# Affinity Designer vs GIMP

**Leader by vioscaleAI score:** Affinity Designer

| Attribute | Affinity Designer | GIMP |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 65.3 (52% (medium)) | 42.5 (74% (medium)) |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"Affinity is a free desktop application that combines vector drawing, raster photo editing, and page layout tools in a single workspace without requiring a subscription. It is indexed under Design & Creative Software.","source":"https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/","question":"What is Affinity Designer?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Affinity Designer offers a free tier, so you can start without paying. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/","question":"Is Affinity Designer free?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Affinity Designer supports Windows, macOS and iOS. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/","question":"What platforms does Affinity Designer support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have independently confirmed GDPR for Affinity Designer. Certifications we do not list are ones we have not been able to verify from public sources, which is not the same as Affinity Designer not holding them. Always confirm compliance directly before you rely on it.","source":"https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/privacy/","question":"What security certifications does Affinity Designer have?","confidence":0.7},{"answer":"Affinity Designer is available worldwide. The vendor is headquartered in the United Kingdom.","source":"https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/","question":"Where is Affinity Designer available?","confidence":0.75}]` | `[{"answer":"GIMP is a free, open-source cross-platform image editor available for GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows and other operating systems. It provides sophisticated tools for photo manipulation, artwork creation, graphic design, and desktop publishing workflows. It is indexed under Design & Creative Software.","source":"https://www.gimp.org/news/2011/01/11/plans-for-28-and-beyond/","question":"What is GIMP?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"GIMP is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://www.gimp.org/news/2011/01/11/plans-for-28-and-beyond/","question":"Is GIMP free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"GIMP supports Windows, macOS and Linux. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://www.gimp.org/news/2011/01/11/plans-for-28-and-beyond/","question":"What platforms does GIMP support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. GIMP can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://www.gimp.org/news/2011/01/11/plans-for-28-and-beyond/","question":"Can GIMP be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6}]` |
| deployment.options | - | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | A comprehensive design tool that integrates vector drawing, photo editing, and layout capabilities with real-time performance, precision controls, non-destructive editing, and broad export support. | An open-source image editor supporting multiple operating systems, offering tools for photo manipulation, creative artwork, and programmatic image processing through scripting. |
| features.capabilities | `{"dtp_layout":true,"free_available":true,"raster_editing":true,"vector_editing":true,"digital_painting":true,"platform_breadth":"Desktop (macOS, Windows) and mobile (iOS)","vector_illustration":true}` | `{"cmyk_print":false,"dtp_layout":false,"open_source":true,"pricing_model":"open_source","free_available":true,"raster_editing":true,"vector_editing":false,"color_management":true,"digital_painting":true,"platform_breadth":"GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows, and more operating systems","plugin_ecosystem":"Python, Scheme, C, C++ with extensive community-developed plugins and scripts","vector_illustration":false}` |
| integrations.count | 1 | 2 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Canva","native":true,"direction":"outbound"}]` | `[{"name":"Scribus"},{"name":"Inkscape"}]` |
| market.availability | `{"hqCountry":"GB","primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | - |
| platform.support | `{"mac":true,"windows":true}` | `{"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"free","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Affinity","features":["Vector design with pen precision, snapping, and alignment","Symbols and constraints for UI component consistency","Non-destructive editing","Real-time pixel previews","Raster and photo editing tools","Layout tools","Expressive brushes for digital illustration","Shape warping and path manipulation","Export to PDF, SVG, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, WebP by object, slice, or artboard","Batch export","Print-ready presets","Direct export to Canva","Free updates with new features"],"description":"Complete access to all vector, raster, and layout tools with no restrictions or payment","contactSales":false}],"summary":"Completely free with all features included","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/","retrievedAt":"2026-09-23T14:40:51.761Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.gimp.org/news/2011/01/11/plans-for-28-and-beyond/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T16:58:40.245Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | free | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| security.gdpr | yes | - |
| security.trust_center | https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/privacy/ | https://www.gimp.org/about/privacy.html |

## Capabilities (Design & Creative Software)

| Capability | Affinity Designer | GIMP |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Discipline** |  |  |
| Raster / photo editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vector illustration | ✓ | ✗ |
| DTP / page layout | ✓ | ✗ |
| Digital painting | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Platform** |  |  |
| Platform breadth | Desktop (macOS, Windows) and mobile (iOS) | GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows, and more operating systems |
| **Output** |  |  |
| CMYK / print production | - | ✗ |
| **Interoperability** |  |  |
| PSD / AI import | - | - |
| **Collaboration** |  |  |
| Real-time collaboration / cloud | - | - |
| **AI** |  |  |
| Generative AI features | - | - |
| **Extensibility** |  |  |
| Plugin / template ecosystem | - | Python, Scheme, C, C++ with extensive community-developed plugins and scripts |
| **Pricing** |  |  |
| Pricing model | - | Open-source (free) |
| Free / open-source available | ✓ | ✓ |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-19T02:28:24.258Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*