The GNU Image Manipulation Program or GIMP (ɪmp/ , GHIMP) is a free and open-source raster graphics editor. GIMP is always stylized in capitals and was formerly stylized as The GIMP.
GIMP is commonly used for photo retouching, image editing, free-hand drawing, and converting between different image file formats. GIMP is not designed for drawing, however, artists and creators still use GIMP for drawing.
GIMP is freely available on Microsoft Windows, Linux and macOS. It is licensed under version 3.0 or later of the GNU General Public License (GPL). The GIMP project is a non-profit supported by a community of volunteers. Users are encouraged to contribute.
GIMP supports plugins and scripting, allowing users to extend its features and automate tasks.
Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis began developing GIMP in 1995. GIMP began as a semester-long student project in the eXperimental Computing Facility at the University of California, Berkeley. GIMP was named the General Image Manipulation Program. Kimball and Mattis formed the acronym GIMP by adding the letter G to '-IMP', inspired by a reference to "the gimp" in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction.
What is GIMP?
GIMP by The GIMP Team (developed by Peter Mattis) is open-source Windows software in the photo management category. It ranks 14th by popularity among photo management in this catalogue. The first release dates back to 1995. It is written in C. Besides Windows, it is available for GNU/Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, Solaris and AmigaOS 4. Its interface is available in 3 languages.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (Inno Setup) installers for 64-bit and 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 338.7 MB. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. It needs Windows 10 or newer. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.10.38, released on March 28, 2025. The version history goes back to March 28, 2025: 18 releases, all linked to the official files. The last update is more than a year old.
Popularity and file types
Wikipedia has an article about it in 47 of our languages. On Windows it registers 123 file types, including .pdf, .webp, .svg, .avif and .png. Similar programs include paint.net, darktable and Kodi.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
- Opens 123 file types
- Also runs on GNU/Linux, macOS and FreeBSD
- Mature project (since 1995)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- No update for more than a year
- Large download (338.7 MB)
In short: GIMP is an open-source photo management tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is GIMP safe to download?
- The file is served by download.gimp.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
BDCF059C7D4E1B0AB59F8DC5F199EBB60AE0445460BF67FF8E4E438A89CEE3D8· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 18 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.10.38Latest | March 28, 2025 | 338.7 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 2.10.36 | March 24, 2025 | 321.3 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 2.10.34 | March 24, 2025 | 318.4 MB | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 2.10.32 | March 23, 2025 | 265.3 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 2.10.30 | March 28, 2025 | 257.3 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 2.10.28 | March 23, 2025 | 249.7 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 2.10.24 | March 23, 2025 | 253.9 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 2.10.22 | March 28, 2025 | 241.1 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id GIMP.GIMP.2 -egimp-2.10.38-setup-1.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask gimpInformation
- Publisher
- The GIMP Team
- Developer
- Peter Mattis and Spencer Kimball
- Category
- Photo management
- Licence
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Written in
- C
- Interface languages
- multiple languages, French, and Greek
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10 (Windows 10+)
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Other platforms
- GNU/Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, Solaris, AmigaOS 4
- Version
- 2.10.38
- Released
- March 28, 2025
- First release
- 1995
- Added to the catalogue
- March 23, 2025
- Versions listed
- 18
- Website
- gimp.org
- winget ID
- GIMP.GIMP.2
File types it opens (123)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is GIMP free?
Yes. GIMP is open-source software under the GPL-3.0 licence.
Is GIMP safe to download?
The download comes from download.gimp.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install GIMP with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can GIMP be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Which Windows versions does GIMP support?
The installer requires Windows 10 or newer and is available for 64-bit and 32-bit.
Does GIMP run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of GIMP?
The versions page lists all 18 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 28, 2025.
Can I use GIMP without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to GIMP?
paint.net, darktable, Kodi, Image Resizer for Windows and digiKam. The alternatives page compares them.
