Paint.NET
A free, fast and simple image editor for Windows.
Windows AppFreeWindows
4.5Visit
Desktop App
GIMP
The free, open-source image editor for photo retouching and design.
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is GIMP?
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free and open-source image editor for photo retouching, image composition and graphic design, with layers, masks, filters and plug-ins. It is free software under the GPL that you can modify and share, and runs on Linux, macOS and Windows. The latest stable release is GIMP 3.2.6 (10 September 2026).
Pros
- Completely free and open source
- Layers, masks, filters and a large plug-in ecosystem
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
Cons
- Interface and shortcuts differ from Photoshop
- Fewer AI tools than paid editors
Who should use GIMP
Anyone who needs serious photo editing without a subscription.
Who may not need it
People who only crop and resize images now and then.
GIMP alternatives
Similar resources to GIMP, picked from the directory.
Affinity
Pro photo editing, vector design and page layout in one app, free for individuals.
Desktop AppFree planWindows, macOS
4.7Visit
Krita
A free, open-source painting program made by artists for artists.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.7Visit
darktable
A free, open-source raw photo workflow and developer.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.4Visit
Compositor
A free, open source Photoshop alternative for Mac, built for compositing.
Mac AppFreemacOS
4.6Visit
Ghostty
A fast, feature-rich, cross-platform terminal emulator with native UI and GPU acceleration.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.9Visit
Free alternatives to GIMP
Free resources that cover similar ground.
Blender
Free, open-source 3D creation suite for modelling, animation, VFX and 2D animation.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.8Visit
navi
An interactive cheatsheet tool for the command-line.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.8Visit
Upscayl
Free and open-source AI image upscaler for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Desktop AppFreeLinux, macOS
4.8Visit
LocalSend
Free, open-source AirDrop for every device on your Wi-Fi.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.7Visit
OBS Studio
Free, open-source software for screen recording and live streaming.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.7Visit
Audacity
The free, open-source audio editor and recorder.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit
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