Publishing · head to head
Adobe InDesign vs GIMP
Adobe InDesign
Publishing
Industry-standard desktop publishing and page layout
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only GIMP has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Adobe InDesign subscription only, with no perpetual licence, which remains the most common complaint about it; GIMP gPLv3 licence requires derivative works to be open-source and freely distributed
- They diverge on capability: Adobe InDesign covers Master pages and styles, GIMP covers Photo editing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Adobe InDesign and GIMP actually diverge.
| Attribute | Adobe InDesign | GIMP |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | Subscription only, single app or Creative Cloud; published on the vendor site | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Founded | Unknown | 1995 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Publishing).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Adobe InDesign
- Master pages and styles
- Typographic control
- PDF/X export
- Data merge
- Creative Cloud integration
- EPUB export
Only in GIMP
- Photo editing
- Digital painting
- Image processing
- Batch editing
- Filters
- Color correction
- Layer support
- Script-fu automation
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Adobe InDesign
- Commercial print work where the printer expects InDesign filesnot GIMP
- Long documents needing styles and master pages across hundreds of pagesnot GIMP
- Catalogues built from a data source through data mergenot GIMP
GIMP
- Photo editing and retouching with professional colour managementnot Adobe InDesign
- Digital art creation with power and flexibility for image transformationnot Adobe InDesign
- Icon and UI element design for application developmentnot Adobe InDesign
- Batch image processing through Python, C, C++, and Scheme scriptingnot Adobe InDesign
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Adobe InDesign
- Subscription only, with no perpetual licence, which remains the most common complaint about it
- Files are not reliably backward compatible, so a newer version can produce a file an older one cannot open
- Heavy application with a steep learning curve for occasional users
- Collaboration is weak compared with browser-based design tools; it is still a single-file desktop model
GIMP
- GPLv3 licence requires derivative works to be open-source and freely distributed
- Community-driven development with no commercial support tier
- No native CMYK support for professional print workflows
- Ecosystem depends on community plugins and scripts for advanced features
Pricing, plan by plan
Adobe InDesign
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Adobe InDesign review.
GIMP
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the GIMP review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Adobe InDesign if
- You need master pages and styles.
- You work on Windows, macOS.
- You also want typographic control.
Choose GIMP if
- You need photo editing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want digital painting.
Questions people ask
- Is Adobe InDesign or GIMP better?
- Neither clearly leads. Adobe InDesign starts at On request and GIMP at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Adobe InDesign or GIMP?
- GIMP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Adobe InDesign and Free for GIMP.
- Does Adobe InDesign or GIMP run on more platforms?
- Adobe InDesign runs on Windows, macOS. GIMP runs on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows.
- Can I use GIMP for free?
- Yes. GIMP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Adobe InDesign starts at On request.
- What is Adobe InDesign best used for?
- Adobe InDesign is most often used for commercial print work where the printer expects indesign files, long documents needing styles and master pages across hundreds of pages, catalogues built from a data source through data merge. Of those, commercial print work where the printer expects indesign files and long documents needing styles and master pages across hundreds of pages are not what GIMP is typically brought in for.
- What can Adobe InDesign do that GIMP cannot?
- Adobe InDesign covers Master pages and styles, Typographic control, PDF/X export, Data merge. GIMP covers Photo editing, Digital painting, Image processing, Batch editing.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Adobe InDesign: Can I buy InDesign outright?
No. It is subscription only, either as a single app or within Creative Cloud. Perpetual licences ended years ago.
GIMP: How much does GIMP cost?
GIMP is completely free to use and distribute. The software is released under the GNU General Public License v3 (GPLv3), an open-source license that guarantees freedom to use, modify, and distribute.
SourceAdobe InDesign: Why do printers ask for InDesign files?
It is the professional standard for print production, and its PDF/X output and colour handling match what commercial presses require.
GIMP: Can I modify and distribute GIMP?
Yes, GIMP's source code is available for modification and redistribution according to the terms of the GPLv3 license.
SourceAdobe InDesign: What is the free alternative?
Scribus is open source and produces press-ready CMYK and PDF/X output, though it cannot open InDesign files and its typography is weaker.