# GIMP Reviews **Vendor:** GIMP **Category:** [Photo Editing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/photo-editing) **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1,484 ## About GIMP The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) is a cross-platform image editor available for GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows and more operating systems. It is free software, you can change its source code and distribute your changes. Whether you are a graphic designer, photographer, illustrator, or scientist, GIMP provides you with sophisticated tools to get your job done. You can further enhance your productivity with GIMP thanks to many customization options and thousands of third-party plug-ins, almost all available at no cost. Paint with a pressure-sensitive stylus; create and edit images with high bit depth (deep color) and color managed workflows; import and export a wide range of image formats; customize keyboard commands and menus; choose or create many themes; use industry-standard brushes (Photoshop, mypaint, and more); write vertical text; the possibilities are yours to explore! The terms of usage and rules about copying are clearly listed in the GNU General Public License. GIMP has been translated by volunteers into a large number of language (more than listed here) and more translations are very welcome. ## GIMP Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users love GIMP for its **free services** , providing powerful and customizable image editing without any cost. (12 reviews) - Users find GIMP's **user-friendly interface** and easy installation perfect for both beginners and intermediate image manipulations. (11 reviews) - Users value GIMP for its **powerful and free photo editing tools** , making it an excellent alternative to paid software. (11 reviews) - Users appreciate the **powerful and customizable image editing features** that GIMP offers for creative projects. (10 reviews) - Users value the **efficiency** of GIMP, providing powerful editing tools at no cost for all experience levels. (9 reviews) - Quality (7 reviews) - Useful (6 reviews) - Users admire GIMP for its **powerful and customizable features** , making it a top choice for digital art creation. (5 reviews) - Versatility (4 reviews) - Affordable (3 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users often struggle with the **steep learning curve** of GIMP, finding its interface confusing and unintuitive. (11 reviews) - Users find GIMP's **steep learning curve** and unintuitive interface challenging, hindering efficient use for advanced tasks. (4 reviews) - Users report **slow performance** with GIMP, experiencing delays during loading and when handling large files. (4 reviews) - Users find GIMP has **limited features** compared to professional tools, impacting performance and usability for advanced tasks. (3 reviews) - Users find GIMP's **poor navigation** frustrating, especially those transitioning from more intuitive proprietary software. (3 reviews) - Users find GIMP's **inaccuracy with CMYK files** detrimental for projects requiring precise color management. (2 reviews) - Slow Loading (2 reviews) - Lack of Creativity (1 reviews) - Limited Design Options (1 reviews) - Limited Editing Capabilities (1 reviews) ## GIMP Reviews ### 1. Practical, Flexible Editing Tool for image editing and content creation **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ishan S. | Manager and Dietician at Chaitanya Homoeo Clinic, Medical Store Owner, Content Creator, Hospital & Health Care, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 05, 2026 **What do you like best about GIMP?** I work as a Dietician & Nutritionist, Manage a homeopathy clinic, and also create health education content, so I regularly need image editing for diet charts, before and after transformation posts, educational graphics, thumbnails, and social media content. what I like most about GIMP is that it provides many useful editing tools in one place and feels practical for daily use. In the beginning, it was not very easy to understand, but after regular use it became comfortable and now I can handle most editing work without much difficulty. I use it frequently for creating before and after weight transformation posts, adding weight details, editing thumbnails, adding text on images, and preparing simple educational visuals for social media. Features like crop, resize, text tool, layer editing, and brightness adjustment are especially useful in my daily work. While editing transformation posts, the layer feature helps a lot because it allows me to manage before and after images, text, and highlights separately without affecting the full design. Background cleaning and color adjustment also help make posts look clearer and more professional. performance is good for normal editing work, and the desktop version runs smoothly in my experience even while working on multiple images. The number of features is enough for image editing, thumbnails, posters, and social media content without feeling overly complicated. It also supports different image formats, so working with files from other tools becomes easy and fits well into my daily workflow. Overall, it feels practical, flexible, and very useful for daily health content, clinic-related work, and social media editing.. **What do you dislike about GIMP?** In the beginning, interface feels little confusing because there are many tools and options on screen, so it takes some time to understand where things are. Sometimes while working on bigger images or multiple layers, performance can feel little slow on normal system, specially when many edits are open together. It is not a major problem but happens sometimes during longer editing work. Another small thing is that some advanced editing steps are not very easy for beginners and I had to watch few tutorials to understand them properly. **What problems is GIMP solving and how is that benefiting you?** It helps me solve the problem of basic to medium level image editing without needing very expensive software. In my daily work I need to create health education posts, edit thumbnails, make before and after transformation images and prepare visuals for social media, so it helps me manage all this work in one place. earlier, small editing tasks like adding text, resizing images, cleaning background or adjusting brightness were taking more time because I had to use different tools. Now most of these things can be done in one software, which makes work more easy and organized. it also helps in making transformation posts more clear and professional. I can properly arrange before and after images, add weight details and highlight important points so the content looks more understandable for viewers. Layer editing, crop, resize and text tools are very useful in daily work. It also supports different image formats, so sharing and reusing files becomes simple. overall, it saves time, improves content quality and helps me create better educational and social media content in a more practical way. ### 2. GIMP: open source, great but not for professional editing **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Fabrizio M. | OPERATORE ANTINCENDIO - OSPEDALE PEDIATRICO BAMBINO GESù, Hospital & Health Care, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 03, 2026 **What do you like best about GIMP?** I really like using GIMP; I've been using it since the days of Windows 8, and it was already one of the most well-known and highly rated editing programs. The interface is very nice and full of features. What I really liked is that it is an open-source program, so it doesn't require trial periods. I use it both for work and for personal projects like small banners. It's very practical and intuitive, and you get great results with GIMP. **What do you dislike about GIMP?** What I liked least about GIMP is the fact that for installation, going to the official website, it doesn't give you the option to start the download directly from their website. That is, if for convenience I want to start the download of the .exe file directly from the website, I am forced to go through the Microsoft store for the software installation, which is very annoying. Moreover, many times when I am making important modifications to a photo that should then be brought as a draft into a program to be processed, it crashes with "not responding" while I am editing important files. However, it does this on photos that weigh several MB, which needs to be resolved. **What problems is GIMP solving and how is that benefiting you?** In the company, they make us use GIMP only to make changes to the hospital floor plans for which I work, and it gives me many advantages, including the fact that since the image I edit with GIMP has to be done well, without errors, sometimes it totally simplifies my work when I have to make (important) changes to a photo, it has to be done well, and GIMP successfully edits every file I have given it. The PDF opening function is very useful. ### 3. Easy-to-Use, Free Image Editing with Fast Support and AI Background Removal **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kevin K. | Pastor, Information Technology and Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 27, 2026 **What do you like best about GIMP?** I like Gimp for it's easy use of navigating toolbar. It integrates smoothly with n8n, hubspot, lovable and social media platforms. It out performs adobe inscape as a free product and it costs nothing to create and edit images. Support is amaing and fast issues get solved quickly and smoothly. Gimp also features ai plugin capabilities to easily remove backgrounds from any image. **What do you dislike about GIMP?** Gimp can't always convert all images and sometimes leaves them in greyscale so even if you layer the image the layers then inherits the image layout. **What problems is GIMP solving and how is that benefiting you?** Gimp is a free open source image editing platform and it helps me create amaing content for social media absolutely free. No monthly cost. For a startup this is the best thing since sliced bread. ### 4. Free, Flexible, and Perfect for Quick Edits **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Claire M. | Creative lead, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 28, 2026 **What do you like best about GIMP?** I like that GIMP is free, flexible, and still offers powerful editing tools like layers, selections, and export options that make everyday tasks quick and easy. Layers make it easy to edit without damaging the original image, selection tools help me quickly target specific areas, and export options make it fast to save assets in the right format for different sizes and channels. It's very easy and quick to set up, and although it took a little time to get used to the interface and customize it for my workflow, it was nothing more than any other software. **What do you dislike about GIMP?** The interface can feel a bit unintuitive and less modern and some workflows aren't as streamlined as other design tools which can slow things down at times. A more modern intuitive interface and better organization of tools would improve usability. Streamlining workflows and making shortcuts more consistent with other design tools would also make it easier and faster to use. **What problems is GIMP solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use GIMP to quickly edit, resize, and optimize assets without heavier tools, saving time and keeping projects moving. It's free, flexible, and offers powerful tools like layers, selections, and export options, making everyday tasks quick and easy. ### 5. Powerful Photoshop Alternative with Room for GPU Optimization **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** James H. | Desktop Support Specialist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 22, 2026 **What do you like best about GIMP?** I use GIMP for photo editing as a replacement for Adobe Photoshop, and it's been great since I used to work with Photoshop 7. I appreciate GIMP's simple and intuitive interface, which doesn't force unnecessary AI things like Photoshop does. I find the layering feature to be just as good, if not better than Photoshop's, allowing me to control opacity, apply gradients, and add effects that give my work depth and dimension. The ability to place a solid-color background layer and apply effects like gradients is particularly useful for creating subtle fades or blended looks. **What do you dislike about GIMP?** Photoshop is better optimized for GPU multithreading and battery optimization, that's probably the biggest area that GIMP could stand to grow in. I think GIMP could benefit from deeper GEGL multithreading, modern GPU APIs like Vulkan, and smarter power-management for laptops. **What problems is GIMP solving and how is that benefiting you?** I find GIMP's interface simple and intuitive, without unnecessary AI features. The layering feature is excellent, allowing control over opacity, gradients, and effects, adding depth and dimension to my work. It's been my go-to over Adobe Photoshop for efficient photo editing. ### 6. Powerful, Pro-Level Editing in GIMP—Free and Open Source **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Aneurys Nicanor A. | Project Manager, Civil Engineering, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 30, 2026 **What do you like best about GIMP?** What I love most about GIMP is that it’s completely free and open source, yet it still provides powerful tools for photo editing, graphic design, and image manipulation. It supports layers, masks, filters, and other advanced editing features that are often found only in paid software. Overall, it’s an excellent choice if you want professional-looking results without having to pay for a subscription. **What do you dislike about GIMP?** The biggest drawback is the learning curve, which is pretty typical for advanced editing software. The interface can feel confusing at first, especially if you’re not used to Photoshop-style programs. Some workflows also aren’t very intuitive, and performance can slow down when you’re working with large or complex files. On top of that, when I launch GIMP, it often takes a while to load. **What problems is GIMP solving and how is that benefiting you?** GIMP solves my problem of needing a powerful image editing tool without having to pay for it. It benefits me by giving me access to advanced image editing and retouching features without relying on paid software. ### 7. Convenient Adobe Alternative with Open-Source Flexibility **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Chris Z. | Web Department Supervisor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 28, 2026 **What do you like best about GIMP?** I like using GIMP for quick design tasks because it's open-source software. It offers the same standard of editing fidelity as its competitors, which is really valuable. The UI is familiar enough to be intuitive for most users, making it easy to transition to GIMP as an alternative to major platforms like Adobe. It's well-maintained and rarely has issues with bugs. Plus, the initial setup was very easy. **What do you dislike about GIMP?** the editor can feel unresponsive or clunky at times. as the program is volunteer maintained, it doesn't get the same attention as a larger company could give. so, it is not as optimized or modern as some users might prefer **What problems is GIMP solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use GIMP for quick design tasks on open-source software, helping those who can't access licensed environments like Adobe. It's a seamless alternative with intuitive UI and editing fidelity similar to its competitors. ### 8. Powerful Free Tool with Room for Usability Enhancements **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Elta J. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 13, 2026 **What do you like best about GIMP?** I like GIMP because it is free, and I can create and customize it easily. I appreciate the filters and effects it offers. It's helpful for combining multiple images, adding watermarks, creating thumbnails, graphics, and banners. The initial setup was quite easy, as I just went to the website and installed the app, following the prompts. It took some time to get used to it, but it's been manageable. **What do you dislike about GIMP?** Work less smooth than Canva and Photoshop. Tools are harder to find. Less latest design. **What problems is GIMP solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use GIMP for editing photos, combining multiple images, and applying filters and effects. It's free, customizable, and lets me create watermarks, thumbnails, graphics, and banners. ### 9. Professional-Level Editing with GIMP **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Giacomo D. | Consulente Qualità ISO/IEC 17025 e ISO 9001, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 18, 2026 **What do you like best about GIMP?** What I like most about GIMP is that it’s completely free, yet still incredibly powerful. For anyone who doesn’t want to invest in expensive software, it delivers a professional-level image editing experience with no cost barrier. Another big advantage is the breadth of tools and features it includes. From layers and masks to advanced selection tools, color correction, retouching, and custom brushes, GIMP covers everything you need for serious image editing. On top of that, it supports plugins and customization, which makes it even more flexible and adaptable to different workflows. For amateur or semi-professional work, I find GIMP absolutely comparable to Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop may offer more advanced features and a smoother workflow in high-end professional environments, but GIMP is still more than capable of handling photo editing, graphic design projects, social media visuals, and creative compositions at a very high level. Overall, I appreciate the balance it strikes between zero cost and strong functionality. It’s an excellent option for students, hobbyists, freelancers, or anyone who needs capable editing tools without paying for a subscription. **What do you dislike about GIMP?** At the moment, I don’t have any major complaints about GIMP. For what I use it for right now—mostly amateur, personal projects—it covers everything I need. There’s a broad selection of tools, the performance feels solid, and it’s flexible enough to handle both photo editing and graphic design tasks without getting in my way. I know some users point to a learning curve or say the interface feels less polished than Adobe Photoshop, but I haven’t run into any real limitations so far. Overall, for a free and open-source program, GIMP has fully met my expectations, and at this stage I don’t feel like I’m missing anything essential. **What problems is GIMP solving and how is that benefiting you?** One of the main problems GIMP solves for me is having a reliable tool for image editing and small retouching tasks without needing to pay for expensive software. I often need to make quick adjustments—correcting colors, cropping images, removing small imperfections, resizing visuals, or doing simple graphic edits. GIMP includes the essential tools I rely on (layers, clone stamp, healing tools, color correction, and selection tools), so I can handle these tasks efficiently. Before using GIMP, small edits could feel inconvenient or too limited when I was working with basic editing apps. With GIMP, I have access to more advanced controls, which lets me work with greater precision and achieve cleaner results. The biggest benefit for me is the flexibility and independence it provides. I can complete image editing tasks and small touch-ups in a professional way, without needing a subscription to software like Adobe Photoshop. Overall, GIMP solves my need for a capable, cost-free editing solution, and it benefits me by giving me full creative control for everyday image editing work. ### 10. Powerful and Free, but a Clunky UI and Destructive Workflow Slow You Down **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Graphic Design | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 14, 2026 **What do you like best about GIMP?** I like layer modes and all the tools and you get access to professional-grade photo manipulation, color correction, and drawing tools without the ongoing financial overhead of an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. **What do you dislike about GIMP?** Export and save are bizarre and takes multiple saves and windows to even save a document. A steep, unintuitive learning curve: GIMP doesn’t try to mimic Photoshop, and the interface can feel dated and clunky. Even basic tasks can take more steps than expected, with extra menu digging and more clicks just to get where you want to go. **What problems is GIMP solving and how is that benefiting you?** A free alternative to Photoshop and the expensive monthly creative cloud subscription. ## GIMP Discussions - [should gimp release mobile app](https://www.g2.com/discussions/should-gimp-release-mobile-app) - 3 comments, 3 upvotes - [How do you guys keep up with industry standards and produce great software year after year](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-you-guys-keep-up-with-industry-standards-and-produce-great-software-year-after-year) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [what is the best way of using multiple layers on GIMP?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-best-way-of-using-multiple-layers-on-gimp) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [How do I create a custom brush on Gimp for pixel art?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-create-a-custom-brush-on-gimp-for-pixel-art) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [Are there any premium features coming to GIMP?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/are-there-any-premium-features-coming-to-gimp) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [View GIMP pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/gimp/reviews/gimp-review-4276201?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-05-19+12%3A30%3A28+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=64e0e41b-387d-44d7-b4c2-31e2704b2743&secure%5Btoken%5D=86188e6d5a38086a35c0f218bd43919f957c21a17cfcdf47317e0c8e834f8450&format=llm_user) ## GIMP Integrations - [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-photoshop/reviews) - [Blender](https://www.g2.com/products/blender/reviews) - [Canva](https://www.g2.com/products/canva/reviews) - [DALL·E](https://www.g2.com/products/dall-e/reviews) - [Inkscape](https://www.g2.com/products/inkscape/reviews) - [Python](https://www.g2.com/products/python/reviews) ## GIMP Features **Generative AI** - AI Text-to-Image - AI Text-to-3D **Agentic AI - Photo Editing** - Cross-system Integration ## Top GIMP Alternatives - [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-photoshop/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (13,027 reviews) - [Canva](https://www.g2.com/products/canva/reviews) - 4.7/5.0 (6,364 reviews) - [Adobe Photoshop Lightroom](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-photoshop-lightroom/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (3,230 reviews)