Photopea
Pixlr
| Feature | Photopea | Pixlr |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $5/mo | Free / from $1.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | designers, students, photo-editors, budget-conscious-creatives | casual-editors, social-media-managers, small-businesses, students |
| Founded | 2013 | 2008 |
| Photo Editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Psd Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Layers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Filters | ✓ | ✗ |
| Batch Processing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vector Tools | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Background Removal | ✗ | ✓ |
| Generative Fill | ✗ | ✓ |
| Batch Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Collage Maker | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Photopea Pros
- Free and browser-based
- Opens PSD files perfectly
- No installation needed
- Full editing capabilities
✗ Photopea Cons
- Ads on free version
- Can be slow with large files
- Limited batch processing
✓ Pixlr Pros
- Works entirely in browser
- AI tools are fast and effective
- Very affordable premium plans
- Both simple (Express) and advanced (Editor) modes
✗ Pixlr Cons
- Ads on free version
- Less powerful than Photoshop
- Internet required for all work
The Verdict
Photopea is built for designers and students, with a focus on photo-editing and psd-support. Pixlr targets casual editors and social media managers and leads with photo-editing and ai-background-removal.
Pricing is close: Pixlr starts at $1.99/mo versus $5/mo for Photopea — not a deciding factor on its own.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Both tools are a solid fit for students — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: Photopea has a slight overall edge — but if works entirely in browser matters most to you, Pixlr may still be the right call.