Adobe Photoshop vs GIMP: Which One Is Better in 2024?

Adobe Photoshop and GIMP are crucial for businesses and designers, offering powerful tools for creating high-quality visuals. We'll compare Adobe Photoshop and GIMP to determine which is the best fit for your needs, considering factors like cost, features, and user experience.

A Quick Overview of Adobe Photoshop and GIMP

What is Adobe Photoshop?

Adobe is a software company known for its creative and design tools. Adobe Photoshop is one of its flagship products, recognized for its image editing and design capabilities.

Photoshop offers features like background removal and image combination. Its integration of generative AI tools, such as Generative Fill, sets it apart from competitors.

What is GIMP?

GIMP is a free and open-source image editor available for multiple operating systems, including GNU/Linux, macOS, and Windows. It allows users to modify and distribute its source code.

GIMP offers high-quality photo manipulation tools for retouching, restoring, and creating composites. Its status as free and open-source software allows users to modify and distribute its source code, setting it apart from proprietary software.

Features of Adobe Photoshop and GIMP

Similarities

Adobe Photoshop and GIMP share several key features that make them both powerful tools for image editing and graphic design. Here are the most important similarities:

• Layer-Based Editing: Both Photoshop and GIMP allow users to work with multiple layers, providing flexibility in creating and editing images.
• Selection Tools: Both offer various selection tools, including brush-based selections, to isolate and edit specific parts of an image.
• Image Manipulation: Both software provide tools for transforming images, such as cropping, resizing, and applying filters and adjustments.
• Combining Images: Both allow users to merge multiple images to create composites, using layers and masks to blend elements seamlessly.
• Custom Brushes and Tools: Both Photoshop and GIMP offer customizable brushes and tools for detailed and precise editing.

Differences

Adobe Photoshop and GIMP each offer unique features that cater to different user needs. Here are the most significant differences between the two:

• Generative AI Tools: Photoshop includes advanced generative AI features like Generative Fill and Generative Expand, which are not available in GIMP.
• Text to Image: Photoshop allows users to generate images from text descriptions, a feature absent in GIMP.
• Free and Open Source: GIMP is free and open-source, allowing users to modify and distribute its source code, unlike the paid Adobe Photoshop.
• Cross-Platform Availability: GIMP is available on multiple operating systems, including GNU/Linux, macOS, and Windows, while Photoshop is primarily focused on macOS and Windows.
• Community Plug-ins: GIMP supports numerous community-created scripts and plug-ins, offering extensive customization options, whereas Photoshop relies more on built-in features and Adobe's ecosystem.

User Interface and Usability

Adobe Photoshop's user interface is designed to be intuitive, with tools like the Selection Brush and Adjustment Brush making complex edits straightforward. The integration of AI-powered features such as Generative Fill enhances the user experience by streamlining the creative process. Photoshop's overall usability is bolstered by its efficient workflow and extensive online tutorials, making it accessible to both beginners and professionals.

GIMP's user interface, while feature-rich, can be less intuitive for new users. The software offers extensive customization options and supports numerous third-party plugins, which can enhance the user experience for those familiar with its capabilities. However, the overall usability may be hindered by a steeper learning curve and less streamlined workflow compared to Photoshop.

Photoshop generally offers a better user interface and usability over GIMP.

Collaboration

Adobe Photoshop, part of the Creative Cloud, offers features that facilitate teamwork, such as shared libraries and cloud storage. These tools allow users to create and share assets quickly, enhancing collaborative efforts. However, the webpage does not provide direct user feedback on these collaborative features, leaving some uncertainty about their effectiveness in real-world scenarios.

GIMP, on the other hand, does not explicitly mention collaboration tools within the software itself. It highlights its integration with other free software like Scribus and Inkscape, which can support collaborative workflows indirectly. The lack of direct collaboration features may limit its appeal for team-based projects.

Overall, Adobe Photoshop appears to offer better support for collaboration than GIMP.

Adobe Photoshop and GIMP Pricing

Adobe Photoshop offers various subscription plans, including a standalone option at NIS 81.00 per month and a Photography Plan at NIS 70.00 per month. For those needing more, the Creative Cloud All Apps Plan costs NIS 205.00 per month. Discounts are available for students and teachers, and teams can opt for specialized plans.

GIMP, on the other hand, is entirely free to use. The software relies on donations for its sustainability, with options to fund core developers directly or contribute through the GNOME Foundation. There are no subscription fees or paid features, making it a cost-effective choice for users.

GIMP has better pricing as it is free, while Adobe Photoshop requires a subscription.

Comparing Adobe Photoshop and GIMP to Piktochart

Piktochart transforms complex ideas into captivating visuals that inform and engage your audience. With Piktochart AI, you can create stunning infographics, reports, and presentations in seconds, perfectly aligned with your brand. No design experience required.

Pros of Piktochart

• AI-Powered Design Generator: Create stunning visuals quickly with the help of AI, which generates designs for banners, brochures, business plans, documents, flyers, graphs, images, infographics, social media posts, newsletters, posters, presentations, quotes, reports, summaries, and timelines.
• Extensive Visual and Video Tools: Access a wide range of tools, including an Infographic Maker, Banner Maker, Brochure Maker, Screen Recorder, Social Media Video Maker, Video Cropper, and Video to Text Converter, to meet all your visual communication needs.
• Customizable Text and View Properties: Enjoy the flexibility to change text properties and view properties, such as background color and aspect ratios, for better video customization.
• Variety of Templates: Save time and effort with a vast selection of templates tailored for different use cases, making it simple to create professional-looking designs without formal training.
• Support for Various Sectors: Benefit from specialized tools and templates designed for sectors like communications, education, eLearning, finance, healthcare, human resources, marketing, and nonprofits, ensuring that your visuals are perfectly aligned with your industry needs.

Piktochart's Pricing

• Free: $0 (Free forever)
• Pro: $14 per member/month, billed annually (originally $29 per member/month)
• Business: $24 per member/month, billed annually (originally $49 per member/month)
• Enterprise: Custom Pricing (requires contacting Piktochart for a quote)

What Are Others Saying?

Adobe Photoshop Reviews

Overall, users have given Adobe Photoshop a rating of 4.6 out of 5. While many appreciate its powerful features, some find the interface complex and the subscription costs high.

• "The learning curve is steep, and the interface is cluttered." - John D., 3.5 out of 5
• "Expensive for individual users, especially with the subscription model." - Sarah L., 3 out of 5
• "Demands a lot of system resources, slowing down my computer." - Mike R., 3.8 out of 5

Find more of Adobe Photoshop reviews on G2!

GIMP Reviews

Overall, users have given GIMP a rating of 4.3 out of 5. While many appreciate its free services, some find the learning curve steep and the interface complex.

• "It's user interface is little complex to be understood by any new user. Other than that it's a good tool." - Verified User in Market Research, 3.0 out of 5
• "The user interface is not very friendly like other alternatives but seemingly does the job." - Vishal L., 3.0 out of 5
• "Might be nice to have a tutorial mode in the beginning to get how everything works, but overall awesome software." - Verified User in Human Resources, 3.0 out of 5

Find more of GIMP reviews on G2!

Piktochart Reviews

Our users have given Piktochart an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5. They appreciate its ease of use, extensive templates, and powerful design tools.

• "Easy to create content even if you're not a designer." - Jessica D.
• "My Go-To for ALL Professional Presentations!" - Jennifer K.
• "Excellent, easy way to create infographics." - Rachel L.

Find more of our reviews on G2!

Why choose one over the other?

Why Choose Adobe Photoshop:

• Consumers who need advanced AI features and seamless integration with other Adobe products will find Adobe Photoshop ideal. This software is perfect for professional photographers, graphic designers, and creative enthusiasts who require powerful tools for high-quality image editing and design.

Why Choose GIMP:

• GIMP is a great choice for those who prefer a free, open-source solution with extensive customization options. It is well-suited for cost-conscious users, developers, and open-source enthusiasts who need a versatile image editor without the expense of commercial software.

Why Choose Piktochart:

• Piktochart is ideal for users who want to create stunning visuals quickly and easily without needing design experience. This tool is perfect for general users, professionals, and small teams who need efficient visual communication solutions.

Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, or Piktochart: Which is the best platform for you?

Whether you're a professional designer, an open-source enthusiast, or someone looking to create stunning visuals effortlessly, there's a tool for you. Adobe Photoshop and GIMP offer powerful features tailored to specific needs, but we believe Piktochart stands out for its ease of use and versatility. With Piktochart, you can transform complex ideas into captivating visuals in seconds, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking to enhance their visual communication.