Photopea key facts
Last updated- Legal entity
- Iván Kuckir
- Headquarters
- Czech Republic (CZ)
- Ownership
- Independent
- Founded
- 2013
- Data hosting
- United States
- Infrastructure
- AWS
- Deployment
- SaaS
- Open source
- No
- US Cloud Act exposure
- Low (no US parent)
- Replaces
- Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Affinity Photo, Pixlr, Canva
About Photopea
Photopea is a sophisticated, browser-based image editor developed by Iván Kuckir in Slovakia. It serves as a comprehensive alternative to professional desktop software like Adobe Photoshop, offering a near-identical user interface and support for a wide range of complex file formats including PSD, Sketch, and GIMP's XCF. Unlike traditional cloud editors, Photopea's architecture is unique in that it performs almost all image processing locally within the user's browser using HTML5 and WebAssembly, meaning files are not typically uploaded to a server for editing. The service operates on a freemium model, providing its full suite of professional tools for free supported by advertisements, with a 'Premium' tier available for users who prefer an ad-free experience and additional cloud storage. While the developer is based in the EU and adheres to GDPR principles through data minimization, the web application is hosted on AWS infrastructure primarily located in the United States. It has become a staple tool for designers, students, and professionals who require high-fidelity image manipulation without the need for software installation or expensive subscriptions.
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