Free GIMP AlternativesDigital Painting Tools & Image Editors like GIMP

The best free alternative to GIMP is Krita, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to GIMP and loads of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to GIMP are Paint.NET, Affinity, Photopea and darktable.

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Most GIMP alternatives are Image Editors, but you can also narrow the list to Photo Editors or Digital Painting Tools. Other popular filters are Android, iPad, Linux, Online and Mac. You can also filter for EU-based alternatives if you prefer software from the European Union.
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Alternatives
GIMP alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Krita icon
     1502 likes

    Free, open-source painting software designed by artists for artists. Offers customizable UI, 9 brush engines, color management, tablet support, non-destructive editing, and privacy features. Portable and available on major platforms, supporting seamless texture creation.

    158 Krita alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android Tablet
    • KDE Plasma
    • Epic Games Store
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Steam
    • AppImage
    • NL flagNetherlands
    • European Union flagEU
    Krita screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
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    17
  2. Paint.NET icon
     1671 likes

    Free Windows image editor with support for layers, plugins, and special effects. Offers intuitive interface, works offline, ad-free, and portable, consuming fewer resources.

    176 Paint.NET alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • .NET Framework
    Good alternative?
     
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    10
  3. Affinity icon
     92 likes

    Unified design solution merging advanced photo, vector, and layout tools for seamless workflow, non-destructive editing, RAW support, batch processing, AI enhancements, GPU acceleration, file compatibility, cloud asset integration, and tailored workspace options.

    102 Affinity alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  4. Photopea icon
     361 likes

    Browser-based image editing supports PSD, XCF, Sketch formats, advanced layers, vector tools, RAW photo support, and exports in 40+ formats. Fully client-side with AI background removal, content-aware tools, and privacy as files never leave your device.

    133 Photopea alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Good alternative?
     
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    1
  5. darktable icon
     372 likes

    Open source non-destructive RAW editor and virtual darkroom with zoomable lighttable, database-driven organization, HDR and EXR support, floating-point workflow, batch exporting, and advanced editing for photography and scientific imaging across platforms.

    85 darktable alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  6. RawTherapee icon
     244 likes

    Raw photo processing software with advanced control over demosaicing. Ideal for newcomers, semi-professionals, and professionals. Supports HDR DNGs, JPGs, and TIFFs, with in-house enhancements for some camera models. Open-source, lacks digital asset management.

    72 RawTherapee alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
  7. MyPaint icon
     397 likes

    MyPaint is a fast, distraction-free, and easy painting tool for digital artists. It supports graphics tablets made by Wacom, and many similar devices.

    139 MyPaint alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    Good alternative?
     
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    2
  8. PixiEditor icon
     31 likes

    Create pixel-perfect sprites, raster paintings, and scalable vector graphics with a unified open-source editor featuring frame-by-frame animation, a node-based workflow, custom shaders, procedural art tools, anti-aliased brushes, and versatile export options.

    46 PixiEditor alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Steam
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
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    1
  9. Photoscape icon
     266 likes

    PhotoScape is a fun and easy photo editing software that enables you to fix and enhance photos.

    203 Photoscape alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
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    2
  10. Snapseed icon
     95 likes

    Snapseed is a photo enhancement and sharing app with a powerful suite of imaging filters and tools for anyone, anywhere, to transform any image into an extraordinary photo.

    81 Snapseed alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Good alternative?
     
  11. PhotoGIMP icon
     32 likes

    Open-source patch modifies the layout, shortcuts, and workspace of the image editor to resemble Adobe's design, providing custom splash screens, icon, and menus for ease of use, while retaining original features and supporting Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
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    1
  12. Fossify Paint icon
     17 likes

    Privacy-centric digital drawing tool perfect for all skill levels. Create, customize, and share art with adjustable brushes, canvas colors, and versatile format support via PNG, JPG, and SVG without compromising your privacy—fully open-source.

    30 Fossify Paint alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    • OpenAPK
    Good alternative?
     
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