Linearity vs Photopea
Both Linearity and Photopea are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the design tools space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.
Quick Overview
Linearity
EU- Headquarters
- Berlin, DE
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- No
Photopea
EU- Headquarters
- Prague, CZ
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- No
Key Differences
- Linearity offers a free tier, while photopea offers a free tier. The different pricing models mean you should evaluate which approach better fits your usage pattern.
- Data residency differs: Linearity hosts data in Germany, EU, while Photopea hosts in EU. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
- Photopea was founded in 2013, giving it a 4-year head start over Linearity (founded 2017). More time in market often means a larger user community and more mature integrations, though newer entrants may offer more modern architectures.
- Each product has unique strengths: Linearity offers Vector editing and Animation (Linearity Move), while Photopea provides PSD/AI/Sketch file support and Layer-based editing. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Linearity | Photopea |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Linearity | Photopea |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Berlin, DE | Prague, CZ |
| Data Centers | DE, EU | EU |
| Vector editing | ||
| Animation (Linearity Move) | ||
| Templates | ||
| Real-time collaboration | ||
| Auto Trace | ||
| Icon library | ||
| Font management | ||
| Export to multiple formats | ||
| PSD/AI/Sketch file support | ||
| Layer-based editing | ||
| Brushes and filters | ||
| RAW file support | ||
| Vector tools | ||
| Text editing | ||
| Batch processing | ||
| Browser-based (no upload needed) |
Pricing Comparison
Linearity
Freefreemium
Photopea
Freefreemium (ad-supported)
Compliance Comparison
Linearity
GDPRDPA
Photopea
GDPRDPA
Get Started
Categories
How to Choose
You need enterprise-grade support and stability
Choose Linearity
You prefer a nimble provider with personalised support
Choose Photopea
Linearity vs Photopea — FAQ
What is the main difference between Linearity and Photopea?
Both Linearity and Photopea are European design tools solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: Linearity uses freemium pricing while Photopea uses freemium (ad-supported). Linearity is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, while Photopea is based in Prague, Czechia. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, Linearity or Photopea?
Both Linearity and Photopea offer free tiers, so you can try either without cost. Pricing models differ (freemium vs. freemium (ad-supported)), so compare based on your usage pattern rather than just the starting price.
Are both Linearity and Photopea GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both Linearity and Photopea are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.