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GIMP VS Krita

Compare GIMP VS Krita and see what are their differences

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GIMP logo GIMP

GIMP is a multiplatform photo manipulation tool.

Krita logo 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.
  • GIMP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • Krita Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-05-31

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.

Krita features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Krita is completely free to use, and its source code is available to the public, which allows for extensive customization and community-driven improvements.
  • Powerful Brush Engine
    Krita offers a highly configurable and dynamic brush engine, suitable for various art styles and techniques, from digital painting to textured brushes.
  • Rich Feature Set
    The software includes a comprehensive suite of features such as HDR painting, layer management, color wheels, advanced selections, and many more.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Krita is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing flexibility for users across different operating systems.
  • Active Development and Community
    Krita benefits from regular updates and an active community that offers tutorials, forums, and additional resources to help users.

Possible disadvantages of Krita

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive feature set, new users might find Krita overwhelming at first, requiring time and effort to learn and master the tool.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance lags and stability issues, especially when working with very large files or complex projects.
  • Limited Vector Tools
    While Krita excels in raster graphics, its vector tools are not as advanced or comprehensive compared to specialized vector graphic software like Adobe Illustrator.
  • Less Industry Standard
    Krita, despite its capabilities, is not as widely adopted in professional industries compared to other software like Photoshop, potentially affecting collaboration and job opportunities.
  • Hardware Dependency
    Optimal performance in Krita can be highly dependent on the user's hardware configuration, necessitating more powerful machines for high-end work.

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.

GIMP videos

+ Add

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

Krita videos

+ Add

LET'S TRY: Krita!! (free art program)

More videos:

  • Review - Krita - FREE Art Program Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GIMP and Krita)

GIMP

Krita

Graphic Design Software
54 54%
Graphic Design Software
46% 46
Digital Drawing And Painting
45 45%
Digital Drawing And Painting
55% 55
Image Editing
56 56%
Image Editing
44% 44
Photo Editing
100 100%
Photo Editing
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using GIMP and Krita. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

GIMP Reviews

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

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

    👍 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 industry’s needs.
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
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.
Source: www.techradar.com
10 Best Adobe Illustrator Alternatives
Check out GIMP, one of the best free Illustrator alternatives which is ideal for any creative.
Source: www.ebaqdesign.com
16+ Best Web Design Software in 2022 (Ranked by a Trusted Expert)
GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It’s a free and open-source software for editing images and a valuable tool to have in your arsenal.
Source: onehourprofessor.com

Krita Reviews

Best Adobe Photoshop alternatives of 2024
Krita is open-source and free alternative to Adobe Photoshop, backed by a huge community of developers and talented artists who share artwork and methods. If you’re looking for an active user base that’s invested in discussing and sharing art, Krita is a great Photoshop alternative for drawing.
Source: www.techradar.com
10 BEST Procreate Alternatives For Android For 2023
Krita offers a natural sketching experience digitally. You get textures along with default brushes that aid you in creating various art types. You can customize the brushes as well. The app also has an integrated reference panel and color wheel.
Source: www.softwaretestinghelp.com
7 BEST Procreate Alternatives for Android (2023)
Krita’s provides a Gradient tool to help you create stunning artwork. It offers many assets, such as perspective halftone filters, etc., to help you draw efficiently. Krita also has comic textures and other templates. The blending works well, and it gives a lot of creative options.
Source: www.guru99.com
15 Best Procreate Alternatives For Android 2023
Krita is a fun app with many innovative and common features, including brush engines for painting and sketching, stabilizers for freehand inking, a distraction-free canvas, and assistants for creating complex scenes.
Source: rigorousthemes.com
Our 6 Favorite Free Photoshop Alternatives (2022 Update)
Krita is a free and open-source painting program, originally developed by a team of rag-tag students and later expanded to become a full-scale professional drawing program that rivals, and in my opinion, surpasses Photoshop in its drawing capabilities.
Source: www.cgdirector.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Krita should be more popular than GIMP. It has been mentiond 300 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.

GIMP mentions (59)

  • Yurt Calculator
    Image Creative Commons (CC) BY-SA-NC 2005-2017, developed, designed and written by René K. Müller Graphics & illustrations made with Inkscape, Tgif, Gimp, PovRay, GD.pm Web-Site powered by FreeBSD & Debian/Linux - 100% Open Source. Source: about 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: about 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, it’s not directly related to UI, but might be handy. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Krita mentions (300)

  • Ask HN: Which "open-source alternatives" have succeeded?
    Fairly well known on HN by now but Krita is also excellent and simple image editor and painting app like Photoshop was 20 years ago https://krita.org/en/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Cancel Adobe if you are a creative under NDA with your clients
    Well, there is Serif's suite: https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/ (There's also a Photo and page layout app) or the open-source stuff: - https://krita.org/en/ - https://inkscape.org/ - https://www.scribus.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Cancel Adobe if you are a creative under NDA with your clients
    These are all valid alternatives with real world use, but none of them are Photoshop, and that's kinda the problem we face. Krita - https://krita.org/en/. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Photoshop ToS grants Adobe access to user projects for 'content moderation'
    I migrated away from Adobe after Photoshop CS6 which I believe was the last release before they switched over to a subscription only pricing model. If you're looking for a Photoshop alternative to break away from the incredibly user hostile relationship with Adobe I can heartily recommend either Krita (open source) or Pixelmator (Mac only). Pixelmator Pro is my daily driver for image related work and is incredibly... - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Paint.net
    Check out Krita[0]. It's what I used after leaving Windows - a little different, maybe 25% more complicated, but has everything you need. If you just want a MS Paint replacement, KolourPaint[1] is the way to go [0] https://krita.org/en/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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

MyPaint - MyPaint is a fast, distraction-free, and easy painting tool for digital artists.

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

Sketch - Professional digital design for Mac.

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

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