Photoshop vs GIMP: Paid Power or Free Open Source?

Pick Photoshop if you edit photos for work, want AI tools like Generative Fill, or need files that open cleanly for clients who also use Adobe. Pick GIMP if you want a capable image editor that costs nothing, is open source and runs on Linux as well as Windows and macOS.

The gap between them is mostly money and polish. Photoshop is a subscription with desktop, web and mobile apps. GIMP is a free download, and its 3.x releases added non-destructive filters and better Photoshop file support.

Photoshop vs GIMP at a glance

Which is cheaper, Photoshop or GIMP?

GIMP, because it is free. GIMP calls itself "The Free & Open Source Image Editor," and you can change its source code and share your changes.

Photoshop is sold by subscription. The single-app Photoshop plan is US$22.99 a month on an annual plan billed monthly, or US$263.88 a year if you pay up front. It includes Photoshop on desktop, web and mobile, the Adobe Express Premium plan, 100GB of cloud storage and 25 generative credits a month. A 7-day free trial converts to a paid plan unless you cancel.

If you mostly edit photos, Adobe's Photography plan is US$19.99 a month (annual, billed monthly) and includes Lightroom, Lightroom Classic and Photoshop on desktop and mobile, with 1TB of storage. That is cheaper than the single-app plan and has more storage.

Is GIMP as good as Photoshop?

For many everyday edits, yes. For professional and AI-heavy work, Photoshop is ahead.

GIMP 3.0 closed several old gaps. Its release notes list non-destructive filters you can edit or remove later, selecting and working on multiple layers at once, wider color space support beyond sRGB, and importing and exporting PSD files. It can also import and export CMYK JPEG, TIFF, PSD and JPEG XL files, which matters for print.

Photoshop's lead is in its AI and its ecosystem. Generative Fill and Generative Expand add, extend or remove content using Adobe Firefly, and new adjustment layers such as Clarity and Dehaze work non-destructively in the Layers panel. If your clients, printers or team send you Photoshop files, staying in Photoshop avoids conversion surprises.

What we checked ourselves

On 6 November 2026, GIMP's download page listed version 3.2.8, released on 2 November 2026, for Windows, macOS and Linux. The same page warns that the GIMP team "does not provide any package on Apple's App Store at the moment," so any GIMP listing you find on the Mac App Store comes from a third party. Download it from gimp.org instead.

Which runs on more devices?

It depends on what you count. GIMP covers all three desktop systems: Linux (AppImage, Flatpak on Flathub and the Snap Store), macOS 11 Big Sur or newer on Intel and Apple Silicon, and Windows 10 version 1903 or newer, including Arm PCs. It is also on the Microsoft Store for Windows 11.

Photoshop has no Linux version, but it reaches further in other directions. Adobe lists Photoshop on desktop, web and mobile, and the desktop app needs Windows 10 or 11, or one of the three latest macOS releases. There is a free mobile version with premium features that need a subscription. There is no free web version: editing your own photos on the web needs a plan or the trial.

Comparing more options? Our guide to Adobe Photoshop alternatives covers other editors, free and paid.

Which is easier to use?

Photoshop has the edge for beginners, mainly because of how much help surrounds it: guided tutorials on the web, and AI tools that turn some multi-step edits into a single prompt.

GIMP's interface works differently from Photoshop's, so people switching over need time to relearn where things are. Version 3.0 moved the interface to a newer toolkit (GTK3) and runs natively on Wayland on Linux, but expect to lean on tutorials at first.

Which should you choose?

• You edit photos professionally or for clients: Photoshop.
• You want AI fill, expand and remove tools: Photoshop.
• You mainly edit your own photos: Adobe's Photography plan, or GIMP if you do not want a subscription.
• You want a free editor with no account: GIMP.
• You use Linux: GIMP.
• You value open source software: GIMP.
• You need to edit on a phone: Photoshop's mobile app.

FAQ

Is GIMP really free?

Yes. GIMP is free and open source software, with no paid tier. Download it from gimp.org rather than from third-party app store listings.

Can GIMP open Photoshop files?

Yes. GIMP 3.0 can import and export PSD files, including CMYK PSDs. Very complex files that rely on Photoshop-only features may not look identical.

Is there a free version of Photoshop?

There is a free mobile app with paid premium features and a 7-day free trial of the full plan. Adobe says there is no free version of Photoshop on the web.

Does Photoshop run on Linux?

No. Photoshop's desktop app runs on Windows and macOS. On Linux, GIMP is the main free choice.