Softwr

Publishing · head to head

GIMP vs Moon Reader

GIMP logo

GIMP

Publishing

Free and open-source image editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Moon Reader logo

Moon Reader

Publishing

Android ebook reader app with a one-time purchase, deep format support and no subscription or store lock-in

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: GIMP gPLv3 licence requires derivative works to be open-source and freely distributed; Moon Reader it is Android only, so it is not an option for iOS, Kindle hardware or desktop-first readers.
  • They diverge on capability: GIMP covers Photo editing, Moon Reader covers Broad format support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GIMP and Moon Reader actually diverge.

Attributes where GIMP and Moon Reader differ
AttributeGIMPMoon Reader
Pricing modelopen-sourceOne-time purchase, free ad-supported version available
PlatformsGNU/Linux, macOS, WindowsAndroid
Founded1995Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Moon Reader

  • Broad format support
  • OPDS support
  • Deep customisation
  • Cloud sync
  • Reading statistics
  • Text-to-speech

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 Moon Reader
  • Digital art creation with power and flexibility for image transformationnot Moon Reader
  • Icon and UI element design for application developmentnot Moon Reader
  • Batch image processing through Python, C, C++, and Scheme scriptingnot Moon Reader

Moon Reader

  • An Android user with an existing library of EPUB or comic files who wants a better reader than their store app providesnot GIMP
  • Someone running a personal Calibre server who wants OPDS access from their phonenot GIMP
  • A reader who wants extensive font, theme and page-turn customisation not offered by store-bound appsnot GIMP
  • Someone who does not want a subscription and would rather pay once for a reading tool they already have content fornot 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

Moon Reader

  • It is Android only, so it is not an option for iOS, Kindle hardware or desktop-first readers.
  • It sells no books itself, so it is only useful to someone who already has an ebook acquisition method, whether purchase, library OPDS or personal files.
  • The interface and settings menus are dense and dated compared with polished store apps like Kobo or the Everand app.
  • Development has slowed at times, and users have reported gaps between updates for newer Android versions.
  • There is no cloud account tying your library and progress together across devices beyond what you configure manually via Dropbox or Drive.

Pricing, plan by plan

GIMP

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GIMP review.

Moon Reader

Free
  • Moon ReaderFree
    • Ad-supported
    • Most core reading features included
  • Moon Reader+$4.99/one-time
    • No ads
    • Additional customisation and font options
    • One-time purchase, no subscription

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 Moon Reader if

  • You need broad format support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android.
  • You also want opds support.
Moon Reader review

Questions people ask

Is GIMP or Moon Reader better?
Neither clearly leads. GIMP starts at Free and Moon Reader at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GIMP or Moon Reader?
GIMP starts at Free and Moon Reader at Free.
Does GIMP or Moon Reader run on more platforms?
GIMP runs on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows. Moon Reader runs on Android.
Can I use GIMP for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Moon Reader is typically brought in for.
What can GIMP do that Moon Reader cannot?
GIMP covers Photo editing, Digital painting, Image processing, Batch editing. Moon Reader covers Broad format support, OPDS support, Deep customisation, Cloud sync.

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
Moon Reader: Does Moon Reader sell books?

No, it only reads ebook and comic files you already have or add via OPDS, cloud storage or local files.

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
Moon Reader: Is there a subscription?

No, Moon Reader+ is a one-time purchase; there is also a free ad-supported version.

Moon Reader: Is it available on iOS?

No, Moon Reader is Android only.

Share

Related pages

More on GIMP

More on Moon Reader

Keep looking

Other head to heads