The Free and Open-Source Photoshop Killer
30+ years of evolution · Used by millions · Zero subscription
What Is GIMP?
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is the world’s most powerful completely free and open-source raster graphics editor. First released in 1996 by Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis as a university project, it has grown into a professional-grade tool that rivals Adobe Photoshop for most real-world workflows.
Licensed under GPL v3+, GIMP is developed by a global volunteer community and is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and even BSD variants — with no watermarks, no ads, and no subscription ever.
View GIMP Resources for GIMP Homepage, GIMP Developer website, GIMP Documentation, and GIMP Tutorials
GIMP vs Adobe Photoshop (Comparison)
| Feature | GIMP | Photoshop CC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | $20.99/month (or $59.99/mo Creative Cloud) |
| Layers & Masks | Full support + layer groups | Full support |
| Non-destructive editing | Yes (via GEGL, layer effects, adjustment layers) | Yes (Smart Objects, etc.) |
| Content-Aware Fill / AI tools | Resynthesizer + G’MIC + Stable Diffusion plugins | Neural Filters (Firefly) |
| RAW processing | darktable / RawTherapee (separate) or via UFRaw plugin | Adobe Camera Raw built-in |
| Text & Shape tools | On-canvas text editing (3.0) | Superior typography engine |
| PSD support | Excellent read/write (including smart objects in many cases) | Native |
| 3D / Video | Limited (via plugins) | Full 3D + video timeline |
| Performance on Apple Silicon / Windows | Native ARM64 builds, GPU acceleration via OpenCL | Native + excellent Metal/DirectX |
Verdict: For 90–95 % of photographers, designers, and digital artists, GIMP + plugins covers everything they actually use in Photoshop — at zero cost.
Major Milestones & Status
- 1996 – First public release (v0.54)
- 2004 – GIMP 2.0 with GEGL (non-destructive foundation)
- 2012 – Single-window mode, high bit-depth support
- 2019 – GIMP 2.10 – major overhaul, better tools, layer effects
- 2024 – GIMP 3.0 RC – GTK3 → GTK4, Wayland support, non-destructive filters, new brushes engine
- 2025 – Official GIMP 3.0 stable release – native Apple Silicon & Windows ARM64 builds, vastly improved text tool, Paint Select (AI-like selection tool via plugins)
Must-Have Plugins That Close the Gap
- G’MIC – 500+ filters (Inpainting, Deblur, Cartoon, Artistic)
- Resynthesizer – Content-aware fill (the original “Heal Selection”)
- BIMP – Batch Image Manipulation (actions & macros)
- Stable Diffusion plugin – Text-to-image and inpainting directly in GIMP
- PhotoGIMP / GIMP-ML – Photoshop-like theme + AI tools bundle
- Darktable + GIMP workflow – Professional RAW → final edit pipeline
Who Uses GIMP Professionally?
- Independent photographers & retouchers (especially in Europe & Latin America)
- Film poster artists (e.g., many Bollywood and indie studios)
- Game studios for 2D texture work (in combination with Krita/Blender)
- Scientific imaging (NASA, universities – GIMP’s 16/32-bit support)
- Countless YouTubers, streamers, and content creators
Getting Started
- Download the official build from gimp.org (avoid third-party sites)
- Install G’MIC, Resynthesizer, and BIMP first
- Optional: Install PhotoGIMP patch for Photoshop layout and shortcuts
- Pair with darktable for RAW processing
Pro tip: The learning curve feels steep only because the default UI is different — after installing PhotoGIMP or switching to single-window mode, most Photoshop users feel at home within a day.
Conclusion
GIMP is no longer “good for free software” — it is simply good software, period.
With GIMP 3.0, native high-performance builds, and a thriving plugin ecosystem (including real AI tools), the vast majority of designers, photographers, and artists can cancel Adobe Creative Cloud without sacrificing capability or quality.
Zero dollars. Zero subscriptions. Full professional power.
That’s GIMP.