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Your comparison workspace.
Put two or three tools from the same category side by side.
There is a researched guide for these apps. Read GIMP vs Photoshop: choose by files and workflow.
An open-source desktop image workspace
Detailed image editing and layered composites
Prices & plans
Published prices keep their original currency and billing terms. Taxes, promotions and checkout prices can differ.
Adobe Photoshop
Mobile entry plan
Free
Free mobile app with optional premium features
AvailabilityApp availability varies by region
This does not include perpetual free desktop Photoshop.
SourcePhotoshop — annual billed monthly
USD 22.99/month
Annual subscription billed monthly
AvailabilityUnited States
Includes desktop, web and mobile plus Express Premium. This is not a cancel-any-month plan.
SourcePhotoshop — annual prepaid
USD 263.88/year
Annual subscription paid upfront
AvailabilityUnited States
Official FAQ annual price; 100 GB cloud storage.
SourcePhotography — annual billed monthly
USD 19.99/month
Annual subscription billed monthly
AvailabilityUnited States
Includes Photoshop and Lightroom; 1 TB shown in the comparison.
SourceFeatures and limits
14 features
Row headings group related topics. Each answer keeps its specific scope. An unverified answer means we do not have enough evidence.
Platforms
Offline use
GIMP
Local files
The desktop workflow opens local images and saves working documents as XCF.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Offline use
Installed apps can work offline after activation; periodic licensing checks and plan-dependent grace periods apply.
Vendor documentedSource
Export
GIMP
Working format
Save preserves the GIMP project as XCF; Export produces delivery formats. XCF does not preserve undo history.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Save choices
Save locally or to Creative Cloud. Save a Copy can produce flattened JPEG or PNG while preserving the working document.
Vendor documentedSource
Project portability
GIMP
Interchange
Other formats preserve only some project properties, so an exported image is not a full XCF replacement.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Editable objects
Embedded Smart Objects preserve source information; PSD, TIFF or PSB can retain layers while JPEG flattens them.
Vendor documentedSource
Free plan limits
GIMP
Free application
GIMP is free and open source without a paid editing tier.
Vendor documentedSource
Use for paid work
GIMP
Use for paid work
The project FAQ permits commercial work without restrictions on the kind of work produced.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Not yet verified for this product.
Nondestructive changes
GIMP
Current nondestructive tools
GIMP 3.2 adds link and vector layers and expands nondestructive filter workflows.
Vendor documentedSource
Camera RAW
GIMP
Camera RAW
The project documents darktable and RawTherapee integration for RAW processing.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Not yet verified for this product.
CMYK scope
GIMP
CMYK scope
The FAQ describes CMYK import/export through RGB storage and soft proofing rather than a native CMYK editing mode.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Not yet verified for this product.
Current release
GIMP
Current release
The download page lists GIMP 3.2.6. Older 2.x comparisons do not describe the current feature set.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Not yet verified for this product.
Collaboration
GIMP
Not yet verified for this product.
AI features
GIMP
Not yet verified for this product.
Adobe Photoshop
AI entitlement
The Photoshop single-app offer lists 25 monthly generative credits. Larger bundles have different allowances.
Vendor documentedSource
Local or cloud
GIMP
Not yet verified for this product.
Adobe Photoshop
Local or cloud
The default save location can be set to the computer or Creative Cloud.
Vendor documentedSource
AI Assistant availability
GIMP
Not yet verified for this product.
Adobe Photoshop
AI Assistant availability
The current mobile page places AI Assistant beta on web and mobile and explicitly excludes desktop.
Vendor documentedSource
| Feature | GIMP | Adobe Photoshop |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Devices Official downloads cover GNU/Linux, Windows and macOS. Vendor documentedSource | Devices Desktop on Windows and macOS with separate web, phone and iPad experiences. |
| Offline use | Local files The desktop workflow opens local images and saves working documents as XCF. Vendor documentedSource | Offline use Installed apps can work offline after activation; periodic licensing checks and plan-dependent grace periods apply. Vendor documentedSource |
| Export | Working format Save preserves the GIMP project as XCF; Export produces delivery formats. XCF does not preserve undo history. Vendor documentedSource | Save choices Save locally or to Creative Cloud. Save a Copy can produce flattened JPEG or PNG while preserving the working document. Vendor documentedSource |
| Project portability | Interchange Other formats preserve only some project properties, so an exported image is not a full XCF replacement. Vendor documentedSource | Editable objects Embedded Smart Objects preserve source information; PSD, TIFF or PSB can retain layers while JPEG flattens them. Vendor documentedSource |
| Free plan limits | Free application GIMP is free and open source without a paid editing tier. Vendor documentedSource | Free scope Free mobile and iPad apps have optional premium features. Desktop pricing offers a seven-day trial rather than an ongoing free desktop plan. |
| Use for paid work | Use for paid work The project FAQ permits commercial work without restrictions on the kind of work produced. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| Nondestructive changes | Current nondestructive tools GIMP 3.2 adds link and vector layers and expands nondestructive filter workflows. Vendor documentedSource | Nondestructive changes Adjustment layers, masks and Smart Objects support revisable image workflows. |
| Camera RAW | Camera RAW The project documents darktable and RawTherapee integration for RAW processing. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| CMYK scope | CMYK scope The FAQ describes CMYK import/export through RGB storage and soft proofing rather than a native CMYK editing mode. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| Current release | Current release The download page lists GIMP 3.2.6. Older 2.x comparisons do not describe the current feature set. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| Collaboration | Not yet verified for this product. | Review and editing Share for review supports browser comments. Invite to Edit lets collaborators edit a cloud document one at a time; Photoshop warns when someone else is editing. |
| AI features | Not yet verified for this product. | AI entitlement The Photoshop single-app offer lists 25 monthly generative credits. Larger bundles have different allowances. Vendor documentedSource |
| Local or cloud | Not yet verified for this product. | Local or cloud The default save location can be set to the computer or Creative Cloud. Vendor documentedSource |
| AI Assistant availability | Not yet verified for this product. | AI Assistant availability The current mobile page places AI Assistant beta on web and mobile and explicitly excludes desktop. Vendor documentedSource |
This workspace aligns existing research. It does not declare a winner or treat missing evidence as a missing feature. Read the methodology.