Our verdict: PaintShop Pro covers most of what home users want from Photoshop, layers, masks, RAW editing, retouching and scripts, for a one-time price. It is Windows-only, and the current release is still PaintShop Pro 2023. The installer and bundled extras push other Corel products.
About Corel PaintShop Pro
PaintShop Pro is a Windows photo editor and graphic design app from Corel, now part of Alludo. It edits photos with non-destructive layers, masks, selections with a Refine Brush, lens correction and retouching tools, and adds vector drawing, text, brushes, gradients and picture tubes for designs. AfterShot Lab inside the app handles RAW files from over 800 camera models, and AI tools cover upsampling, denoise, JPEG artifact removal, style transfer, portrait blur and background replacement.
The current release is PaintShop Pro 2023, sold as a one-time license with no subscription: the Standard edition lists at $79.99 and Ultimate, which adds bundled extras such as Painter Essentials 8, at $99.99, both often discounted. The 30-day free trial is the full program and needs no credit card; after it ends you must buy a license to keep using it. An internet connection is required to install and authenticate the app.
What it does well
- Layers and masks. Non-destructive layers, adjustment layers and masks for photo composites.
- RAW editing. AfterShot Lab built in, with support for more than 800 camera models.
- AI tools. AI Upsampling, AI Denoise, AI Artifact Removal, Style Transfer and Background Replacement.
- Design tools. Vector shapes, text, brushes, gradients, patterns and Photoshop brush import.
- Scripts and batch. Record edits as scripts and batch process watermarks, frames or resizing.
Who it is for
Good fit
Windows users who want Photoshop-style layer editing and RAW tools for a one-time price instead of a subscription.
Look elsewhere
Mac users, professionals who exchange layered files with Photoshop teams daily, and anyone wanting frequent major updates.
Pros and cons
Pros
- One-time license, no subscription
- Layers, masks and RAW editing in one app
- Supports Photoshop plugins and brushes
- Full-featured 30-day trial without a card
Cons
- Stops working when the 30-day trial ends
- Windows only, no Mac version
- Still on the 2023 release; installer promotes other Corel products
How to install Corel PaintShop Pro
The button downloads Corel's small trial installer, which fetches the rest of the program; an internet connection is required to install and authenticate it. During setup check which extra Corel apps and offers are selected. On first start pick the Essentials or Complete workspace depending on how many tools you want to see.
Questions about Corel PaintShop Pro
Is Corel PaintShop Pro free?
No. Corel offers a full 30-day free trial with no credit card required. After the trial you need a one-time license: PaintShop Pro 2023 Standard lists at $79.99 and Ultimate at $99.99, often discounted.
Can PaintShop Pro open Photoshop files?
Yes. It imports and exports PSD files and supports 64-bit Photoshop-compatible plugins and ABR brushes.
Does PaintShop Pro need a subscription?
No. It is sold as a perpetual license. An internet connection is still required to install and authenticate it.
