Adobe Photoshop now costs around £22.98 a month as part of a Creative Cloud plan, with no option to simply buy a licence outright any more. GIMP (the GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open-source photo and image editor that's been in active development since 1995, and it covers the vast majority of what home users, hobbyist photographers and small content creators actually need — layers, masks, filters, retouching tools, and support for both raster editing and basic text/graphics work.
Key takeaway: GIMP can replace Photoshop for most home and hobbyist editing needs, but it has a steeper, less intuitive learning curve and a less polished interface, so budget some time to get comfortable before you rely on it for anything important.
What GIMP does well
Layers, layer masks, selection tools, the clone and healing tools, curves and levels adjustments, filters and plugins — GIMP has all the core building blocks of serious photo editing. It supports common formats including JPEG, PNG, TIFF and its own native .xcf format (roughly equivalent to Photoshop's .psd), and it can open .psd files directly, though very complex Photoshop-specific features like smart objects or certain adjustment layers may not translate perfectly.
Where the learning curve bites
This is the honest caveat: GIMP's interface, menu terminology and default keyboard shortcuts differ from Photoshop's in ways that trip up people switching over, even experienced Photoshop users. Some commonly-used Photoshop features have GIMP equivalents that are named differently or tucked into less obvious menus (for example, GIMP's "Script-Fu" console for automation, or its separate windows mode by default rather than a single unified workspace). None of this is a dealbreaker, but expect a few hours of adjustment rather than an instant, seamless switch.
Tip: In GIMP's preferences, switch from the default multi-window interface to "Single-Window Mode" (Windows menu) — it makes the layout feel far more like Photoshop's unified workspace immediately.
Getting started
- Download GIMP only from the official gimp.org website, choosing the correct installer for Windows, macOS or Linux.
- Install it, then on first launch go to Windows > Single-Window Mode for a more familiar layout.
- Open an image via File > Open, and explore the Layers panel (Windows > Dockable Dialogs > Layers if it isn't visible).
- Try a basic edit: use the Levels tool (Colors > Levels) to adjust brightness/contrast, and the Clone tool to remove a small blemish.
- Install a beginner-friendly plugin pack if you want extra filters — GIMP's plugin ecosystem is extensive, though quality varies, so stick to well-reviewed, actively maintained plugins.
- Save your working file as .xcf to preserve layers, and use File > Export As to create a flattened .jpg or .png for sharing.
GIMP vs Photoshop
| Factor | GIMP | Photoshop |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | ~£22.98/month |
| Layers & masks | Yes | Yes |
| Learning curve | Steeper for switchers | Industry-standard, more tutorials |
| .psd support | Good, not perfect on complex files | Native |
| AI-powered tools (generative fill, etc.) | Limited/plugin-dependent | Extensive, built-in |
Before you start: download GIMP only from gimp.org or a linked official mirror. Search results for "GIMP download" sometimes surface lookalike sites bundling adware — the genuine site never asks for payment or an email address.
Should you switch?
For editing family photos, creating simple graphics, retouching, and most hobbyist creative work, GIMP is more than capable and the money saved over a year of Creative Cloud is substantial. If your work depends on Photoshop-specific AI features like Generative Fill, or you collaborate professionally with others using .psd files with complex layer effects, the transition will be rougher.
Frequently asked questions
- Is GIMP safe and legal to use?
- Yes, GIMP is free, open-source software distributed under the GNU General Public Licence, with no trial limitations or hidden costs.
- Can GIMP open Photoshop (.psd) files?
- Yes, for most standard layered files, though very advanced Photoshop-specific features may not import perfectly.
- Does GIMP support plugins like Photoshop does?
- Yes, GIMP has a large library of free plugins and scripts, though they vary in quality and maintenance — stick to well-known, actively updated ones.