1. Photopea (free, browser): the closest thing to Photoshop on the web. Opens layered PSDs shockingly well. 2. Affinity (free since October 2025): full desktop editor, strong PSD import with layers intact. 3. GIMP (free): opens PSDs, flattens some layer effects. Ugly interface, serious power. 4. Pixelmator Pro ($49.99 one-time, Mac): clean PSD import for Mac users. 5. Paint.NET (free, Windows): handles basic PSDs with a plugin. 6. Pixlr (free, web): quick PSD viewing and light edits. 7. Canva (free tier): imports PSDs as flattened images. Fine for reuse, not for editing. Sources: FFmpeg, HandBrake Layer effects, smart objects, and adjustment layers are where compatibility breaks. If the file uses heavy smart objects, Photopea or Affinity preserve the most. For everything else, the free options are genuinely enough.
.svg){kind=icon}