Brandwave

CyberLink PhotoDirector vs GIMP:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GIMP had more branded searches than CyberLink PhotoDirector among photo editing software worldwide. GIMP had about 851,000 branded searches, while CyberLink PhotoDirector had 9,900. GIMP made up 8.3% of all photo editing software searches we track, and CyberLink PhotoDirector accounted for 0.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about photo editing software, GIMP appeared in three of the five answers and CyberLink PhotoDirector in two. CyberLink PhotoDirector was mentioned before GIMP in two out of three answers that named either.

Among photo editing software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GIMP, about 86 searches for every 1 for CyberLink PhotoDirector

GIMP 851K searchesCyberLink PhotoDirector 9.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

GIMP, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, CyberLink PhotoDirector in 2

GIMP in 3 of 5CyberLink PhotoDirector in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

CyberLink PhotoDirector, named ahead of GIMP in 2 of 3 answers

CyberLink PhotoDirector first in 2GIMP first in 1

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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. CyberLink PhotoDirector was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. CyberLink PhotoDirector was listed before GIMP in two out of three answers that named either.

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 CyberLink PhotoDirector or GIMP more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for CyberLink PhotoDirector 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.

CyberLink PhotoDirector and GIMP among photo editing software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for GIMP, CyberLink PhotoDirector. 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 CyberLink PhotoDirector and GIMP comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

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

2 changes

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

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for CyberLink PhotoDirector worldwide fell 83.6% over 12 measured months, from 60.5K to 9.9K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using CyberLink PhotoDirector’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.

CyberLink PhotoDirector

2 branded search terms

  • cyberlink photodirector
  • photodirector

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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