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Productivity · head to head

FigJam vs GIMP

FigJam logo

FigJam

Productivity

Free online whiteboard for teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GIMP logo

GIMP

Publishing

Free and open-source image editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: FigJam organization and Enterprise tiers are billed annually only, with no monthly billing option; GIMP gPLv3 licence requires derivative works to be open-source and freely distributed
  • They diverge on capability: FigJam covers Infinite whiteboard, GIMP covers Photo editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FigJam and GIMP actually diverge.

Attributes where FigJam and GIMP differ
AttributeFigJamGIMP
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Macos, Ios, AndroidGNU/Linux, macOS, Windows
CategoryProductivityPublishing
Founded20121995

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 FigJam

  • Infinite whiteboard
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Sticky notes
  • Drawing tools
  • Shapes
  • Widgets
  • Templates
  • Voting

Only in GIMP

  • Photo editing
  • Digital painting
  • Image processing
  • Batch editing
  • Filters
  • Color correction
  • Layer support
  • Script-fu automation

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Macos support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

FigJam

  • Teams running collaborative brainstorming and whiteboarding sessions bundled into an existing Figma plannot GIMP

GIMP

  • Photo editing and retouching with professional colour managementnot FigJam
  • Digital art creation with power and flexibility for image transformationnot FigJam
  • Icon and UI element design for application developmentnot FigJam
  • Batch image processing through Python, C, C++, and Scheme scriptingnot FigJam

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

FigJam

  • Organization and Enterprise tiers are billed annually only, with no monthly billing option
  • Free Starter plan caps AI credit usage at 150 credits per day and 500 per month, well below the 3,000 monthly AI credits on a Professional full seat

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

FigJam

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited editable boards
    • Basic tools
    • Unlimited viewers
  • Paid$5/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced templates
    • Moderation tools

GIMP

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GIMP review.

Which should you pick?

Choose FigJam if

  • You need infinite whiteboard.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
FigJam review

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.
GIMP review

Questions people ask

Is FigJam or GIMP better?
Neither clearly leads. FigJam starts at Free and GIMP at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FigJam or GIMP?
FigJam starts at Free and GIMP at Free.
Does FigJam or GIMP run on more platforms?
FigJam runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android. GIMP runs on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use FigJam for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is FigJam best used for?
FigJam is most often used for teams running collaborative brainstorming and whiteboarding sessions bundled into an existing figma plan. Of those, teams running collaborative brainstorming and whiteboarding sessions bundled into an existing figma plan is not what GIMP is typically brought in for.
What can FigJam do that GIMP cannot?
FigJam covers Infinite whiteboard, Real-time collaboration, Sticky notes, Drawing tools. GIMP covers Photo editing, Digital painting, Image processing, Batch editing. Both handle Windows support, Macos support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FigJam: Is FigJam included with Figma or sold separately?

FigJam is included at no additional cost with all Figma plans, from the free Starter plan through Enterprise.

Source
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.

Source
FigJam: How many AI credits does each Figma plan include for FigJam?

The Professional plan includes 3,000 AI credits per month, Organization plan includes 3,500 AI credits per month, and Enterprise plan includes 4,250 AI credits per month. Starter (free) does not include AI features.

Source
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.

Source
FigJam: What can I do with FigJam's open sessions feature?

FigJam allows anyone to join open sessions for 24 hours without needing a Figma account, and you can create unlimited open sessions across your team.

Source
FigJam: What diagramming capabilities does FigJam include?

FigJam includes advanced shapes for technical diagramming such as AWS, GCP, Azure, and Kubernetes components, plus standard diagramming tools and connectors. All these features are available on every paid plan.

Source
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