How-To Geek's Diana Todea ran the comparison after ArtCraft, a free creative suite built with AI-assisted coding, drew attention. Todea describes its PhotoCraft app as an ambitious Photoshop-style editor. She also notes that some people report tools that don't behave as expected, plus stability problems. The established open-source editors are a more settled option. Some of her claims need updating, and the sections below cover what changed.
GIMP: the broadest of the three
Todea calls GIMP the closest established open-source match to Photoshop in range of tools and use cases. It covers photo retouching, graphic design and digital painting. Layers, blend modes, healing and cloning, levels, color balance and text are all there, so the overlap is strong for everyday raster work.
Nondestructive editing is better than the review suggests
The review says GIMP falls short on nondestructive editing, though it does mention Link Layers in 3.2. GIMP's own release notes show the gap has narrowed.
- Release: GIMP 3.2 shipped on March 14, 2026. The main focus of the 3.2 roadmap was "non-destructive layers".
- Link Layers: They let you link an external image into a composition, and they work like Photoshop's "Linked Smart Object" concept. You create one with Open as Link Layer... in the File menu.
- Live updates: The layer updates automatically when the external image is changed in another editor. The release notes give an example of editing an SVG logo in Inkscape and watching GIMP update.
- Vector Layers: The Path tool can now create Vector Layers, which have adjustable fill and stroke settings.
- Rasterize safety latch: Text, Link and Vector layers now share a workflow. You can Rasterize a Link Layer to allow destructive edits, and revert with Revert Rasterize. This should help with the old problem of accidentally painting over editable text.
Link Layers are not a full Smart Object equivalent. OMG! Ubuntu points out that they are linked-only assets, not embedded in the file. GIMP's documentation adds a practical condition: the external image has to stay where GIMP expects to find it. By default the path is stored relative to your project file. If you move your project, move the linked image to the same relative location. Otherwise the link can't update.
CMYK: a narrower claim than "none"
The review says GIMP lacks CMYK support out of the box and offers only RGB. That is too broad for 3.2, and the release notes show some CMYK handling. You can now see the Total Ink Coverage value for a color in the CMYK Color Selector, which helps when soft-proofing against a printer's ink limit.
That does not make GIMP a full print-production tool. Confirm what file format and color handling your printer requires, and test the output before committing to a project.
Windows note: 32-bit builds end
The 3.2 release notes say GIMP 3.2.0 is the last version distributed as 32-bit on Windows. 3.2.2 and later micro releases will not have a 32-bit version. The 32-bit TWAIN scanning plug-in goes with it, and the notes tell users to use the scanner manufacturer's software instead. This matters if you run older hardware or scan through GIMP.
Photoshop file compatibility
GIMP 3.2 also improves Photoshop interoperability. It imports more PSD layer styles, such as Drop Shadow, Inner Shadow and Outer Glow, and it reads Photoshop .acv and .alv presets for Curves and Levels. Todea still warns that PSDs using masking and Smart Objects can import badly. Treat that as a risk to test on your own files, not a guarantee that every PSD will fail.
PixiEditor: a 2D art tool, not a photo retoucher
PixiEditor's documentation describes four toolsets:
- Pixel Art: hard-edged tools with no anti-aliasing.
- Painting: soft-edged tools with anti-aliasing.
- Vector: scalable, path-based tools.
- Adjustments: tools for color, exposure and image corrections.
Its FAQ says the project is open source under the LGPL v3 licence, and that art you make in it is yours, including for commercial projects. Since version 2.0 it has run on Windows, Linux and macOS. The site also promotes paid supporter tiers and an Extension Browser, so "free" applies to the base app. Some extras sit behind donation tiers.
Todea calls it a solid middle ground, not a professional-grade editor, and says its adjustments are basic next to Photoshop's. PixiEditor's own roadmap points the same way. PSD file support appears there as an open proposal for a future 2.2 release, not a shipped feature. If your work depends on layered PSD files, PixiEditor is the wrong starting point.
PhotoDemon: portable and Windows-first
PhotoDemon's about page says it is 100% free and 100% open-source. It runs on Windows from XP through Windows 11, and it never needs to be installed. It also doesn't require administrator access. That makes it handy for a USB stick or a locked-down work PC.
Todea describes a minimalist, retro-looking interface with selection tools, a clone stamp, brushes, levels, white balance and blend modes. She says Photoshop users will find almost no learning curve. PSD, AVIF and TIFF files open, but PSD information won't all transfer cleanly.
The project's own README lists limits that the review doesn't mention. PhotoDemon is a 32-bit application, and it cannot load or save images larger than about 2 GB. Other operating systems aren't officially supported. These are project claims, not independent benchmarks. Check them against your actual image sizes before relying on it for large files.
Which one should you try?
| If your work is mostly... | Start with | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| General raster editing, compositing, retouching | GIMP | PSD fidelity; print workflows need testing |
| Pixel art, illustration, vector shapes | PixiEditor | No PSD support yet; basic photo adjustments |
| Quick photo fixes on a Windows PC, no install | PhotoDemon | 32-bit limits; partial PSD transfer |
The practical takeaway
Todea's conclusion holds up: simple adjustments and web graphics are well covered by free tools, while in-depth photo editing and print design are harder to replace. A sensible way to test is to keep your original PSD, open a copy in each candidate, and see what survives. Check that layers, masks, text and effects all come through.
As for the "vibe coded" newcomer, the review itself says PhotoCraft has stability concerns, so it is one to watch, not rely on yet. The older tools have years of development behind them, and GIMP's 3.2 release shows they are still improving.