Best HP Photosmart Essential Alternatives in 2025
Looking for alternatives to HP Photosmart Essential? In this comparison, we take a closer look at HP Photosmart Essential alongside similar software solutions including HP Photosmart Essential, Ashampoo Photo Optimizer, Paint.NET, EPSON Easy Photo Print, Canon My Image Garden Design Files, The GIMP, Adobe Photoshop, FastStone Image Viewer, CutOut, IrfanView and Canon My Image Garden.
Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how HP Photosmart Essential, Ashampoo Photo Optimizer, Paint.NET, EPSON Easy Photo Print, Canon My Image Garden Design Files, The GIMP, Adobe Photoshop, FastStone Image Viewer, CutOut, IrfanView and Canon My Image Garden stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.
Cost Model
 HP Photosmart Essential
|
Free software program |
 Ashampoo Photo Optimizer
|
Free trial period, then one-time purchase, no subscription |
 Paint.NET
|
Free with freemium features |
 EPSON Easy Photo Print
|
Free program |
 Canon My Image Garden Design Files
|
Free download |
 The GIMP
|
Free and open-source software |
 Adobe Photoshop
|
7-day free trial then subscription model |
 FastStone Image Viewer
|
Free software, license for commercial use |
 CutOut
|
30-day free trial, then purchase required |
 IrfanView
|
Free for personal use, license required for business use |
 Canon My Image Garden
|
Free software application |
Operating System Compatibility
|
HP Photosmart Essential
|
Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and Mac OS X versions, limited support for newer OS |
|
Ashampoo Photo Optimizer
|
Windows and macOS |
|
Paint.NET
|
Windows 7 and later |
|
EPSON Easy Photo Print
|
Windows and Mac OS |
|
Canon My Image Garden Design Files
|
Windows and Mac OS |
|
The GIMP
|
Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux |
|
Adobe Photoshop
|
Windows and macOS; mobile versions for iOS and Android |
|
FastStone Image Viewer
|
Windows OS only |
|
CutOut
|
Mac and Windows |
|
IrfanView
|
Microsoft Windows only |
|
Canon My Image Garden
|
Windows and Mac OS |
Editing Features and Tools
|
HP Photosmart Essential
|
Basic photo editing tools including cropping, color and lighting adjustments, red-eye removal. Basic photo album management and social media sharing. |
|
Ashampoo Photo Optimizer
|
Automatic image optimization, batch processing, brightness/contrast adjustment, crop, rotation, undo/redo function. |
|
Paint.NET
|
Basic to advanced image editing capabilities including layers, drawing tools, special effects with plugin support. |
|
EPSON Easy Photo Print
|
Some advanced editing features focused on print preparation including layouts, collages, frames. |
|
Canon My Image Garden Design Files
|
Advanced photo editing features for creative projects like calendars, greeting cards; includes cropping and red-eye correction. |
|
The GIMP
|
Extensive professional-grade editing with layering, plugins, scripting; supports many file formats including PSD and RAW. |
|
Adobe Photoshop
|
Comprehensive professional editing tools including layers, selection tools, non-destructive editing, image manipulation; supports video editing. |
|
FastStone Image Viewer
|
Basic image editing including color adjustment, cropping, resizing; batch conversion; lacks advanced editing features. |
|
CutOut
|
AI-based background removal with precise selections; unlimited undo/redo; batch processing; designed for professional photo editing. |
|
IrfanView
|
Basic editing tools such as crop, resize, brightness/contrast adjustment; batch processing of images; supports many file formats. |
|
Canon My Image Garden
|
Basic edits and organization features with creative filters and collage creation tailored for Canon device users. |
Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.
This quick comparison shows how HP Photosmart Essential stacks up against HP Photosmart Essential, Ashampoo Photo Optimizer, Paint.NET, EPSON Easy Photo Print, Canon My Image Garden Design Files, The GIMP, Adobe Photoshop, FastStone Image Viewer, CutOut, IrfanView and Canon My Image Garden in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.
Size
License
|
HP Photosmart Essential
|
Freeware |
|
Ashampoo Photo Optimizer
|
Demo |
|
Paint.NET
|
Freeware |
|
EPSON Easy Photo Print
|
Freeware |
|
Canon My Image Garden Design Files
|
Commercial |
|
The GIMP
|
Open Source |
|
Adobe Photoshop
|
Commercial |
|
FastStone Image Viewer
|
Freeware |
|
CutOut
|
Commercial |
|
IrfanView
|
Freeware |
|
Canon My Image Garden
|
Commercial |