GIMP vs Photopea:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Photopea had more branded searches than GIMP among photo editing software worldwide. Photopea had about 3.4 million branded searches, while GIMP had 851,000. Photopea made up 32.6% 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, GIMP appeared in three of the five answers and Photopea in one. GIMP was mentioned before Photopea in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Photopea, about 4 searches for every 1 for GIMP
Who does AI mention more?
GIMP, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Photopea in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
GIMP, named ahead of Photopea in 3 of 3 answers
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Top photo editing software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GIMP was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Photopea was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. GIMP was listed before Photopea in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
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
See every answer about photo editing software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which photo editing software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best photo editing software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best photo editing software for advanced photo edits?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“photo editing software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“photo editor software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is GIMP or Photopea more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for GIMP and Photopea 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.
Share of searches by month for Photopea, GIMP. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Photopea | Picsart | Adobe Lightroom | Pixlr | GIMP | VSCO | Adobe Photoshop | Snapseed | Capture One | Affinity | Luminar Neo | RawTherapee | DxO PhotoLab | CyberLink PhotoDirector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 31.9% | 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 2025 | 27.2% | 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 2025 | 29.1% | 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 2026 | 29.2% | 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 2026 | 31.3% | 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 2026 | 29.8% | 19.2% | 11% | 11.4% | 7.9% | 7.5% | 6% | 3.6% | 0.98% | 1% | 0.8% | 0.29% | 0.2% | 0.29% |
| Apr 2026 | 30% | 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 2026 | 30.9% | 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 2026 | 32.2% | 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 2026 | 32.8% | 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 2026 | 32.7% | 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 2026 | 32.6% | 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 GIMP and Photopea comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Photopea was ahead of GIMP in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GIMP’s share of searches among photo editing software worldwide moved from 8.4% to 8.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.1M to 851K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Photopea’s share of searches among photo editing software worldwide moved from 31.9% to 32.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.1M to 3.4M.
How did search popularity change for photo editing software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, GIMP gained share of searches among photo editing software worldwide, from 7% to 8.3%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Photopea worldwide fell 18.1% over 12 measured months, from 4.1M to 3.4M in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GIMP’s and Photopea’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.
Other head-to-heads among photo editing software
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