Which is better, Pixlr or GIMP?

Pixlr edges out GIMP based on user ratings across 727 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 Pixlr and GIMP?

Key differences between Pixlr and GIMP include pricing (Pixlr starts at $4.90 vs GIMP at undisclosed); target audience (Pixlr targets Individuals while GIMP serves Freelancers / Consultants). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both Pixlr and GIMP offer a Free trial?

Neither Pixlr nor GIMP offers a free trial.

Who are the typical users of Pixlr?

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

Who are the typical users of GIMP?

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

What is the starting price of Pixlr and GIMP?

The starting price of Pixlr is $4.90/Month. Pricing for GIMP is unavailable.

What are the best alternatives to Pixlr?

Some top alternatives to Pixlr include Fotor, Photopea, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Express, FotoFlexer.

What are the best alternatives to GIMP?

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

Pixlr vs GIMP vs Looka Comparison

Last updated: May 18, 2026

Pixlr

4.5(727 reviews)

Starting at $4.90 /Month

Individuals
Freelancers / Consultants

Pixlr is a free photo editing application that includes more than 350 professional-grade filters and tools for basic adjustments, complex photo compositions, sharing photos on social networks, and more. Unlike basic soft…

View Pricing Read Reviews

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

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

Pixlr leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 727 reviews.

Pixlr vs GIMP vs Looka — at a glance

Feature	Pixlr	GIMP	Looka
Rating	4.5 / 5	4.0 / 5	4.1 / 5
Reviews	727	4,592	11,322
Starting price	$4.90 /Month	Contact for pricing	$4.99 /Month
Free trial	No	No	No
Free version	No	No	No
Best for	Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises	Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business	Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business
Category	Photo Editing Software	Graphic Design Software	Graphic Design Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS	Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud
API	—	Available	—
Support modes	Online	Online	Online
Certifications	—	—	GDPR
Data residency	Global	—	US

Key differences between Pixlr and GIMP

Pricing: Pixlr starts at $4.90 /Month. GIMP pricing is not publicly listed.
Target audience: Pixlr is built for Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants, while GIMP targets Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business.
User satisfaction: Pixlr scores higher with a 4.5-star average.
Deployment: Pixlr supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; GIMP supports Mobile - Android, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare Pixlr vs GIMP 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 Photo Editing 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

	Pixlr (345) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	GIMP (890) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Pixlr

Best free, browser-based photo editor for freelancers and small teams.

Choose if

You need a Photoshop-like tool accessible on any browser or mobile device without installation.
You want a simple, user-friendly interface for quick edits and social media content creation.
You require exclusive visual effects like Make-Up and Virtual Studio Effects for creative projects.

Consider alternatives if

You are a large enterprise needing advanced professional-grade photo editing features.
You need extensive offline editing capabilities or high storage limits without ads.

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.

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.

Pixlr: Best free, browser-based photo editor for freelancers and small teams. GIMP: Best free, open-source tool for powerful raster image manipulation.

Description	Pixlr is a free photo editing application that includes more than 350 professional-grade filters and tools for basic adjustments, complex photo compositions, sharing photos on social ... Read More about Pixlr	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	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	Starts from $4.90 , Billed Yearly	Not Available	Starts from $4.99
Free Trial Availability	No free trial	No free trial	No free trial
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	9.4/10	8.8/10	9.1/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4.5 (727)	4 (4592)	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 Pixlr, GIMP and Looka Compare on Features?

Total Features	12 Features	4 Features	6 Features
Unique Features	No unique features	No unique features	No unique features
	Get Quote	Get Quote	Visit website

Compare Pixlr, GIMP 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	$4.90 , Billed Yearly	Not Available	$4.99
Pricing Plans	Free Get Started Access to Pixlr X and E Basic editing tools Limited set of overlays Show more + Premium Get Started Full Access to Pixlr X and E Extensive editing tools AI CutOut (and future AI tools) Show more + Creative Pack Get Started Unlimited Access to Stock Content - 10 million Graphics, Templates, Fonts, Photos, Video & 3D files. Full Access to Pixlr X and E Extensive editing tools Show more +	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	Not 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	🌐 Global	—

Pixlr vs GIMP User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4.5 (based on 727 reviews)	4 (based on 4592 reviews)	4.1 (based on 11322 reviews)
Rating Distribution	258 78 7 2 0	535 265 50 18 22	816 44 7 10 29
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	Buyer sentiment Users generally praise Pixlr for its ease of use and broad editing capabilities, though some are frustrated by ads and feature limitations in the free version. What buyers like Ease of use Wide range of editing tools Accessibility across devices Common complaints Ads disrupting workflow Limited advanced features	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 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	Free web-based platform with Photoshop-like capabilities User-friendly interface suitable for both beginners and experienced users Accessible on desktop and mobile devices with a wide range of editing tools Free version includes ads that can disrupt workflow Limited advanced features compared to professional tools like Photoshop	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	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	3 Videos	No videos available.

Alternatives

Alternatives	Fotor 3.5 Photopea 3.1 Adobe Photoshop 4.7	Looka 4.1 Photopea 3.1 Adobe Photoshop 4.7	Canva 4.1 Wizlogo 4.5 Designmaker 4.7

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Pixlr or GIMP?: Pixlr edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do Pixlr and GIMP offer a free trial?: Neither Pixlr nor GIMP currently lists a free trial.
What is the starting price of Pixlr vs GIMP?: Pixlr starts at $4.90 /Month. GIMP starts at Contact for pricing.
What are the top alternatives to Pixlr?: Top alternatives to Pixlr include Fotor, Photopea, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Express, FotoFlexer.
What are the top alternatives to GIMP?: Top alternatives to GIMP include Looka, Photopea, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic, Canva.

Pixlr vs GIMP vs Looka Comparison

Pixlr

GIMP

Looka

Pixlr vs GIMP vs Looka — at a glance

Key differences between Pixlr and GIMP

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

Pixlr

GIMP

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 Pixlr, GIMP and Looka Compare on Features?

Compare Pixlr, GIMP and Looka on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

Pixlr vs GIMP User Reviews & Rating Comparison

Media and Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Related Blogs and Articles for Graphic Design Software

Frequently asked questions