Affinity Photo vs GIMP
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Affinity Photo is a professional raster editor that rivals Photoshop’s core features but is sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. It is known for fast performance and a polished, pro-level toolset.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open-source raster graphics editor offering many Photoshop-like capabilities at no cost. It is fully scriptable and runs on every major platform.
Around $69.99 one-time (frequently discounted).
Completely free and open source.
- One-time purchase
- Fast and responsive
- Strong PSD compatibility
- Great value
- Completely free and open source
- Cross-platform
- Highly extensible
- No subscription ever
- Smaller ecosystem than Adobe
- No generative AI (yet)
- Fewer tutorials than Photoshop
- Dated interface for some
- Learning curve
- Fewer pro conveniences than Photoshop
What reviewers say
Affinity Photo Reviews
4.3 (4)Recommend Affinity Photo
Tried Affinity Photo recently. Fast and responsive. Minor gripe: fewer tutorials than photoshop. Would recommend.
Solid choice
Been using Affinity Photo for a while. Strong PSD compatibility. No real complaints. Would recommend.
Recommend Affinity Photo
We rolled out Affinity Photo last quarter. One-time purchase. Minor gripe: smaller ecosystem than adobe. Would recommend.
GIMP Reviews
4.3 (3)Solid choice
GIMP has been part of our stack. Completely free and open source. Minor gripe: learning curve. Would recommend.
Solid choice
Been using GIMP for a while. Highly extensible. Minor gripe: fewer pro conveniences than photoshop. Would recommend.
Recommend GIMP
Tried GIMP recently. Highly extensible. No real complaints. Would recommend.
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Affinity Photo
View all →
Alternatives to GIMP
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataAffinity Photo offers a fast, one‑time‑purchase professional editor, while GIMP provides a completely free, open‑source alternative with a steeper learning curve.
Key differences
- •Pricing model: Affinity Photo is a paid one‑time purchase (~$69.99); GIMP is free.
- •Platform support: Affinity runs on Windows, Mac, iOS; GIMP runs on Windows, Mac, Linux.
- •Ecosystem & tutorials: Affinity has a smaller ecosystem and fewer tutorials than Adobe; GIMP has fewer built‑in pro conveniences.
- •Open‑source vs proprietary: GIMP is open‑source and extensible via plugins; Affinity is closed‑source with no API.
Pricing & value
GIMP is completely free, whereas Affinity Photo costs around $69.99 one‑time.
Ease of use / learning curve
Affinity Photo is noted for fast, responsive performance and has a more modern UI; GIMP’s interface is considered dated.
Features & depth
Affinity offers strong PSD compatibility, live filters, and professional raster tools; GIMP lacks some pro conveniences.
Integrations & ecosystem
Affinity has a smaller ecosystem than Adobe but still offers PSD compatibility; GIMP has no official ecosystem and no API.
Collaboration
Both lack built‑in collaboration features; neither provides specific collaboration tools.
Scalability
Affinity’s fast performance and live filters scale well for professional workloads; GIMP may struggle with larger projects.
Support
Affinity offers commercial support channels; GIMP relies on community support only.
Choose Affinity Photo if…
Photographers/designers who want a professional, fast editor and can afford a one‑time fee.
Choose GIMP if…
Budget‑conscious users or open‑source advocates who need a free, cross‑platform editor.
Common questions
How much does each product cost?
Affinity Photo costs around $69.99 one‑time (often discounted); GIMP is completely free.
Can I run the software on Linux?
GIMP runs on Linux; Affinity Photo does not (Windows, Mac, iOS only).
Is there a subscription or hidden fees?
No. Affinity Photo is a one‑time purchase; GIMP is free with no subscription.