Software · head to head
Blurb vs GIMP
Blurb
Software
Visual storytelling through print-on-demand books and wall art
- 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: Blurb wall art in canvas, acrylic and metal ships with no frame option; framing is not offered as an add-on; GIMP gPLv3 licence requires derivative works to be open-source and freely distributed
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Blurb and GIMP actually diverge.
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 Blurb
Nothing recorded that GIMP does not also cover.
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.
Blurb
No use cases recorded yet. See the Blurb review.
GIMP
- Photo editing and retouching with professional colour managementnot Blurb
- Digital art creation with power and flexibility for image transformationnot Blurb
- Icon and UI element design for application developmentnot Blurb
- Batch image processing through Python, C, C++, and Scheme scriptingnot Blurb
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Blurb
- Wall art in canvas, acrylic and metal ships with no frame option; framing is not offered as an add-on
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
Blurb
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Blurb review.
GIMP
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the GIMP review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Blurb if
Nothing in the data separates Blurb from GIMP on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
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 Blurb or GIMP better?
- Neither clearly leads. Blurb 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, Blurb or GIMP?
- GIMP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Blurb and Free for GIMP.
- Does Blurb or GIMP run on more platforms?
- Blurb runs on Web. 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. Blurb starts at On request.
- What can Blurb do that GIMP cannot?
- GIMP covers Photo editing, Digital painting, Image processing, Batch editing.