Software · head to head
Affinity Photo vs GIMP
Affinity Photo
Software
Professional photo editing software
- From
- $69.99/one-time
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only GIMP has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Affinity Photo version 2.0 required a full repurchase after seven years, breaking the perpetual license promise made to earlier users; GIMP gPLv3 licence requires derivative works to be open-source and freely distributed
- They diverge on capability: Affinity Photo covers RAW processing, GIMP covers Digital painting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Affinity Photo and GIMP actually diverge.
| Attribute | Affinity Photo | GIMP |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $69.99/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, iPad | GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Founded | 1987 | 1995 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Affinity Photo
- RAW processing
- Non-destructive editing
- AI enhancement
- Retouching tools
- Batch processing
- Vector support
- HDR tools
- Affinity Designer
Only in GIMP
- Digital painting
- Image processing
- Batch editing
- Filters
- Color correction
- Layer support
- Script-fu automation
- ImageMagick
Both cover
- Photo editing
- Desktop deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
- Multiple languages available language support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Affinity Photo
- Photo editingnot GIMP
- RAW processingnot GIMP
- Retouchingnot GIMP
- Digital photographynot GIMP
GIMP
- Photo editing and retouching with professional colour managementnot Affinity Photo
- Digital art creation with power and flexibility for image transformationnot Affinity Photo
- Icon and UI element design for application developmentnot Affinity Photo
- Batch image processing through Python, C, C++, and Scheme scriptingnot Affinity Photo
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Affinity Photo
- Version 2.0 required a full repurchase after seven years, breaking the perpetual license promise made to earlier users
- Affinity Photo was discontinued in October 2025 and replaced by freemium Affinity application
- No subscription model means no cloud storage or automatic backups like Photoshop Creative Cloud
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
Affinity Photo
$69.99/one-time- Standard$69.99/one-time
- Full version
- All features
- Lifetime updates
GIMP
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the GIMP review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Affinity Photo if
- You need raw processing.
- You work on macOS, Windows, iPad.
- You also want non-destructive editing.
Choose GIMP if
- You need digital painting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want image processing.
Questions people ask
- Is Affinity Photo or GIMP better?
- Neither clearly leads. Affinity Photo starts at $69.99/one-time and GIMP at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Affinity Photo or GIMP?
- GIMP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $69.99/one-time for Affinity Photo and Free for GIMP.
- Does Affinity Photo or GIMP run on more platforms?
- Affinity Photo runs on macOS, Windows, iPad. 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. Affinity Photo starts at $69.99/one-time.
- What is Affinity Photo best used for?
- Affinity Photo is most often used for photo editing, raw processing, retouching, digital photography. Of those, photo editing and raw processing are not what GIMP is typically brought in for.
- What can Affinity Photo do that GIMP cannot?
- Affinity Photo covers RAW processing, Non-destructive editing, AI enhancement, Retouching tools. GIMP covers Digital painting, Image processing, Batch editing, Filters. Both handle Photo editing, Desktop deployment, Windows support, Macos support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Affinity Photo: Does Affinity Photo include RAW editing?
Yes, Affinity Photo includes non-destructive RAW photo editing and development capabilities for photographers working with RAW image formats.
SourceRelated pages
More on Affinity Photo
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