# GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra

> Is GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) the right Graphic Design solution for you? Explore 3497 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice.

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

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GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

4.4 (3497)

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

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Last updated March 13th, 2026

# Reviews of GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Ease of use

3.9

Customer Service

4.0

## Pros and Cons in Reviews

KB

Kate B

PhotographerPhotography, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years.

“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.“

October 15, 2025

Hayden R

Graphic DesignComputer Software, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years.

“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.“

March 19, 2026

RR

Rafia R

Graphic Designer - Visual BrandingInformation Technology and Services, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months.

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

January 16, 2026

Nick R

Director of Service DeliveryInformation Technology and Services, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years.

“Some things are not as intuitive as I'd like, but it is a complex program with a lot of features, therefore it takes some time to learn where everything is and how to get things done, workflows, etc.“

December 10, 2024

HR

Haley R

registrarHospital & Health Care, 201 - 500 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months.

“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.“

April 5, 2026

Manuel M

IT Technical SpecialistComputer & Network Security, 201 - 500 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years.

“Some features may be too hidden when first approaching the application, and the interface appears not very user friendly“

September 9, 2024

Hayden R

Graphic DesignComputer Software, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years.

“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.“

March 19, 2026

KW

Kimb W

OwnerDesign, Self-employedUsed the software for: More than 2 years.

“The interface is becoming too outdated and requires a coat of paint“

March 5, 2025

## Showing most helpful reviews

Showing 1-25 of 3497 Reviews

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Most Helpful

Rating

Company Size

Reviewer's Role

Length of Use

Frequency of Use

Aneesa A.  
UI UX  
Financial Services  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Great software to use"

July 4, 2026

4.0

Overall, it's great software to use, especially if you're learning to manipulate images and it's easy to use and straightforward

Pros

What I like most about GIMP is that it really helped me gain experience in manipulating images and playing around with the software

Cons

What I least liked about GIMP is that it takes a while for the software to load and it can make my laptop sound like it's about to take off when I use it

Review Source

DF

Daniel F.  
Solutions Engineer  
Market Research  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "GIMP review from a developer"

August 28, 2025

5.0

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

TA

Tabarak A.  
Graphic Designer  
Design  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Free toolbox for image tweaks"

May 6, 2025

3.0

Pros

I reached for GIMP whenever I needs a quick fix or a poster idea. Cropping, colour tweaks, and a sprinkle of filters run along nicely, and stacking layers costs me nothing but a click.

Cons

Big files are another story. Throw a hefty blur or glow at them and the progress bar begins to crawl, while tool panels crowd the screen like chatty neighbours.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Director of Research and Development  
Health, Wellness and Fitness  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Best Replacement for Photoshop"

April 23, 2026

4.0

Overall, it can be challenging at times to work with (since I have the muscle memory of Adobe Photoshop), but the best replacement out there.

Pros

Gimp is the most reliable replacement for Adobe photoshop! There's nothing that comes close. And it works on linux ;)

Cons

The UI is quite clunky compared to photoshop, although I appreciate that they attempt to emulate most of the original features.

Switched from

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

Gimp was cheaper than Adobe Photoshop. Adobe has terrible plans.

Review Source

BM

BONNIE M.  
Owner  
Graphic Design  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Try It...I dare you!"

December 3, 2024

5.0

I actually really like the program, and I REALLY like the price! Gimp makes editing photos fun and makes my design process much easier.

Pros

Gimp is a great alternative to Adobe Photoshop! I did use Adobe Photoshop but to renew was expensive. After looking at cheaper alternatives, I went with Gimp. It has every feature that I have needed and I can export to many different file format. I use this in combination with my vector programs and you won't find a better deal with as many features as Gimp. There is also a wide array of tutorials to be found online. If you need a photo editor and don't want to spend alot, this is the program to try.

Cons

It took a little bit to learn some of the features, but you can find numerous videos on how to use different features. It was no worse than learning to use Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.

Alternatives considered

[Canvas](https://www.capterra.com/p/127214/CANVAS/)[Pixlr](https://www.capterra.com/p/198210/Pixlr-X/)

Reason for choosing GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Gimp seemed easier to use and I like the price.

Switched from

[Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/)[Adobe Illustrator](https://www.capterra.com/p/227125/Adobe-Illustrator/)

Adobe renewals are expensive. I get the same product, lots cheaper!

Review Source

Hayden R.  
Graphic Design  
Computer Software  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Brilliant free tool for early designers"

March 19, 2026

4.0

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

KB

Kate B.  
Photographer  
Photography  
Used the software for: 2+ years

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

October 15, 2025

4.0

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

JT

Joe T.  
Head of Marketing  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

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

March 10, 2026

5.0

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

RG

Romain G.  
Freelance Photographer  
Design  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "GIMP: for auxiliary image"

July 13, 2026

4.0

Pros

he basic retouching, cropping, and complex filter application tools work perfectly without requiring any extravagant hardware setup.

Cons

The user interface is completely different from industry standards and feels quite austere, even confusing, for a designer accustomed to commercial suites.

Review Source

HR

Haley R.  
registrar  
Hospital & Health Care  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

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

April 5, 2026

4.0

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

KM

Kiragu M.  
Software Engineer  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Powerful Free Alternative to Adobe Photoshop with a Learning Curve"

November 14, 2024

5.0

GIMP has been a reliable tool for my graphic design and photo editing needs. It’s powerful enough for many professional tasks, even though there are some limitations. The learning curve was initially challenging, but once I got comfortable with it, I found it versatile and effective for most tasks. The community and online resources are also very helpful for learning and troubleshooting.

Pros

GIMP is entirely free, with no subscription fees, which makes it accessible to everyone.

Cons

The layout and navigation could be improved to feel more user-friendly. For advanced photo editing, GIMP lacks some high-end tools that Photoshop offers.

Switched from

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

I switched from Windows to Linux-Ubuntu, and when I tried running Adobe Photoshop through Wine, I encountered compatibility issues. GIMP, however, is natively available on both platforms, making it a hassle-free, cross-platform alternative that meets my editing needs without requiring additional setup.

Review Source

BC

Ben C.  
General Manager  
Automotive  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Free, open-source image editing - can't ask for anything more."

March 17, 2025

5.0

Pros

Fantastic, free, high end and advanced open-source photo editing software.

Cons

Can't think of any cons, especially for a free platform.

Switched from

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

Far too expensive for annual licensing. GIMP is a similar interface and completely free.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
IT Specialist  
Marketing and Advertising  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "GIMP - A great Graphic Design Tool"

September 18, 2024

4.0

I use GIMP instead of Photoshop for my everyday Graphic Design work It is a good substitute for Photoshop, mimicking nearly all of its features, but the UI appearance is noticeably poorer. Still, for free and open-source software, this is a respectable fix. Everyday microtasks like resizing, blurring, cropping, managing layers, rotating, scaling, and background erasing can be accomplished with GIMP. - Simple installation - Free and open-source software Comprised nearly all of the necessary Photoshop tools

Pros

It is not expensive. The fact that it is open-source is just another fantastic feature. The money you would have to pay for a subscription is saved. There are many intriguing tools available for image manipulation. Its UI is incredibly interesting to customise. The reason I'm such a big admirer of it is because it updates often and constantly has the newest features, which practically satisfy the needs of any user.

Cons

The learning curve's steepness for novices is the only disadvantage. Certain plugins are incompatible with the most recent version.

Switched from

[Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/)[CorelDRAW](https://www.capterra.com/p/124823/CorelDRAW/)

Since GIMP is open-source and free, it can be used by many people who might not want to pay for a Photoshop subscription. It also boasts a vibrant community that keeps advancing its advancement. The versatility and customisability of GIMP may also be attractive to some. Nevertheless, some people could like Photoshop because of its sophisticated capabilities and more efficient workflow. It truly depends on your preferences and needs!

Review Source

JC

James C.  
Consumer  
Construction  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "GIMP at a glance"

September 2, 2023

5.0

I use GIMP on a daily basis. It comes in very handy since I work with a lot of images. This is a hobby of mine

Pros

I like the thousands of tools and images offered.I like the ease of use The help files and the tutorialThe fact that it is free and a very good competitor to Adobe Photoshop

Cons

The loading time that it takes the program to open. That is the only thing I dislike about GIMP.It is basically a very good program

Switched from

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

The features included with Photoshop and GIMP are almost identical except for one important fact.Adobe Photoshop cost $35.99 on Adobes website compared to GIMP which is free.

Review Source

kA

kokou A.  
Designer  
Animation  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### " GIMP my favorite"

March 16, 2023

5.0

I started using GIMP, when I have a problem downloading photoshop which to download, you are sent to editor pages and after if you do not know how to choose, you end up downloading another thing cabrement. If it happens that you have downloaded, to install it you are asked to connect. I'm a graphic designer, I couldn't wait. A friend offered me inscap, I downloaded and installed it but I can not use it really that's there I started using GIMP, when I have a problem downloading photoshop which to download, you are sent to editor pages and after if you do not know how to choose, you end up downloading another thing cabrement. If it happens that you have downloaded, to install it you are asked to connect. I'm a graphic designer, I couldn't wait. A friend offered me inscap, I downloaded and installed it but I can not use it really that's there I followed a video

Pros

Gimp is one of the best image processing and animation software with the option to adapt according to your project. What I really like about this software is the accessibility of the tools and their use according to the will of the user. But, this software is recommended for the experienced graphic designer.

Cons

One of the most common uses of GIMP is the retouching of photographs with defects: the image can be over- or underexposed, leaning, not in focus

Switched from

[Adobe Lightroom](https://www.capterra.com/p/233631/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom/)

I want Adobe Lightroom to increase my ability in the use of software in terms of editing and editing your images.

Review Source

MAM

Md Amir M.  
Designer  
Design  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Unleash Your Creative Potential with GIMP"

March 28, 2024

5.0

GIMP, or GNU Image Manipulation Program, stands tall as a formidable open-source alternative to premium image editing software. GIMP earns my highest recommendation for anyone seeking a powerful yet accessible image editing software. With its expansive feature set, user-friendly interface, and passionate community, GIMP empowers creators to push boundaries and turn imagination into reality. Embrace the freedom of creativity with GIMP, and unlock endless possibilities for your artistic endeavours.

Pros

As an avid photographer and graphic designer, I've explored various tools over the years, but GIMP consistently impresses me with its robust features and versatility.One of the most striking aspects of GIMP is its extensive toolkit, rivaling even some paid software options. From basic adjustments like cropping and resizing to advanced techniques such as layer masking and non-destructive editing, GIMP offers a comprehensive suite suitable for both amateurs and professionals alike. The ability to extend its functionality through plugins and scripts further enhances its adaptability to diverse creative needs.

Cons

While GIMP offers a wide range of features for image editing and manipulation, it may lack some advanced capabilities found in commercial software. For example, certain advanced retouching tools, content-aware fill, or seamless integration with cloud services may not be as robust or polished in GIMP compared to its commercial counterparts.

Switched from

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

Adobe is a subscription based software unlike GIMP, which is an open source tool.

Review Source

RR

Rebecca R.  
Graphic Designer  
Design  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "I really love it"

January 21, 2025

4.0

I was pleasantly surprised by GIMP. It's a powerful tool with a lot of advanced features, and I love that it's free.

Pros

I really like the range of tools, including things like layer masks and bezier curves. It lets me achieve professional results for my design projects. The interface is customizable, which is helpful.

Cons

It took me a little time to get used to the interface. It's not as intuitive as some other programs, but there are tutorials available.

Review Source

EC

Eboni C.  
Owner  
Internet  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "College life saver"

September 21, 2024

5.0

This has helped me complete many school projects

Pros

How close it was to P. Shop and it was free

Cons

Some learning curve on my behalf with learning layers

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Studio Manager  
Retail  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Fanatics free image editing software"

August 7, 2023

5.0

Very good experience and is a exellent alternative to paid for image editing software

Pros

Extremely easy to use with the user interface being simple to find tools you want to use when editing images.

Cons

Its difficult to find something to dislike about a program which is free, however, the only items which isn't ideal is when working with layers, you have to select the layer you wish to save as the image.

Review Source

Sébastien L.  
Directeur  
Computer Software  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "The Best Free Alternative of the past Decade to Any Commercial Image Editing Software"

April 16, 2019

5.0

The fact that GIMP is freely available on all major operating systems ensures that you can work seamlessly from any computer in the native format provided (XCF) or any other supported format. I have used GIMP many times to edit PDF files, either to add annotations or to conceal confidential information, which is easy to accomplish with a filter such as "Pixelize". For certain programming tasks, it came handy to create paths with the Bezier tool, exporting the information to the SVG format, which can be read with a programming text editor in a breeze. I have also benefited from its great stability, once creating more than a hundred layers on a single image. Since it can handle as many layer groups and layer masks as you wish, it is possible to iterate over one idea over and over again, discarding only specific modifications. There is also a useful "Undo history" tab that takes a visual snapshot of the state of the image at each particular point in time and gives a meaningful name to each step, facilitating the retrieval of a desired state.

Pros

GIMP really has it all: apart from being open source (free) to start with, it supports a plethora of image formats, including animated GIF, PDF, PS, RAW, TIFF and even text (TXT). It features a single-window mode, which is convenient when working with only one monitor, while the multi-window mode is incredibly useful to divide any work being done on two different monitors. It offers many filters and third-party extensions to ease some more tedious aspects of image manipulation. If you are into programming, then you can even take advantage of the exposed libraries, which allow you to programmatically modify images with any tool available in GIMP using Python or Scheme as programming languages. It is also customizable to the core: you can add and remove menus and icons on the fly; you can define the exact resource consumption of the application by specifying details for memory usage and even the number of CPU threads to use; you can have completely distinct configurations for normal mode and full-screen mode; you can create brushes or import from existing creations available online, the same being true with textures; you can configure and add keyboard shortcuts for almost any action you may require to perform and configure many settings to correspond to the default behavior you want in most situations.

Cons

GIMP wasn't made to work with Photoshop images (PSD). It does support them, but the experience isn't as good as with Photoshop. Some types of filters apply many different steps and can't easily be undone, which is sometimes frustrating. Unless you are an expert, the Script-Fu Console is not intuitive at all for newcomers and makes it hard to guess what you can actually do. Some filters and effects won't have a complete description immediately available explaining how the image is expected to be modified. This can be inconvenient when trying out new things, as a few filters take a long time to run and may cause the system to hang for a while depending on how the system allocates priority to the application. On the same subject of filters, it is also hard to guess how long a specific effect may take to render as many filters apply a number of steps in a row, resetting the progress bar at each step. Some filters may also have corner cases to consider, for instance when working on a very large image resolution: when rendering a pattern, it can show signs of incongruence if the image isn't scaled down a bit first.

Review Source

RF

Robert F.  
Freelancer  
Online Media  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "GIMP Rocks My World Everyday, and It Will Do the Same For You, Too!"

February 14, 2022

4.0

I click on the GIMP icon on my laptop taskbar everyday, and that takes about ten seconds for GIMP to be ready to go. I can pop an image in with one Control V, and I am ready to go. Or I can bring up a project with one click. It is super easy to use. And there is some serious functional power under the hood of GIMP. Yes, there is a learning curve, like I've mentioned, but it just is not that big a deal, at least for me...and I am not some super brain, either. Okay, so I give GIMP my Two Thumbs Up Award for what I do. I use it a lot, and if you haven't been using GIMP, load it up and start using it.

Pros

What I like about this software is I can use it on my own laptop and it doesn't require a huge amount of storage space and it is freeware, and I love all the stuff I can do. I keep finding out things I can do that make me one happy image creator. I work a lot with images and so one thing for sure is how I can quickly and efficiently remove backgrounds or grab part of the image that I want to use. GIMP gives me at least five different ways I can do this. I can go on and on about what I can do with GIMP when it comes to taking an image and layering other images, and coming up with some fairly decent and unique designs.

Cons

Hmmm. Well, the there is a learning curve. And, yeah, I'd love it if I could just wave my magic pen and, hey, presto! --- the job was done exactly the way I want. But part of the process of creating images is inside the process of using the tools, and finding new and super cool ways to do something. What I mean is that by getting deep into GIMP and messing about, I have stumbled on some results that have made me some original images that help me get eyes on the prize...you know, converts visitors into return visitors, and into customers.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Digital Merketer  
Computer Software  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Nice Photoshop alternative for basic image editing tasks "

July 6, 2022

3.0

As a digital marketer, I’m using GIMP as an alternative to Photoshop to cover my daily Social Media purposes. Although it is a nice Photoshop alternative that copies almost all of its tools, it is obvious that the user interface has a way weaker design, but for an open-source free software, it offers a decent solution. GIMP is suitable for daily micro-tasks such as resizing, blurring, cropping, layers management, rotating, scaling, and background erasing. More complex tasks such as object selection, cloning, shrinking/growing area, etc. may need more effort. Judging by my overall experience these are the (+) and (-). Pros - Easy installation - Open-source/free software - Includes almost all the essential Photoshop tools Cons - Outdated UI - Some tools (shrink, selection) are way more complex and time-consuming - Sometimes the exported result is not of the requested quality(maybe that depends on the user’s skills level) - Absence of Shapes tool which is helpful in Photoshop My comments are about version GIMP 2.10.32. Concluding, I would totally recommend GIMP as a Photoshop alternative for simple daily image editing tasks, but I’m not sure if that’s the right tool for professionals.

Pros

\- Easy installation - Open-source/free software - Includes almost all the essential Photoshop tools

Cons

\- Outdated UI - Some tools (shrink, selection) are way more complex and time-consuming - Sometimes the exported result is not of the requested quality(maybe that depends on the user’s skills level) - Absence of Shapes tool which is helpful in Photoshop

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Social Media Manager  
Design  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Free Photo-shop Alternative "

February 7, 2019

5.0

In conclusion, when using Gimp you will learn how to create fantastic site graphics and compelling WEB to graphics. Gimp educational online videos are the best way to learn how to use Gimp.

Pros

GIMP is also known as the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a great photo editing program that is stress-free to use. It has a lot of things to do with unlimited options on what to do for a picture to make it look cool. The wonderful thing is, it's free! Advantages, As you can expect, GNU Image Manipulation is used to edit images. This program makes photo editing very enjoyable and easy. Sure, there are essential things you should learn before you become an expert, but when you learn these first tips for beginners, you start with the start of stunning photo editing plans. Unlike photo editing, the GNU image manipulation program can also create small videos and animations. Despite the difficulty of creating these images, they are still fascinating and really fun. GNU Image Manipulation is one of the best images editing software available. All you have to do is go to the GIMP site and download it for free. Gimp is always available and updates are often shown with fun things to do and discover them in the program. Another great thing about GNU Image Manipulation is that you can add new things to the program. Unlike waiting for an updated date, you can go ahead and download some plug-ins from their site right away! Also, you can add different fonts and different brushes to the program to make your photo stand out.

Cons

GIMP has limited 8-bit depth, making it an unexpected choice for professional use in the first place. Gimp has disadvantages when compared to Photoshop in trivial issues the fact that it lacks the advantage of color management and does not provide control layers.

Review Source

Carlos C.  
Lecturer  
Research  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "The image editing software that almost everyone should be using (instead of Photoshop)"

August 22, 2019

5.0

Whereas some people consider GIMP as a toy software, or a cheap (free) Photoshop replacement, it is not. Instead, GIMP has proven to be a capable, professional software that does not want to be a mere Photoshop clone. On the contrary, they do have their own roadmap, own shortcuts and their own user interface, and even some successful plugins and features of its own (such as resynthesizer) have been later integrated in Photoshop. Whereas some consider it as being difficult to learn or not user-friendly, it is in fact a proof that it follows its own path to success. While I admit that from time to time I do miss some of Photoshop features, like non-destructive operations or basic vector operations, I am confident that GIMP fits in the great majority user cases without compromising final results.

Pros

I have been using GIMP for many years for my image editing projects (both, pet projects and professional projects) and I have come to realize that it features such an enormous variety of toolboxes, filters, options... that allow any type of image editing, even really complex ones, with impeccable results. Consequently, there is no need to switch to other software like Photoshop or the like. Not to mention that it is a multi-plattform Free/Libre OpenSource Software. Some features I like the most of GIMP - Multi-plattform: available for Linux, Windows, Mac, portable... - FLOSS - Customizable user interface - Selection and manipulation tools (like Unified Transform tool) - Real-time edition - Professional results Additionally, recently GIMP has seen a major improvement on user interface that makes it even easier (and appealing) to use.

Cons

\- Small development team with small budget: as a result development happens at a slow pace, even though developers do have great ideas and roadmap. - Lacks non-destructive filters/effects like in Photoshop - Lacks some vector operations (only works with bitmaps) - While there is plenty of documentation and tutorials, most image editing tutorials and manuals are addressed to Photoshop only, and whereas in most cases the same techniques can be reproduced/adapted, it requires extra effort that some users do not want to make. - The fact that it is not so broadly used as Photoshop may be a problem if collaborating with others, even though GIMP opens and saves Photoshop's native file format (although, admittedly, some filters/effects may be lost).

Review Source

Nimanthi R.  
Graphic Designing  
Computer & Network Security  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "open-source image editing platform"

April 26, 2019

5.0

Generally, GIMP is an excellent alternative open-source editing platform for professionals. It's free availability on all operating systems enable users to work seamlessly.

Pros

I have been using GIMP for a few years now. Earlier on, my experience with this software was not quite right. Now that I am more advanced in graphics and photo edits, I have come to appreciate this open open-source image editing platform. Believe me, when I say this software is excellent, it is because the results are impeccable. GIMP has it all! Its excellent array of features are so good that they can rival adobe photoshop capabilities. These features allow you to tune photos, images and create an artwork of your own. As a graphic designer, you will be able to seamlessly crop images, make colour adjustments, customises brushes and adjust gradients among others editing. Here are some of the advantages of using Gimp over other image editing software. 1.It has incredible, and quality features making it the best among open -source programs 2.Single-window mode operation which is great for single pc operation. 3.GIMP is 100% free. 4.It supports plenty of image formats such as GIF and PDF. Additionally, GIMP is customizable such that you can add and remove menus or icons on the fly. 5.It is easily extensible to ease image manipulation with the third party. 6.Last but not least, GIMP works efficiently on all major operating systems. Whether you choose Linux or windows, results are always impeccable.

Cons

the script-fu is not user-friendly. GIMP lacks intuition on new users and can make their experience pretty cumbersome. Some filters and effects don't explain or guide how the image should be modified. It would be awesome if it would support PSD photoshop images. It does not open some files such a JPEG.

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