# darktable vs GIMP

**Leader by Vioscale score:** darktable

| Attribute | darktable | GIMP |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 51.5 (60% (medium)) | 34.5 (75% (high)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 100 | - |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 0 | - |
| adoption.github_stars | 12,992 | - |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | Darktable is a free, open-source photography application providing non-destructive raw image development and editing. It functions as a virtual darkroom and lighttable, managing photos in a database with professional color management, GPU acceleration, and optional AI-powered features. | 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 | `{"cmyk_print":true,"dtp_layout":false,"generative_ai":true,"pricing_model":"open_source","free_available":true,"raster_editing":true,"digital_painting":false,"platform_breadth":"Linux, Windows (10+), macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD","plugin_ecosystem":"Lua API for scripting and extensibility","vector_illustration":false,"realtime_collaboration":false}` | `{"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"}]` |
| language.primary | C | - |
| license.spdx | GPL-3.0 | - |
| market.availability | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | - |
| platform.support | `{"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"darktable","summary":"Free and open-source","features":["Non-destructive raw image editing","Virtual lighttable and darkroom interface","Digital negative database management","Professional color management for print output","GPU-accelerated processing","AI-powered features: denoise, upscale, object masking","Editing modules: local contrast, contrast equalizer, retouch, liquify","Lua scripting API for customization"],"contactSales":false}],"summary":"Free, open-source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.darktable.org","retrievedAt":"2026-08-16T21:32:58.849Z"}` | `{"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 | open_source | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| release.cadence_days | 76 | - |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/nightly","date":"2026-08-26T00:49:58Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-5.6.0","date":"2026-06-21T09:18:30Z","type":"stable","version":"release-5.6.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-5.4.1","date":"2026-02-05T17:01:49Z","type":"stable","version":"release-5.4.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-5.4.0","date":"2025-12-21T08:46:44Z","type":"stable","version":"release-5.4.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-5.2.1","date":"2025-08-06T06:18:52Z","type":"stable","version":"release-5.2.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-5.2.0","date":"2025-06-21T10:50:55Z","type":"stable","version":"release-5.2.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-5.0.1","date":"2025-02-12T12:30:14Z","type":"stable","version":"release-5.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-5.0.0","date":"2024-12-21T18:04:40Z","type":"stable","version":"release-5.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-4.8.1","date":"2024-07-24T20:03:39Z","type":"stable","version":"release-4.8.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-4.8.0","date":"2024-06-21T15:51:19Z","type":"stable","version":"release-4.8.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-4.6.1","date":"2024-02-17T14:16:07Z","type":"stable","version":"release-4.6.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-4.6.0","date":"2023-12-21T18:18:49Z","type":"stable","version":"release-4.6.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-4.4.2","date":"2023-07-22T17:28:22Z","type":"stable","version":"release-4.4.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-4.4.1","date":"2023-07-01T06:18:27Z","type":"stable","version":"release-4.4.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-4.4.0","date":"2023-06-21T15:28:29Z","type":"stable","version":"release-4.4.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-4.2.1","date":"2023-02-22T18:45:50Z","type":"stable","version":"release-4.2.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-4.2.0","date":"2022-12-21T11:48:14Z","type":"stable","version":"release-4.2.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-4.0.1","date":"2022-09-17T09:36:54Z","type":"stable","version":"release-4.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-4.0.0","date":"2022-07-02T16:50:21Z","type":"stable","version":"release-4.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/darktable-org/darktable/releases/tag/release-3.8.1","date":"2022-02-11T13:18:05Z","type":"stable","version":"release-3.8.1"}]` | - |
| security.scorecard | 5.3 | - |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fdarktable-org%2Fdarktable&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | - |

## Capabilities (Design & Creative Software)

| Capability | darktable | GIMP |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Discipline** |  |  |
| Raster / photo editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vector illustration | ✗ | ✗ |
| DTP / page layout | ✗ | ✗ |
| Digital painting | ✗ | ✓ |
| **Platform** |  |  |
| Platform breadth | Linux, Windows (10+), macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD | 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 | Lua API for scripting and extensibility | Python, Scheme, C, C++ with extensive community-developed plugins and scripts |
| **Pricing** |  |  |
| Pricing model | Open-source (free) | Open-source (free) |
| Free / open-source available | ✓ | ✓ |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T16:45:04.720Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*