Brandwave

Adobe Lightroom vs GIMP:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Adobe Lightroom had more branded searches than GIMP among photo editing software worldwide. Adobe Lightroom had about 1.2 million branded searches, while GIMP had 851,000. Adobe Lightroom made up 11.3% of all photo editing software searches we track, and GIMP accounted for 8.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about photo editing software, Adobe Lightroom appeared in all five answers and GIMP in three. Adobe Lightroom was mentioned before GIMP in every answer.

Among photo editing software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Adobe Lightroom, about 37% more searches than GIMP

Adobe Lightroom 1.2M searchesGIMP 851K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Adobe Lightroom, mentioned in every answer we collected

Adobe Lightroom in 5 of 5GIMP in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Adobe Lightroom, named ahead of GIMP in every answer

Adobe Lightroom first in 5GIMP never first

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Top photo editing software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Adobe Lightroom appeared in all five answers. GIMP was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Adobe Lightroom was listed before GIMP in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Adobe Photoshop1st
  2. Adobe Lightroom2nd
  3. Capture One3rd
  4. Affinity4th
  5. Luminar Neo4th
  6. GIMP6th
  7. CyberLink PhotoDirector7th
  8. DxO PhotoLab8th
  9. RawTherapee9th
  10. Snapseed10th
  11. +4 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Adobe Lightroom5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Adobe Photoshop5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Capture One5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Affinity5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • GIMP3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Luminar Neo3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • RawTherapee2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • DxO PhotoLab2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • CyberLink PhotoDirector2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Photopea1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+4 more

See every answer about photo editing software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Adobe Lightroom or GIMP more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Adobe Lightroom and GIMP by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 photo editing software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Adobe Lightroom and GIMP among photo editing software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Adobe Lightroom, GIMP. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPhotopeaPicsartAdobe LightroomPixlrGIMPVSCOAdobe PhotoshopSnapseedCapture OneAffinityLuminar NeoRawTherapeeDxO PhotoLabCyberLink PhotoDirector
Oct 202531.9%16.7%9.7%12.7%8.4%6.6%6.4%3.2%0.86%1.6%0.86%0.39%0.26%0.47%
Nov 202527.2%17.9%9.7%13.6%8.9%6.8%6.7%3.2%1.1%2.7%1.1%0.4%0.27%0.4%
Dec 202529.1%19.1%10.4%11.4%7.7%7.3%7.2%3.5%0.96%1.2%0.96%0.35%0.19%0.53%
Jan 202629.2%18.8%10.6%11.4%9.2%7.4%5.9%3.5%0.96%1.2%0.96%0.35%0.19%0.43%
Feb 202631.3%19.5%11%10.8%8.2%6.5%6.3%3.1%0.69%0.9%0.85%0.31%0.17%0.38%
Mar 202629.8%19.2%11%11.4%7.9%7.5%6%3.6%0.98%1%0.8%0.29%0.2%0.29%
Apr 202630%22.5%11%9.8%7.7%6.2%6%3.6%0.66%0.72%0.99%0.3%0.2%0.24%
May 202630.9%22.4%10.8%10.3%6.5%6.5%5.1%4.6%0.68%0.74%0.83%0.31%0.2%0.25%
Jun 202632.2%22.2%11.1%8.9%6.8%6.7%5.3%3.4%1.1%0.93%0.71%0.32%0.21%0.12%
Jul 202632.8%22.3%9.7%9.4%7.1%6.8%5.4%3.3%0.89%0.94%0.73%0.32%0.22%0.1%
Aug 202632.7%22%11.3%8.7%7%6.8%5.4%3.3%0.88%0.78%0.59%0.32%0.22%0.1%
Sep 202632.6%17.5%11.3%10.2%8.3%6.7%6.5%3.2%1.3%1.1%0.48%0.32%0.26%0.1%

How has the Adobe Lightroom and GIMP comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for photo editing software worldwide in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, GIMP gained share of searches among photo editing software worldwide, from 7% to 8.3%.

How are branded searches counted?

9 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Adobe Lightroom’s and GIMP’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Adobe Lightroom

6 branded search terms

  • adobe lightroom
  • lightroom
  • lightroom app
  • lightroom classic
  • lightroom mobile
  • lightroom presets

GIMP

3 branded search terms

  • gimp
  • gimp image editor
  • gimp photo editor

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among photo editing software

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