Which is better, Adobe Photoshop Express or GIMP?

Adobe Photoshop Express edges out GIMP based on user ratings across 407 reviews. That said, the best pick depends on your workflow — GIMP may be a stronger fit for specific team sizes or use cases. Review the full comparison to decide.

What are the main differences between Adobe Photoshop Express and GIMP?

Key differences between Adobe Photoshop Express and GIMP include target audience (Adobe Photoshop Express targets Individuals while GIMP serves Freelancers / Consultants). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both Adobe Photoshop Express and GIMP offer a Free trial?

Neither Adobe Photoshop Express nor GIMP offers a free trial.

Who are the typical users of Adobe Photoshop Express?

Adobe Photoshop Express is designed for Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

Who are the typical users of GIMP?

GIMP is designed for Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business.

What is the starting price of Adobe Photoshop Express and GIMP?

Pricing details for both Adobe Photoshop Express and GIMP are unavailable.

What are the best alternatives to Adobe Photoshop Express?

Some top alternatives to Adobe Photoshop Express include Adobe Photoshop Elements, Pixo, PhotoEditor SDK, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

What are the best alternatives to GIMP?

Some top alternatives to GIMP include Looka, Photopea, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic, Canva.

Adobe Photoshop Express vs GIMP vs Looka Comparison

Last updated: May 21, 2026

Adobe Photoshop Express

4.5(407 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Individuals
Large Enterprises

Photoshop Express is photo-editing software that makes it easy to quickly fix, enhance, and share photos. It's perfect for editing vacation shots, sharing pictures with family and friends, or making pictures look their b…

View Pricing Read Reviews

GIMP

4.0(4,592 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Freelancers / Consultants
Medium Business

GIMP is a cross-platform image manipulation program designed to fit users needs. Get started with GIMP by working on individual projects or participate in one of the many online user communities for aid with any problems…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Looka

4.1(11,322 reviews)

Starting at $4.99 /Month

Individuals
Medium Business

The looka design suite comprises a full software environment for every stage of a designer's work. The suite enables designers to create and share a seamless style in every image. With looka, any image can have a consist…

View Pricing Read Reviews

Adobe Photoshop Express leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 407 reviews.

Adobe Photoshop Express vs GIMP vs Looka — at a glance

Feature	Adobe Photoshop Express	GIMP	Looka
Rating	4.5 / 5	4.0 / 5	4.1 / 5
Reviews	407	4,592	11,322
Starting price	Contact for pricing	Contact for pricing	$4.99 /Month
Free trial	No	No	No
Free version	No	No	No
Best for	Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business	Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business	Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business
Category	Photo Editing Software	Graphic Design Software	Graphic Design Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows	Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud
API	—	Available	—
Support modes	Online	Online	Online
Certifications	GDPR	—	GDPR
Data residency	Global	—	US

Key differences between Adobe Photoshop Express and GIMP

Target audience: Adobe Photoshop Express is built for Individuals and Large Enterprises, while GIMP targets Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business.
User satisfaction: Adobe Photoshop Express scores higher with a 4.5-star average.
Deployment: Adobe Photoshop Express supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows; GIMP supports Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare Adobe Photoshop Express vs GIMP vs Looka — and walk away knowing which one fits.

Which tool fits your team best

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Photo Editing Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Biggest differences

Features

Pricing

Buying details

Security

Buyer feedback

Integrations

Product tour

Other options

	Adobe Photoshop Express (377) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	GIMP (890) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

Free PDF comparison

Download this Adobe Photoshop Express vs GIMP vs Looka comparison

Get the full side-by-side as a PDF — these picks plus the top Photo Editing Software tools, with verified ratings, pricing and features.

Side-by-side on pricing, features & ratings
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Emailed to you — no on-screen download

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Adobe Photoshop Express

Best for

Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business

GIMP

Best free, open-source tool for powerful raster image manipulation.

Choose if

You need a cost-effective solution with comprehensive digital art tools.
You are a freelancer, small business, or educator seeking flexible graphic design software.
You value strong community support and frequent feature updates.

Consider alternatives if

You require an intuitive, industry-standard interface with minimal learning curve.
You depend on extensive plugin marketplaces and third-party integrations.

Looka

Best for quick, easy logo and brand identity design for small teams.

Choose if

You need fast, simple logo creation with minimal learning curve.
You want consistent brand styling across multiple images effortlessly.
You value responsive, personalized customer support for design issues.

Consider alternatives if

Your team requires advanced design features and deep customization.
You represent a large enterprise needing complex design workflows.

Adobe Photoshop Express typically suits Individuals and Large Enterprises. GIMP tends to fit Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description	Photoshop Express is photo-editing software that makes it easy to quickly fix, enhance, and share photos. It's perfect for editing vacation shots, sharing pictures with family and friends, ... Read More about Adobe Photoshop Express	GIMP is a cross-platform image manipulation program designed to fit users needs. Get started with GIMP by working on individual projects or participate in one of the many online user ... Read More about GIMP	The looka design suite comprises a full software environment for every stage of a designer's work. The suite enables designers to create and share a seamless style in every image. With ... Read More about Looka
Entry Level Pricing	Not Available	Not Available	Starts from $4.99
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	No free trial	No free trial
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	8.6/10	8.8/10	9.1/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4.5 (407)	4 (4592)	4.1 (11322)
Best Company Size	—	1-50 employees51-500 employees	1-50 employees51-200 employees
	Get pricing help	Get pricing help	Visit website

Software Demo

Demo	Adobe Photoshop Express has not given any software demo yet If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us	GIMP has not given any software demo yet If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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How do Adobe Photoshop Express, GIMP and Looka Compare on Features?

Total Features	12 Features	4 Features	6 Features
Unique Features	No unique features	No unique features	No unique features
	Get Quote	Get Quote	Visit website

Compare Adobe Photoshop Express, GIMP and Looka on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option
Starting From	Not Available	Not Available	$4.99
Pricing Plans	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
Pricing Page	Pricing information not available	Pricing information not available
	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported	Individuals Small Business Medium Business Freelancers Large Enterprises	Individuals Small Business Medium Business Freelancers Large Enterprises	Individuals Small Business Medium Business Freelancers Large Enterprises
Platforms Supported	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Installed - Mac Installed - Windows Mobile - iOS Browser Based (Cloud)	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Installed - Mac Installed - Windows Mobile - iOS Browser Based (Cloud)	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - Android Installed - Mac Installed - Windows Mobile - iOS Browser Based (Cloud)
Modes of support	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online
API Support	Not Available	Available	Not Available
	Get help choosing	Get help choosing	Visit Website

Security & Compliance

Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

HIPAA	✗ No	—
GDPR	✓ Yes	—
Data Encryption	✓ Yes	—
Data Residency	🌐 Global	—

Adobe Photoshop Express vs GIMP User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4.5 (based on 407 reviews)	4 (based on 4592 reviews)	4.1 (based on 11322 reviews)
Rating Distribution	274 87 14 2 0	535 265 50 18 22	816 44 7 10 29
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is very strong across 377 reviews, with consistently positive feedback. What buyers like User-friendly interface and a variety of tools for quick and effective editing. Easy and smooth crafting of ads on-the-go, enhancing productivity. Advanced tools and features for rapid and simple editing. Common complaints Lack of advanced features and customizations that might be challenging for newcomers without proper support. Limited selection in the Marketplace for additional apps and connectors, restricting advanced functionalities.	Buyer sentiment Users generally appreciate GIMP's powerful features and free access but note a challenging learning curve and interface complexity. What buyers like Feature richness Cost-effectiveness Continuous improvements Common complaints Steep learning curve Non-intuitive interface	Buyer sentiment Users generally appreciate Looka for its ease of use and outstanding customer support, though some note limitations in advanced features and occasional technical issues. What buyers like Customer support responsiveness Ease of use Diverse design options Common complaints Limited advanced customization Technical hiccups
Pros and Cons	Photoshop Express allows for quick and easy enhancements, making it perfect for users on the go. The variety of filters and effects enhances creativity without overwhelming users. Its sharing options make it easy to distribute edited photos across platforms. Users looking for advanced editing features may find it lacking. The app can be slow on older devices.	Wide variety of tools for comprehensive digital art creation Free and open-source, accessible for budget-conscious users Powerful raster image manipulation with regular feature updates Steep learning curve for users new to the interface Non-intuitive interface requiring menu navigation	Excellent and responsive customer support with quick issue resolution Easy-to-use platform enabling seamless and fast logo creation Diverse design options allowing for consistent brand styling Limited advanced functionalities and customization beyond logo creation Occasional technical issues such as SSL challenges
Positive Reviews	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product
	Read reviews	Read reviews	Read reviews

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	4 Screenshots	No screenshots available.
Videos	No videos available.	No videos available.

Alternatives

Alternatives	Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.3 Pixo PhotoEditor SDK 4.2	Looka 4.1 Photopea 3.1 Adobe Photoshop 4.7	Canva 4.1 Wizlogo 4.5 Designmaker 4.7

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Adobe Photoshop Express or GIMP?: Adobe Photoshop Express edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do Adobe Photoshop Express and GIMP offer a free trial?: Neither Adobe Photoshop Express nor GIMP currently lists a free trial.
What is the starting price of Adobe Photoshop Express vs GIMP?: Adobe Photoshop Express starts at Contact for pricing. GIMP starts at Contact for pricing.
What are the top alternatives to Adobe Photoshop Express?: Top alternatives to Adobe Photoshop Express include Adobe Photoshop Elements, Pixo, PhotoEditor SDK, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.
What are the top alternatives to GIMP?: Top alternatives to GIMP include Looka, Photopea, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic, Canva.

Adobe Photoshop Express vs GIMP vs Looka Comparison

Adobe Photoshop Express

GIMP

Looka

Adobe Photoshop Express vs GIMP vs Looka — at a glance

Key differences between Adobe Photoshop Express and GIMP

Compare Adobe Photoshop Express vs GIMP vs Looka — and walk away knowing which one fits.

Adobe Photoshop Express

GIMP

Download this Adobe Photoshop Express vs GIMP vs Looka comparison

Biggest differences

Description

Entry Level Pricing

Free Trial Availability

Spotsaas Score

User Ratings

Best Company Size

Software Demo

Demo

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

How big is your team?

How do Adobe Photoshop Express, GIMP and Looka Compare on Features?

Compare Adobe Photoshop Express, GIMP and Looka on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

Adobe Photoshop Express vs GIMP User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Related Blogs and Articles for Graphic Design Software

Frequently asked questions