Is GIMP as good as Photoshop? Real-world comparison for photo editors

For years, people have asked: GIMP as good as Photoshop? If you’re someone who edits photos for fun, for your small business, or even for freelance gigs, this question matters. You don’t want to pay $20 a month if you don’t have to. But you also don’t want to waste hours on a tool that can’t get the job done. So let’s cut through the noise.

What GIMP actually can do

GIMP, which stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program, isn’t some half-baked app. It’s been around since 1996. It’s open source, free, and used by millions worldwide. In 2025, GIMP 2.10.38 runs smoothly on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports layers, masks, paths, curves, levels, and even non-destructive editing with layer groups.

Want to remove a background? GIMP has the Fuzzy Select tool and the Foreground Select tool that work surprisingly well. Want to retouch skin? The Healing Tool and Clone Tool are there. Want to do advanced color grading? The Curves and Levels dialogs are just as powerful as Photoshop’s. I’ve used GIMP to edit product photos for an Etsy store, fix wedding photos for friends, and even retouch drone shots - all without spending a penny.

It’s not perfect. The interface feels clunky at first. Some tools are buried in menus. But once you learn where things are, you can work fast. And unlike Photoshop, you can customize every single shortcut. If you’re used to keyboard shortcuts, you can make GIMP feel like your own.

What Photoshop still does better

Photoshop isn’t just a photo editor. It’s an ecosystem. Adobe’s tools talk to each other. If you use Lightroom, Camera Raw, or even Illustrator, everything syncs. PSD files open perfectly. Smart Objects? They’re seamless. Content-Aware Fill? It’s faster, smarter, and more accurate than anything GIMP offers.

Take skin retouching. Photoshop’s Surface Blur and Frequency Separation workflows are industry standard. You can do them in GIMP, but it takes three plugins, a YouTube tutorial, and 20 minutes of setup. In Photoshop, it’s a few clicks. Same with liquify - Photoshop’s tool is fluid, responsive, and pressure-sensitive if you use a tablet. GIMP’s version? It’s slow. It lags. It doesn’t feel natural.

And then there’s plugins. Photoshop has thousands. Nik Collection, Topaz Labs, Adobe Sensei AI tools - they integrate directly. GIMP has plugins too, but they’re harder to install, less reliable, and often outdated. You won’t find AI-powered upscaling or neural filters in GIMP. Not yet.

Who should stick with Photoshop?

If you’re a professional photographer, designer, or agency worker, Photoshop is still the default. Why? Because clients expect PSD files. Because your workflow depends on Adobe’s cloud sync. Because your team uses the same tools. If you’re being paid to deliver pixel-perfect results on tight deadlines, Photoshop gives you the edge.

Also, if you use a Wacom tablet or Apple Pencil, Photoshop’s pressure sensitivity and brush engine are unmatched. The brush smoothing, texture blending, and real-time preview make a real difference when you’re painting masks or dodging and burning.

And let’s not ignore updates. Adobe rolls out new AI features every year - like Generative Fill, which can extend backgrounds or replace objects with text prompts. GIMP doesn’t have anything like that. Not even close.

Who can switch to GIMP?

If you’re a hobbyist, a student, a blogger, or a small business owner who edits photos on the side - GIMP is more than enough. You don’t need AI-powered object removal if you’re just cleaning up a product photo for your Shopify store. You don’t need 50 brush presets if you’re posting Instagram stories.

Here’s a real example: A friend runs a local bakery. She takes photos of cakes, edits them on her old laptop, and posts them on Facebook. She used Photoshop for six months - until the subscription cost hit £180 a year. She switched to GIMP. She learned the basics in a weekend. Now she edits 20+ photos a week. No complaints. No delays. Her followers can’t tell the difference.

Same goes for students. If you’re learning photo editing for a course, GIMP teaches you the same principles. Layers, masks, blending modes - they work the same way. When you graduate and land a job that uses Photoshop, you’ll adapt fast. The fundamentals don’t change.

Performance and cost

GIMP runs on a 10-year-old laptop with 4GB of RAM. Photoshop? It needs 8GB minimum, and it’s happier with 16GB. If you’re on a budget, or you’re using an older machine, GIMP is the only sane choice.

Cost-wise, it’s a no-brainer. GIMP is free. Forever. Photoshop costs $20.99/month if you buy it alone. That’s £16.50 in the UK. Over a year, that’s £198. Over five years? Nearly £1,000. For most people, that’s not just money - it’s a decision about priorities.

And GIMP doesn’t force updates. You control when you upgrade. Photoshop auto-updates, sometimes breaking plugins or changing interfaces. GIMP? You decide. No surprises.

File compatibility

Can GIMP open PSD files? Yes. Can it save as PSD? Yes. But here’s the catch: complex Photoshop files with smart objects, adjustment layers, or layer styles? They often flatten or break in GIMP. You’ll lose some data.

On the flip side, GIMP saves in XCF - its native format. That preserves layers, paths, and transparency. But Photoshop can’t open XCF files. So if you’re sharing work with someone who uses Photoshop, you’ll need to export as PNG or TIFF. It’s not ideal, but it’s manageable.

For most users, this isn’t a dealbreaker. If you’re not collaborating with pros, you don’t need perfect PSD compatibility. You need your photos to look good. GIMP delivers that.

Learning curve

Photoshop is easier to start with. The interface is cleaner. Tools are grouped logically. GIMP? It’s messy. The default layout feels outdated. But that’s fixable. You can rearrange windows. You can load custom workspaces. There are dozens of free preset layouts online.

YouTube has hundreds of GIMP tutorials. One of the best is by Linus Tech Tips - they did a full 30-minute breakdown showing how to do real edits in GIMP that match Photoshop results. If you’re willing to spend a few hours learning, you’ll catch up fast.

Most people give up on GIMP after 10 minutes because it doesn’t look like Photoshop. But that’s like giving up on a bicycle because it doesn’t have an engine. It’s not about looks - it’s about function.

Final verdict

Is GIMP as good as Photoshop? For most people, yes - and for many, it’s better.

If you need AI-powered tools, seamless teamwork, or industry-standard file compatibility - stick with Photoshop. It’s the professional’s choice for a reason.

If you want to edit photos without paying monthly fees, on any computer, with full control over your workflow - GIMP is the smarter pick. It’s powerful, reliable, and free. And in 2025, that’s more than enough for 90% of users.

The truth? You don’t need Photoshop to make great photos. You need skill. And GIMP gives you the tools to build that skill - without asking for anything in return.