Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Affinity Photo VS GIMP

Compare Affinity Photo VS GIMP and see what are their differences

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Affinity Photo logo Affinity Photo

Affinity is the imaging and design suite for creative professionals exclusively for Mac.

GIMP logo GIMP

GIMP is a multiplatform photo manipulation tool.
  • Affinity Photo Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21
  • GIMP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

Affinity Photo features and specs

  • Cost-effective
    Affinity Photo is available for a one-time purchase at a relatively low cost compared to the subscription model of Adobe Photoshop, making it a more affordable option in the long run.
  • Advanced Tools
    The software offers a wide range of advanced photo editing tools, including layer support, RAW editing, HDR merging, panorama stitching, and digital painting capabilities.
  • Non-Destructive Editing
    Affinity Photo allows for non-destructive editing with its powerful layers and mask features, ensuring that the original image remains unaltered.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Available on both macOS, Windows, and iPad, it provides a seamless experience across different devices, allowing users to work on their projects anywhere.
  • Performance
    Affinity Photo is optimized for high performance and can handle large files and complex edits without significant slowdowns, leveraging modern hardware capabilities effectively.
  • User Interface
    The user interface is modern, clean, and highly customizable, allowing users to tailor their workspace to their needs.

Possible disadvantages of Affinity Photo

  • Learning Curve
    New users might face a steep learning curve due to the abundance of features and tools, which can be overwhelming for beginners who are not familiar with photo editing software.
  • Limited Plugin Support
    Affinity Photo has limited third-party plugin support compared to Adobe Photoshop, which means fewer external resources and extensions are available.
  • Less Industry Adoption
    Despite its powerful features, Affinity Photo is less widely adopted in professional industries compared to Adobe Photoshop, which might pose challenges for collaborative work or standardizing workflows.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There can be compatibility issues with some Adobe Photoshop files (PSD), especially those that use complex or newer features, leading to potential difficulties in opening or converting files.
  • Mobile App Limitations
    While the iPad version of Affinity Photo is powerful, it does not offer all the features of the desktop version and might be less suitable for very demanding tasks.

GIMP features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    GIMP is completely free to use and open source, allowing users to download, modify, and distribute the software without any cost.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    GIMP is compatible with multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing flexibility for users on different platforms.
  • Extensive Plugin Support
    GIMP supports a wide range of plugins, which can be used to enhance functionality and customize the software to suit specific needs.
  • Powerful Editing Tools
    GIMP offers a comprehensive set of image editing tools for tasks such as photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring, suitable for both beginners and advanced users.

Possible disadvantages of GIMP

  • Complex Interface
    The user interface can be overwhelming and not as intuitive as other commercial software, which can pose a steep learning curve for new users.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users experience performance issues, such as slow rendering times, especially when working with large files or applying multiple layers and effects.
  • Limited Professional Features
    Compared to industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP lacks some advanced features and tools that professionals might need for high-end work.
  • Inconsistent Updates
    Updates and new features can be inconsistent, as the development relies on a community of volunteers rather than a dedicated team.

Analysis of Affinity Photo

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Affinity Photo is considered a highly capable photo editing tool that holds its own against more expensive competitors. It is regarded as a professional-grade solution that provides excellent value for its cost, making it a strong contender in the photo editing software market.

Why this product is good

  • Affinity Photo is widely praised for its comprehensive set of features that cater to professional photographers and graphic designers. It offers robust tools for photo editing, such as advanced color correction, RAW editing, and a range of filters and selection tools. The software is also known for its speed and efficiency, with non-destructive editing options, seamless PSD import/export capabilities, and support for multiple layers. Many users appreciate its affordability compared to other high-end photo editing applications, as it offers a one-time purchase model without subscription fees.

Recommended for

    Affinity Photo is recommended for professional photographers, graphic designers, and enthusiasts who require powerful editing tools without committing to ongoing subscription costs. It is suitable for users seeking a highly capable and cost-effective alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

Analysis of GIMP

Overall verdict

  • GIMP is generally considered a good alternative to commercial image editing software, especially for those who are looking for a cost-effective solution. While it may not have all the advanced features or polished interface of some paid options, it is powerful enough for most editing tasks and keeps improving with regular updates.

Why this product is good

  • GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free and open-source image editor that offers a wide range of tools and features for photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring. It is highly customizable and supports various plugins, making it a flexible option for different design needs. Its active community provides extensive support and resources for users.

Recommended for

    GIMP is recommended for beginners, hobbyists, and professionals who need a robust image editor without a financial commitment. It's suitable for users who are comfortable with learning open-source software and those who need a tool for basic to mid-level image editing tasks.

Affinity Photo videos

Affinity Photo | Hands on Review | Photography, Graphic Design, Web Design, Software

More videos:

  • Review - AFFINITY PHOTO vs PHOTOSHOP ๐Ÿ“ท How great is the 50$ Software?
  • Review - Affinity Photo Review (2018) - The #1 Photoshop Alternative

GIMP videos

Gimp vs Photoshop - Photo Editing Software - COMPARISON 2018

More videos:

  • Review - GIMP 2020 Preview and GIMP 2019 Recap
  • Review - 10 Reasons to Use GIMP in 2020 Over Photoshop

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Affinity Photo and GIMP)
Image Editing
42 42%
58% 58
Graphic Design Software
34 34%
66% 66
Digital Drawing And Painting
Photos & Graphics
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Affinity Photo and GIMP

Affinity Photo Reviews

10 Best Photopea Software Alternatives in 2024 (Free & Paid)
Creative pros can easily edit photos with Affinity Photo software, one of the best Photopea software alternatives. Photographers can make pictures, add copyright information to keep them safe, change small details, and combine HDR pictures. It offers real-time editing and supports large image files without slowing down. The software also provides extensive RAW editing...
Best Photo Editing Software for Mac: 5 Pro Alternatives to Adobe
Affinity Photo is a powerful and affordable alternative to Adobe Photoshop for Mac users. It offers a wide range of features and excellent performance, with a one-time purchase model and deep integration into the Apple ecosystem.
Best Adobe Photoshop alternatives of 2024
Affinity Photo, from Serif, is positively packed with professional tools that make it a genuine rival to Photoshop for both Windows and macOS. Thereโ€™s also a tablet version if you're looking for one of the best Photoshop alternatives on iPad. But best of all, there are no endless subscriptions, just a one-off cost, making it ideal when working to a budget.
Our 6 Favorite Free Photoshop Alternatives (2022 Update)
Affinity Photo can be used as a complement to Affinity Designer and is especially suited for visual edits such as relighting scenes, dramatic post-processing to really make an image pop, and very simple to use but amazing looking filters and effects that can bring your image to the next level.
Affinity Alternative
But while the app has garnered much praise over its short lifespan, it has also been criticized by many for not having enough to differentiate it from other editors like Photoshop. However, Affinity Photo does have one key thing going for it, and that is its price, which is lower than the price of Photoshop. Combine that with an interface and set of controls that are similar...
Source: skylum.com

GIMP Reviews

  1. Clipping Path universe
    ยท Working at Clipping Path ยท
    A great site

    This is a great site for photo editing and the software is supper.

    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Trusted

12 Best Free PosterMyWall Alternatives and Competitors
You can use GIMP as a basic paint tool, a high-quality photo editor, a tool to process many images at once online, a way to make lots of images, or even to change the format of an image. GIMP can do even more because you can add extra features to it using plugins and extensions. You can make it do just about anything you like.
Source: mockey.ai
10 Best Photopea Software Alternatives in 2024 (Free & Paid)
There are 1,439 votes for GIMP and 14 votes for Photopea. GIMP gets 4.3/5, and Photopea gets 4.8/5. These rankings come from real user reviews and can help you choose between the two based on your industryโ€™s needs.
Best Adobe Photoshop alternatives of 2024
In our experience, GIMP was slightly less responsive and used a few more resources than its proprietary counterpart, but this can be easily forgiven on the basis that GIMP always has been and always will be free and open source.
10 Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives
Check out GIMP, one of the best free Illustrator alternatives which is ideal for any creative.
16+ Best Web Design Software in 2022 (Ranked by a Trusted Expert)
GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. Itโ€™s a free and open-source software for editing images and a valuable tool to have in your arsenal.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GIMP should be more popular than Affinity Photo. It has been mentiond 59 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Affinity Photo mentions (34)

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GIMP mentions (59)

  • Yurt Calculator
    Image Creative Commons (CC) BY-SA-NC 2005-2017, developed, designed and written by Renรฉ K. Mรผller Graphics & illustrations made with Inkscape, Tgif, Gimp, PovRay, GD.pm Web-Site powered by FreeBSD & Debian/Linux - 100% Open Source. Source: over 2 years ago
  • I just cannot understand why they did Paint so bad
    Paint.NET for a familiar paradigm with nicer features. Pinta for an old school, simple Paint experience. Krita for more advanced drawing. Gimp for editing/manipulating photos. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Had to make This after seeing all the post over and over again
    If you don't want to pay for photoshop, check out the Gnu Image Manipulation Program at http://gimp.org which is free. It has most of what you'd want photoshop for. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Super, just Super.
    As good as this suggestion is, without proper links and explanation it means nothing. GEGL is a type of plugins for GIMP, which can adjust the settings of already present effects and create new ones. The most notable ones are made by LinuxBeaver. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Useful apps for Ux designers
    GIMP: FOSS alternative to Photoshop. Like Inkscape, itโ€™s not directly related to UI, but might be handy. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Affinity Photo and GIMP, you can also consider the following products

Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Photoshop is a webtop application for editing images and photos online.

Krita - Krita is a professional FREE and open source painting program. It is made by artists that want to seaffordable art tools for everyone. Concept art. texture and matte painters, illustrations and comics.

Pixelmator - Pixelmator is an image-editing application for Mac and iPad.

Canva - Canva is a graphic-design platform with a drag-and-drop interface to create print or visual content while providing templates, images, and fonts. Canva makes graphic design more straightforward and accessible regardless of skill level.

Adobe Illustrator - Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor.

Inkscape - Inkscape is a free, open source professional vector graphics editor for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.