GIMP suits people who want a free, open-source image editor they can run on Linux, macOS or Windows and even change themselves. Photoshop suits people who want Adobe's AI tools, like Generative Fill and Harmonize, with the app on desktop, web and mobile. If you need a capable editor with no plan to sign up for, start with GIMP; if you want AI to do the heavy lifting, start with Photoshop.
This is one of the oldest comparisons in design, and both sides have moved on. I read gimp.org and its About page, and Adobe's Photoshop page.
GIMP and Photoshop side by side
| GIMP | Photoshop | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free software, no plan needed | Not named; free trial, mobile app is a free download |
| Made by | Community developers under the GNU General Public License | Adobe |
| Platforms | GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows and more | Desktop, web and mobile |
| Change the code | Yes, you can change and share the source | No |
| AI tools | Not listed on the pages I read | Generative Fill, Expand, Remove Tool, Harmonize |
| Latest version on the site | GIMP 3.2.6 | Not stated as a number |
What GIMP is
GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program, and its site calls it the free and open source image editor. It's cross-platform, running on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows and other systems, and the current download on the site is version 3.2.6.
Because it's free software, you can change its source code and share your changes. The About page says it's developed as community software under the GNU General Public License, and the site pitches it at graphic designers, photographers, illustrators and scientists alike.
What Photoshop is
Adobe's Photoshop page leads with AI. Firefly models power Generative Fill, Expand and the Remove Tool with higher resolution and cleaner edges, Harmonize blends people and objects into a new background by matching light and colour, and partner upscaling from Topaz Labs boosts detail.
There are new non-destructive adjustment layers for Clarity and Dehaze and Grain, sharper selection and background removal, and Photoshop on desktop, web and mobile. The Photoshop plan includes Adobe Express Premium, and there's a free trial.
Freedom against automation
The real split is control against convenience. GIMP's licence means nobody can take it away or lock you out, and you can run it on a Linux machine Photoshop doesn't list. That matters to schools, charities, open-source teams and anyone who wants a tool they own outright.
Photoshop's edge is speed on hard jobs. Removing a crowd from a photo or extending a background is a few clicks with Generative Fill. In GIMP, the same job is done by hand with the selection and clone tools, which takes longer but leaves every decision to you.
File sharing is worth checking too. If clients or collaborators send you files from Adobe's apps, it's worth testing how those files open in GIMP before you commit to it for client work. If you mostly create your own images from scratch, that matters much less.
Learning resources matter when you're starting out. gimp.org links to its own documentation and tutorials from the homepage, and Adobe's Photoshop plan includes tutorials alongside fonts and images. Whichever you pick, learning layers, masks and selections first will make every later tutorial easier, because both editors are built on those ideas. GIMP's site also says it serves scientists as well as designers, which tells you how broad its toolset is.
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Who each editor suits
GIMP suits learners, hobbyists, Linux users and anyone who wants a capable editor without signing up for anything. Photoshop suits designers and marketers producing a lot of images who want AI to save time. If you go with Photoshop, my guide on how to use Generative Fill is the place to start, and these graphic design terms explained help whichever tool you pick.
My advice on GIMP or Photoshop
Start with GIMP if you're unsure. It's free to download, so you lose nothing by learning layers, masks and selections there first. If you find yourself spending hours on removals and background swaps, try Photoshop's free trial on that exact job and see how much time Generative Fill gives you back.
Do you make image editing tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is GIMP free?
Yes. gimp.org calls it the free and open source image editor, and you can change and share its source code.
Does GIMP run on Mac?
Yes. gimp.org says GIMP runs on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows and more operating systems.
Does Photoshop have a free trial?
Yes. Adobe's Photoshop page offers a free trial, and the mobile app is a free download.
What licence is GIMP under?
GIMP's About page says it's developed as community software under the GNU General Public License.
Does GIMP have Generative Fill?
GIMP's pages I read don't list AI fill tools; Generative Fill is an Adobe Photoshop feature.
