GIMP vs Adobe XD
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
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.
Adobe XD is Adobe's UI/UX design and prototyping tool, built to fit naturally into workflows already using Photoshop and Illustrator. It supports vector-based screen design, auto-animate transitions for prototypes, and voice prototyping for testing voice-driven interfaces. XD integrates with Creative Cloud Libraries, allowing shared colors, character styles, and assets to flow between XD and other Adobe apps, which is useful for teams with an existing Adobe-centric design pipeline. While Adobe has shifted investment toward Figma-style collaborative tools industry-wide, XD remains actively used by teams already standardized on Creative Cloud.
Completely free and open source.
Free starter plan; paid plans bundled with Creative Cloud from $9.99/month.
- Completely free and open source
- Cross-platform
- Highly extensible
- No subscription ever
- Tight integration with Adobe Creative Cloud
- Fast, lightweight vector engine
- Good auto-animate prototyping
- Familiar to Adobe users
- Dated interface for some
- Learning curve
- Fewer pro conveniences than Photoshop
- Smaller plugin ecosystem than Figma
- Real-time collaboration less mature
- Adobe has slowed new feature investment
What reviewers say
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.
Adobe XD Reviews
4.5 (4)Solid choice
Adobe XD has quickly become part of our daily workflow. Good auto-animate prototyping. One minor gripe: smaller plugin ecosystem than figma, but it hasn't been a dealbreaker. Would recommend to anyone considering it.
Great tool for design
Adobe XD has quickly become part of our daily workflow. Tight integration with Adobe Creative Cloud. No major complaints so far. Would recommend to anyone considering it.
Does exactly what we need
We've been using Adobe XD for a few months now and it's genuinely made a difference for our team. Tight integration with Adobe Creative Cloud. One minor gripe: real-time collaboration less mature, but it hasn't been a dealbreaker. Would recommend to anyone considering it.
