Fe/male Switch: Your Startup Facilitator & Incubator for Women

Top 10 Open Source Alternatives to GIMP in 2025

Top 10 Open Source Alternatives to GIMP in 2025

As the demand for diverse and powerful image editing tools grows, many users are seeking alternatives to GIMP in 2025. This article highlights the top 10 open-source options, each offering unique capabilities to meet different needs.
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1. Krita

  • Description: Krita is a professional, free, and open-source painting program designed for digital artists, illustrators, and animators, with a focus on creating digital paintings from scratch.
  • Key Features: Wide array of brush engines (including color smudge, duplicate, filter, particle, and more), layers and masks, animation tools, color management support, and supports various file formats.
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • License: GNU General Public License v3. Learn more about Krita

2. Inkscape

  • Description: Inkscape is a vector graphics editor, ideal for creating logos, illustrations, and scalable graphics. Unlike GIMP, which focuses on raster graphics, Inkscape uses vectors, which can be scaled infinitely without losing quality.
  • Key Features: Node editing, path operations, drawing tools, text tools, support for various file formats (including SVG), object manipulation, and layers.
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • License: GNU General Public License v3. Learn more about Inkscape
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3. Darktable

  • Description: Darktable is a free and open-source photography workflow application and raw developer. It's focused on non-destructive image editing of raw images, making it a strong contender for photographers.
  • Key Features: Raw image processing, color management, non-destructive editing, lens correction, noise reduction, and extensive export options.
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • License: GNU General Public License v3. Learn more about Darktable

4. MyPaint

  • Description: MyPaint is a fast, distraction-free open-source painting program for digital artists. It's known for its flexible brush engine and focus on the artistic process.
  • Key Features: Unlimited canvas, a variety of brush engines, support for graphics tablets, pressure sensitivity, and a simple, uncluttered interface.
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • License: GNU General Public License v2. Learn more about MyPaint

5. RawTherapee

  • Description: RawTherapee is an open-source raw image processing software. It is designed for photographers who want a powerful tool to process their raw photos, with advanced color handling and detailed image controls.
  • Key Features: Non-destructive editing, advanced color correction, noise reduction, lens correction, batch processing, and a focus on image quality.
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • License: GNU General Public License v3. Learn more about RawTherapee
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6. Paint.NET

  • Description: Paint.NET is a free image and photo editing software for Windows. It started as a replacement for Microsoft Paint but has evolved into a powerful editor with many features.
  • Key Features: Layer support, special effects, plugins, various image adjustments, and a relatively simple user interface, making it easier for beginners than GIMP.
  • Platforms: Windows.
  • License: MIT License. Learn more about Paint.NET

7. Photopea

  • Description: Photopea is a free online image editor that supports raster and vector graphics. It aims to be a web-based alternative to programs like Photoshop and GIMP, offering a wide array of editing tools.
  • Key Features: Supports PSD, XCF, and other formats, layers, masks, blending modes, smart objects, filters, and various selection tools. It's known for having an interface similar to Photoshop.
  • Platforms: Web-based (accessible on any OS with a browser).
  • License: Proprietary freeware, but free to use. Learn more about Photopea

8. Seashore

  • Description: Seashore is an open-source image editor specifically designed for macOS. It's based on GIMP's technology but offers a simpler, more lightweight experience tailored to macOS users.
  • Key Features: Native macOS integration, layer support, basic image editing tools, and an intuitive interface that's easy to navigate.
  • Platforms: macOS.
  • License: GNU General Public License v2. Learn more about Seashore

9. Pixlr

  • Description: Pixlr offers both web-based and app-based image editing. It has two primary modes: Pixlr X (for quick edits) and Pixlr E (for more advanced editing, more akin to GIMP). It offers a variety of features suitable for various image editing tasks.
  • Key Features: AI-powered tools, layer support, brushes, filters, object removal, and collage creation capabilities. Has a free version with a premium option.
  • Platforms: Web, iOS, Android.
  • License: Proprietary freeware for basic use. Learn more about Pixlr

10. Lunacy

  • Description: Lunacy is a free, native vector design software for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is primarily for UI/UX design but can also function as a GIMP alternative. It is designed to be lightweight and performant.
  • Key Features: Built-in graphics and icons, AI-powered tools, real-time collaboration, layer support, and compatibility with .sketch files.
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • License: Free for personal and commercial use. Learn more about Lunacy
This list provides a variety of open-source alternatives, catering to different needs from photo editing, digital painting, and vector design. Each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's worthwhile to explore which one best fits the user’s specific requirements.
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FAQ

1. What is Krita used for?
Krita is a professional, free, and open-source painting program designed for digital artists, illustrators, and animators. Learn more about Krita
2. Is Inkscape suitable for creating logos?
Yes, Inkscape is ideal for creating logos, illustrations, and scalable vector graphics. Discover Inkscape
3. Is Darktable good for photographers?
Darktable is excellent for photographers as it focuses on non-destructive image editing of raw images. Explore Darktable
4. What makes MyPaint unique?
MyPaint is known for its unlimited canvas, flexible brush engine, and simple, uncluttered interface tailored for digital artists. Find out more about MyPaint
5. Can RawTherapee process raw photos?
Yes, RawTherapee is designed for photographers who need powerful tools to process their raw photos. Learn more about RawTherapee
6. What platforms does Paint.NET support?
Paint.NET is compatible with Windows and offers layer support, special effects, and a simple user interface. Explore Paint.NET
7. Is Photopea accessible on multiple platforms?
Photopea is a web-based image editor accessible on any operating system with a browser. Discover Photopea
8. Is Seashore exclusive to macOS?
Yes, Seashore is specifically designed for macOS, offering native integration and a lightweight image editing experience. Learn more about Seashore
9. Does Pixlr offer AI-powered tools?
Pixlr offers AI-powered tools, layer support, and filters for both quick and advanced editing. Find out more about Pixlr
10. What is Lunacy used for?
Lunacy is a free vector design software for UI/UX design, known for its AI-powered tools and real-time collaboration. Explore Lunacy

References

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
  • Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
  • Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
  • AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
  • SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
  • Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
  • Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
  • 3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
  • 100+ startup tools built
  • 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
2025-08-23 07:27 Top Alternatives