Photopea

Photopea is a free, browser-based image editor that opens and edits PSD files and works much like Photoshop, with no download or account needed. The full pro toolset is free (ad-supported); an optional $5/month Premium plan just removes the ads.

Best for: Free Photoshop in your browser

What you get

• Free forever: full editor with layers, masks, vector tools, 40+ file formats including PSD, plus AI background removal, all in the browser with no account required.
• The free version is ad-supported; ads are the main limitation.
• Premium removes ads for $5/month (~$50/year); per Photopea's official blog it adds no extra features and mainly supports development.
• No dedicated student discount, but it is genuinely free for everyone - a strong free stand-in for Photoshop.

How students use it

• Edit images and PSD files without buying Photoshop
• Touch up graphics for a project or club
• Work with layers and masks for free