What is the main difference between GIMP and Krita?

GIMP and Krita are both photo editing software but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: GIMP or Krita?

The choice between GIMP and Krita depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from GIMP to Krita?

Migration between GIMP and Krita is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

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GIMP vs Krita

Learn how GIMP and Krita differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these photo editing software is best for you.

GIMP

Free, open-source image editor with professional tools for photo manipulation, digital art creation, and graphic design. Cross-platform support.

Visit GIMP Read more

6,369stars+86(+1.4%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
7 hours ago
Repository age
14 years
Repository
gnome/gimp

Krita

Free and open source painting program built by artists for artists. Features professional brushes, layers, animation tools, and drawing assistants for all skill levels.

Visit Krita Read more

10,237stars+164(+1.6%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
8 hours ago
Repository age
11 years
License
GPL-3.0
Repository
kde/krita

Sponsor Krita ongithub.com

Detailed Comparison

Krita appears to have several advantages over GIMP, particularly in popularity, growth and licensing. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, technology, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Krita wins

Community & Popularity

Krita leads in popularity with 10,237 stars vs 6,369 stars for GIMP. The 61% higher star count indicates stronger community adoption. In terms of developer contributions, GIMP has 886 forks, indicating moderate developer engagement.

Krita wins

Growth Momentum

Krita is growing faster, adding 164 stars in the last 30 days (+1.6%) against adding 86 stars for GIMP (+1.4%). Krita is both larger and pulling further ahead.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with GIMP last updated 7 hours ago and Krita 8 hours ago.

Comparable

Technology Stack

Both tools share common technology foundations, being built with JavaScript, Bash, Python, C, Objective-C, C++, Perl. However, they differ in their additional technology choices: GIMP uses CSS, Lua while Krita leverages Java, Swift, MATLAB.

GIMP wins

Project Maturity

GIMP has been in development longer, starting 14 years ago, compared to Krita which began 11 years ago. This 3.4-year head start suggests GIMP may have more mature features and established processes.

Krita wins

Licensing

Krita is licensed under GPL-3.0, while GIMP's license terms are not publicly specified.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in Photo Editors.

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