Krita is a free and open-source painting program designed for concept artists, illustrators, matte painters, and the VFX industry. It offers a robust set of brushes, stabilizers, and a powerful layer engine for creating high-quality artwork.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open-source raster graphics editor offering many Photoshop-like capabilities at no cost. It is fully scriptable and runs on every major platform.
Completely free and open source.
- Free and open-source
- Highly customizable
- Robust set of brushes and features
- Regularly updated with new features and improvements
- Completely free and open source
- Cross-platform
- Highly extensible
- No subscription ever
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Limited support for 3D modeling and animation
- Resource-intensive, may require powerful hardware
- Dated interface for some
- Learning curve
- Fewer pro conveniences than Photoshop
What reviewers say
Krita Reviews
No reviews yet.
GIMP Reviews
4.3 (3)Solid choice
GIMP has been part of our stack. Completely free and open source. Minor gripe: learning curve. Would recommend.
Solid choice
Been using GIMP for a while. Highly extensible. Minor gripe: fewer pro conveniences than photoshop. Would recommend.
Recommend GIMP
Tried GIMP recently. Highly extensible. No real complaints. Would recommend.
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth GIMP and Krita are free, open‑source desktop editors, but GIMP is a general raster editor while Krita focuses on digital painting and illustration.
Key differences
- •Krita includes advanced brush engines, stabilizers, and animation/comic tools; GIMP lacks these painting‑specific features.
- •GIMP’s interface is older and less customizable than Krita’s highly configurable UI.
- •Krita supports PSD and many formats plus color‑management; GIMP also supports common formats but no mention of color‑management.
- •Krita provides community support via forum, docs, and email; GIMP lists no support options.
- •Krita is more resource‑intensive, requiring stronger hardware; GIMP is lighter.
Pricing & value
Both are completely free, open‑source desktop apps with no subscription costs.
Ease of use / learning curve
GIMP’s dated interface is generally simpler for basic raster tasks; Krita has a steeper learning curve for its advanced tools.
Features & depth
Krita offers robust brush engines, stabilizers, animation, and comic features not present in GIMP.
Integrations & ecosystem
GIMP is cross‑platform and extensible via plugins; Krita also has plugins but no API listed for either.
Collaboration
Neither product mentions built‑in collaboration features; both are standalone desktop apps.
Support
Krita provides forum, documentation, and email support; GIMP lists no support options.
Security & privacy
Both are open‑source desktop applications; no specific security or privacy claims are provided.
Choose Krita if…
Digital artists or illustrators who need sophisticated brushes, animation, and customizable UI.
Choose GIMP if…
Budget‑focused users needing basic raster editing without advanced painting tools.
Common questions
Is there any cost to use either tool?
Both GIMP and Krita are completely free and open‑source with no subscription fees.
Which tool is better for professional digital painting?
Krita, because it includes advanced brush engines, stabilizers, and animation/comic features tailored for artists.
What support options are available?
Krita offers forum, documentation, and email support; GIMP does not list any support options.