GIMP vs Affinity by Canva
Both are alternatives to Adobe Photoshop. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as Affinity by Canva vs GIMP — same comparison, one verdict.
GIMP is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later) and Affinity by Canva is not (Proprietary (free)) — so the real question is whether you want to own the image editing stack or rent it.
GIMP
TOP PICKThe long-standing open-source image editor for photo retouching and compositing.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is the most complete open-source counterpart to Photoshop for photo retouching, compositing, and image authoring, in development since the 1990s. The 3.x era has modernized it substantially: GIMP 3.0 (March 2025) introduced non-destructive editing for most commonly used filters, better PSD export, and editable text styling, and the project has kept a steady release pace since (3.2.4 as of April 2026). It runs entirely on your own machine with no account, and the honest trade-off is a learning curve: the interface and shortcuts differ from Photoshop's, and some professional features — full adjustment-layer parity, CMYK prepress — are still behind.
Affinity by Canva
The full pro suite — pixel, vector, and layout — now genuinely free.
Affinity was the classic one-time-purchase Photoshop rival; after Canva's acquisition it was relaunched in late 2025 as a single free desktop app combining what used to be Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher — full pixel, vector, and layout studios with no feature limits or subscription. It's closed-source and needs a Canva account to activate (it works offline afterwards), and Canva's AI extras are the paid upsell. For someone who wants professional-grade Photoshop power without a subscription and without open-source trade-offs, this is now the strongest commercial answer.
Side by side
10 points of comparison, every one read from a verified field. Green marks the side that wins a row outright. A dash means we do not hold that fact — never that it is zero.
| GIMP | Affinity by Canva | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty ScoreOur transparent 0–100 composite for data ownership and exit cost. | 96 | 42 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Local-first data | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0-or-later | Proprietary (free) |
| Pricing | Free and open-source | Free (all pixel/vector/layout tools); Canva premium plans unlock the AI features |
| RAM to run it wellThe figure that actually matters, not the vendor's minimum. | 4 GB for large multi-layer images | — |
| Realistic running costWhat the box costs each month if you run it yourself. | $0 — it runs on the machine you already own | — |
| Setup timeHonest first-install estimate, not the marketing quickstart. | 20 minutes | — |
| Ongoing maintenanceThe part nobody budgets for. | None beyond updates. | — |
GIMP is Macrostack's recommended Adobe Photoshop alternative, so it's our pick here.
Weighing both against staying on Adobe Photoshop? Is Adobe Photoshop free? What it actually costs →
GIMP
Strengths
- +Free and open-source (GPL-3.0-or-later) with decades of development and a large community
- +Deep retouching and compositing tools; non-destructive filter editing since 3.0
- +Big ecosystem of plugins and scripts (Script-Fu, Python)
- +Opens and exports PSD files (within limits) plus virtually every common format
- +Runs fully offline on Windows, macOS, and Linux — no account required
Trade-offs
- −Interface and shortcuts differ from Photoshop — expect a real adjustment period
- −PSD support is partial; complex layered files may not round-trip cleanly
- −No full equivalent of Photoshop's adjustment layers yet, and CMYK/prepress workflows are still limited
- −No built-in generative AI tools comparable to Firefly
Affinity by Canva
Strengths
- +Professional-grade suite, genuinely free — no feature gates
- +Pixel, vector, and page layout in one app
- +Works offline after activation; native macOS and Windows
Trade-offs
- −Closed-source; requires a Canva account to activate
- −Long-term direction now depends on Canva
- −iPad version still catching up
Which one fits you
The trade-offs above, turned into a decision. Find the line that describes your team.
Choose GIMP
if you want the source and the option to fork it, and you would rather run it on your own hardware, and free and open-source (GPL-3.0-or-later) with decades of development and a large community.
Choose Affinity by Canva
if professional-grade suite, genuinely free — no feature gates.
Neither, yet
if both carry a real cost you should weigh first — interface and shortcuts differ from Photoshop — expect a real adjustment period, and closed-source; requires a Canva account to activate. If either of those is a dealbreaker for your team, the shortlist is wrong rather than the choice.
What it takes to run these yourself
Real requirements and honest running costs, not the vendor quickstart.
GIMP vs Affinity by Canva — common questions
Is GIMP a better fit than Affinity by Canva for image editing?
It depends on what you are optimising for, and the honest split is this: GIMP scores 96 to Affinity by Canva's 42 on data ownership and exit cost, so it is the safer choice if you care about being able to leave. Affinity by Canva earns its place on a different axis — professional-grade suite, genuinely free — no feature gates. Neither is a wrong answer for every team; the table above is the actual comparison.
What happens if we want to switch later?
GIMP keeps its data local or in open formats, so leaving is an export rather than a negotiation. Affinity by Canva keeps your data on its own infrastructure, which is the part to plan for: confirm the export path before you commit, not when you are already trying to leave.
Can I self-host GIMP?
GIMP can be self-hosted; Affinity by Canva cannot, so it stays on the vendor's infrastructure whatever you do.
Are GIMP and Affinity by Canva both alternatives to Adobe Photoshop?
Yes — both appear in our Adobe Photoshop comparison, which is why they are worth putting side by side. People usually arrive here already having decided to move off Adobe Photoshop and now choosing between the two replacements, which is a narrower and much easier question.
Related alternative guides
Facts verified 2026-07-06. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.