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Software · head to head

GIMP vs Squarespace Commerce

GIMP logo

GIMP

Software

Free and open-source image editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Squarespace Commerce logo

Squarespace Commerce

Software

All-in-one website builder and ecommerce platform

From
$14/month
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; Squarespace Commerce the entry plan charges a 2% transaction fee on online store sales on top of payment processing
  • They diverge on capability: GIMP covers Photo editing, Squarespace Commerce covers Website builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GIMP and Squarespace Commerce actually diverge.

Attributes where GIMP and Squarespace Commerce differ
AttributeGIMPSquarespace Commerce
Starting priceFree$14/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsGNU/Linux, macOS, WindowsWeb
Founded19952003

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 GIMP

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

Only in Squarespace Commerce

  • Website builder
  • Ecommerce platform
  • Mobile optimization
  • Email marketing
  • Analytics
  • Domain registration
  • SSL certificate
  • Customer accounts

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

Squarespace Commerce

  • Running a store on a hosted website builder with managed hostingnot GIMP
  • Selling products, services and memberships from one sitenot 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

Squarespace Commerce

  • The entry plan charges a 2% transaction fee on online store sales on top of payment processing
  • Digital content and membership sales carry their own fee, up to 7% on the lowest tier
  • The entry plan is limited to 2 contributors
  • Reaching a 0% transaction fee requires moving up from the entry plan

Pricing, plan by plan

GIMP

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GIMP review.

Squarespace Commerce

$14/month
  • Personal$14/month
    • Website builder
    • Free domain
    • Analytics
  • Business$23/month
    • All Personal features
    • Ecommerce functionality
    • Inventory management

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 Squarespace Commerce if

  • You need website builder.
  • You also want ecommerce platform.
Squarespace Commerce review

Questions people ask

Is GIMP or Squarespace Commerce better?
Neither clearly leads. GIMP starts at Free and Squarespace Commerce at $14/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GIMP or Squarespace Commerce?
GIMP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GIMP and $14/month for Squarespace Commerce.
Does GIMP or Squarespace Commerce run on more platforms?
GIMP runs on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows. Squarespace Commerce runs on Web.
Can I use GIMP for free?
Yes. GIMP has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Squarespace Commerce starts at $14/month.
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 Squarespace Commerce is typically brought in for.
What can GIMP do that Squarespace Commerce cannot?
GIMP covers Photo editing, Digital painting, Image processing, Batch editing. Squarespace Commerce covers Website builder, Ecommerce platform, Mobile optimization, Email marketing.
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