GIMP

GIMP is worth considering when your work centres on editing individual images rather than managing a large photo catalogue. Its core attraction is straightforward: a capable image editor with no subscription requirement.

Use a representative file to evaluate it. Check the tools you rely on, reopen an exported image, and confirm that colour and transparency look correct in the destination application. If a client expects an editable file from another editor, test that exchange before accepting the job; being able to open a format is not the same as preserving every feature.

Choose the tool for the work you can complete in it, not just its price. Existing training, plug-ins and collaborator expectations can make a paid editor cheaper overall. This assessment is based on GIMP's published features, not a controlled comparison with competing software.