GIMP vs Lunacy: Complete Comparison (2026)
Choosing between GIMP and Lunacy is a common decision for design tools buyers in 2026. GIMP has been in the market since 1996, giving it a 21-year head start over Lunacy (founded 2017). GIMP serves 10M+ users while Lunacy has 5M+ users globally. GIMP differentiates with image editing and photo retouching, while Lunacy leads with vector design and built-in assets. In this head-to-head comparison, Lunacy earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 90/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.
Quick Comparison
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Pros & Cons at a Glance
After comparing GIMP and Lunacy across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Lunacy takes the lead with a score of 90/100 versus GIMP's 86/100. Lunacy's key advantages include "completely free with built-in assets" and "sketch file compatibility". That said, GIMP has its own strengths — particularly "completely free and open-source" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.
Both GIMP and Lunacy offer free plans, lowering the barrier to entry. GIMP's paid plans start at Free while Lunacy begins at Free. Evaluate which paid features — Batch processing, Plugin support (GIMP) vs AI background removal, Sketch file support (Lunacy) — justify upgrading for your team.
Bottom line: Choose GIMP if you need users wanting a free, open-source photoshop alternative for image editing. Go with Lunacy if your priority is designers wanting a free sketch alternative with built-in stock assets. Both are strong design tools tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.
Users wanting a free, open-source Photoshop alternative for image editing.
Designers wanting a free Sketch alternative with built-in stock assets.