively used and is most likely obsolete. This is typically the case for system files in old operating systems, file types from long discontinued software, or previous versions of certain file types (like documents, projects etc.) that were replaced in higher versions of their original programs.
The default software associated to open mix file:
Microsoft PhotoDraw
Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft PhotoDraw is photo editing and vector drawing tool released in 1999. It is discontinued and unsupported product.
Microsoft Picture It!
Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation
A discontinued photo editing application from Microsoft. Picture It! was geared to make digital imaging easy for consumers. It was the first consumer imaging program to enable sprite creation, leveraging alpha masking.
Help how to open:
Only Microsoft PhotoDraw or Picture It! are able to properly open *.
mix images, but perhaps other programs may support this file type as well.
How to convert:
MIX format can probably be saved to another image format like JPEG via any of the program that still support this old format.
Find conversions from mix file:
mix to jpeg
mix to jpg
mix to png
mix to tif
mix to tiff
List of software applications associated to the .mix file extension
Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open mix file, edit mix file, convert mix file, view mix file, play mix file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org’s database).
Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting mix files.
Software that open mix file — Microsoft PhotoDraw image
Programs supporting the exension mix on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open mix file action.
Microsoft Windows:
Main software associated with mix file by default:
Microsoft PhotoDraw
Microsoft Picture It!
Enter any file extension without dot (e.g. pdf)
Search for file extension details and associated application(s)
MS Office analogues: 5 free alternatives
Technologies
Dmitry Kuzmin
tried several office suites
Author profile
I work with documents, spreadsheets and presentations every day and have never used the official Microsoft Office suite in the last five years.
All the features you need are in free alternatives that can open a file created in MS Office.
This also works the other way around: Office users will be able to work with your file.
How to spend and save wisely
We tell you in our mailing list twice a week. Subscribe to manage your budget
Microsoft Office Online
Where it works: Windows, Android, iOS, online
Get started: on the official website
These are slightly stripped-down versions of Word, Excel and Powerpoint from th Microsoft Office suite . You need a browser and a Microsoft account to work.
There are quite a few restrictions: for example, in Word it will not be possible to save a file in RTF and PDF format, edit text in a saved style, or edit HTML documents. PowerPoint only allows you to make three presentations a month, and there are just over 20 free templates.
On the plus side, the developers are constantly updating the service, it is likely that in a month or two the desired function will appear. For example, earlier in the online version of Excel, you couldn’t use PivotTables.
The feature is now available.
Files are stored in the OneDrive cloud. Moreover, saving is automatic — you will not lose data if the electricity is turned off. By default, 5 GB is available. If you purchase a subscription for $6.99 (R545) per month, the storage will be increased to 1TB and the core package of all Microsoft Office programs will be available. You won’t be able to pay for a subscription with a Russian card, but you can buy an activation key for a Microsoft 365 subscription on marketplaces.
Use the online version if you need to open, create and edit text documents and spreadsheets. In general, this is enough for office work.
The interface in the online version is minimalistic, there are no usual style settings
Google Docs, Spreadsheets and Presentations
Where it works: Android, iOS, online in a browser on any system
Start working: on the official website
900 02 This set of office online applications replaces all Microsoft Office programs for me: Word here is called Documents, Excel is called Spreadsheets, and PowerPoint is called Presentations.
You need a Google account to work.
The functions are similar to «Office». The interface is slightly different, but everything is intuitive. The package is suitable for working in a team, and in real time: for example, while I am writing this text, the editor can process the beginning of the document.
Documents are stored in a cloud called «Google Drive». By default, each user has 15 GB. For 139 R per month, you can get another 100 GB. You won’t be able to pay for a subscription with a Russian card. For payment, you will need a foreign card and a change of profile region.
Files can also be edited offline, but only from the Google Chrome browser: after connecting to the Internet, the file is synchronized with the main document in the cloud.
Of the minuses — if you try to open a file from Microsoft in Google Docs, some of the formatting may be lost.
Google Docs has the ability to leave comments and suggest corrections — the author can accept or reject revisions
Apple iWork
Where it works: any Apple devices
Download: on the official website
The Apple office suite works on all ecosystem devices, i.
e. Macbook, iPad, iPhone. There are three programs in the package: Pages for editing text documents, Numbers for spreadsheets, and Keynote for presentations. You can work in the service at the same time as your colleagues. Finished files are converted into formats for Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Presentations in iWork are more focused on beautiful animation and drawing with the stylus — Apple Pencil. Competitor Excel is also different: instead of the usual tables on the main page, there will be a blank sheet. And you can already add tables, charts, graphs and images to it. Pages is also different from Word: the document is more like a web page than a familiar text file.
You need an Apple ID to work. Documents are stored on the device or in the iCloud cloud: by default there is 5 GB, for 59 R per month you can buy another 50 GB. You can top up your Apple ID account in the Russian region using your MTS or Beeline phone number.
This is the Numbers editor This is what documents look like in Pages
LibreOffice
Where it works: Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, macOS
Download: on the official website languages .
This project has analogues of Word, Excel and PowerPoint — Writer, Calc, Impress. And an analogue of Access databases is Base.
There is also a unique tool — LibreOffice Math formula editor. It helps to edit and write down your own formulas — this is convenient for technical specialists and students of engineering universities.
An example of quick formula writing in LibreOffice Math
Working with documents, tables and presentations is almost the same as in Microsoft Office. Previously, the main complaint about the package was an outdated visual appearance, made by analogy with the interface of Office 2007. In the seventh version of LibreOffice in 2020, this was fixed: now the editor looks like MS Office 2019of the year.
In addition, in the new version of the package, you can save documents in docx format. It became possible for Calc to export files to the xlsx format — this is the modern Microsoft Excel standard.
Another important disadvantage is that LibreOffice is noticeably slower than MS Office, even on modern computers. On the other hand, if you need to open a file, but there is no «Office» on the computer, LibreOffice will help out.
The interface in LibreOffice differs slightly from competitors — I got used to it in just a couple of hours
WPS Office
Where it works: Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, macOS
Download: on the official website
This free office suite from Chinese developers used to be called Kingsoft Office. Almost complete analogues of Word, PowerPoint and Excel are available with support for all possible formats. Built-in PDF editor — you can quickly translate and recognize text from a scanned file. There is an online version of the editor, including for teamwork.
Files are stored in the cloud, when registering an account they give 1 GB for free. For $29.99 (R2310) per year, you can expand the drive up to 20 GB.
You won’t be able to pay with a Russian Visa, MasterCard or Mir card, but there is UnionPay support. There are limitations: WPS can open files up to 200 MB, but usually only huge presentations with animated pictures exceed this limit.
Convert PDF and draw a logo: 14 indispensable services in the office
Ads are built into the free version of the package — banners appear on the screen from time to time. Moreover, this can happen not only while the program is running: the application is always active when the device is running.
WPS works like a browser: each file opens as a separate tab in the program. By default, ready-made templates use Latin and hieroglyphs. In the settings, you can select the Russian language
Free alternatives to Microsoft Office
| Service | Cloud volume in the free version | Simultaneous access to a document | There is a mobile version of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Office Online | 5 GB | Yes | Yes |
| Google Docs | 15 GB | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iWork | 5 GB | Only for users with Apple devices | Yes |
| LibreOffice | Files are stored on the device | No | Yes, but only viewing documents is available |
| WPS Office | 1 GB | Yes | Yes |
Microsoft Office Online
Free cloud size
5GB
Document concurrent access
Yes
Yes mobile version
Yes
Google Docs
Free cloud volume
15 GB
Document concurrent access
Yes
Mobile available
Yes
Apple iWork
Cloud size in free version
5 GB
Document concurrent access
Apple devices only
Mobile version available
Yes
9 0002 LibreOffice
Cloud size in free version
Files stored on the device
Simultaneous access to the document
No
There is a mobile version
Yes, but only document viewing is available
WPS Office
Free cloud size
1 GB
Document concurrent access
Yes
Mobile version available
90 002 Yes
How to replace Microsoft Office 365 — Russian counterparts | Microsoft GOLD partner
How to replace Microsoft Office 365 and other foreign applications: Many users have found themselves unable to buy or renew their Microsoft Office 365 licenses this spring.
For many, the problem of replacing Microsoft cloud office products with solutions from other manufacturers has become urgent due to sanctions, regulatory requirements and other reasons. We tell you how and with what to replace the sanctions software, what Russian developers have in their portfolio.
Analogues of Microsoft Office office applications Word, Excel, Power Point
Mont Office
Service that is most similar to Microsoft 365 for business. Includes 4 tariff plans for different business needs. Office applications, communications (mail and chats), storage (similar to onedrive), video conferencing. Work from any device, integration with third-party services, customization for your tasks, technical support.
You can try the service for free. And we will help with migration or implementation.
R7-OFFICE
is a Russian developer of an office software package designed for government agencies in terms of import substitution. for commercial customers and educational institutions.
Advantages of P7-OFFICE
- You get a comprehensive solution that includes videoconferencing functionality, instant messenger, mail, organizer, editors, CRM, project management. Enables secure collaboration from any device.
- Seamless transition to the Russian office, taking into account compliance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation
- P7 solutions function perfectly in existing IT infrastructure thanks to compatibility with more than 50 popular systems. You get a ready-made solution, and you do not need to deal with the selection and testing of software yourself.
- P7-Office is more than 30% cheaper than products with similar functionality.
- It is possible to work with office applications both through a browser and install locally.
- MS Office-like user interface makes it easy for users to navigate.
Possibilities of migrating from Microsoft Office 365 to R7 Office:
It is possible to completely migrate calendars, documents, mail from Microsoft Office 365.
MyOffice
is a Russian developer of enterprise level solutions for document collaboration and communications.
Benefits of MyOffice
- MyOffice multi-product platform includes a set of essential desktop, mobile and web applications for communication and collaboration with documents anywhere in the world
- Secure office solutions for communication and teamwork.
- Provides complete control over data, complies with industry security standards, suitable for organizations of any size, as well as for home use.
- It is possible to work with office applications both through a browser and install locally. It is possible to create your own internal cloud.
- The familiar application interface, custom fonts and updated knowledge base — will allow you to «launch» the product in your company quickly and comfortably.
Possibilities of migrating to MyOffice:
It is possible to completely migrate calendars, documents, mail from Microsoft Office 365.
Exchange analogues included in Microsoft Office
P7-OFFICE and MyOffice mail servers
Some P7-OFFICE and MyOffice tariff plans contain non-mail (server) modules. They can be deployed both locally — on the company’s server facilities, and transferred to the cloud (third-party data center). But if for some reason these mail servers do not suit you, or if you want the maintenance and support of the mail server not to be your concern, you can consider alternative mail servers.
Tegu Mail Server
is a Russian enterprise-level mail server running on Linux operating system distributed under its own license. The server allows you to organize exchange with any mail servers via the SMTP protocol, and also supports mail clients via the IMAP/SMTP protocol.
The server features high performance, undemanding hardware resources, ease of installation and ease of administration via a web interface.
Tegu is a great solution if you want to deploy both your local mail and organize mail at a third-party data center.
Ability to migrate to the Tegu mail server:
It is possible to completely migrate from Microsoft Office 365 calendars, mail.
CommuniGate
CommuniGate integrates email, instant messaging, voice, calendars, contacts, tasks and notes, video communications access, corporate content access and management, and a contact center into a single software platform.
- With its scalability, CommuniGate Pro becomes the unified communications platform for businesses of all sizes, from small offices to clustered installations serving millions of users.
- The platform supports foreign and domestic operating systems, including Astra Linux, BaseALT, RedOS, Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat, etc. It is also able to integrate with Russian office suites, CRM, ECM, ERP, videoconferencing and other enterprise information systems .
- A feature of CommuniGate Pro is its minimal resource requirements.
- CommuniGate software solutions are included in the Unified Register of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications and comply with the FSTEC certification requirements.
- P7-Office and Communigate Pro integration allows users to work online with documents directly from the browser. At the same time, thanks to end-to-end encryption, documents remain completely safe
Until the end of the year for companies with up to 250 users, there is an opportunity to purchase a solution at a bargain price — 2000 rubles. per user per year.
Migration options to CommuniGate:
It is possible to fully migrate calendars, mail, etc. from Microsoft Office 365.
VK WorkMail and VK WorkSpace
are Russian cloud services that allow you to receive full-fledged mail on your domain from VK, with a familiar interface, calendars, calls and chats and other collaboration features and a multi-level system of protection against spam and hacking.
Benefits of migrating to VK WorkMail
- Included in the register of domestic software
- Unlimited mail volume and the ability to send files of any size
- No ads or hidden fees.
Flexible Subscription Terms - Active Directory Integration
- API integration, interface branding option
- Recovery of deleted messages, login as any employee and customizable access rights
- Delegation of the right to the mailbox and calendar: for example, the assistant will have access to the manager’s calendar and mail. You don’t need to share a password.
- Affordable price
Possibilities of migration to cloud services VK:
Complete migration from Microsoft Exchange mail, as well as from Gmail repository, document editor and communication services.
- Central administration and security center
- Integration with local information security systems
- End-to-end authentication in all Yandex 360 services
- Managing access to files and documents for different teams
- Corporate customer support is available around the clock
- Business continuity due to uninterrupted operation of Yandex 360 services
- Data is stored in distributed data centers in Russia
- Login to services is protected by Yandex ID (AICPA SOC 2, SOC 3)
- Your data is encrypted both during transmission over the Internet and inside the secure Yandex perimeter
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) service for added security
Analogues of other subscription applications Office 365
Analogues of Teams, applications for team communication
P7-OFFICE — includes the application Team — for communication with chat functions, phone calls, video conferences, screen sharing and meeting recording.
You will always stay in touch with versions for PC and mobile devices.
CommuniGate provides everything you need for teamwork
VK WorkSpace with VK Teams as part of or as a separate application in. VK Teams is a corporate messenger in a single mobile and desktop application: chat in chats, send voice calls, arrange calls, write letters, schedule meetings and set tasks in one place.
Import substitution of video conferencing solutions
for meetings, meetings, conferences, productive team communication.
TeleMost is a voice and video server software for multipoint video conferencing. Access video conferencing without additional applications All you need to connect to video conferencing is a browser.
Vinteo. With the help of the Vinteo video conferencing software server, you can connect up to 1000 participants to a video conference at the same time, the solution supports advanced WebRTC technology, which makes it possible to connect to a video conference using a browser directly and does not require the installation of specialized software.
C TruConf high-quality video conferencing becomes available in corporate networks of any complexity, including workplaces, mobile devices, meeting rooms through client applications and browsers. The solution is fully compatible with existing equipment, does not require investments in infrastructure and does not create risks for the IT security of the enterprise. VK WorkDisk is a cloud file storage VK WorkDisk for editing, managing and sharing files in a team. You will always have access to your work files, no matter where you are and no matter what device you use.
Various Yandex Cloud services in which you can connect both local places for storing employee data and entire servers for storing organization data. All data will be securely stored in the cloud, and it will be possible to work with them from any killer device.
CommuniGate Pro, P7 Office, My Office contains file storage that can be cloud-based if you wish. You can store files in a single corporate system, edit documents simultaneously with colleagues.