GIMP vs Luminar Neo:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, GIMP had more branded searches than Luminar Neo among image editing software worldwide. GIMP had about 880,000 branded searches, while Luminar Neo had 49,500. GIMP made up 7.6% of all image editing software searches we track, and Luminar Neo accounted for 0.43%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about image editing software, GIMP and Luminar Neo each appeared in four of the five answers. Luminar Neo was mentioned before GIMP in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
GIMP, about 18 searches for every 1 for Luminar Neo
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Luminar Neo, named ahead of GIMP in 3 of 5 answers
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Top image editing software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GIMP and Luminar Neo were each mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Luminar Neo was listed before GIMP in three out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Adobe Photoshop1st- Adobe Lightroom2nd
Affinity3rd- Luminar Neo4th
- GIMP5th
Photopea6th
Pixlr7th
Picsart–
Fotor–
Paint.NET–- +5 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Adobe Photoshop5 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
- Adobe Lightroom4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- GIMP4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Luminar Neo4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Photopea3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Pixlr1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Picsart0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Fotor0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Paint.NET0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about image editing software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which image editor should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best image editing software?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best image editor for photo retouching?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“image editing software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“photo editing software”
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 19, 2026.
Is GIMP or Luminar Neo more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for GIMP and Luminar Neo by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 image editing software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for GIMP, Luminar Neo. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Photopea | Adobe Photoshop | Picsart | Adobe Lightroom | Pixlr | GIMP | Fotor | Affinity | Paint.NET | PhotoScape | Luminar Neo | Pixelmator | PaintShop Pro | Xara | Acorn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 27.2% | 23% | 13.9% | 8.2% | 10.7% | 7.4% | 4% | 2.4% | 1.2% | 0.93% | 0.72% | 0.27% | 0.14% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 22.4% | 22.9% | 14.3% | 7.9% | 11% | 7.5% | 3.3% | 7.4% | 1.2% | 0.81% | 0.89% | 0.27% | 0.15% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 25.3% | 22.9% | 16% | 8.8% | 9.7% | 6.9% | 4.5% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 0.78% | 0.81% | 0.25% | 0.14% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 25.5% | 21.7% | 15.9% | 9.1% | 9.8% | 8.2% | 3% | 2.3% | 1.4% | 0.92% | 0.82% | 1.3% | 0.14% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 27.1% | 22.8% | 16.2% | 9.3% | 9.1% | 7.3% | 3% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.84% | 0.72% | 0.56% | 0.13% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 26.7% | 22% | 16.3% | 9.5% | 9.9% | 7.1% | 3.4% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 0.86% | 0.69% | 0.53% | 0.13% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 26.4% | 21.9% | 19% | 9.5% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.86% | 0.85% | 0.37% | 0.12% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 27.7% | 21.6% | 19.3% | 9.5% | 9% | 6% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.86% | 0.73% | 0.38% | 0.11% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 29.5% | 20% | 19.6% | 9.9% | 8% | 6.4% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 0.87% | 0.75% | 0.64% | 0.33% | 0.11% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 30.2% | 20.3% | 19.5% | 8.6% | 8.4% | 6.5% | 2.4% | 1.4% | 0.88% | 0.76% | 0.64% | 0.33% | 0.1% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 29.7% | 20% | 19% | 9.9% | 7.6% | 6.3% | 3.6% | 1.3% | 0.86% | 0.74% | 0.52% | 0.33% | 0.11% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 29.5% | 21% | 15.3% | 10% | 9% | 7.6% | 3.3% | 1.7% | 0.88% | 0.79% | 0.43% | 0.33% | 0.11% | <0.01% | <0.01% |
How has the GIMP and Luminar Neo comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- GIMP was ahead of Luminar Neo in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GIMP’s share of searches among image editing software worldwide moved from 7.4% to 7.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.1M to 880K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Luminar Neo’s share of searches among image editing software worldwide moved from 0.72% to 0.43%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110K to 49.5K.
How did search popularity change for image editing software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, GIMP gained share of searches among image editing software worldwide, from 6.3% to 7.6%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Luminar Neo worldwide fell 55% over 12 measured months, from 110K to 49.5K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
18 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GIMP’s and Luminar Neo’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.
GIMP
17 branded search terms
- gimp
- gimp ai
- gimp android
- gimp app
- gimp design software
- gimp graphic design
- gimp image editor
- gimp ipad
- gimp linux
- gimp mac
- gimp photo editor
- gimp pro
- gimp program
- gimp software
- gimp vector editor
- gimp vector graphics
- gimp windows
Luminar Neo
1 branded search term
- luminarneo
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