# Affinity Photo 2 vs GIMP Published January 1, 2026 Β· Updated August 10, 2026 GIMP is the top pick for most Mac users looking at design. It is free and open-source and installs in one Homebrew command. Affinity Photo 2 is the stronger choice if you want photo editing. As of October 2026, both install with brew install --cask affinity-photo-2 and brew install --cask gimp. For most Mac users in 2026, GIMP is the better choice for design because it is free and open source, so you can inspect, self-host, and trust the code. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose Affinity Photo 2 instead if you want photo editing. ## Head to head | Factor | Affinity Photo 2 | GIMP | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Paid | Free | | Open Source | No | Yes | | Replaces | β€” | Adobe Photoshop ($23/mo) | | Best for | photo editing, design, raster | image editor, photo editing, graphics | | Install | brew install --cask affinity-photo-2 | brew install --cask gimp | | Category | Design & Creative | Design & Creative | ## Affinity Photo 2 Professional photo editing software with a one-time purchase model, no subscription required. Install: `brew install --cask affinity-photo-2` [Affinity Photo 2 on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/affinity-photo-2) ## GIMP Free and open-source image editor Install: `brew install --cask gimp` [GIMP on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/gimp) ## Features - **RAW Development.** Affinity wins native RAW on Mac. GIMP can match quality only if you accept a separate RAW app in the pipeline. - **Non-Destructive Editing.** Both now support non-destructive work. Affinity's implementation is more mature; GIMP's NDE system is improving quickly. - **Performance & Speed.** Affinity dominates Mac performance, especially on Apple Silicon where Metal acceleration shows up in everyday filter work. - **HDR & Focus Stacking.** Affinity is the clear pick for HDR and focus stacking. GIMP needs external tools for the same jobs. - **Plugin & Script Extensibility.** GIMP wins when automation, custom filters, and scripting are non-negotiable. - **UI/UX & Learning Curve.** Affinity is easier out of the box. GIMP rewards people who will reshape the UI to their taste. - **File Format Support.** Both handle everyday formats. Affinity is better for PSD round-trips; GIMP is better for obscure and archival formats. - **Digital Painting & Illustration.** Affinity feels more cohesive for digital painting. GIMP is fine as a complement to dedicated paint apps like Krita. ## FAQ ### Is Affinity Photo free in 2026? Yes. Canva's all-new Affinity app includes the professional photo toolset free of charge. Some AI features require Canva premium. ### What GIMP version should Mac users install? Stable GIMP 3.2.4 (April 2026) with official arm64 and x86_64 macOS builds from gimp.org. Avoid unverified App Store third-party packages. ### Does free Affinity make GIMP obsolete on Mac? No. GIMP remains critical for open-source environments and users who will not accept Canva account activation or closed-source apps. ### Which handles large multi-layer files better? Affinity generally feels faster and more fluid on Apple Silicon for heavy commercial composites. GIMP is capable but often less refined for huge layered docs. ### Can GIMP open Affinity files? Not natively as Affinity packages. Exchange via TIFF, PSD, PNG, or similar. Keep masters in each app's native format when possible. ### Is GIMP good for RAW photography? GIMP can work with RAW via plugins/helpers, but dedicated RAW tools or Affinity's persona workflows are smoother for many Mac photographers. ### Do I need a Canva account for Affinity? Yes to download/activate. Core editing stays free. ### Which is better for learning pro techniques? Affinity's UI is closer to commercial pro tools many tutorials assume. GIMP has abundant free learning resources but different paradigms. ### Plugin ecosystems? GIMP's script/plugin culture is deep and free. Affinity focuses on built-in professional tools plus Canva AI for premium users. ### Did the verdict change after Affinity became free? Yes for general Mac users. Affinity is the default. GIMP remains the FOSS default. ## Sources - [Introducing the all-new Affinity - free for everyone](https://www.canva.com/newsroom/news/all-new-affinity/) - [Why we made Affinity free](https://www.canva.com/newsroom/news/affinity-free/) - [Affinity product site](https://www.affinity.studio/) - [GIMP downloads](https://www.gimp.org/downloads/) - [GIMP official site](https://www.gimp.org/) - [GIMP news](https://www.gimp.org/news/) - [Affinity pricing context after Canva](https://checkthat.ai/brands/affinity/pricing) ## Related - [Affinity Photo 2 vs Adobe Photoshop](https://bundl.run/compare/affinity-photo-vs-photoshop) - [Affinity Photo 2 vs Pixelmator Pro](https://bundl.run/compare/affinity-photo-2-vs-pixelmator-pro) - [Affinity Designer 2 vs Affinity Photo 2](https://bundl.run/compare/affinity-designer-2-vs-affinity-photo-2) - [GIMP vs Adobe Photoshop](https://bundl.run/compare/gimp-vs-photoshop) - [GIMP vs Pixelmator Pro](https://bundl.run/compare/gimp-vs-pixelmator-pro) - [GIMP vs Inkscape](https://bundl.run/compare/gimp-vs-inkscape) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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