GIMP vs Krita
Comparing two open source alternatives to Adobe Photoshop. Use the comparison below to decide which one fits your needs.
GIMP
GPL-3.0GNU Image Manipulation Program — the venerable free, open source image editor and Adobe Photoshop alternative.
Krita
GPL-3.0Free, open source digital painting and illustration application that is a popular alternative to Photoshop and Procreate.
Side-by-side comparison
| GIMP | Krita | |
|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| GitHub Stars | 6,438 | 10,394 |
| Forks | 891 | 859 |
| Last Commit | Sep 20, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 |
| First Released | Jun 3, 2012 | Oct 9, 2015 |
| Categories | ||
| Tags | — |
GitHub stars over time
GitHub stars over time
Similar open source alternatives
miniPaint
Online image editor with layers, filters, and effects that runs entirely in the browser. An open source Photoshop alternative with no ads or account required.
Adobe Photoshop
Compositor
Compositor is a free, open-source Photoshop-style image editor built in Swift, native to macOS.
Adobe Photoshop
SnapOtter
Self-hosted image manipulation platform with 45+ tools, local AI, and pipelines. A privacy-first open source alternative to Canva, TinyPNG, and remove.bg.
Canva
PixiEditor
PixiEditor is a universal open-source 2D editor for pixel art, painting, vector graphics, and animation. Powerful tools wrapped in a modern, friendly interface for every creator.
Adobe Photoshop