Which is better, GIMP or Sketch?

Sketch edges out GIMP based on user ratings across 3,097 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 Sketch?

Key differences between GIMP and Sketch include pricing (GIMP starts at undisclosed vs Sketch at $9); target audience (GIMP targets Freelancers / Consultants while Sketch serves Individuals). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both GIMP and Sketch offer a Free trial?

Neither GIMP nor Sketch 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 Sketch?

Sketch is designed for Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

What is the starting price of GIMP and Sketch?

The starting price of Sketch is $9/User/Month. Pricing for GIMP is 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 Sketch?

Some top alternatives to Sketch include Looka, Figma, Canva, CorelDraw, Xara Designer Pro.

GIMP vs Sketch 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

Sketch

4.4(3,097 reviews)

Starting at $9 /User/Month

Individuals
Freelancers / Consultants

Sketch is a professional tool for designing interfaces and websites. It features graphical tools for creating artwork, as well as built-in tools for prototyping and wireframing for apps. It’s for everybody who turns idea…

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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

Sketch leads on user satisfaction with a 4.4-star rating across 3,097 reviews.

GIMP vs Sketch vs Looka — at a glance

Feature	GIMP	Sketch	Looka
Rating	4.0 / 5	4.4 / 5	4.1 / 5
Reviews	4,592	3,097	11,322
Starting price	Contact for pricing	$9 /User/Month	$4.99 /Month
Free trial	No	No	No
Free version	No	No	No
Best for	Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business	Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises	Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business
Category	Graphic Design Software	Graphic Design Software	Graphic Design Software
Platforms	Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud
API	Available	Available	—
Support modes	Online	Online	Online
Certifications	—	GDPR	GDPR
Data residency	—	US	US

Key differences between GIMP and Sketch

Pricing: Sketch starts at $9 /User/Month. GIMP pricing is not publicly listed.
Target audience: GIMP is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business, while Sketch targets Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants.
User satisfaction: Sketch scores higher with a 4.4-star average.
Deployment: GIMP supports Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; Sketch supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Mac.

Compare GIMP vs Sketch 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	Sketch (1010) 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.

Sketch

Best for Mac-based UI/UX designers needing advanced prototyping and collaboration.

Choose if

You are a Mac user focused on designing web and mobile app interfaces.
You need robust prototyping and reusable components to boost design productivity.
Your team values real-time collaboration and extensive plugin integrations.

Consider alternatives if

Your team requires cross-platform support including Windows or Linux users.
You are a beginner seeking a tool with minimal learning curve and onboarding.

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. Sketch: Best for Mac-based UI/UX designers needing advanced prototyping and collaboration.

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	Sketch is a professional tool for designing interfaces and websites. It features graphical tools for creating artwork, as well as built-in tools for prototyping and wireframing for apps. ... Read More about Sketch	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	Starts from $9	Starts from $4.99
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	No free trial	No free trial
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	8.8/10	9.0/10	9.1/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4 (4592)	4.4 (3097)	4.1 (11322)
Best Company Size	1-50 employees51-500 employees	Small BusinessMedium Business	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, Sketch 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, Sketch 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	$9	$4.99
Pricing Plans	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
Pricing Page	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	—	✗ No
GDPR	—	✓ Yes
Data Residency	—	🇺🇸 US

GIMP vs Sketch User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4 (based on 4592 reviews)	4.4 (based on 3097 reviews)	4.1 (based on 11322 reviews)
Rating Distribution	535 265 50 18 22	786 192 25 7 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 Overall positive sentiment highlights Sketch's user-friendly interface, robust asset library, and strong collaboration features, tempered by concerns over Mac-only availability and learning curve. What buyers like Ease of use Extensive asset library Collaboration features Common complaints Platform exclusivity Learning curve	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	Intuitive and easy-to-use interface for efficient mockup and prototype creation Extensive library of assets and plugins that enhance creativity and workflow Collaboration features including real-time team functionality and integrations Limited to Mac OS, no support for Windows or Linux platforms Steep learning curve for beginners due to feature richness	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	No screenshots available.	3 Screenshots
Videos	No videos available.	3 Videos

Alternatives

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

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, GIMP or Sketch?: Sketch 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 Sketch offer a free trial?: Neither GIMP nor Sketch currently lists a free trial.
What is the starting price of GIMP vs Sketch?: GIMP starts at Contact for pricing. Sketch starts at $9 /User/Month.
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 Sketch?: Top alternatives to Sketch include Looka, Figma, Canva, CorelDraw, Xara Designer Pro.

GIMP vs Sketch vs Looka Comparison

GIMP

Sketch

Looka

GIMP vs Sketch vs Looka — at a glance

Key differences between GIMP and Sketch

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

GIMP

Sketch

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, Sketch and Looka Compare on Features?

Compare GIMP, Sketch and Looka on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

GIMP vs Sketch User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Related Blogs and Articles for Graphic Design Software

Frequently asked questions