Affinity Designer vs GIMP
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026). Last verified July 2, 2026.
The short answer
Affinity Designer ranks higher on Top 11 (#5 vs #10) for Designers and marketing teams choosing graphic design software. Pro-grade design tools for one flat payment.
At a glance
| Affinity Designer | GIMP | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #5 / The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026) | #10 / The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026) |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.4 | 7.5 |
| Best for | Best one-time-purchase alternative | Best free raster editor |
| Pricing | $ ($69.99 one-time) | $ ($0) |
| HQ | Nottingham, United Kingdom | Open-source project |
| Founded | 2014 | 1998 |
Affinity Designer
Pro-grade design tools for one flat payment.
affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/See full entry in The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026)
GIMP
The most capable free Photoshop alternative.
www.gimp.orgSee full entry in The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026)
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.