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Publishing · head to head

GIMP vs Lulu

GIMP logo

GIMP

Publishing

Free and open-source image editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Lulu logo

Lulu

Publishing

Quality book printing at a reasonable price

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only GIMP has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: GIMP gPLv3 licence requires derivative works to be open-source and freely distributed; Lulu no fixed pricing published; vendor requires pricing calculator for quotes
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GIMP and Lulu actually diverge.

Attributes where GIMP and Lulu differ
AttributeGIMPLulu
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsGNU/Linux, macOS, WindowsWeb
Founded1995Unknown

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 GIMP

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

Only in Lulu

Nothing recorded that GIMP does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

GIMP

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

Lulu

  • Self-publishing novels without traditional publishingnot GIMP
  • Producing print-on-demand photo books without inventorynot GIMP
  • Creating photo books for preserving memoriesnot GIMP
  • Accessing 40,000+ global book retailersnot GIMP

Where each one falls short

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

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

Lulu

  • No fixed pricing published; vendor requires pricing calculator for quotes
  • Costs vary significantly based on trim size, binding type, page count, and shipping
  • Author royalties and distribution fees not disclosed on website

Pricing, plan by plan

GIMP

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GIMP review.

Lulu

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Lulu review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Lulu if

Nothing in the data separates Lulu from GIMP on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Lulu review

Questions people ask

Is GIMP or Lulu better?
Neither clearly leads. GIMP starts at Free and Lulu at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GIMP or Lulu?
GIMP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GIMP and On request for Lulu.
Does GIMP or Lulu run on more platforms?
GIMP runs on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows. Lulu runs on Web.
Can I use GIMP for free?
Yes. GIMP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Lulu starts at On request.
What is GIMP best used for?
GIMP is most often used for photo editing and retouching with professional colour management, digital art creation with power and flexibility for image transformation, icon and ui element design for application development, batch image processing through python, c, c++, and scheme scripting. Of those, photo editing and retouching with professional colour management and digital art creation with power and flexibility for image transformation are not what Lulu is typically brought in for.
What can GIMP do that Lulu cannot?
GIMP covers Photo editing, Digital painting, Image processing, Batch editing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Lulu: How much does Lulu self-publishing cost?

Lulu does not publish fixed pricing. Costs depend on specific book specifications including trim size, binding type, page count, and distribution format. Users must access Lulu's pricing calculator to receive personalized quotes for their book project.

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
Lulu: How does Lulu's pricing calculator work?

Users input their book specifications such as trim size, binding type, and page count into Lulu's pricing calculator tool to receive customized pricing quotes and view production timelines.

Source
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