In a month-long experiment comparing three popular image editing software—Affinity Photo 2, GIMP, and Adobe Photoshop—the results revealed surprising insights. Affinity Photo 2, recently made free through its acquisition by Canva, impressed with its modern interface and powerful features, particularly in traditional photo editing. Its non-destructive RAW editing capabilities rival those of Photoshop. However, users must subscribe to Canva to access its AI features, which underperformed in certain tasks compared to Adobe's offerings. GIMP, now with a significant 3.0 update, introduced non-destructive editing and performance enhancements, making it a viable option for beginners and Linux users. Nevertheless, it lacks the polished interface and advanced capabilities of its competitors. Adobe Photoshop, despite initial skepticism regarding its AI tools, showcased remarkable performance with features like Generative Fill and Magic Eraser, accurately reconstructing backgrounds and understanding lighting. However, its resource-heavy nature and bloated interface raised concerns. Ultimately, while Affinity Photo 2 emerged as the best for daily use, Photoshop remains unmatched in generative AI capabilities, with GIMP serving as a solid entry-level tool.