GIMP vs Microsoft Publisher Comparison
GIMP
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…
Microsoft Publisher
Starting at $5 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Microsoft Publisher is software that offers the user amazing desktop publishing capabilities. It is easy to use and enables users to create a plethora of documents ranging from simple greeting cards and labels to profess…
Microsoft Publisher leads on user satisfaction with a 4.3-star rating across 830 reviews.
GIMP vs Microsoft Publisher — at a glance
| Feature | GIMP | Microsoft Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Reviews | 822 | 830 |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | $5 /User/Month |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Graphic Design Software | Graphic Design Software |
| Platforms | Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac |
| API | Available | — |
| Support modes | Online | Online |
| Data residency | — | US |
Key differences between GIMP and Microsoft Publisher
- Pricing: Microsoft Publisher starts at $5 /User/Month. GIMP pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: Microsoft Publisher offers a free trial; GIMP does not.
- Target audience: GIMP is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business, while Microsoft Publisher targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
- User satisfaction: Microsoft Publisher scores higher with a 4.3-star average.
- Deployment: GIMP supports Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; Microsoft Publisher supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.
GIMP vs Microsoft Publisher — find the better fit before you commit.
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
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
Free PDF comparison
Download this GIMP vs Microsoft Publisher comparison
Get the full side-by-side as a PDF — these picks plus the top Graphic Design Software tools, with verified ratings, pricing and features.
- Side-by-side on pricing, features & ratings
- Plus the category top 10, scored & ranked
- Emailed to you — no on-screen download
No file downloads on screen — we email it to you. One-click unsubscribe anytime.
GIMP vs Microsoft Publisher: Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best free, open-source tool for powerful raster image manipulation.
- 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.
- You require an intuitive, industry-standard interface with minimal learning curve.
- You depend on extensive plugin marketplaces and third-party integrations.
Best for small businesses needing easy, reliable desktop publishing with fixed layouts.
- You want simple, streamlined creation of marketing materials and newsletters without a steep learning curve.
- You need design fidelity preserved exactly across print, email, and online formats.
- You prefer a wide variety of pre-designed templates for quick document creation.
- You require advanced graphic design features beyond basic desktop publishing.
- You need cloud-based collaboration or multi-user editing capabilities.
GIMP: Best free, open-source tool for powerful raster image manipulation. Microsoft Publisher: Best for small businesses needing easy, reliable desktop publishing with fixed layouts.
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 | Microsoft Publisher is software that offers the user amazing desktop publishing capabilities. It is easy to use and enables users to create a plethora of documents ranging from simple ... Read More about Microsoft Publisher |
|---|---|---|
Entry Level Pricing |
|
|
Free Trial Availability |
| |
SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 8.8/10 | Not Available |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 1-50 employees51-500 employees | 1-50 employees51-500 employees |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Need a second opinion?
Get decision 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.
- Independent advice — matched to your business
- Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
- Free 15-min call with a software advisor.
Step 1 of 4
How big is your team?
We tailor recommendations to companies your size.
How do GIMP and Microsoft Publisher Compare on Features?
Total Features | 4 Features | 2 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare GIMP and Microsoft Publisher 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 |
|
|
Pricing Plans |
|
|
Pricing Page | Pricing information not available |  |
GIMP vs Microsoft Publisher: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
|
|
|---|---|---|
Platforms Supported |
|
|
Modes of support |
|
|
API Support |
|
|
Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
GIMP vs Microsoft Publisher Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
Data Residency | — | 🇺🇸 US |
|---|
GIMP User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
Rating Distribution | ||
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
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Users generally appreciate Microsoft Publisher for its ease of use and reliable output, though some desire more advanced design and collaboration features. What buyers like
Common complaints
|
Pros and Cons |
|
|
Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Media and Screenshots
Screenshots | No screenshots available. |  1 Screenshots |
|---|
Add another option to compare side by side
Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.Compare similar software options
Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, GIMP or Microsoft Publisher?
- Microsoft Publisher edges out the other on user ratings (4.3 vs 4.2). That said, the best pick depends on your use case, so use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do GIMP and Microsoft Publisher offer a free trial?
- Microsoft Publisher offers a free trial. GIMP does not.
- What is the starting price of GIMP vs Microsoft Publisher?
- GIMP starts at Contact for pricing. Microsoft Publisher starts at $5 /User/Month.
- What are the top alternatives to GIMP?
- Top alternatives to GIMP include DesignEvo, Drawtify, 2MakeU, Wondershare PixStudio, GraphicRiver.
- What are the top alternatives to Microsoft Publisher?
- Top alternatives to Microsoft Publisher include Flaticon, Adobe InDesign, FlipHTML5, VistaCreate, Template.net.