Which is better, GIMP or Affinity Designer?

Affinity Designer edges out GIMP based on user ratings across 535 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 GIMP and Affinity Designer?

Key differences between GIMP and Affinity Designer include feature depth; integration options; pricing structure. Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both GIMP and Affinity Designer offer a Free trial?

Neither GIMP nor Affinity Designer offers a free trial.

Who are the typical users of GIMP?

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

Who are the typical users of Affinity Designer?

Affinity Designer is designed for Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business.

What is the starting price of GIMP and Affinity Designer?

Pricing details for both GIMP and Affinity Designer are unavailable.

What are the best alternatives to GIMP?

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

What are the best alternatives to Affinity Designer?

Some top alternatives to Affinity Designer include Looka, Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo, CorelDraw, Pixelixe.

GIMP vs Affinity Designer vs Looka Comparison

Last updated: May 20, 2026

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

Affinity Designer

4.6(535 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Freelancers / Consultants
Medium Business

Affinity Designer is the fast, smooth, and precise vector graphic design software. Offering high-end features such as real-time performance and infinite zooming at an unbeatable price, Affinity Designer is the perfect to…

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

Affinity Designer leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 535 reviews.

SpotSaaS Analysis

GIMPAffinity DesignerLooka

The core difference between GIMP and Affinity Designer is that GIMP is a free, open-source tool ideal for those seeking powerful raster image manipulation, while Affinity Designer is a professional-grade software likely aimed at users who need advanced vector graphic capabilities. GIMP is best suited for freelancers, small businesses, or educators looking for a cost-effective graphic design solution, whereas Affinity Designer appeals to professionals who require a robust design tool.

- Best free, open-source raster image manipulation tool - Ideal for freelancers, small businesses, and educators - Comprehensive digital art tools available - Cost-effective solution for graphic design needs - Supports a wide range of file formats - Regularly updated by a community of developers

- Professional-grade vector graphic design software - Suitable for advanced design projects - Offers a one-time purchase model - High-quality output for print and digital media - Intuitive user interface for efficient workflow - Compatible with various operating systems

GIMP vs Affinity Designer vs Looka — at a glance

Feature	GIMP	Affinity Designer	Looka
Rating	4.0 / 5	4.6 / 5	4.1 / 5
Reviews	4,592	535	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	Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business	Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business	Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business
Category	Graphic Design Software	Graphic Design Software	Graphic Design Software
Platforms	Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud
API	Available	—	—
Support modes	Online	Business Hours, Online	Online
Certifications	—	—	GDPR
Data residency	—	Global	US

Key differences between GIMP and Affinity Designer

User satisfaction: Affinity Designer scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
Deployment: GIMP supports Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; Affinity Designer supports Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare GIMP vs Affinity Designer 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 Graphic Design 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

	GIMP (890) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	Affinity Designer (195) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

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.

Affinity Designer

Best for

Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business

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.

GIMP typically suits Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business. Affinity Designer 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	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	Affinity Designer is the fast, smooth, and precise vector graphic design software. Offering high-end features such as real-time performance and infinite zooming at an unbeatable price, ... Read More about Affinity Designer	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? ↗	8.8/10	8.6/10	9.1/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4 (4592)	4.6 (535)	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	GIMP has not given any software demo yet If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do GIMP, Affinity Designer and Looka Compare on Features?

Total Features	4 Features	5 Features	6 Features
Unique Features	No unique features	No unique features	No unique features
	Get Quote	Get Quote	Visit website

Compare GIMP, Affinity Designer 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	Available	Not 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	—	—
GDPR	—	—
Data Residency	—	🌐 Global

GIMP vs Affinity Designer User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4 (based on 4592 reviews)	4.6 (based on 535 reviews)	4.1 (based on 11322 reviews)
Rating Distribution	535 265 50 18 22	171 19 4 0 1	816 44 7 10 29
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	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 Buyer sentiment is very strong across 195 reviews, with consistently positive feedback. What buyers like Easy to learn and use, similar interface to Adobe Illustrator, making it accessible for beginners. Affordable one-time purchase, cost-effective alternative to expensive subscription-based software. Fast and responsive performance, leading to increased productivity. Common complaints Some missing advanced features compared to competitors, such as image tracing, eraser tool, and advanced AI filters. Occasional compatibility issues with specific file formats and software, affecting collaboration. Learning curve for users transitioning from other design software, requiring time to adapt fully.	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	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	Exceptional performance with real-time rendering. Affordable pricing without sacrificing quality. Versatile toolset for various design tasks. Limited collaboration tools for team projects. Less community support compared to larger brands.	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

Videos	No videos available.	1 Videos

Alternatives

Alternatives	Looka 4.1 Photopea 3.1 Adobe Photoshop 4.7	Looka 4.1 Adobe Photoshop 4.7 Affinity Photo 4.7	Canva 4.1 Wizlogo 4.5 Designmaker 4.7

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, GIMP or Affinity Designer?: Affinity Designer edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do GIMP and Affinity Designer offer a free trial?: Neither GIMP nor Affinity Designer currently lists a free trial.
What is the starting price of GIMP vs Affinity Designer?: GIMP starts at Contact for pricing. Affinity Designer starts at Contact for pricing.
What are the top alternatives to GIMP?: Top alternatives to GIMP include Looka, Photopea, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic, Canva.
What are the top alternatives to Affinity Designer?: Top alternatives to Affinity Designer include Looka, Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo, CorelDraw, Pixelixe.

GIMP vs Affinity Designer vs Looka Comparison

GIMP

Affinity Designer

Looka

GIMP vs Affinity Designer vs Looka — at a glance

Key differences between GIMP and Affinity Designer

Compare GIMP vs Affinity Designer vs Looka — and walk away knowing which one fits.

GIMP

Affinity Designer

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 do GIMP, Affinity Designer and Looka Compare on Features?

Compare GIMP, Affinity Designer and Looka on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

GIMP vs Affinity Designer User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Related Blogs and Articles for Graphic Design Software

Frequently asked questions