Finding Photoshop brushes on the internet isn’t hard; there are loads and loads available. Finding ones that are good quality and suited to your needs is rather more difficult. Fear not! We’ve done the hard work for you by trawling through literally hundreds and hundreds of examples, to find the best brushes available today. What’s more, the vast majority of those outlined below are free to download and use (some for non-commercial purposes only).

We’ve attempted to cover all bases with this list. You’ll find grunge, splatter, nature, stain, retro brushes and even more. We’re confident that you’ll be able to find just the right one for you, and even if you can’t, you’ll certainly find some inspiration.

1. Paper Textures

This beautiful set of 25 brushes creates the effect of paper that’s been torn and crumpled in numerous ways.

2. Desert Cracks

A high quality brush set depicting cracks in parched and scorched earth.

3. Cloud Brushes

Create realistic cloud formations with these stunning, soft-textured brushes.

4. Fractaldream

This dazzling fractal brush set will aid you in creating wonderfully irregular, shining images.

5. Grungy Watercolour

This set of 10 large brushes was made from a combination of watercolour and India ink.

6. Dumpster Brushes

The 8 brushes in this set were made from photos of old dumpsters, giving a weathered metallic effect.

7. Spray Paint Brushes

There are lots of spray paint brushes available to download, but this high-res set is the best around. It comes in vibrant colours and looks totally realistic.

8. Stamps

These high-res brushes of text stamps add an authentic feel to any project.

9. Defective Photo Prints

These 12 large brushes depict rolls of photographic film with overlaid calligraphy.

10. Random Splatters

This is a set of five great-looking splatter brushes, each with a unique splatter effect, from round splatters to subtle scratches.

11. Abstract Grunge Brushes

These abstract brushes have a monochrome, spiky aesthetic and are perfect for modifying any background.

12. Grungy Wings

The five pairs of wings (10 brushes in total) in this set were made with a can of spray-paint and a sponge, creating a highly textured effect.

13. Dripping Ink

This drippy brush is simple, but very realistic. It’s perfect for adding another dimension to large text.

14. Fireworks

Add a spark of creativity to your work with these firework brushes.

15. Smoke

Made from photographs of candle smoke, this soft brush set can be used to subtle or more overt effect.

16. Dot Splatter

There are four sets of brushes in the brilliant Dot Splatter series, which was inspired by “pop art”. The dots used are reminiscent of Roy Lichtenstein’s artwork.

17. SplatterisM

The 35 brushes in this set look a bloody mess, in the best possible way.

18. Grunge Rust

This grungy set of brushes can be used to create seven different rusty effects.

19. Coffee Stains

Much lighter in colour than other coffee/tea stain brushes available, these are the best around.

20. Retro Funk

This great set includes forty four retro images with a funky theme. Some have been taken from the world of advertising.