Sketch 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
Sketch ranks higher on Top 11 (#7 vs #10) for Designers and marketing teams choosing graphic design software. Mature Mac-native UI design with deep plugins.
At a glance
| Sketch | GIMP | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #7 / The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026) | #10 / The 11 Best Graphic Design Software (2026) |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8 | 7.5 |
| Best for | Best for Mac-based UI design systems | Best free raster editor |
| Pricing | $$ ($10 to $22/mo) | $ ($0) |
| HQ | The Hague, Netherlands | Open-source project |
| Founded | 2010 | 1998 |
Sketch
Mature Mac-native UI design with deep plugins.
www.sketch.comSee 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.