Compare · checked October 2026
Grainhouse vs Photopea
Both are free photo editors that run in your browser and process pictures on your own device. Photopea is a full Photoshop-style workstation. Grainhouse is smaller and calmer, built around film looks and step-by-step help.
At a glance
| Feature | Grainhouse | Photopea |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free. Pro is a one-time €19 (launch price) | Free with ads. A paid subscription removes them |
| Ads while you edit | None | Yes, in the free version |
| Account needed | No | No |
| Where photos are processed | On your device | On your device |
| Opens PSD files | No | Yes, along with many other formats |
| Number of tools | Focused set: layers, adjustment layers, brushes, text, shapes, crop, dodge and burn, clone stamp | Very large, close to Photoshop |
| Film looks | One-click looks with a strength slider, editable later | Build looks yourself with adjustments and filters |
| Help for beginners | Guided recipes open the right tool for you | Relies on Photoshop knowledge and outside tutorials |
Details about Photopea come from its public pages and may change. If something here is out of date, email hello@grainhouseapp.com and we’ll fix it.
Which should you use?
Choose Photopea if
- You work with PSD files or need Photoshop-level tools
- You already know Photoshop and want the same layout
- You need advanced features like smart objects or vector paths
Choose Grainhouse if
- You want a quiet editor with no ads, ever
- You like film-style looks and want them in one click
- You’re learning and want recipes that show you what to do
- You prefer to pay once instead of a subscription
Questions
Is Grainhouse a Photopea alternative?
Yes, for everyday photo editing: adjusting light and colour, film looks, retouching, text and cropping. If you need PSD files or Photoshop’s advanced tools, Photopea is the better fit.
Are both editors private?
Both process your pictures in the browser on your device. Grainhouse also uses no analytics or tracking cookies.
Is Grainhouse really free?
Yes. The full editor is free with no ads. Pro is an optional one-time purchase that adds four more film looks, more saved edits and more export options.
Can I open my Photopea projects in Grainhouse?
Not the project files. Export your picture from Photopea as PNG or JPEG and open it in Grainhouse to keep editing.