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Design · head to head

Photopea vs Subframe

Photopea logo

Photopea

Design

Free online photo editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Subframe logo

Subframe

Design

The AI-native design tool built for code

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Photopea performance becomes sluggish and prone to crashes with high-resolution images or multi-layered files; Subframe free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Photopea and Subframe actually diverge.

Attributes where Photopea and Subframe differ
AttributePhotopeaSubframe
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Founded2013Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Design).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Photopea

  • Photo editing
  • PSD compatibility
  • Layer support
  • Selection tools
  • Filters and effects
  • Google Drive
  • Dropbox
  • Adobe fonts

Only in Subframe

Nothing recorded that Photopea does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Photopea

  • Quick photo editsnot Subframe
  • PSD file editingnot Subframe
  • Web designnot Subframe
  • Social media graphicsnot Subframe

Subframe

  • Creating production-ready interfaces without static mockupsnot Photopea
  • Syncing design components with code as single source of truthnot Photopea
  • Building responsive designs with auto layoutnot Photopea
  • Real-time multiplayer collaboration with layer commentingnot Photopea
  • Exporting Radix UI and Tailwind CSS code via CLInot Photopea

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Photopea

  • Performance becomes sluggish and prone to crashes with high-resolution images or multi-layered files
  • Risk of losing work due to browser crashes or save failures
  • Aggressive advertising that can slow down the entire computer
  • No local installation option, always requires browser access
  • Basic file organization and version tracking compared to professional tools

Subframe

  • Free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages
  • Free plan includes limited AI features compared to Pro
  • Pro plan billed per editor, not per team

Pricing, plan by plan

Photopea

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Photopea review.

Subframe

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • Up to 10 pages
    • 2 prototypes
  • Pro$29/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Unlimited pages
    • Unlimited prototypes

Which should you pick?

Choose Photopea if

  • You need photo editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want psd compatibility.
Photopea review

Choose Subframe if

  • You want to start without paying.
Subframe review

Questions people ask

Is Photopea or Subframe better?
Neither clearly leads. Photopea starts at Free and Subframe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Photopea or Subframe?
Photopea starts at Free and Subframe at Free.
Does Photopea or Subframe run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Photopea for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Photopea best used for?
Photopea is most often used for quick photo edits, psd file editing, web design, social media graphics. Of those, quick photo edits and psd file editing are not what Subframe is typically brought in for.
What can Photopea do that Subframe cannot?
Photopea covers Photo editing, PSD compatibility, Layer support, Selection tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Photopea: Is Photopea free to use?

Yes, Photopea is completely free and supported by ads displayed within the browser. No subscription or payment is required to use the full feature set.

Source
Subframe: Is there a free version of Subframe?

Yes, Subframe offers a free plan with 1 project, up to 10 pages, 2 prototypes, unlimited team members, and limited AI features.

Source
Photopea: Does Photopea support Photoshop PSD files?

Yes, Photopea fully supports Photoshop PSD files including layers, masks, text, and effects. It can read and export files back to PSD, PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, or GIF format.

Source
Subframe: How is the Pro plan priced?

Subframe Pro costs $29 per editor per month, with unlimited projects, pages, prototypes, and AI usage.

Source
Photopea: What platforms does Photopea run on?

Photopea is a web-based editor accessible through any modern browser including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. It can be added to desktop as a shortcut or Chrome extension.

Source
Subframe: Are viewer seats free?

Yes, Subframe offers free viewer seats across all pricing plans, allowing team members to view without an editor license.

Source
Photopea: Does Photopea upload my files to servers?

No. Photopea processes images entirely within your browser and does not upload files to external servers, keeping your work private and secure.

Source
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