Software · head to head
QuarkXPress vs GIMP
QuarkXPress
Software
The original desktop publishing software for print and digital design
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only GIMP has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: QuarkXPress quarky AI assistant and AI font pairing require a subscription license or a perpetual license with an active maintenance and support contract from v21.1 onward; GIMP gPLv3 licence requires derivative works to be open-source and freely distributed
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which QuarkXPress and GIMP actually diverge.
| Attribute | QuarkXPress | GIMP |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Founded | Unknown | 1995 |
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 QuarkXPress
Nothing recorded that GIMP does not also cover.
Only in GIMP
- Photo editing
- Digital painting
- Image processing
- Batch editing
- Filters
- Color correction
- Layer support
- Script-fu automation
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
QuarkXPress
No use cases recorded yet. See the QuarkXPress review.
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
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
QuarkXPress
- Quarky AI assistant and AI font pairing require a subscription license or a perpetual license with an active maintenance and support contract from v21.1 onward
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
QuarkXPress
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the QuarkXPress review.
GIMP
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the GIMP review.
Which should you pick?
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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is QuarkXPress or GIMP better?
- Neither clearly leads. QuarkXPress starts at On request and GIMP at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, QuarkXPress or GIMP?
- GIMP has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for QuarkXPress and Free for GIMP.
- Does QuarkXPress or GIMP run on more platforms?
- QuarkXPress runs on Web. GIMP runs on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows.
- 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 can QuarkXPress do that GIMP cannot?
- GIMP covers Photo editing, Digital painting, Image processing, Batch editing.