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GIMP alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave GIMP: interface and terms differ a lot from Photoshop, and limited CMYK and print-production support. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces GIMP, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Paint.NET currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Paint.NET logoPaint.NETFreeNoWindows4 of 457.2
2Pinta logoPintaOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux3 of 355.3
3Krita logoKritaOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 454.5
4Adobe Photoshop logoAdobe PhotoshopPaidNoWindows, macOS, Web +25 of 553.6
5Affinity logoAffinityFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS0 of 041.7
  1. Paint.NET logo

    1. Paint.NETTop pick

    Best for: Windows users who want a quick, free editor for everyday image edits

    FreeWindows

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from GIMP

    Simpler free Windows editor with layers that is quicker to learn for everyday edits.

    Pros

    • Free, fast and easy to learn
    • Layers, unlimited history and many effects
    • Large library of community plug-ins

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • No RAW support or adjustment layers
    • Not open source despite being free
    Visit Paint.NET Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Paint.NET a good GIMP alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Platform
    Windows 10 and 11
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Layers and history
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Origin
    Built as a free replacement for Microsoft Paint
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Developer
    Rick Brewster
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Pinta logo

    2. Pinta

    Best for: Linux users who want a lightweight Paint.NET-style editor for quick edits

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from GIMP

    Lightweight open-source editor for basic layered edits on Linux, Mac and Windows.

    Pros

    • Free and MIT-licensed
    • Simple, uncluttered interface with layers and history
    • Runs on Linux, Windows, macOS and BSD

    Cons

    • Basic feature set compared with GIMP or Krita
    • No RAW processing
    • Limited support for layered file formats like PSD
    Visit Pinta Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Pinta a good GIMP alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, Mac, Windows, BSD
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pinta-project.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pinta-project.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Krita logo

    3. Krita

    Best for: Illustrators and concept artists who want a free, full-featured painting app

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android

    54.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from GIMP

    Also free and open source, with a much stronger brush engine for painting.

    Pros

    • Free and GPL-licensed
    • Excellent brush engines and drawing assistants
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android

    Cons

    • Not built for photo editing
    • Can slow down on very large canvases
    • No iPad version
    Visit Krita Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.360
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Krita a good GIMP alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Android
    Google Play builds
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Adobe Photoshop logo

    4. Adobe Photoshop

    Best for: Professionals who need the standard retouching and compositing tool and PSD compatibility

    PaidWindows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from GIMP

    The professional standard, with deeper tools and AI features if you can pay the subscription.

    Pros

    • Deepest retouching, masking and compositing toolset available
    • PSD is the de facto exchange format for layered images
    • Generative Fill and other AI tools built into the normal workflow
    • Huge pool of tutorials, plug-ins and trained users

    Cons

    • Subscription only, with no perpetual licence
    • Steep learning curve for occasional users
    • Heavy on system resources for large documents
    Visit Adobe Photoshop Compare with GIMPDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Adobe Photoshop a good GIMP alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Purchase options
    Subscription only (Creative Cloud)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Refund window
    14 days after trial ends
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free mobile version
    Yes, with paid premium features
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Generative AI
    Generative Fill and Generative Expand
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Affinity logo

    5. Affinity

    Best for: Designers who want professional vector, photo and layout tools without an Adobe subscription

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS

    41.7

    score / 100

    Why switch from GIMP

    Free for individuals with a more polished, Photoshop-like interface, on Mac and Windows.

    Pros

    • Free for individuals with no subscription
    • Vector, pixel and layout tools in one app
    • Opens PSD, AI and IDML files with layers

    Cons

    • AI features need a paid Canva plan
    • Requires a Canva account to use
    • No iPad version yet after the merger
    Visit Affinity Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.352
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Affinity a good GIMP alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best GIMP alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Paint.NET logo

Best GIMP alternative for most people

Paint.NET

Simpler free Windows editor with layers that is quicker to learn for everyday edits.

Pinta logo

Best GIMP alternative for a free option

Pinta

Lightweight open-source editor for basic layered edits on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Photopea logo

Best GIMP alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Photopea

Free in the browser with a Photoshop-style layout and better PSD handling.

Krita logo

Best GIMP alternative for open source

Krita

Also free and open source, with a much stronger brush engine for painting.

Adobe Photoshop logo

Best GIMP alternative for Mac

Adobe Photoshop

The professional standard, with deeper tools and AI features if you can pay the subscription.

Affinity logo

Best GIMP alternative for Windows

Affinity

Free for individuals with a more polished, Photoshop-like interface, on Mac and Windows.

Pinta logo

Best GIMP alternative for Linux

Pinta

Lightweight open-source editor for basic layered edits on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Adobe Photoshop logo

Best GIMP alternative for iPhone and Android

Adobe Photoshop

The professional standard, with deeper tools and AI features if you can pay the subscription.

Adobe Photoshop logo

Best GIMP alternative for working in the browser

Adobe Photoshop

The professional standard, with deeper tools and AI features if you can pay the subscription.

GIMP alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to GIMP?

Paint.NET ranks first right now. Simpler free Windows editor with layers that is quicker to learn for everyday edits. Pinta and Krita follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to GIMP?

Yes. Paint.NET (free), Pinta (open source), Krita (open source) and Photopea (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to GIMP?

Yes: Pinta and Krita.

Which GIMP alternatives work on Linux?

Pinta and Krita run on Linux.

Why do people switch from GIMP?

The complaints we hear most: interface and terms differ a lot from Photoshop; limited CMYK and print-production support; fewer AI-assisted tools than commercial editors.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces GIMP, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.