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5 Best Free Photo & Graphics Software for Linux in 2026

Image editors, vector illustration tools, digital painting apps and RAW photo processors. Every program below runs on Linux.

Free photo & graphics programs for Linux

GIMP

Open Source
by The GIMP Team

The best-known free alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

  • Layers, masks, channels and paths
  • Extensive selection and retouching tools
  • Scriptable batch processing
WindowsmacOSLinux
Free
View details gimp.org ↗

Inkscape

Open Source
by Inkscape Project

Professional vector illustration — the free Illustrator alternative.

  • Native SVG editing
  • Full bezier and node editing
  • Text on path and typography tools
WindowsmacOSLinux
Free
View details inkscape.org ↗

Krita

Open Source
by Krita Foundation

Digital painting software built for illustrators and concept artists.

  • Exceptional customisable brush engine
  • Excellent graphics tablet support
  • Frame-by-frame animation tools
WindowsmacOSLinux
Free
View details krita.org ↗

darktable

Open Source
by darktable team

Non-destructive RAW photo workflow — the free Lightroom alternative.

  • Non-destructive RAW processing
  • Light-table for culling and organising
  • Extensive colour management
WindowsmacOSLinux
Free
View details darktable.org ↗

RawTherapee

Open Source
by RawTherapee development team

Precision RAW converter with exceptional detail control.

  • Multiple high-quality demosaicing algorithms
  • Advanced noise reduction and sharpening
  • Non-destructive processing profiles
WindowsmacOSLinux
Free
View details rawtherapee.com ↗

Choosing photo & graphics software on Linux

All 5 programs listed here have a native Linux build — this is not a list of software that merely "might work" through a compatibility layer. 5 are open source.

Since every option is free, testing two or three on your own files is usually faster and more reliable than reading further comparisons. GIMP is the most widely adopted of these and a reasonable starting point.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free photo & graphics software for Linux?

GIMP the best-known free alternative to Adobe Photoshop. Inkscape and Krita are the other most common picks.

Are these really free on Linux?

Yes. Each is labelled with its licence — open source, free, or free tier — so you know exactly what you are getting before you download.

Where do the downloads come from?

The publisher's own website, every time. We host no installers, which is the single most effective protection against the bundled adware that plagues software download portals.

See also