EditThisPic vs Photopea — Honest Comparison
Photopea gives you Photoshop power in a browser. EditThisPic gives you AI edits without learning Photoshop.
The Verdict
Photopea is the best free Photoshop alternative for users who already know how to work with layers and masks — it's genuinely impressive for a free browser tool. EditThisPic is better for users who want results without the learning curve: describe any edit in plain English and the AI handles the technical execution in seconds.
| Feature | EditThisPic | Photopea |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Curve | None — describe what you want | Steep — requires Photoshop knowledge |
| Price to Start | Free (1 edit/week, no card) | Free with ads; $9/month for premium |
| Background Removal | One prompt, ~20 seconds | Select Subject + Mask + Refine Edge |
| Object Removal | Describe what to remove | Clone Stamp + Content-Aware Fill |
| AI-Native Editing | Yes — plain English instructions | No — manual tools only |
| Layer & Manual Control | No layers | Full Photoshop-style layers and masks |
| PSD File Support | No | Yes — full PSD import/export |
| Speed for Simple Edits | ~30 seconds | 5–15 minutes (manual workflow) |
| Best For | Quick AI edits, no skills needed | Users with Photoshop knowledge wanting free software |
Where EditThisPic Wins
For users without Photoshop skills, EditThisPic is dramatically faster for common edits. Removing a background in Photopea requires using the Select Subject tool, refining the mask edge, and erasing. In EditThisPic, type 'remove the background and replace with plain white' and it's done in 20 seconds. Object removal: Photopea needs Clone Stamp work; ETP needs one sentence like 'remove the car parked in the background.' Retouching, skin smoothing, lighting fixes — all single prompts in ETP versus multiple filter steps in Photopea.
Where Photopea Wins
Photopea is unmatched among free browser editors for professional-grade manual control. If you know layers, you can do compositing, advanced color grading with curves, typography layouts, and work with PSD files from designers. EditThisPic has no layer system — it's edit-by-description only. For design work, multi-layer composites, or any workflow involving PSD files, Photopea is the clear choice. It's also the right pick if you're already learning Photoshop and want to practice without paying Adobe.
Who Should Use Which
Use EditThisPic when: you want to remove a background, retouch a portrait, change a color, or fix lighting in under a minute — without learning photo editing tools. Use Photopea when: you need layers, masks, curves, PSD compatibility, or professional-grade manual control. If you already know Photoshop, Photopea gives you that for free in a browser. If you don't know Photoshop and don't want to learn, EditThisPic gets you results faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Comparisons
View all comparisons →Try EditThisPic Free
No learning curve. Just describe what you want.
Drop your photo to try it
Release to upload