# Page 7 | GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra

> Page 7 - Is GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) the right Graphic Design solution for you? Explore 3492 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 (3492)

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

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Last updated March 13th, 2026

# Page 7 - Reviews of GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

## Showing most helpful reviews

Showing 151-175 of 3492 Reviews

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Rating

Company Size

Reviewer's Role

Length of Use

Frequency of Use

VS

Vij S.  
Digital Marketing  
Entertainment  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "Most underrated Image Manipulation software! Must try."

March 14, 2023

5.0

I really liked it. I was previously using other major titled image editors, but after switching to this I feel it more reliable and powerful software which has the capability of creating whatever your thoughts wish for.

Pros

The vast variety of features it offers within the software. And the easy of learning curve. I like the overall experience i get while editing images.

Cons

It's better to implement a tutorial like stuff for beginners. It would help new comers to get grasp on what and how software works.

Switched from

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

It was more expensive, tho there are some tools missing which was necessary for me. So I came across this and now I'm doing great with GIMP

Review Source

NK

Nazia K.  
Freelancer  
Financial Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "GIMP review:"

July 15, 2022

4.0

I am putting together all of my experience about GIMP that will work best for usees based on the kind of work or personal projects they are doing. This is Open Source Software (FOSS) options that can replaced with expensive premium or subscription programs. It is excellent tool for image manipulation. JPEG, PNG, GIF, etc., and allows the export of images. But, the default image format of the GIMP is ".CXF". GIMP also have massive support of third-party plug-ins.

Pros

1\. It is ideal solution for small business startups. 2. Great software for freelancers with limited resources of graphic illustrations. 3. Startup guide is very easy to understand. 4. No steup fee, open source and free version also available.

Cons

1\. It requires skills and proper guideline to use this software. 2. It is a bit lagy. 3. Limited access of tools and resources.

Review Source

WB

Willie B.  
owner  
Food & Beverages  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "I'll take GIMP over PhotoShop any day, if time is very important to you."

March 27, 2022

5.0

The biggest business problem that was solved with GIMP? I now don't have to pay for an art designer, or someone to make promotional materials for me.

Pros

Speed, and ease of use. Yes, it has a little learning curve, but not that bad.

Cons

Only has very few limits. I can deal with those easily.

Switched from

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

Speed, and ease of use.

Review Source

SM

Sayed M.  
http://www.profitnet.tk/  
Marketing and Advertising  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "The tool has been proven to be a very powerful tool in photo editing and drawing"

October 25, 2018

4.0

Pros

GIMP This program is the oldest and most famous program for processing graphics and images is available on the systems of UNIX and GNU / Linux. It has been proven very quickly, very powerful program in the design of digital images and digital features and easy to deal with the tools within the program with beginners or professionals and is characterized as cheap compared to other expensive design programs is a free program main use and improve the appearance of images as well as re-scaled and cut and Adjusting colors, grouping images with each other, removing unwanted objects, and converting between different image formats as well as drawing logos. It can also create GIF animations Jump works on several platforms: most of the platforms of UNIX and its children such as GNU Linux, Macintosh among them, in addition to Microsoft Windows. It is characteristic  The program is light and small size does not exceed 16 MB. Free and free, and you do not have to pay too much to use, you can download and use it for free.  Supports Arabic by default and does not need a special version to support Arabic. Places of coloring  A complete set of painting tools.  Anti-Aliasing (Sub-pixel sampling) technology is available for all tools.  Generating gradients with great magnificence.  Add custom brushes, gradients and patterns. Technical features  Advanced memory management (tile based memory management, sic) makes image size limited only to free space on the hard drive.  Unlimited number of images

Cons

Slower in performance but very acceptable   It does not support 16-bit accuracy and this is my opinion the flaw is the good news that this defect will be resolved in the next version according to some sites. Some specifications need to be installed and not the basis of the program It does not contain a photo organizer program like Bridge It does not contain a RAW adapter and this is not necessary because most cameras come with RAW format converter. You will also find a free alternative to RAW format conversion It does not open some file types such as JPEG-2000

Review Source

Rodrigo A V.  
Graphic designer  
Arts and Crafts  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Free and open source editing software at photoshop level"

January 13, 2023

5.0

The commercial value of photo editing tools makes it high and it is not always available in work teams, although it is not of constant use, it fulfills perfectly the function of photo editor.

Pros

Gimp is a free photo editor, free and free, with tools comparable to those of photoshop, although with some limitations, but it fulfills the purpose to perfection, It allows you to open and edit PSD files and other formats, occupies few memory and processor resources, which makes it optimal for computers with low hardware capacity and is available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Cons

The cons of Gimp are few, it does not have support although it has created a community that fulfills that function, the functions are limited compared to photoshop, it does not have support for CMYK image.

Switched from

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

I use Gimp as an additional resource when it is not possible for me to have equipment (computer) with other editing tools.

Review Source

Anne C.  
Owner  
Apparel & Fashion  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Powerful Photo-Editing Program to Satisfy Advanced Needs"

September 5, 2018

4.0

I've been using Gimp for years for advanced photo editing. I use other programs for simple editing, but when I need more detailed and/or targeted editing, Gimp is great. You can create PNG images with transparent backgrounds; delete and replace backgrounds; selectively edit colors; use a multitude of special effects; etc. You can orient a text box to match the orientation of an item you're adding text to (which my simpler programs don't do). I find Gimp to be as powerful and easier than PhotoShop. I don't work in layers, so can't speak to the ease, or lack thereof, of doing that. Advanced functions aren't intuitive; looking up how to do things is a must. Also, Gimp can be glitchy. In particular, I've found the clone tool to be very good, but even when accessed properly, it sometimes doesn't work. This seems to be a common complaint. Sometimes the problem is that you're not in the right layer. But even in a single-layer image, I often have trouble, especially in the new version, v. 2.10.4. But there are also some improvements in this upgrade. I'm not a professional designer, so my knowledge and ability are limited. However, I've recommended the program to many people, and an advanced PhotoShop user recently told me he thinks Gimp is just as good. Overall, for me, Gimp is a perfect solution when my basic photo-editing programs won't do the trick. I highly recommend it.

Pros

It's free and is an outstanding alternative to PhotoShop, with all the functions most people, including professional graphic designers, will need.

Cons

Some functions can be glitchy, and even accessing the help function doesn't always help. But there are a multitude of online resources to help.

Review Source

Michael G.  
Game Developer  
Entertainment  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Good for Programmer Art, Somewhat Confusing"

November 16, 2023

3.0

GIMP is my go-to drawing program for quick placeholder art, at least when I can't afford Adobe Animate. It's not easy to generate sprite sheets or animations (there's no timeline -- you need plugins or many, many layers), but it's good for individual sprites or sequences that contain no more than a few frames. Drawing line is weird -- you have to hold down shift between brush or pen clicks. Rotating sprites can sometimes pixelate them. Changing the canvas size often involves wondering why your sprites are disappearing when moving them out of bounds, then doing some complicated layer manipulation and flattening to get everything working the way it should. The bottom line is that a user should be able to resize a canvas and have everything work seamlessly right away. Still, as free art programs and cheap special effects go, I depend on it quite a bit. I recommend it if you can't afford something better, like Animate or Photoshop.

Pros

\-Free -Makes easy programmer art -Layers are easy to manipulate and understand -Interesting and nice looking artistic filters

Cons

\-Drawing Tools are somewhat counterintuitive, especially lines and pens -No apparent Vector capabilities -Not easy to generate sprite sheets -Resizing canvases can have awkward side effects

Review Source

HTF

Henrique Thomas F.  
Architect  
Architecture & Planning  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Gimp way of life"

June 6, 2022

5.0

First of all is the performance. The second: It is free. Photoshop is too expensive and Gimp is capable to enable the same image edition with no cost.

Pros

The performance and the usability. I can easily edit images and export using shortcuts. The new version of Gimp is more friendly to manipulate the tool windows and the Icons in the menu, make easy to understand the functions.

Cons

The export option is confusing when you try to search for the extention you want. The first time I took several minutes to find it and I had to search on the internet to discover how to do it.

Reason for choosing GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Easy to manipulatem good performance and the cost is free.

Review Source

AB

Andrés B.  
Estudiante  
Higher Education  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Gimp vs Photoshop "

October 31, 2022

4.0

Es muy buena aunque le falta mucho para alcanzar a sus competidores de licencias privativas por otro lado no posee software asociado para vectores o edición de imágenes, como si lo poseen otros programas.

Pros

Primeramente que es gratis y un Software libre, el cual nos permite cambiar un número sin fin de nuevos recursos.Segundo la facilidad de uso y adaptación a funciones profesionales.

Cons

Muchas veces es engorroso algunos manejos, cómo por ejemplo al guardar la imagen en algún formato conocido debiendo guardarla en su formato nativo .xcf para luego exportarla al formato que deseemos.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Responsabile Spedizioni  
Import and Export  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Il miglior programma free per editare immagini"

August 6, 2023

4.0

Pros

Ha una facilità e una comodità d'uso che altri programmi free si scordano, inoltre possiede molti filtri e funzioni similari ai più noti e costosi programmi di photo editing. E' tutto veramente intuitivo, si naviga benissimo nei menu e sottomenù senza perdersi mai e riuscendo ad editare tutto quasi sempre alla perfezione.

Cons

Probabilmente i filtri sono scarsi o comunque base rispetto ad altri programmi , ma comunque si riescono a ottenere ottimi lavori

Switched from

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

Gimp è totalmente free e per l'utilizzo base che ne faccio io è ugualmente ottimo: riesco ad ottenere le medesime cose con una qualità pressoché simile.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Teacher  
E-Learning  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Better to have GIMP"

February 22, 2022

4.0

Before I got experience, I used to work with GIMP like I was playing games cause I didn't have any intention in using the software

Pros

Color tool in of greater importance to me as it help me color my picture which I consider as my world

Cons

Grid is the feature that always put interest in me and I could even miss using this feature

Alternatives considered

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

Reason for choosing GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

It is the software that I always think of while thinking about image manipulation software

Review Source

Chris R.  
Freelance consultant  
Entertainment  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "It's fine, if you have a lot of time to figure it out on your own"

December 23, 2021

3.0

I have reviewed GIMP multiple times as an alternative to using Photoshop, but every time I try to make it work for me, I'm let frustrated and struggling with even basic tasks. It just feels years behind and seems like more of an upgrade to Microsoft Paint than a crossgrade from Photoshop.

Pros

In my opinion and experience, the only pro of GIMP is that it is a free product.

Cons

Everything. I genuinely dislike working in GIMP. It's not an attractive software, it isn't intuitive, on my brand new M1 Pro MBP, it feels a bit sluggish at times even doing basic tasks.

Alternatives considered

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

Reason for choosing GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

I did not end up choosing GIMP.

Review Source

AA

Asanka A.  
Technical Consultant  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Image editing doesn't have to be expensive - but it comes with few caveats."

July 7, 2022

5.0

Kind of steep learning curve and takes getting used to - specially if you are already used to some commercial solutions. But, once the initial learning is done it can be intuitive on it's own way. It's also feature rich and supports plug-ins, which can be used to extend it's functionality.

Pros

It's free and open source. It's also very regularly updated, and is as feature rich as some very expensive counterparts.

Cons

Support - you'd have to depend on some community resources as well as wait for issues to be fixed by community (you can always take the code and make the fixes yourself - but very few people actually can do that kind of work)

Reason for choosing GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

It was free to use and had features that we looked for.

Switched from

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

Adobe suite of software got prohibitively expensive with subscription model for how little of the feature set we used on it.

Review Source

CM

Cindy M.  
Content Creator  
Marketing and Advertising  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "GIMP Gets the Job Done- For Free"

January 23, 2024

3.0

Overall GIMP is an excellent program. Especially since it's free to use.

Pros

Gimp is a very well made FREE alternative to Photo Shop. I downloaded it to use while I was taking a Photo Shop course, and have used it ever since.

Cons

I really wish the had a CMYK colour option. I'm not good with plug ins and extras. I have to use a different program when I'm creating for print rather than online.

Review Source

GD

Gideon D.  
Influencer  
Fine Art  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "The evolution of GIMP"

August 24, 2022

5.0

Am a model and a photographer so it's helping me in so many way most especially for editing commissioned images.

Pros

I like almost all the features but especially the particular feature that makes image more sharper because it's help me with good quality images for my Instagram post.

Cons

it is slightly different from other softwares which might want to be frustrating for a newbie.

Switched from

[Canvas](https://www.capterra.com/p/127214/CANVAS/)

it's not as user friendly compared to GIMP.

Review Source

Jamie C.  
Salesforce Developer + Admin  
Computer Software  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "My Inexpensive Go-To in a Pinch"

October 23, 2022

5.0

My team needed an inexpensive way to create graphics and icons for our website when we were just setting up. We didn't have Photoshop type of money at the time, so after some research, we found that GIMP's reputation matched what we were hoping for. We were not disappointed, quickly realizing the powerful punch the little program packed. It's since been used in our organized to produce quick and easy quality content.

Pros

I love how inexpensive and easy GIMP is to use. At first glance, it looks simple and it's easy to underestimate, but given the right tutorials, it becomes the easiest way my team has found to quickly make icons and simple graphics. It has all the tools needed, especially when you know what you're doing, to produce an online identity.

Cons

There could certainly be more features, but for the price point, it makes sense why there aren't.

Alternatives considered

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

Reason for choosing GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

We wanted something that could accomplish what we were hoping for without the expense of programs like Photoshop.

Review Source

AD

Alessandro D.  
Student  
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Free, open source, useful Image editor"

January 28, 2022

4.0

I use this software daily in order to make, presentations, to write a lot of my notes or simply because I want a new background for my PC. Once you become familiar with it it's useful and, you can basically run it on any PC.

Pros

This is a FREE software which you can use to crop, edit (colour, add shapes, rescale, tilt, mirror, add layers on, draw on, put on perspective, blur, alpha filter, add lights and so much more). You can save you images in either .xcf, which is the native GIMP format, so you can edit the file later on, or export it in a ton of different formats: png, jpg, gif, pgm, pmb, psd, pdf, tip, bmp, xpm and many more. The fact that it's free and can run on Linux, Mac OS and Windows is definitely a pro, since it means that you can use it on any PC, be it at work, at home or literally anywhere... oh, and there's a portable version too, so you don't even have to install it (for instance on the PC at work).

Cons

In the beginning it could be a little difficult to understand some things and personally I had to figure out how to hide the two default panels with the most useful commands, when they cover the image you have to edit. Anyway it's not really too big a deal, since on the net you can always find a lot of forums and/or videos with useful tips and commands.

Review Source

TR

Taara R.  
Owner  
Computer Games  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "GIMP: The Photo Editor and Drawing Program for Everyone"

September 14, 2023

4.0

I tried GIMP many, many moons ago, and did not like it at all. However, I downloaded it again about 2 years ago, and it had changed and improved so much, I thought I would give it another whirl. I am glad I did. I use it mainly for image editing, and it is my one and only go-to image editor now. Once you start learning all of the options, it is a very powerful tool, and the developers have made an amazingly useful program that has stayed open-source which I support 100%.

Pros

The thing I like most about GIMP is that it has about a zillion and one features that can be implemented. It is a complete replacement for Photoshop for a budget business, and can even be used for almost all image needs if you were to just use one program. GIMP is also open-source which I fully support, and free, but it is so useful, you will want to donate!

Cons

The thing I like most is also the thing I like least... it has a zillion and one options! If you have ever used Blender, it kind of reminds me of the same sort of interface. It can be easy to get lost in all the options, windows, and docks if you aren't a daily user.

Review Source

lD

ludovic D.  
freelancers  
Computer & Network Security  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "the gimp's impact on designer's beginners."

January 17, 2022

5.0

I use gimp especially for design picture, background design for website, logo design, template, design for events and for e-commerce product .

Pros

It is not expensive. There is an free version for everybody. the design is built in a very simple way, easy to use for everybody. it is very suitable for beginner in design. The handling, the choice of colors and pucks, the margins, the use of brushes and tables are very easy and suitable to each job. I like the fact that is very easy to find tutorial everwhere and a support by gimp team's is very good and quick.

Cons

In the latest version of gimp, we classified the tools by group, and for an unaccustomed user, it becomes difficult to find the tools necessary for a job and it slows down the working time.

Alternatives considered

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

Review Source

Christian N.  
Owner/Instructor  
  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "I've used GIMP for years, and have found it perfect for creating graphics for websites and logos"

April 10, 2018

5.0

Pros

As a technologically inclined creative person, this software is amazing. There is ample support in the way of forums and videos on the internet to get most anyone up and running with GIMP fairly shortly. My favorite elements of GIMP are its robust image layering abilities. While it might lack some of the glitz and glamor of Adobe's Photoshop, it is able to completely keep up with the functionality - at least on a basic level. I've found GIMP completely able to meet and exceed my logo deign, web graphics, and photo editing needs. While professional photographers might want Adobe's subscription products, GIMPs download-and-use platform is a fantastic discovery for those who want robust image editing for free, and are willing to put the leg work into the small learning curve.

Cons

The things I like least involve minor User Interface elements that I keep accidentally running into. The only example that really sticks out is I accidentally keep undocking some controls, and almost never remember how to redock them. It happens very infrequently, so I'm often in the position of researching how to redock them before I get back to work. It's honestly the only thing I can think of that would be a con for this software, and even then, that's in the user-error category.

Review Source

Bhavik J.  
Developer  
Financial Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "A Great Open Source Image Editor for Graphic Needs of your Organization"

October 8, 2019

4.0

My overall experience with GIMP is very satisfactory. Most of the times, the feature set is complete for intermediate graphic needs, but in some advanced cases, lack of features become visible. Also, as being open source, some of the latest versions can include some minor bugs.

Pros

The thing I like the most about GIMP is that it is free and open source. It has all the features you could ask in an image editor and supports most of the image/graphic formats. Also, it is also regularly updated and always vulnerability free. One of the best thing about GIMP is that it supports most of platforms and works well on all of them.

Cons

The thing I like the least about GIMP is that it does not support 16 bit colours. Also, new feature development is slow as it is an open source product. Searching for GIMP plugins is also a hassle.

Reason for choosing GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

GIMP being open source played a key role in selecting GIMP over others. Also, it includes a full feature set including most of the required features.

Review Source

Steve K.  
Director  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Free software, maybe not as easy to use as others"

February 15, 2022

5.0

Just being able to manipulate images and convert between formats or enhance the image or maybe make the background transparent.

Pros

It's got a lot of features and can be extended with plugins, it's also cross platform so can be used on macOS, Windows and Linux. Can handle most common image formats and export others. However if it can't be done within GIMP it probably can't be done.

Cons

Can be a steeper learning curve than other programs and can be complex to use some of the more esoteric features.

Alternatives considered

[Affinity Photo](https://www.capterra.com/p/228748/Affinity-Photo/)[Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/)

Reason for choosing GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

It's free so why not, updated regularly and works on all platforms

Review Source

Jennie P.  
Artist/Author  
Publishing  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "GIMP vs Photoshop"

September 29, 2020

4.0

Overall, GIMP is a good, strong program for doing anything requiring digital manipulation/design of any sort. If you can't afford Photoshop, then it's definitely going to be your best alternative. There will be a learning curve, but it's definitely something any designer/artist should have in their programs list.

Pros

Gimp is a free, open source software. So for that, it gets bonus points. It has a similar layout as Photoshop, except most things are reversed. Example: brushes are on the left in Photoshop, in GIMP they are on the right. You have a few filter options in GIMP that you don't have in Photoshop, but Photoshop also has filters that GIMP doesn't have. You have all the abilities as Photoshop (though I can't say if you can use photoshop actions in GIMP, because I haven't tried it). If you are familiar with Photoshop, even the older versions, using GIMP only takes a little adjusting (most of that is figuring out the new layout). You have all the abilities to do multiple layers, filters, image adjustments, and more. The fonts import the same. If you can't afford any version of Photoshop, GIMP is definitely going to become your best friend for digital art/design, photography, and anything else that requires heavy graphic manipulations.

Cons

Because I've used Photoshop more extensively, the layout is what throws me every time I open it. That said, there are filters that Photoshop has that GIMP doesn't. The cons are there, but for a free software that offers most of what Photoshop can do, those cons can be ignored.

Review Source

AA

Avery A.  
Worship Leader  
Religious Institutions  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "GIMP is a great program for beginners and professionals alike"

November 9, 2021

5.0

Using GIMP has been one of the best decisions in my life. I started off learning how to color images, and that led to actually creating graphic art, logos, fliers, and other project types that I would have never dreamed of doing. It has opened up financial avenues for me, and I am constantly learning new things as I use it more.

Pros

GIMP was the first program I used for image manipulation software. I didn't have money for Photoshop back before they started subscription programs, so GIMP was the only choice I had. It's great for beginners to start off, and it has features that can help you grow into a better artist for whatever project you are looking to do. Adding brushes from the GIMP resources throughout the internet archive helped my simple ideas thrive into finished products.

Cons

Some add-on features that I used on my old version suddenly never worked the same on the newer versions over the years. That did a number on my projects, and I had to find another solution for it.

Review Source

ET

Eddie T.  
CEO and designer  
Graphic Design  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Best GNU program"

January 25, 2024

5.0

Pros

As an avid designer, GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) has been an essential tool in my creative arsenal. The software's extensive range of advanced editing features, including layers, filters, and customizable brushes, allows me to bring my creative vision to life. The intuitive user interface ensures a smooth and seamless editing experience, while the active open-source community is a great source of inspiration and support. With GIMP, I can confidently create professional-quality designs and artwork without breaking the bank.

Cons

Miss some features but for the price its awesome

Review Source

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