Pixlr is a photo editor that doesn’t require any installation, add-ons, or extensions. While it offers convenience, it lacks various relevant options such as template redesign. That’s why a lot of people tend to look toward Pixlr alternatives.
If you’ve already used Pixlr, you know that it’s fairly hard to use. There are a lot of limitations, no custom design options, limited brand options, and it’s hard to convert image types.
That makes it hard for the average user to take advantage of Pixlr. People usually want something that’s easy to use, quick, and straightforward.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the best Pixlr alternatives you can start using today.
Let’s dive right in.
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10 Top Pixlr Alternatives in 2021
Pixlr is an online image editing and graphic design tool that has several editing features and customization presets for most design needs.
The platform is known for accommodating amateur designers and image editors who want simple photo retouching functionality and basic graphic design features.
However, you have to pay for a lot of the photo editing tools that you get on other online design platforms, for free. Plus, the premium pricing is on the higher end, compared to other online photo editing software.
The biggest drawback with the image editor is that it doesn’t support some common formats such as Tiff and BMP. All of this causes people to look for alternative online photo editors.
To that end, here are the best alternatives to online photo editing apps.
1. Pixelied
Pixelied is an online graphic design and photo manipulation platform that offers a huge array of design features for both beginners and experts alike.
The online software has a streamlined workflow that offers image output in a variety of formats, including JPEG, PNG, SVG, WEBP and PDF.
Some of the top features include the ability to perform basic color correction, implement gradients, photo effects, and elements, one-click drag and drop capability, as well as apply stickers and other graphics onto images.
Additionally, the Pixelied editor is much cleaner than the Pixlr editor, with the right design options in very accessible locations for non-designers who would be almost unable to use Lightroom and Photoshop.
Overall, Pixelied comes out on top as the ideal Pixlr alternative due to its intuitive editor interface, list of available features in the free version, and overall ease of use.
2. Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is the primary photo retouching and basic graphic software for professionals.
Made with advanced features and processes in mind, Photoshop is best for high-level design projects and very detailed photo manipulation.
The software can be used on Windows and Mac, and even has a mobile app for both Android and iOS. You can also use it offline.
Although it does have a ton of useful features, they’re too many and too confusing for everyone to use and the learning curve is not worth getting into for anyone who isn’t a design pro. If Photoshop isn’t something that you’re looking for, then you can always go for an online solution with all the same features or a somewhat easy-to-use alternative to Adobe InDesign.
Still, it makes for a worthy alternative due to its recognition and overall capability once you know how to run it.
You can check out Adobe Photoshop here.
3. GIMP
GIMP is an open-source and free raster graphics design and photo editing software that’s primarily for the Linux platform but can also be used on Chrome and macOS browsers.
The GNU Image Manipulation Program lets you transcode between various file formats including RAW, gif, and JPG. You can implement free-form drawing, as well as more specialized projects.
While it’s got the right capabilities to be the ideal Pixlr alternative, it is a lot more complicated than some of the simpler tools on this list. There are lots of other easy-to-use sites like GIMP to create stunning graphics within minutes.
The learning curve is similar to Photoshop and can be difficult for someone who just wants to make some simple edits for a social media image feature.
Overall, GIMP is another pro-level Pixlr alternative that requires some getting used to.
You can check out GIMP here.
4. Pixelmator
Pixelmator is a graphic design and editing platform that’s meant for macOS, although it is open-source so users can implement their specific plug-ins.
The software has been optimized for the high-level usability and streamlined ecosystem of the macOS. The features, although similar to most design platforms, are laid out similar to other Mac-based platforms. However, that’s what makes it complicated for non-professionals.
Aside from that, Pixelmator is a good alternative to Pixlr due to its open-source nature. The latter doesn’t offer this level of flexibility for long-term users.
However, the same flexibility can be pointless for someone with a Windows system or a one-time user.
Overall, Pixelmator is ideal if you have experience with design tools and want a Mac-only platform to work with.
You can check out Pixelmator here.
5. MediBang Paint
MediBang Paint is a free-to-use digital painting and cartoon-creation software that specializes in illustrations and drawings that are typical of Japanese manga comics.
Although the software can be used for any form of cartoon design, this specific area is where it specializes.
What makes MediBang a good alternative to Pixlr is its optimization towards that one particular brand of graphic design. However, that’s also what limits the platform, since it has minimal features for photo editing and other forms of graphic design.
Although you can work with other forms of illustrations in MediBang, you immediately get the feeling that it’s not made for that.
Overall, MediBang comes out as a very specialized and limited alternative that only works if you’re a cartoon illustrator.
You can check out MediBang here.
6. Photopea
Photopea is an online photo editor that serves as an online version of Photoshop.
The platform allows you to perform basic edits on photos, apply filters and various elements, and modify them as you would in mainstream photo editing software.
What makes Photopea a worthy competitor to Pixlr is its suite of tools for photo manipulation. While the latter is a combo of design and photo editing, Photopea is primed for the editing aspect.
However, its limitations in terms of graphic design make it a slightly worse choice than some of the other alternatives.
You can check out Photopea here.
7. PicMonkey
Very similar to Photopea, PicMonkey is a photo editing software, albeit one that specializes in prepping photos for social media.
The platform is more focused on adding elements such as frames, borders, highlights, and creative filters on photos, instead of editing.
This does make it limited in terms of functionality because although it can work as a photo editing software, it lacks some of the fine-tuning capability of Photoshop and Photopea.
Overall, it’s a good Pixlr alternative for social media marketers and other non-designers looking for stable image design software. However, most other people usually look for a PicMonkey alternative soon after using it.
You can check out PicMonkey here.
8. BeFunky
BeFunky is a casual photo editing and collage maker that also provides some level of graphics design and editing capability.
Primarily a photo editing platform, it lets you create collages from multiple photos that you can stitch together to make creative images to put up on your socials.
Although it’s pretty good as a simple and clutter-free alternative to more design-focused platforms such as Pixlr.
Overall, BeFunky can be a good alternative if you’re only looking for a lightweight platform that allows some basic image creation functionality.
You can check out BeFunky here.
9. Canva
Canva is one of the more well-known alternatives to Pixlr. The platform offers a decent editor and lots of design features.
What makes Canva one of the top Pixlr alternatives is how much functionality you have on an online platform.
However, all that functionality comes at a price, since most of the features are locked behind a paywall. Although you can still create some basic designs quickly, you’ll find that all the more suitable elements encourage you to buy premium.
Overall, Canva can be a good alternative if you don’t mind paying for the premium subscription. However, it can be expensive if you’re only looking to use it once or twice.
You can check out Canva, here.
10. Polarr
Polarr is an online photo editing tool that’s available for Android and iOS, as well as on Windows and Mac.
The platform is dedicated to photo modification and editing. It has features such as typical color grading, filters, burn and heal, and saturation-contrast-temperature.
Polarr can be a great Pixlr alternative if you need some cross-platform functionality. However, most of the features are primed more towards the photo editing side of things, instead of graphic design.
All in all, Polarr can be useful if you’re not looking for basic photo editing on the fly. However, it will lack some of the high-end features that you get with Photoshop.
You can check out Polarr here.
Choosing the Best Pixlr Alternatives for Your Business
Pixlr can be useful if you have more casual usage in mind. That includes things such as if you want a basic header image or just want to add a few interesting elements to the picture. Or if you just want to make some meme pictures.
However, for the most part, you’re better off with one of the alternatives mentioned on this list, especially Pixelied.
Pixelied not only offers the best of the image and graphic design worlds, but it has an array of features primed for quick and easy usage for all skill levels. Most of the users use our ready-made templates for inspiration for their designs.
It’s the ideal software for marketers, photographers, and high-level design pros. And it has the capacity to become your go-to design platform.
