Which is better, GIMP or Xara Designer Pro?

Xara Designer Pro edges out GIMP based on user ratings across 18 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 Xara Designer Pro?

Key differences between GIMP and Xara Designer Pro include pricing (GIMP starts at undisclosed vs Xara Designer Pro at $8.65); free trial availability (Xara Designer Pro offers one, GIMP does not). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both GIMP and Xara Designer Pro offer a Free trial?

Xara Designer Pro offers Free Trial, but GIMP does not.

Who are the typical users of GIMP?

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

Who are the typical users of Xara Designer Pro?

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

What is the starting price of GIMP and Xara Designer Pro?

The starting price of Xara Designer Pro is $8.65/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 Xara Designer Pro?

Some top alternatives to Xara Designer Pro include Looka, Affinity Photo, Canva, CorelDraw, Affinity Designer.

GIMP vs Xara Designer Pro vs Looka Comparison

Last updated: May 19, 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

Xara Designer Pro

4.2(18 reviews)

Starting at $8.65 /Month

Free Trial
Freelancers / Consultants
Medium Business

Xara Designer Pro is complete graphics software for both new and existing designers. Effectively managing projects and delivering a professional standard format is easy thanks to its extensive feature set, including web…

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

Xara Designer Pro leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 18 reviews.

SpotSaaS Analysis

GIMPXara Designer ProLooka

GIMP is a free, open-source tool ideal for freelancers, small businesses, or educators seeking versatile graphic design software, while Xara Designer Pro is a paid solution suitable for users looking for a comprehensive design package at an affordable price. The ideal buyer for GIMP is someone needing a cost-effective, flexible option, whereas Xara Designer Pro appeals to those willing to invest in 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 - Suitable for small to medium-sized teams - No listed price, making it accessible to all

- Paid design software priced at $8.65 - Comprehensive design features for various projects - Ideal for users seeking a robust design package - Not limited by company size, versatile for different users - Focuses on professional-grade design capabilities - Offers a balance of affordability and functionality

GIMP vs Xara Designer Pro vs Looka — at a glance

Feature	GIMP	Xara Designer Pro	Looka
Rating	4.0 / 5	4.2 / 5	4.1 / 5
Reviews	4,592	18	11,322
Starting price	Contact for pricing	$8.65 /Month	$4.99 /Month
Free trial	No	Yes	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	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows	SaaS/Web/Cloud
API	Available	—	—
Support modes	Online	Online	Online
Certifications	—	—	GDPR
Data residency	—	US	US

Key differences between GIMP and Xara Designer Pro

Pricing: Xara Designer Pro starts at $8.65 /Month. GIMP pricing is not publicly listed.
Free trial: Xara Designer Pro offers a free trial; GIMP does not.
User satisfaction: Xara Designer Pro scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
Deployment: GIMP supports Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; Xara Designer Pro supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows.

Compare GIMP vs Xara Designer Pro 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	Xara Designer Pro (33) 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.

Xara Designer Pro

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. Xara Designer Pro 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	Xara Designer Pro is complete graphics software for both new and existing designers. Effectively managing projects and delivering a professional standard format is easy thanks to its ... Read More about Xara Designer Pro	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 $8.65 , Billed Yearly	Starts from $4.99
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	Get Free Trial	No free trial
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	8.8/10	8.0/10	9.1/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4 (4592)	4.2 (18)	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, Xara Designer Pro and Looka Compare on Features?

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

Compare GIMP, Xara Designer Pro 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	$8.65 , Billed Yearly	$4.99
Pricing Plans	Not Available	Free (Individual) Get Started $0/mo 1 user, lifetime access Professional templates Show more + Pro (Individual) Get Started $12.95/mo 1 user, billed annually $18.95/mo1 user, billed monthly Full power of Xara Cloud: Show more + Pro plus (Individual) Get Started $16.95/mo 1 user, billed annually $22.95/mo 1 user, billed monthly Designer Pro+ Show more + Browse all pricing plans	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	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	—	✗ No
GDPR	—	—
Data Residency	—	🇺🇸 US

GIMP vs Xara Designer Pro User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4 (based on 4592 reviews)	4.2 (based on 18 reviews)	4.1 (based on 11322 reviews)
Rating Distribution	535 265 50 18 22	11 21 1 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 Buyer sentiment is positive across 33 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction. What buyers like Comprehensive feature set Professional standard output Easy project management Common complaints Higher learning curve Cost may be prohibitive Limited community support	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	Extensive feature set for diverse design needs. Professional output quality for client work. Effective project management tools streamline workflow. Higher cost may not suit all budgets. Learning curve can be steep for new users.	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.	6 Screenshots
Videos	No videos available.	1 Videos

Alternatives

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

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, GIMP or Xara Designer Pro?: Xara Designer Pro edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 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 Xara Designer Pro offer a free trial?: Xara Designer Pro offers a free trial. GIMP does not.
What is the starting price of GIMP vs Xara Designer Pro?: GIMP starts at Contact for pricing. Xara Designer Pro starts at $8.65 /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 Xara Designer Pro?: Top alternatives to Xara Designer Pro include Looka, Affinity Photo, Canva, CorelDraw, Affinity Designer.

GIMP vs Xara Designer Pro vs Looka Comparison

GIMP

Xara Designer Pro

Looka

GIMP vs Xara Designer Pro vs Looka — at a glance

Key differences between GIMP and Xara Designer Pro

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

GIMP

Xara Designer Pro

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, Xara Designer Pro and Looka Compare on Features?

Compare GIMP, Xara Designer Pro and Looka on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

GIMP vs Xara Designer Pro User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Related Blogs and Articles for Graphic Design Software

Frequently asked questions