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Indie alternatives to GIMP

3 products made by independent developers and small teams that do what GIMP does, 3 of them with a free plan. Free and open-source options come first.

At a glance

Product	Price	Open source	Self-host	Platforms
Krita	Free	Yes	–	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
Photopea	Free plan	–	–	Web
Pixlr	Free plan	–	–	Web, iOS, Android

The alternatives

1. Krita

Open-source painting app for illustrators and concept artists

A free, open-source digital painting program with brushes, layers and animation tools. Aimed at illustrators, comic artists and texture painters.

Free · Windows, Mac, Linux, Android · Website ↗

2. Photopea

Free browser-based photo editor that opens PSD, XCF and Sketch files

A full-featured image editor that runs in the browser, supporting layers, masks and Photoshop PSD files. Built for people who need Photoshop-style editing without installing software.

Free plan · Web · Website ↗

3. Pixlr

Online photo editor and design tool

Browser-based photo editor and design suite with layers, AI tools and templates.

Free plan · Web, iOS, Android · Website ↗

Questions

Is there a free alternative to GIMP?

Yes. 3 of the 3 indie alternatives listed here have a free plan or are free: Krita, Photopea and Pixlr.

Is there an open-source alternative to GIMP?

Krita is open source.

Which GIMP alternatives work on Mac, Windows, iPhone or Android?

On Mac: Krita. On Windows: Krita. On Linux: Krita. On iPhone and iPad: Pixlr. On Android: Krita and Pixlr. On the web: Photopea and Pixlr.

What makes these alternatives to GIMP “indie”?

They are built by independent developers or small teams rather than large companies. Each one is listed because it does the same core job as GIMP.

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