CompareStack/Adobe Illustrator vs GIMP
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Updated March 2026 · Independent Analysis

Adobe IllustratorvsGIMP

Adobe Illustrator starts at $22.99/mo; GIMP is free. Adobe Illustrator is rated higher at 4.7/5 vs GIMP's 4.3/5.

A
Adobe Illustrator

Industry-standard vector graphics editor for logos, icons, and illustrations

★ 4.7/5Founded 1987Part of Creative Cloud (30M+) users
Try Adobe Illustrator Free →
G
GIMP

Free open-source image editor as an alternative to Photoshop

★ 4.3/5Founded 199610M+ downloads users
Try GIMP Free →

⚡ Quick Stats

⭐
Avg Rating
Adobe Illustrator4.7/5
GIMP4.3/5
🏆 Adobe Illustrator wins
💰
Starting Price
Adobe Illustrator$22.99/mo
GIMPFree
🏆 GIMP wins
🔧
Features
Adobe Illustrator15
GIMP15
🏆 Adobe Illustrator wins
🎁
Free Plan
Adobe IllustratorNo
GIMPYes ✓
🏆 GIMP wins

📊 Ratings Breakdown

A

Adobe Illustrator

4.7/5 avg
G2 Score4.6/5
Capterra Score4.7/5
Overall Avg4.65/5
G

GIMP

4.3/5 avg
G2 Score4.3/5
Capterra Score4.4/5
Overall Avg4.35/5

⚡ Quick Verdict

Independent analysis based on features, pricing, and user ratings

Choose Adobe Illustrator if you need:
  • ✓ Vector Design
  • ✓ Pen Tool
  • ✓ Typography
  • ✓ Color Management
  • ✓ Artboards
Try Adobe Illustrator Free →
Choose GIMP if you need:
  • ✓ Photo Editing
  • ✓ Layer Support
  • ✓ Masks & Channels
  • ✓ Advanced Color Tools
  • ✓ Customizable Interface
Try GIMP Free →

🔧 Feature Comparison

Adobe Illustrator uniquely offers Vector Design, Pen Tool, Typography. GIMP uniquely offers Photo Editing, Layer Support, Masks & Channels. Both share 0 features.

Feature
Adobe Illustrator
GIMP
Vector Design
✓
✗
Pen Tool
✓
✗
Typography
✓
✗
Color Management
✓
✗
Artboards
✓
✗
Symbols
✓
✗
Patterns
✓
✗
Image Trace
✓
✗
3D Effects
✓
✗
Variable Fonts
✓
✗
Cloud Documents
✓
✗
Creative Cloud Libraries
✓
✗
Plugins
✓
✗
iPad Version
✓
✗
AI-powered Features (Generative)
✓
✗
Photo Editing
✗
✓
Layer Support
✗
✓
Masks & Channels
✗
✓
Advanced Color Tools
✗
✓
Customizable Interface
✗
✓
Filters & Effects
✗
✓
Scripting (Python/Script-Fu)
✗
✓
Plugin Support
✗
✓
PSD Support
✗
✓
Brushes & Gradients
✗
✓
Path Tool
✗
✓
Clone & Heal
✗
✓
Batch Processing
✗
✓
Cross-platform
✗
✓
Export Formats
✗
✓
Total Features
15
15

💰 Pricing Comparison

Adobe Illustrator starts at $22.99/mo; GIMP is free.

A

Adobe Illustrator Plans

Paid plans only

IllustratorBest Value
$22.99/mo
  • • Single app
  • • 100GB storage
All Apps
$59.99/mo
  • • 20+ Creative Cloud apps
Full Adobe Illustrator pricing breakdown →
G

GIMP Plans

Free tier available

Free
Free
  • • Full featured
  • • Cross-platform
  • • Open source
Full GIMP pricing breakdown →
🔔 Get notified when prices change

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

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🔗 Related Comparisons

Adobe Illustrator vs Figma →Adobe Illustrator vs Canva →Adobe Illustrator vs Adobe XD →GIMP vs Sketch →GIMP vs InVision →GIMP vs Penpot →Adobe Illustrator Alternatives →GIMP Alternatives →