# Affinity Designer vs GIMP

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Affinity Designer

| Attribute | Affinity Designer | GIMP |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 58.4 (38% (low)) | 34.5 (75% (high)) |
| deployment.options | - | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | Software for creating vector illustrations, editing photographs, and arranging layouts. Available free on macOS, Windows, and iOS. | 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. |
| features.capabilities | `{"dtp_layout":true,"free_available":true,"raster_editing":true,"digital_painting":true,"platform_breadth":"Desktop (macOS, Windows) and mobile (iOS)","vector_illustration":true}` | `{"cmyk_print":false,"dtp_layout":false,"pricing_model":"open_source","free_available":true,"raster_editing":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 | - | 2 |
| integrations.list | - | `[{"name":"Scribus"},{"name":"Inkscape"}]` |
| market.availability | `{"hqCountry":"GB","primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | - |
| platform.support | `{"ios":true,"mac":true,"windows":true}` | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"free","summary":"Free","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-16T20:56:23.525Z"}` | `{"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 |
| security.gdpr | yes | - |

## 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: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T17:25:23.920Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*