Best photo-editing software for most Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 *Est. $80
Free photo editor and organizer Google Picasa 3 *Est. $0
Free photo-editing software GIMP 2.6 *Est. $0
Pro-level photo editor and image manager Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 *Est. $275
Professional graphics software Adobe Photoshop CS4 *Est. $665

See All Photo-Editing Software

GIMP 2.6

Free

Free photo-editing software

Free
Pro-level photo editing tools
Can do just about anything if you know how
Compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, Linux

Steep learning curve
Can be sluggish
Doesn't accept Photoshop plug-ins

Our Analysis

Reviews say GIMP 2.6 -- GNU Image Manipulation Program -- is an excellent free alternative to Adobe Photoshop CS4 (*est. $665), with editing tools that include layers. Its price and capabilities are great, but it has two main drawbacks. It can be sluggish, and perhaps more important, difficult to learn to use. However, reviews of GIMP 2.6 say it's getting much easier to use. If you need a program as powerful as Adobe Photoshop CS4 but would rather get it free, GIMP 2.6 is an excellent choice. Beginners and intermediate users will find Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 (or Elements 6 for Mac) (*est. $80) much easier to learn to use.

GIMP is reviewed briefly at both Download.com and at PC World, but these two sites also provide a good amount of user feedback (though not all of it is for the latest version). The latest version of the program (GIMP 2.6) is also covered in an illustrated review at Brighthub.com. Because there are notable improvements in GIMP 2.6, a review of an older version of GIMP at PC Magazine is slightly less useful. A comparison test at Which? magazine (the U.K. equivalent to Consumer Reports in the U.S.) also covers an earlier version. About.com briefly reviews GIMP, but it's not clear which version is covered.

Our Sources

1. Download.com

Download.com's editors give GIMP a perfect five-star rating, saying its developers have succeeded in making it easier to use, and that it "provides professional tools that can stand against the big boys." Over 450 users give GIMP (including earlier versions) a composite four-star rating.

Review: Gimp 2.6.4, Editors of Download.com and Contributors

2. PC World Details/Subscribe

This brief review says The GIMP 2.6 compares favorably to Adobe Photoshop for professional photo-editing tools. Of the 200 or so users rating GIMP here, only about 75 percent recommend it, but they may be rating an earlier version.

Review: GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), Preston Gralla, Dec. 18, 2008

3. Bright Hub.com

Although this anonymous writer lacks the automatic credibility of someone writing for a site like PC World, this review of The GIMP 2.6 is well-illustrated and objective. An interesting observation is that the GIMP interface isn't inferior to that of Photoshop -- just different.

Review: A Review of GIMP 2.6.2, "Roy", Nov. 8, 2008

4. PCMag.com Details/Subscribe

In this review of a slightly earlier version of GIMP, the software gets a good rating, with editors praising its versatility but criticizing it as sluggish and lacking polish. The interface makes it tough to use, with a steep learning curve.

Review: GIMP 2.4.7, John R. Quain, Sept. 4, 2008

5. Which? magazineDetails/Subscribe

The U.K.'s Which? magazine includes GIMP 2.4 in its unbiased testing, naming it one of the "five best buys." However, it ranks below Adobe Photoshop Elements and Corel Paint Shop Pro X2, which are much easier to use.

Review: Photo-Editing Software Review, Editors of Which? magazine

6. About.com

Sue Chastain, About.com's guide to graphics software, recommends 10 free photo-editing programs, ranking GIMP second but without a full review or documenting any testing -- or even clarifying which version she's talking about. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Review: Top 10 Free Photo Editors for Windows, Sue Chastain