You want a free desktop editor and can work in its own format
Its current release supports layered image work with no paid editing tier.
GIMP vs Adobe Photoshop
GIMP and Photoshop both support serious image manipulation, but they organize the work differently. Current GIMP 3.2 has capabilities that older comparisons omit. A fair decision considers your operating system, working files, output requirements and revision process instead of reducing the comparison to free versus paid.
Which software fits your needs
The work depends on a Photoshop production pipeline
Native Adobe editing and review workflows can avoid conversion steps.
The short answer
Choose GIMP when an open-source desktop workflow fits the job and you can validate the handoff. Choose Photoshop when a specific Adobe capability or client requirement justifies the subscription. Keep GIMP's native XCF archive separate from files exported for other applications.
Prices and billing terms
Published prices keep their original currency and billing terms. Taxes, promotions and checkout prices can differ.
GIMP
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.
SourceThe details, side by side
14 features
Documented differences. An unverified answer means we do not have enough evidence.
Platforms
Offline use
GIMP
The desktop workflow opens local images and saves working documents as XCF.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Installed apps can work offline after activation; periodic licensing checks and plan-dependent grace periods apply.
Vendor documentedSource
Export
GIMP
Save preserves the GIMP project as XCF; Export produces delivery formats. XCF does not preserve undo history.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
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
Other formats preserve only some project properties, so an exported image is not a full XCF replacement.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Embedded Smart Objects preserve source information; PSD, TIFF or PSB can retain layers while JPEG flattens them.
Vendor documentedSource
Free plan limits
Use for paid work
GIMP
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
GIMP 3.2 adds link and vector layers and expands nondestructive filter workflows.
Vendor documentedSource
Camera RAW
GIMP
The project documents darktable and RawTherapee integration for RAW processing.
Vendor documentedSource
Adobe Photoshop
Not yet verified for this product.
CMYK scope
GIMP
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
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.
Adobe Photoshop
Share for review supports browser comments. Invite to edit requires the document to be saved in the cloud.
Vendor documentedSource
AI features
GIMP
Not yet verified for this product.
Adobe Photoshop
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
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
The current mobile page places AI Assistant beta on web and mobile and explicitly excludes desktop.
Vendor documentedSource
| Feature | GIMP | Adobe Photoshop |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Official downloads cover GNU/Linux, Windows and macOS. Vendor documentedSource | Desktop on Windows and macOS with separate web, phone and iPad experiences. |
| Offline use | The desktop workflow opens local images and saves working documents as XCF. Vendor documentedSource | Installed apps can work offline after activation; periodic licensing checks and plan-dependent grace periods apply. Vendor documentedSource |
| Export | Save preserves the GIMP project as XCF; Export produces delivery formats. XCF does not preserve undo history. Vendor documentedSource | Save locally or to Creative Cloud. Save a Copy can produce flattened JPEG or PNG while preserving the working document. Vendor documentedSource |
| Project portability | Other formats preserve only some project properties, so an exported image is not a full XCF replacement. Vendor documentedSource | Embedded Smart Objects preserve source information; PSD, TIFF or PSB can retain layers while JPEG flattens them. Vendor documentedSource |
| Free plan limits | GIMP is free and open source without a paid editing tier. Vendor documentedSource | 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 | The project FAQ permits commercial work without restrictions on the kind of work produced. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| Nondestructive changes | GIMP 3.2 adds link and vector layers and expands nondestructive filter workflows. Vendor documentedSource | Adjustment layers, masks and Smart Objects support revisable image workflows. |
| Camera RAW | The project documents darktable and RawTherapee integration for RAW processing. Vendor documentedSource | Not yet verified for this product. |
| 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 | 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. | Share for review supports browser comments. Invite to edit requires the document to be saved in the cloud. Vendor documentedSource |
| AI features | Not yet verified for this product. | 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. | The default save location can be set to the computer or Creative Cloud. Vendor documentedSource |
| AI Assistant availability | Not yet verified for this product. | The current mobile page places AI Assistant beta on web and mobile and explicitly excludes desktop. Vendor documentedSource |
Use the current GIMP as the comparison point
GIMP 3.2 adds link and vector layers and expands nondestructive filter behavior. Its release notes explain how external images can update a composition and how certain layer types can be rasterized deliberately. That makes an old claim that GIMP only has destructive editing misleading. It does not prove parity with Photoshop's Smart Objects or every adjustment workflow. Compare the editing operation you need, including what happens after a revision. A feature name is less useful than understanding whether the original content remains available when you change your mind.
Source 1Source 2The working file is part of the commitment
GIMP preserves its working image in XCF without undo history. It uses Export for delivery formats. Photoshop can save locally or to Creative Cloud with options that preserve layers and other information. If a customer requires a specific editable file, agree on that requirement before choosing an editor. A flattened preview is not a substitute for a usable source document. Keep your native project and test a copy of the handoff file in the receiving application. This research has not verified a complex XCF-to-PSD-to-XCF round-trip or promised one would be lossless.
Source 1Source 2Budget time as well as subscription fees
GIMP's application is free and its project permits commercial work. Photoshop desktop uses a subscription with several bundles and commitment types. A freelancer should compare the fee with time spent repairing files, maintaining a second application or learning a required operation. Someone doing occasional personal edits may weigh those costs differently. Free access gives you room to evaluate GIMP at your own pace, while a paid editor can still be worthwhile when it fits an established pipeline. Neither conclusion requires a claim that one interface is objectively easy for everyone.
Source 1Source 2Source 3Photography and print expose specific gaps
GIMP documents external RAW processing through darktable or RawTherapee. Its FAQ also distinguishes CMYK import/export and soft proofing from a native CMYK editing model. These details matter more to some photographers and print workflows than to someone making web thumbnails. Photoshop's file-saving controls include color profiles and spot colors, but a checkbox alone does not certify a finished print job. Identify the camera formats and delivery specification first. Test the exact output with the intended receiver rather than assume that broad photo-editing support covers every stage.
Source 1Source 2Separate local editing from connected services
Both applications have workflows centered on local working files. Photoshop additionally documents cloud editing invitations and review links, with license activation and periodic connectivity rules for the installed software. GIMP's file workflow can be organized through your own folders and backup process. That independence can suit a solo archive but does not by itself provide a managed team review system. Decide whether you need to exchange files, collect comments or edit a shared cloud document. Those are different collaboration tasks and should not be collapsed into one yes/no comparison row.
Source 1Source 2Source 3Run a small replacement rehearsal
Use a disposable copy of a job you understand: isolate a subject, adjust color, add type and deliver the requested image. Then perform one realistic change request without starting over. Record missing steps and export differences rather than judging only the first visual result. Choose tutorials that match the installed GIMP generation because older instructions can describe a different interface and feature set. If your required workflow passes, expand gradually. If a handoff fails, keep the previous editor available until you understand whether the issue is a setting, a format limit or a genuine missing capability.
Source 1Source 2Source 3Source 4Our take
GIMP is a credible free desktop choice when its native workflow and exports meet the requirement. Photoshop is a practical paid choice when the Adobe pipeline itself is part of the job. File compatibility and revision work should decide.
Common questions
Does current GIMP support nondestructive editing?
Yes. GIMP 3.2 documents nondestructive filters plus link and vector layers. That does not imply identical behavior to every Photoshop feature.
Can I use GIMP for paid client work?
Yes. The official FAQ permits commercial work. Separately confirm any assets and the editable file format the client requires.
Check the sources
Evidence used for this comparison. A checked date records when we reviewed the source, not a promise that the vendor has made no changes since.
- GIMP downloads (opens in a new tab)
www.gimp.org
- GIMP user FAQ (opens in a new tab)
www.gimp.org · Some FAQ statements about planned vector layers are stale. Current 3.2 release notes take precedence for those features.
- GIMP official overview (opens in a new tab)
www.gimp.org
- GIMP 3.2 release notes (opens in a new tab)
www.gimp.org
- Photoshop features (opens in a new tab)
www.adobe.com
- Photoshop on mobile (opens in a new tab)
www.adobe.com
- Photoshop embedded Smart Objects (opens in a new tab)
helpx.adobe.com
- Adobe offline use and licensing (opens in a new tab)
helpx.adobe.com
- Photoshop plans (opens in a new tab)
www.adobe.com · Fresh US-targeted Firecrawl retrieval resolved currency. Promotional suite prices are excluded from the recorded plans.
- Save work in Photoshop (opens in a new tab)
helpx.adobe.com
- Photoshop sharing and feedback (opens in a new tab)
helpx.adobe.com
Keep comparing
Affinity vs Adobe Photoshop: free desktop editing and file handoffs
Graphic design · Affinity is a serious candidate when you want local photo work without a recurring payment for the core editor. Photoshop deserves priority when a client's editable PSD requirements or an established Adobe workflow determine the handoff. Verify the actual files before switching.
Inkscape vs GIMP: vector artwork, photo editing and a shared workflow
Graphic design · Begin with Inkscape for scalable paths, lettering and vector artwork. Begin with GIMP for retouching, compositing and pixel-based images. Current GIMP also has vector and linked layers, so a combined workflow can be more useful than treating the applications as mutually exclusive.
Photoshop vs Photopea: when does the paid editor earn its cost?
Graphic design · Try Photopea for a small browser-based edit or a PSD you need to inspect. Choose Photoshop when a required Adobe workflow, detailed capability or client file handoff makes it necessary. Neither name guarantees that a complex document will behave exactly as you expect.