# GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra

> With the help of Capterra, learn about GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Graphic Design products and more.

Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/168960/GIMP

---

# 

 GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons

Last updated on March 13, 2026

Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team.

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[Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[Users](#users)[Pros and Cons](#pros-cons)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews)

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

## What is GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)?

On-premise graphics manipulation platform that enables graphic designers, photographers and others to create design elements, icons, scripted images and more using various programming languages.

## What is GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) used for?

[Graphic Design](https://www.capterra.com/graphic-design-software/)

Top alternative

Featured

Overall rating

Based on 3,493 user reviews

Reviews sentiment

Positive

89%

Neutral

10%

Negative

1%

Pros & cons

Flexible open-source customization

Comprehensive image editing toolkit

Frequent crashes and glitches

Slow performance with large files

Contact vendor  
for pricing

Free trial  
not available

Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products...

Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings...

Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings...

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## Compare with a popular alternative

Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status.

### GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

4.4 (3,493)

VS.

[4.6 (1,229)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174232/adobe-express/reviews/)

Starting Price

Contact vendor

Starting Price

Contact vendor

Free Trial

Free Version

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

Ease Of Use

3.9 (3,493)

Ease Of Use

4.5 (13,253)

Value For Money

4.8 (2,491)

Value For Money

4.4 (10,042)

Customer Service

4.0 (1,753)

Customer Service

4.4 (8,232)

## GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) alternatives

[Canva](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/)

[4.7 (13,265)](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/reviews/)

Starting price

$15.00

Per User, Per Month

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

97%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/)

[Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/)

[4.8 (2,435)](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/reviews/)

Starting price

$22.99

Per User, Per Month

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

98%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/)

Highest Rated

[Adobe Illustrator](https://www.capterra.com/p/227125/Adobe-Illustrator/)

[4.8 (8,644)](https://www.capterra.com/p/227125/Adobe-Illustrator/reviews/)

Starting price

$22.99

Per User, Per Month

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

98%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/227125/Adobe-Illustrator/)

[Fotor](https://www.capterra.com/p/181589/Fotor/)

[4.5 (1,092)](https://www.capterra.com/p/181589/Fotor/reviews/)

Starting price

$8.99

Per User, Per Month

Pricing Options

Free Trial

Free Version

User Rating

92%

of reviewers

rated it above 4 stars

[Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/181589/Fotor/)

[View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/168960/GIMP/alternatives/)

## Who uses GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)?

Based on Capterra reviews from the past 3 years

## Pros and Cons

Flexible open-source customization

97% positive reviews out of 313

Most reviewers describe open source as enabling extensive customization, community-driven improvements, and broad platform compatibility.

Vasco B

Founder, 1 employee.

"For a free open-source software, the features GIMP offers are impressive, catering to both beginners and experienced designers."

Frequent crashes and glitches

63% negative reviews out of 229

Most users report bugs and issues like unexpected crashes, tool glitches, and compatibility problems disrupt workflow and require frequent restarts.

Comprehensive image editing toolkit

94% positive reviews out of 252

Most reviewers find image manipulation features rival paid software, supporting advanced editing, retouching, and graphic design needs.

Wiktoria S

Content media specialist, 1 employee.

"One of the standout features of GIMP is its extensive range of tools and functionalities, offering a powerful suite for image manipulation and editing."

Slow performance with large files

69% negative reviews out of 186

Most users comment performance and speed lag, especially with large images, causing slow load times and occasional freezing.

Tiara H

Founder, 2 - 10 employees.

"Also, it can become a bit laggy when working with large files."

Cost-effective photoshop replacement

97% positive reviews out of 147

Most users report alternative offers nearly all Photoshop capabilities for free, making it ideal for budget-conscious creators.

Complex and confusing interface

66% negative reviews out of 143

Most reviewers indicate menu navigation is unintuitive, with hidden features and cluttered layouts making tool access difficult for beginners.

Elisabetta G

Marketing Consultant, 1 employee.

"The widget layout is a little cluttered, and for a beginner it can be very frustrating."

## Features

Features with the highest number of reviews are displayed first. Those that have no reviews appear next, sorted alphabetically.

Image Editing

4.6 (982)

67.62% of 982 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) offers a comprehensive set of image editing tools, including filters, cropping, color correction, and advanced brushes. Reviewers appreciate its versatility, free cost, Photoshop compatibility, and responsive performance, though some mention a learning curve for new users.

Pattern, Color & Art Storage

4.4 (769)

54.10% of 769 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

With this capability, you can access a wide variety of colors, patterns, and brushes, plus easily store and export your artwork. Some reviewers find the color management intuitive and enjoy custom palettes, but a few note limitations with CMYK and file compatibility.

Design Management

4.2 (193)

53.89% of 193 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

It gives you organized design workflows using layers, thumbnails, and easy project tracking. Reviewers indicate that managing multiple designs is straightforward and efficient, though some wish for a less cluttered interface and mention a slight learning curve for beginners.

Search/Filter

4.1 (168)

39.29% of 168 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

You benefit from a search function that helps locate tools, commands, and elements efficiently. Some reviewers find this valuable for navigating GIMP’s menus, especially for new users, while others feel the search/filter options could be more advanced.

Design Templates

This aspect helps you start projects quickly with editable templates and supports importing PSD files. Some users say templates save time and ease workflow, but others mention GIMP has fewer built-in templates compared to alternatives like Canva.

CAD Tools

3.9 (521)

33.59% of 521 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important

Computer aided design to create precision drawings or technical illustrations

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) 7 features

Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases

Computer aided design to create precision drawings or technical illustrations

It gives you organized design workflows using layers, thumbnails, and easy project tracking. Reviewers indicate that managing multiple designs is straightforward and efficient, though some wish for a less cluttered interface and mention a slight learning curve for beginners.

This aspect helps you start projects quickly with editable templates and supports importing PSD files. Some users say templates save time and ease workflow, but others mention GIMP has fewer built-in templates compared to alternatives like Canva.

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) offers a comprehensive set of image editing tools, including filters, cropping, color correction, and advanced brushes. Reviewers appreciate its versatility, free cost, Photoshop compatibility, and responsive performance, though some mention a learning curve for new users.

With this capability, you can access a wide variety of colors, patterns, and brushes, plus easily store and export your artwork. Some reviewers find the color management intuitive and enjoy custom palettes, but a few note limitations with CMYK and file compatibility.

You benefit from a search function that helps locate tools, commands, and elements efficiently. Some reviewers find this valuable for navigating GIMP’s menus, especially for new users, while others feel the search/filter options could be more advanced.

Features

4.3 (3,493)

4.3

Based on 3,493 reviews

## Pricing

Value for money

4.8 (2491)

### Starting price

Contact vendor  
for pricing

Free trial  
available

Value for money

4.8 (2,491)

4.8

Based on 2,491 reviews

## Integrations

[

Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/)[

Inkscape](https://www.capterra.com/p/178240/Inkscape/)

## Support, customer service and training options

Customer Service

4.0 (1753)

Support

-   Email/Help Desk
-   FAQs/Forum
-   Knowledge Base
-   Phone Support
-   24/7 (Live rep)
-   Chat

Training

-   In Person
-   Live Online
-   Webinars
-   Documentation
-   Videos

Deployment

-   Web
-   Android
-   iPhone/iPad

Typical users

-   Freelancers
-   Small businesses
-   Mid size businesses
-   Enterprises

Customer Service

4.0 (1,753)

4.0

Based on 1,753 reviews

## User reviews

Overall rating

4.4

Based on 3,493 reviews

Filter by rating

5(1875)

4(1240)

3(332)

2(37)

1(9)

Mentioned topic

Sorted by most recent

HR

Haley R.

registrar

Hospital & Health Care

### "GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)"

4.0

Overall Rating

4.0

4.0

Ease of Use

4.0

4.0

Features

3.0

3.0

Customer Service

4.0

4.0

Likelihood to Recommend

7/10

April 5, 2026

GIMP has been a fantastic addition to my digital toolbox, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a versatile and powerful editing program without breaking the bank.

Pros

I recently started using GIMP for my photo editing needs, and I have to say, it's pretty impressive for a free tool! As someone who's always been a bit hesitant to invest in expensive software, finding GIMP felt like a real win. What I love most about it is the extensive toolset. There are so many options that I can customize my editing experience to fit exactly what I need. Whether I'm just doing some quick touch-ups or diving into more complex projects, I feel like I have all the tools at my fingertips.

Cons

I spent some time using GIMP for a photo editing project, and while I really appreciate its powerful features and how flexible it is, I did notice one thing that could be improved: performance. When working with larger files, things definitely slowed down quite a bit.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

Hayden R.

Graphic Design

Computer Software

### "Brilliant free tool for early designers"

4.0

Overall Rating

4.0

4.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

3.0

3.0

Customer Service

3.0

3.0

Likelihood to Recommend

7/10

March 19, 2026

I had a great experience with GIMP, as a free tool it made any design idea i had possible, and was easy to be able to use, allowing me to keep creating assets whilst in a fast paced environment.

Pros

GIMP was a great software to use in my early days of designing. It's broad range of tools and ease of use made it possible to create assets quickly and simply, as well as exporting them.

Cons

my main concern was the quality of this images when they were exported. When images were angled, they'd come out a little blurry and not as high resolution as i hoped. This made it challenging when the assets in question were texted base or included small details that i would have liked to be noticable.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

JT

Joe T.

Head of Marketing

Information Technology and Services

### "A fantastic bit of design software - highly recommend "

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

4.0

4.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

3.0

3.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

March 10, 2026

Very good - any new marketer we hire I always tell them to download and use GIMP first. Its a fantastic bit of design software.

Pros

Its free to download and works a treat. Has lots of different options for design, and can be used for complexed tasks .

Cons

There really is nothing to complain about to be honest - if im being picky I would say the interface needs a nice refresh but thats it!.

Review source

Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

VV

Vincent V.

Designer

Design

### "l’édition d’images très propre"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

4.0

4.0

Likelihood to Recommend

9/10

March 8, 2026

Pros

Il propose de nombreux outils utiles pour l’édition d’images et fonctionne bien pour les retouches, les recadrages et les ajustements rapides. La flexibilité du logiciel est un vrai plus.

Cons

L’interface peut sembler un peu moins intuitive au début, surtout pour les utilisateurs habitués à d’autres outils de design.

Review source

Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

AU

Anonymous User

Consultant

Public Relations and Communications

### "Great graphic design software"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

4.0

4.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

0.0

0.0

Likelihood to Recommend

9/10

January 26, 2026

I'm not a graphic designer so I use it to edit my website photos. It does a great job. I'm happy with it.

Pros

GIMP is my favorite free graphic design program. It can handle all my photo editing needs without the heavy price tag so I see no sense in using something else.

Cons

Sometimes it's hard to update the program. A recent update caused computer system problems. I had to downgrade back to the version I was trying to update.

Review source

Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

RR

Rafia R.

Graphic Designer - Visual Branding

Information Technology and Services

### "basic image editing"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

4.0

4.0

Customer Service

4.0

4.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

January 16, 2026

GNU Image Manipulation Program is a useful open-source tool for basic image editing and quick visual adjustments.

Pros

It’s free and surprisingly powerful for photo retouching and simple design tasks. For small teams or occasional use, it can cover many essential needs.

Cons

The interface is not very intuitive, and the workflow can feel less polished. It’s not ideal for high-end branding or collaborative design projects.

Review source

Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

RA

Rama A.

Freelance Graphic Designer

Design

### "Best Saftware GIMP"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

5.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

December 2, 2025

I don’t use GIMP daily, but whenever I revisit it for specific tasks, it adjusts well and remains surprisingly flexible for a free tool.

Pros

It handles photo retouching, color correction, and quick image edits without any cost. For designers starting out or working on lightweight edits, it’s a solid alternative. I appreciate the transparency tools and how customizable the interface is.

Cons

The learning curve is steeper than expected, mainly because the interface isn’t as intuitive as paid solutions. Some tools also feel slower or less refined.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

KB

Kate B.

Photographer

Photography

### "Cost-effective content creation for small studios."

4.0

Overall Rating

4.0

4.0

Ease of Use

4.0

4.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

0.0

0.0

Likelihood to Recommend

9/10

October 15, 2025

GIMP allowed White Pine Photography to create logos, photo editing, and branded content on a low budget, enhancing client work and studio advertising with robust editing capabilities.

Pros

Free, adaptive design and graphics creation abilities of GIMP and slim design, along with quick rendering of intuitive controls, all allow photographers to produce content and manipulate images without cost.

Cons

Others say customer support may be slower to answer and deal with payment-related features or extensions could require technical expertise not best suited for active freelance studios.

Review source

Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

DF

Daniel F.

Solutions Engineer

Market Research

### "GIMP review from a developer"

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

4.0

4.0

Features

5.0

5.0

Customer Service

5.0

5.0

Likelihood to Recommend

10/10

August 28, 2025

GIMP was a great software that allowed me to have a free option rather than paying for a program like Photoshop. I was able to create a project with many layers and resize the layers as needed.

Pros

I used GIMP as a free option instead of Photoshop and I was quite pleased. I was able to create an image project with many layers and resize the layers as needed.

Cons

It was a bit tricky to figure out how to be able to move the different layers as needed. I just had to play around with the software options to figure it out.

Switched from

[Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/)

GIMP was a free option at the time rather than paying for a program

Review source

Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

US

Uwe S.

Administrator

Civic & Social Organization

### "Sehr gute Alternative zu teurer Bildbearbeitungssoftware."

5.0

Overall Rating

5.0

5.0

Ease of Use

4.0

4.0

Features

4.0

4.0

Customer Service

3.0

3.0

Likelihood to Recommend

8/10

July 29, 2025

Ich finde, GIMP ist eine echte Alternative zum teuren Konkurrenzprodukt. Die Möglichkeiten der Bidlbearbeitung sind absolut umfangreich und professionell.

Pros

GIMP kommt als kostenlose Software für die Bildbearbeitung und kann fast alles , was auch Photoshop kann.

Cons

GIMP ist ähnlich komplex wie Photoshop. D.h., nicht alle Funktionen sind intuitiv und einfach zu finden.

Switched from

[Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/)

Photoshop war mir auf Dauer einfach zu teuer.

Alternatives considered

[PaintShop Pro](https://www.capterra.com/p/233262/PaintShop-Pro/)

Reasons for choosing GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Es hat mich am Ende einfach in der Funktionalität überzeugt.

Review source

Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication.

[View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/168960/GIMP/reviews/)

Popular comparisons

[Canva vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168956-168960/Canva-vs-GIMP)[Adobe Photoshop vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-229092/GIMP-vs-Adobe-Photoshop)[Adobe Illustrator vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-227125/GIMP-vs-Adobe-Illustrator)[Fotor vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-181589/GIMP-vs-Fotor)[CorelDRAW vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/124823-168960/CorelDRAW-vs-GIMP)[Zarla vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-10005221/GIMP-vs-Zarla)[SMASHINGLOGO vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-189918/GIMP-vs-SMASHINGLOGO)[Adobe InDesign vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-233314/GIMP-vs-Adobe-InDesign)[Adobe Creative Cloud vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/48969-168960/Adobe-Creative-Cloud-vs-GIMP)[Adobe Express vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-174232/GIMP-vs-adobe-express)

[Figma vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-175027/GIMP-vs-Figma)[SignMaster vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-10005100/GIMP-vs-SignMaster)[Inkscape vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-178240/GIMP-vs-Inkscape)[Procreate vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-228914/GIMP-vs-Procreate)[Photopea vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-202812/GIMP-vs-Photopea)[Affinity Designer vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/110533-168960/WebPlus-X4-vs-GIMP)[VistaCreate vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-175859/GIMP-vs-Crello)[Pixelied vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-213020/GIMP-vs-Pixelied)[PhotoADKing vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-187414/GIMP-vs-PhotoADKing)[VinylMaster vs GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168960-10005099/GIMP-vs-VinylMaster) 

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