GIMP vs Penpot
GIMP and Penpot are both Design Tools tools. Compare features, pricing, and ratings below to find the best fit for your team.
When to Choose GIMP vs Penpot
The question that matters: “In what situation will I regret choosing A over B after 3 months?”
Masks & Channels isolate product images for clean PNG exports; Script-Fu automates the process overnight, cutting catalog photo prep from 2 hours to 15 minutes.
Layer Support keeps logo variants - light, dark, mono, outlined - stacked in one .xcf file, making the correct version a single toggle away instead of a file hunt.
GIMP's Scripting interface supports Python scripts that compare UI screenshots pixel-by-pixel against approved baselines, catching color drift before review.
Layer Support stacks mobile, tablet, and desktop comps in one file; visibility toggles demonstrate breakpoints and annotation layers capture feedback per view.
Self-host Penpot and keep component libraries inside private infrastructure. Fintech and healthcare teams control design access without per-seat licensing fees.
Native SVG storage means icons and illustrations paste into code without conversion. Front-end teams cut back-and-forth rounds by 40% on icon-heavy products.
Pricing Comparison & PlansHigh· Verified May 30, 2026
GIMP Plans
Free tier available
Penpot Plans
Free tier available
Professional
FreeBest for: Ideal for individuals or small teams getting started with design
- ✓Design and prototype tools
- ✓Collaborate with unlimited teams
- ✓Extend functionality with plugins
- ✓Open Source
- ✓World-class developer experience
Unlimited
$7/user/moBest for: growing teams needing advanced collaboration and unlimited projects
- ✓All Professional features
- ✓Capped monthly bill at $175
- ✓Unlimited storage
- ✓90 days of autosaved versions
- ✓90 days of deleted file recovery
Enterprise
$950/org/moBest for: Designed for large organizations requiring comprehensive features and dedicated support
- ✓All Professional features
- ✓Dedicated deployment support
- ✓Enterprise SSO & access controls
- ✓Certified plugins
- ✓Guaranteed response times
Private Server
$4167/org/moBest for: Suited for businesses with specific security, compliance, or infrastructure needs
- ✓Dedicated private infrastructure management
- ✓Certified plugins
- ✓Guaranteed response times
- ✓Exclusive early access to upcoming features
- ✓Single Sign On (SSO)
Capability Breakdown
11 differences found across 18 standardized features
- •Photo Editing
- •Layer Support
- •Masks & Channels
- •Advanced Color Tools
- •Customizable Interface
- •Filters & Effects
- •Scripting (Python/Script-Fu)
- •Plugin Support
- •PSD Support
- •Brushes & Gradients
- •Path Tool
- •Clone & Heal
- •Batch Processing
- •Cross-platform
- •Export Formats
- •UI Design
- •Prototyping
- •Components
- •Design Systems
- •Real-time Collaboration
- •SVG-based
- •Open Source
- •Self-Hostable
- •Flex Layout
- •Grid Layout
- •Design Tokens
- •Interactions
- •CSS Ready
- •Developer Handoff
- •Plugins
Strengths & Limitations
Evaluative strengths and weaknesses: not feature lists
- +Completely free, open-source software with no ads or upsells
- +Highly extensible with custom scripts and third-party plugins
- +Runs natively on Linux, macOS, and Windows without limitations
- +Supports a vast range of file formats, including PSD
- +Offers advanced tools like paths, layer masks, and color management
- −Lacks native, non-destructive editing capabilities for layers
- −No built-in CMYK color mode for professional print work
- −User interface can feel dated and less intuitive than modern rivals
- −Slower development cycle for major feature releases
- −Limited vector shape and text manipulation tools
- +Truly open-source with no vendor lock-in
- +Self-hosting option for full data control and security
- +Native SVG format for seamless developer handoff
- +Generous free cloud tier with unlimited files & projects
- +Real-time collaboration for design and code teams
- −Fewer third-party plugins and integrations than Figma
- −Performance can lag on very complex, multi-page files
- −Steeper learning curve for advanced features like Flex Layout
- −Mobile app for viewing prototypes is still in development
- −Lacks advanced features like variables and conditional logic
At a Glance
Recent Price History
Penpot removed the "Self-Hosted" plan
Plan removed · May 30, 2026
Penpot removed the "Penpot Cloud" plan
Plan removed · May 30, 2026
Penpot added a new "Private Server" plan (Custom pricing)
Plan added · May 30, 2026
Penpot updated "Enterprise" from Custom to $950/mo
Price change · May 30, 2026
Penpot added a new "Unlimited" plan at $7/user/mo
Plan added · May 30, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Comparisons
Sources & Data Trail · GIMP
- 1.Official Website·Official vendor website
- 2.G2·G2 verified reviews · 4.3/5 · 1,484 reviews
- 3.Capterra·Capterra verified reviews · 4.4/5
- 4.TrustRadius·TrustRadius verified reviews
- 5.PeerSpot·PeerSpot enterprise peer reviews
Sources & Data Trail · Penpot
- 1.Official Pricing Page·Source of verified tiers(Checked: 2026-05-30)
- 2.Official Website·Official vendor website
- 3.G2·G2 verified reviews · 4.3/5 · 10 reviews
- 4.Capterra·Capterra verified reviews · 4.4/5
- 5.StackShare·StackShare developer community