Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PixInsight VS GIMP

Compare PixInsight VS GIMP and see what are their differences

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PixInsight logo PixInsight

A powerful deep sky stacking application for astrophotography.

GIMP logo GIMP

GIMP is a multiplatform photo manipulation tool.
  • PixInsight Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-28
  • GIMP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

PixInsight features and specs

  • Advanced Image Processing
    PixInsight offers advanced tools and algorithms specifically designed for astrophotography, allowing users to achieve high-quality processing results.
  • Customizable Workspace
    The software provides a flexible and customizable user interface, enabling users to organize and optimize their workflow according to personal preferences.
  • Modular Architecture
    PixInsight is highly modular, allowing users to add or remove functionalities via scripts and modules, adapting the software to specific needs or updates.
  • Extensive Documentation and Tutorials
    Users have access to comprehensive documentation and a wide range of tutorials, helping both beginners and advanced users to understand and utilize the software effectively.
  • Community Support
    PixInsight has a strong community of users and professionals who offer support, share techniques, and contribute to continuous development and improvement.

Possible disadvantages of PixInsight

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The software's advanced capabilities and specialized focus can make it challenging for beginners to learn and use effectively.
  • High Cost
    PixInsight can be expensive compared to other image processing software, which might be a barrier for hobbyists or those with tight budgets.
  • Resource Intensive
    The software requires significant computing power and resources to function optimally, which might necessitate hardware upgrades for some users.
  • Complex Interface
    Despite its customizability, the interface can appear complex and overwhelming, particularly for users who are new to astrophotography image processing.
  • Limited Non-Astrophotography Use
    Since PixInsight is specialized for astrophotography, it lacks the broader functionality found in more general image editing software, limiting its use for other photo editing 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 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.

PixInsight videos

Stacking Shootout - Pixinsight vs DSS vs Nebulosity. Also Cybertruck.

More videos:

  • Review - Explaining PixInsight #1 | OSC Workflow | Pre-Processing
  • Review - DeepSkyStacker vs. PixInsight Stacking

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 PixInsight and GIMP)
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Graphic Design Software
0 0%
100% 100
Invoicing
100 100%
0% 0
Image Editing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

PixInsight Reviews

We have no reviews of PixInsight yet.
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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.
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. It’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 PixInsight. 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.

PixInsight mentions (8)

  • When it comes to software what do you use and can you go a little bit into detail on how to use it
    PixInsight - Stacking and image processing. It's pricey but really the best processing software out there for deep sky pics imo (DeepSkyStacker / Siril / GIMP are commonly used free alternatives). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Asahi Ubuntu: does it support PixInSight and Gimp?
    Dear friends of Asahi, I was planning to get a laptop mainly for astrophotography postproduction while traveling, and other normal tasks. Apps required for astrophoto elaboration are just 2: PixInSight and Gimp. An M1 cored MacBook seem a very good machine but I really dislike macOS. I was wondering before spending time and money looking for suitable offer from refurbished market if Asahi Linux should run both... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • The Horsehead Nebula from my front yard
    Subs were calibrated and integrated for each filter using SiriL. In PixInsight I started by cropping the three stacked images, used automatic background extraction, and then combined the three into a colour image. BlurXTerminator on the combined image and StarNet v2 to separate the stars.. Separate multi scale linear transform on starless and luminance, more aggressive on the starless image. Unsharpmask applied to... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Files for the NGC 3132 Nebula
    PixInsight (costs money and I haven't tried a free trial). Source: almost 3 years ago
  • North America Nebula, NGC 7000
    PixInsight; stacking, calibration, noise reduction. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

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: about 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

What are some alternatives?

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

Siril - Siril is an astronomical image processing tool, able to convert, pre-process images, help aligning...

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

DeepSkyStacker - DeepSkyStacker is a freeware for astrophotographers that simplifies all the pre-processing steps of...

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.

RegiStax - Photography, Astronomy, Image, and Astrophotography

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