GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) has been a popular open-source image editor for over two decades. Several designers, photographers, and artists rely on it for simple to complex image editing jobs.
But, other free alternatives to GIMP are as strong and user-friendly. In this guide, we will explore the best five open-source, free alternatives to GIMP in 2023. You can also check our list of the best free Photoshop alternatives.
Top 5 GIMP Alternatives in 2023
GIMP has been a popular open-source image editor for many years, but other equally capable and user-friendly free alternatives exist. Here is the list of the top 5 GIMP alternatives you can use in 2023:
1. Krita

Krita is a free and open-source digital painting application that offers a complete painting environment. It offers a sleek and user-friendly design that makes it simple for artists to produce beautiful art. Krita provides a variety of brushes and tools for painting, sketching, and image editing, including brushes, patterns, gradients, and vector tools that are easily customizable.
Moreover, Krita supports several file types, such as PSD, JPG, PNG, and TIFF, making it a flexible piece of software for artists and designers. In addition to layer management, color management, and animation capabilities, Krita may be used to create animations, comics, and drawings. Krita’s intuitive design and powerful functionality make it a popular alternative to other digital painting applications.
2. Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor that enables users to create and modify vector graphics, drawings, and other visuals. It has a user-friendly interface and offers a variety of tools for producing and altering vector graphics, such as drawing, shape, text, and path editing tools.
Inkscape supports several file types, such as SVG, PDF, EPS, and AI, making it a flexible piece of software for designers and artists. With capabilities like layer management, object grouping, and gradient tools, Inkscape may be used to create logos, icons, and other types of images. The adaptability and functionality of Inkscape make it a popular alternative to other vector graphics applications.
3. Paint.NET

Paint.NET is a free image and picture editor for Windows that offers basic to intermediate editing features. It has an interactive design and provides layers, special effects, and various selecting tools, such as the lasso and magic wand. Furthermore, Paint.NET supports other file types, including JPEG, BMP, PNG, and TIFF, making it a flexible image editing program.
Paint.NET also offers complex capabilities like layer editing, color correction, and configurable brushes, making it suitable for generating graphics and digital artwork with a professional appearance. Paint.NET is a popular alternative to other image editing software due to its ease of use and extensive capabilities.
4. RawTherapee

RawTherapee is a free and open-source raw image processing application that offers a variety of tools for modifying exposure, contrast, and other characteristics. It provides a simple UI and supports various raw picture formats and cameras. In particular, RawTherapee provides non-destructive editing, noise reduction, and lens correction capabilities, making it suited for raw format photographers and hobbyists.
RawTherapee has complex capabilities such as color control, batch processing, and tone mapping, making it suited for producing photographs with a professional appearance. RawTherapee is a popular alternative to other raw image processing software due to its comprehensive abilities and support for several raw picture formats.
5. Darktable

Darktable is a free and open-source photography workflow application that offers a variety of tools for organizing and altering digital images. It comes with a simple UI and supports various camera types and raw picture file formats. Additionally, Darktable provides non-destructive editing, exposure management, color correction, and noise reduction, making it appropriate for photographers and hobbyists who want to improve and manage their digital images.
Darktable’s extensive features, including tethered shooting, batch processing, and picture masking, make it suited for professional photographers and digital artists. It is a popular alternative to other photographic workflow software because of its comprehensive features and support for many camera types and raw picture formats.
Conclusion
Each application provides features and capabilities tailored to specific demands and objectives. Hence, it is vital to assess the features and capabilities of each program to choose which one suits your demands.
That’s it; these are the best alternatives to GIMP. I hope you find this article helpful. If you liked the article, share it with your friends. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to write them in the comment section below. We will surely reply to you.