Softwr

Publishing · head to head

GIMP vs QuarkXPress

GIMP logo

GIMP

Publishing

Free and open-source image editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
QuarkXPress logo

QuarkXPress

Publishing

The original desktop publishing software for print and digital design

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; QuarkXPress specific pricing amounts not displayed on product page
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GIMP and QuarkXPress actually diverge.

Attributes where GIMP and QuarkXPress differ
AttributeGIMPQuarkXPress
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
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 QuarkXPress

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

QuarkXPress

  • Brochure design and layoutnot GIMP
  • Book and magazine layout with professional typographynot GIMP
  • Newspaper layout and productionnot GIMP
  • Brand identity and logo designnot GIMP
  • Print-ready publication designnot 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

QuarkXPress

  • Specific pricing amounts not displayed on product page
  • AI features require subscription or maintenance contract
  • System requirements limited to macOS 26.x/15.x/14.x and Windows 11/10 only

Pricing, plan by plan

GIMP

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GIMP review.

QuarkXPress

On request
  • Annual Subscription$undefined/mo
    • Variable Fonts with adjustable weight, width, slant
    • 1,500+ high-quality Google fonts
    • Full Pantone Color Libraries
  • Perpetual License$undefined/mo
    • Buy once, keep forever
    • AI features require active maintenance contract
  • Education$undefined/mo
    • Special educational pricing available
  • Not-for-Profit$undefined/mo
    • Special nonprofit pricing available

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 QuarkXPress if

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

QuarkXPress review

Questions people ask

Is GIMP or QuarkXPress better?
Neither clearly leads. GIMP starts at Free and QuarkXPress at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GIMP or QuarkXPress?
GIMP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GIMP and On request for QuarkXPress.
Does GIMP or QuarkXPress run on more platforms?
GIMP runs on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows. QuarkXPress runs on Web.
Can I use GIMP for free?
Yes. GIMP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. QuarkXPress 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 QuarkXPress is typically brought in for.
What can GIMP do that QuarkXPress 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
QuarkXPress: How much does QuarkXPress cost?

QuarkXPress offers two purchasing options: Annual Subscription and Perpetual License (buy once). Special pricing is available for Education, Not-for-Profit, and Government sectors. Specific pricing amounts are not listed on the product page.

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
QuarkXPress: Do QuarkXPress AI features require a subscription?

Yes, AI features including Quarky AI Assistant and Font Pairing require either an active subscription or perpetual license with active maintenance contract (v21.1+).

Source
Share

Related pages

More on GIMP

More on QuarkXPress

Keep looking

Other head to heads