Photopea
Photopea is a free browser-based image editor similar to Photoshop that opens PSD files and can export PDF for print covers.
At a glance
- Price
- Free tier (All editing features are free with ads. Premium removes ads and is priced in the app's Account window; team premium covers every member.)
- Platforms
- Web
- Outputs KDP-ready files
- Not stated
- Touches your KDP account
- No
- Categories
- Cover Design & Mockups
- Last checked
- 2026-11-09
Summary
Photopea runs in the browser without an install, opens and saves PSD files, and exports PDF, so you can lay out a KDP paperback wrap on the cover calculator template and save it as the single PDF KDP asks for. Its CMYK mode is a print preview only: Photopea stores documents in sRGB, so it does not produce true CMYK files, although KDP recommends CMYK images. It does not calculate spine width or provide book templates.
Best for
- Editing PSD cover templates without paying for Photoshop
Pros
- Free, in the browser, and reads Photoshop PSD templates
- Exports PDF directly
Cons
- No true CMYK output; CMYK mode is a preview
- Ads on the free version
In our guides
Alternatives
- GIMP: GIMP is a free, open-source desktop image editor for Windows, Mac and Linux that publishers use to build and edit book cover artwork.
- Krita: Krita is a free, open-source digital painting app for illustrators that publishers use to paint cover art and children's book illustrations.
- Canva: Canva is a template-based design tool widely used for KDP ebook covers, simple low-content interiors and marketing graphics.
Sources
Facts on this page come from the vendor and these pages. Prices change; confirm on the vendor site.
- https://www.photopea.com/api/accounts
- https://www.photopea.com/tuts/prepare-graphics-for-printing/
- https://blog.photopea.com/photopea-5-2-color-profiles-and-cmyk-mode.html
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201953020
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