Which is better, GIMP or Krita?

Krita edges out GIMP based on user ratings across 55 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 Krita?

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

Do both GIMP and Krita offer a Free trial?

Neither GIMP nor Krita 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 Krita?

Krita is designed for Large Enterprises, Small Business, Medium Business.

What is the starting price of GIMP and Krita?

Pricing details for both GIMP and Krita 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 Krita?

Some top alternatives to Krita include Looka, Marvel, GIMP, Snappa, Icons8 App.

GIMP vs Krita vs Looka Comparison

Last updated: May 22, 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

Krita

4.4(55 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Large Enterprises
Small Business

Introducing Krita, the creative powerhouse for aspiring artists seeking to elevate their craft without burning a hole in their pockets. With Krita, unlock your full potential as an artist by harnessing a professional-gra…

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

Krita leads on user satisfaction with a 4.4-star rating across 55 reviews.

GIMP vs Krita vs Looka — at a glance

Feature	GIMP	Krita	Looka
Rating	4.0 / 5	4.4 / 5	4.1 / 5
Reviews	4,592	55	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	Large Enterprises, Small Business, Medium Business	Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business
Category	Graphic Design Software	Graphic Design Software	Graphic Design Software
Platforms	Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	Browser Based (Cloud), Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud
API	Available	Available	—
Support modes	Online	Online	Online
Certifications	—	—	GDPR
Data residency	—	—	US

Key differences between GIMP and Krita

Target audience: GIMP is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business, while Krita targets Large Enterprises and Small Business.
User satisfaction: Krita scores higher with a 4.4-star average.
Deployment: GIMP supports Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; Krita supports Browser Based (Cloud), Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare GIMP vs Krita 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	Krita 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.

Krita

Best free, professional-grade painting software for digital artists and illustrators.

Choose if

You want a powerful, budget-friendly painting tool with no licensing fees.
You are an individual artist or small creative team seeking flexible, customizable software.
You value an open-source platform with a strong community and plugin ecosystem.

Consider alternatives if

You require extensive official customer support and formal training resources.
You need advanced animation or 3D features beyond basic painting capabilities.

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: Best free, open-source tool for powerful raster image manipulation. Krita: Best free, professional-grade painting software for digital artists and illustrators.

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	Introducing Krita, the creative powerhouse for aspiring artists seeking to elevate their craft without burning a hole in their pockets. With Krita, unlock your full potential as an artist ... Read More about Krita	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	Not Available	9.1/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4 (4592)	4.4 (55)	4.1 (11322)
Best Company Size	1-50 employees51-500 employees	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, Krita and Looka Compare on Features?

Total Features	4 Features	0 Features	6 Features
Unique Features	No unique features	No features	No unique features
	Get Quote	Get Quote	Visit website

Compare GIMP, Krita 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	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	—	—

GIMP vs Krita User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4 (based on 4592 reviews)	4.4 (based on 55 reviews)	4.1 (based on 11322 reviews)
Rating Distribution	535 265 50 18 22	0 0 0 0 0	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 Users appreciate Krita’s powerful features and cost-effectiveness but note a learning curve and limited official support. What buyers like Ease of use Feature richness Cost effectiveness Common complaints Limited customer support Complexity for beginners	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	Professional-grade painting tools available for free Open-source platform allowing customization Budget-friendly with no licensing costs Limited official customer support Steeper learning curve for beginners	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.	2 Videos

Alternatives

Alternatives	Looka 4.1 Photopea 3.1 Adobe Photoshop 4.7	Looka 4.1 Marvel 4.6 GIMP 4	Canva 4.1 Wizlogo 4.5 Designmaker 4.7

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, GIMP or Krita?: Krita edges out the other on user ratings (4.4 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 Krita offer a free trial?: Neither GIMP nor Krita currently lists a free trial.
What is the starting price of GIMP vs Krita?: GIMP starts at Contact for pricing. Krita 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 Krita?: Top alternatives to Krita include Looka, Marvel, GIMP, Snappa, Icons8 App.

GIMP vs Krita vs Looka Comparison

GIMP

Krita

Looka

GIMP vs Krita vs Looka — at a glance

Key differences between GIMP and Krita

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

GIMP

Krita

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, Krita and Looka Compare on Features?

Compare GIMP, Krita and Looka on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

GIMP vs Krita User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Related Blogs and Articles for Graphic Design Software

Frequently asked questions