Top 10+ Alternatives for Krita in 2025
Top 10+ Krita Alternatives in 2025
If you’re an artist or designer, you’ve probably heard of Krita—a powerful, free, open-source painting program. While it’s amazing, sometimes you need something a little different. Maybe you want new features, a different user experience, or just want to try something fresh. This list covers the best Krita Alternatives in 2025, with a mix of free and paid options, so you can find the perfect tool for your creative needs.
1. GIMP
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a versatile, open-source image editor. While it’s famous for photo editing, GIMP also offers robust painting and drawing tools, making it a solid alternative for Krita users.
- Customizable interface to suit your workflow
- Expansive brush library and easy-to-make custom brushes
- Supports layers, masks, and blend modes
- Works on all major operating systems
2. Paint Tool SAI
Paint Tool SAI is a lightweight digital painting program that’s become a fan favorite, especially for illustrators and manga artists. Its easy-to-use interface and smooth drawing experience make it a great Krita alternative.
- Super responsive brush engine with pen pressure support
- Straightforward and beginner-friendly layout
- Low resource usage—works on modest computers
- Stabilizer for smooth linework
3. Autodesk SketchBook
SketchBook is designed for artists who love sketching and drawing on a clean, distraction-free canvas. Its intuitive interface and high-quality brushes make it another worthy Krita alternative.
- Beautiful, uncluttered workspace
- Comes with a variety of natural-feeling brushes
- Supports layers and blending modes
- Available on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
4. Corel Painter
Corel Painter is a professional level digital art application used widely by illustrators, concept artists, and photographers. It’s known for its realistic painting effects and comprehensive brush library.
- Extensive brush selection—over 900 unique brushes
- Imitates traditional media like oil, watercolor, and pastels
- Advanced layer and blending system
- Great for photo art as well as original painting
5. MediBang Paint
MediBang Paint is a free, lightweight drawing program popular among comic and manga artists. It’s cloud-based, making it easy to work on your projects anywhere.
- Cloud saving for seamless work on different devices
- Comic panel creation tools
- Brushes and materials library
- Available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
6. Clip Studio Paint
Clip Studio Paint is highly regarded in the illustration, comic, and animation world. With a focus on manga, comics, and realistic drawing, it’s packed with features for artists who want to go beyond Krita’s offerings.
- Advanced pen and brush customization
- Powerful vector tools for crisp, clean lines
- Support for animation and 3D references
- Comics-specific panel and speech bubble support
7. ArtRage
ArtRage is perfect for those who want their digital art to look like traditional painting. Its intuitive tools mimic oils, watercolors, pencils, and more.
- Exceptionally realistic paint textures and brush strokes
- User-friendly, simple interface
- Reference image support for tracing and color sampling
- Available on Windows, macOS, and mobile
8. FireAlpaca
FireAlpaca offers a lightweight, free alternative for digital painting and comic creation, great for beginners and those with lower end hardware.
- Simple, easy-to-navigate interface
- Fast performance even on older systems
- Variety of brushes, tones, and comic templates
- Windows and macOS support
9. MyPaint
MyPaint stands out for its focus on distraction-free painting, especially for tablet users and those who need unlimited canvas space.
- Infinitely large canvas to never run out of space
- Extensive and customizable brush engine
- Minimalist interface for a pure drawing experience
- Works well with drawing tablets
10. Rebelle
Rebelle is known for its hyper-realistic paint simulation that lets you blend watercolors and acrylics just like real life. Perfect for artists who love traditional art.
- Realistic blending and wet simulation for paints
- Wide range of natural media brushes
- High-performance even with complex brushes
- Advanced layering and masking functionalities
11. Inkscape
Although mainly a vector graphics editor, Inkscape can double as a drawing tool for line art, comics, and design. It’s free and open-source, making it a handy Krita alternative for vector-focused artists.
- Rich vector editing tools for precise artwork
- Supports Pen, Pencil, Calligraphy, and Brush tools
- Open-source, cross-platform
- Large repository of plugins and extensions
12. Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is more than just a photo editing tool. Its painting and drawing features—combined with advanced layer capabilities—make it a viable option for digital artists seeking Krita alternatives.
- Professional-grade painting tools alongside photo editing
- Unlimited layers and advanced blending
- Custom brushes and non-destructive workflow
- Available on Windows, macOS, and iPad
Why Consider Krita Alternatives?
No single art program fits every artist’s needs. Trying out different Krita Alternatives can lead to discovering features, workflows, or user experiences that elevate your creativity. Whether you’re looking for something lightweight, hyper-realistic, or simply want to try new tools, there’s likely a perfect match waiting for you.
Did we miss your favorite Krita alternative? Let us know your go-to choice and help fellow artists discover amazing new tools!