3 Best GIMP Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 10 min read
GIMP is a popular tool for users wanting free professional image editing. While it offers a free tier (Completely free), its paid plans start at Free. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 3 best GIMP alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 3
- Free alternatives: 2 (Photopea, Krita)
- Open-source options: Krita
- Best overall: Adobe Creative Cloud
- Best free: Photopea
Why Look for GIMP Alternatives?
People commonly look for GIMP alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While GIMP has a free tier, its paid plans starting at Free can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Steep learning curve and dated interface are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find GIMP overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIMP | ✓ Completely free | Free | ⭐ 3.9 | ✓ Yes | Users wanting free professional image editing |
| Adobe Creative Cloud | ✗ No | $22.99/mo (single app) | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Professional designers and creatives |
| Photopea | ✓ Free with ads | $5/mo (ad-free) | ⭐ 4.4 | No | Users wanting free Photoshop-like editing |
| Krita | ✓ Completely free | Free | ⭐ 4.2 | ✓ Yes | Digital artists and illustrators |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Adobe Creative Cloud
The industry-standard suite of creative applications.
Adobe Creative Cloud is the industry-standard suite of creative applications including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and more. While unmatched in professional capabilities, Adobe's subscription model and high pricing have driven many users to seek alternatives.
Pros
- ✓ Industry standard
- ✓ Most powerful tools
- ✓ Comprehensive suite
- ✓ Extensive tutorials
Cons
- ✗ Very expensive
- ✗ Subscription-only
- ✗ Resource heavy
- ✗ Difficult cancellation
Photopea
Free online photo editor that works like Photoshop.
Photopea is a free, browser-based image editor that's remarkably similar to Adobe Photoshop. It supports PSD, XCF, Sketch, XD, and CDR formats, making it a powerful alternative for photo editing and graphic design without any installation or subscription.
Pros
- ✓ Free to use
- ✓ Browser-based
- ✓ Photoshop-compatible
- ✓ No installation
Cons
- ✗ Ads on free
- ✗ No offline
- ✗ Less powerful than Photoshop
- ✗ Limited AI features
Krita
Free, open-source digital painting application.
Krita is a professional-grade open-source painting program designed for digital artists, concept artists, and illustrators. It offers a wide range of brushes, an advanced layer management system, and tools specifically designed for creating digital artwork.
Pros
- ✓ Free and open source
- ✓ Great for digital art
- ✓ Powerful brush engine
- ✓ Active community
Cons
- ✗ Not for photo editing
- ✗ Resource heavy
- ✗ Learning curve
- ✗ Limited vector tools
🏆 Our Recommendations
Best Overall Alternative:
Adobe Creative Cloud — Professional designers and creatives
Best Free Alternative:
Photopea — Free with ads
Best Open-Source Alternative:
Krita — Digital artists and illustrators
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to GIMP?
The best free alternative to GIMP is Photopea, which offers Free with ads.
Is there an open-source alternative to GIMP?
Yes! Krita is open-source alternative to GIMP that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to GIMP?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Photopea, Krita. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $5/mo.
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