The Best Open Source Clip Studio Paint AlternativesTop Digital Painting Tools & Image Editors like Clip Studio Paint

The best open source alternative to Clip Studio Paint is GIMP. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Clip Studio Paint and 17 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Clip Studio Paint are Krita, Inkscape, MyPaint and Storyboarder.

Clip Studio Paint alternatives are mainly Digital Painting Tools but may also be Image Editors or Vector Graphic Apps. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Clip Studio Paint.

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Android Tablet + Free

Clip Studio Paint

117

Paid • Proprietary
Digital Painting Tool

Clip Studio Paint, previously Manga Studio or ComicStudio in Japan, is a family of software applications for Mac OS X and...

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Clip Studio Paint alternatives page was last updated

GIMP
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Image Editor
Photo Editor
Digital Painting Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Snapcraft
Flathub
PortableApps.com
Haiku
Flatpak
AmigaOS
204 GIMP alternatives
GIMP is a free program for such photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. Essentially it's the closest thing to Photoshop you can get for free.
- - GIMP is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Clip Studio Paint.
- - GIMP is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Clip Studio Paint.
Suggest and vote on features
GIMP Features
1. Support for LayersGIMP supports the organization of elements through a hierarchical order that can be manipulated/viewed independently.
2. DRM FreeNo Digital rights management (DRM), i.e. no copy protection.
3. Ad-freeGIMP doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsGIMP can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
5. Dark ModeGIMP supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
6. PortableGIMP can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
7. Works OfflineGIMP can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
8. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in GIMP without registration.
9. Custom BrushesYou can use modified/custom brushes in GIMP.
Customizable
Photo effects
High-resolution images
Retouch photos
Open PSD files
Color to Alpha
Image Processing
Select by Color
Built-in Color picker
Batch image manipulation
Comments about GIMP as a Alternative to Clip Studio Paint
Some users think GIMP is a great Clip Studio Paint alternative, some don't.
sedeti
Gimp is for another purpose lol
Negative comment •
-1

Guest
Lack of important options and optimization for drawing, and really poorly and ugly UI
Negative comment •
-2
Krita
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Digital Painting Tool
Image Editor
Photo Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android Tablet
Epic Games Store
PortableApps.com
Steam
144 Krita alternatives
Krita is a professional Free and open source (FOSS) painting program. It is made by artists that want to see affordable art tools for everyone within concept art, texture and matte painters, illustrations and comics.
- - Krita is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to Clip Studio Paint.
Suggest and vote on features
Krita Features
1. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Krita, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
2. LightweightKrita consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. Drawing Tablet SupportKrita supports the use of external drawing tablets as input devices.
4. Support for LayersKrita supports the organization of elements through a hierarchical order that can be manipulated/viewed independently.
5. Non Destructive EditingKrita can make changes to a file without overwriting the original data, which remains available in case you want to revert to it.
6. Custom BrushesYou can use modified/custom brushes in Krita.
7. Color PickerKrita allows you to select and copy a color property from an image, object, or shape.
8. Dark ModeKrita supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
9. Pressure SensitivityKrita can change attributes like thickness or opacity, based on how much force you apply to your stylus/finger.
Digital Drawing
Blending brushes
Drawing 2D
Advanced brush settings
Digital-painting focused
Color blending
Sketching
Texture painting
Adjustment Layers
Cross-Platform
Comments about Krita as a Alternative to Clip Studio Paint
Almost everyone thinks Krita is a great Clip Studio Paint alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Guest
a great software for poor artist but very powerfull to drew . i'm like it
Top positive comment •
6

Guest
It has a full list of features, and it's free!
Top positive comment •
4

Guest
I have been using Krita for 4 years and just jumped to Photoshop . The features are very similar to Photoshop so It really made me feel right at home after I jumped from it. Best alternative to Photoshop.
Positive comment •
0

Guest
Completely free and very powerful
Positive comment •
0

Guest
I really like the fact that it includes animation, even though it's so much cheaper than clip studio paint!
Positive comment •
1

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5 of 6 comments
Inkscape
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Vector Graphic App
Image Editor
Digital Painting Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Snapcraft
Flathub
PortableApps.com
137 Inkscape alternatives
Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X, using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format.
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Inkscape Features
1. Support for LayersInkscape supports the organization of elements through a hierarchical order that can be manipulated/viewed independently.
2. Works OfflineInkscape can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
3. Ad-freeInkscape doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. Privacy focusedInkscape is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
5. LightweightInkscape consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
6. Dark ModeInkscape supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
7. Drawing Tablet SupportInkscape supports the use of external drawing tablets as input devices.
8. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Inkscape without registration.
9. Color PickerInkscape allows you to select and copy a color property from an image, object, or shape.
Vectorize raster images
Support for SVG
Live Path Effects
Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
Customizable
Edit PDF
Export to SVG
Scalable
High-resolution images
Symbols
Comments about Inkscape as a Alternative to Clip Studio Paint
This alternative is disputed. Inkscape is still a legitimate Clip Studio Paint alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
lauraess1
Inkscape is primarily a a Vector Graphics Editor, not predominantly bitmap like Clip Studio Paint. While CSP does have "Vector Brushes" and uses a selection of vector objects to create speech and thought balloons, these are really ways of applying brush tips and shapes in a rescaleable way, and a full set of vector manipulation is not available.

Inkscape is more an Alternative to Corel Draw and Adobe Illustrator, NOT Clip Studio Paint.
Top negative comment •
12

Guest
I just tried drawing on Inkscape with my stylus, but it continued (connected) to my previous strokes instead of creating new ones. I believe that for clear neat drawings this should be good (icons, simple illustrations) but real drawings (think of eyebrows) are difficult to create on it.
Negative comment •
0

Guest
Inkscape does vector. Clip Studio does bitmap.
Negative comment •
-1

Guest
Inkscape is an Open Source Vector Graphics Editor as the description implies. However, Clip Studio Paint main focus is bitmap. Inkscape is similar to Illustrator, Corel Draw and other vector graphics editors and is a good software on it's category, but it doesn't possess the same features for bitmap drawing as Clip Studio Paint, Paint Tool Sai or even Photoshop
Negative comment •
0

Guest
it is a good alternative because it possesses almost all the same functions that clip studio paint and for free
Positive comment •
-26

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5 of 6 comments
MyPaint
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Digital Painting Tool
Image Editor
Photo Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
127 MyPaint alternatives
MyPaint is a fast painting program with an emphasis on full-screen use. It lets you focus on the art instead of the program. You work on your canvas with minimum distractions, bringing up the interface only when you need it.
Suggest and vote on features
MyPaint Features
1. Support for LayersMyPaint supports the organization of elements through a hierarchical order that can be manipulated/viewed independently.
2. Distraction-freeMyPaint has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
3. Drawing Tablet SupportMyPaint supports the use of external drawing tablets as input devices.
4. PortableMyPaint can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. Custom BrushesYou can use modified/custom brushes in MyPaint.
6. Ad-freeMyPaint doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Sketching
Infinite canvas
Fullscreen support
Color blending
Comments about MyPaint as a Alternative to Clip Studio Paint
Most users think MyPaint is a great Clip Studio Paint alternative.
Guest
not made for drawing manga
Negative comment •
1
Storyboarder
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Digital Painting Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
29 Storyboarder alternatives
Storyboarder makes it easy to visualize a story as fast you can draw stick figures. Quickly draw to test if a story idea works. Create and show animatics to others. Express your story idea without making a movie.
Suggest and vote on features
Storyboarder Features
Storyboard
Gimp Paint Studio
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Image Editor
Digital Painting Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
GIMP
79 Gimp Paint Studio alternatives
GPS (aka Gimp Paint Studio) is a collection of brushes, patterns, color gradients, accompanying tool presets and dynamics. Tool presets are a simply saved tool options, highly useful feature of the GIMP.
Suggest and vote on features
Gimp Paint Studio Features
1. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsGimp Paint Studio can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
Categories
Discontinued
The project seems to be no longer developed. Last version, 2.0, released in August 2013, can be still downloaded from GitHub.

Comments about Gimp Paint Studio as a Alternative to Clip Studio Paint
Almost everyone thinks Gimp Paint Studio is a great Clip Studio Paint alternative.
Guest
It's NOT discontinued. They just release 2.10 earlier this year.
Positive comment •
5
Seashore
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Image Editor
Photo Editor
Mac
132 Seashore alternatives
Seashore is an open source image editor for Mac OS. It features gradients, textures and anti-aliasing for both text and brush strokes. It supports multiple layers and alpha channel editing. It is based around the GIMPs technology and uses the same native file format.
Suggest and vote on features
Seashore Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Seashore simultaneously.
Crop images
DPaint JS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Image Editor
Digital Painting Tool
Online
52 DPaint JS alternatives
Webbased image editor modeled after the legendary Deluxe Paint with a focus on retro Amiga file formats.
Suggest and vote on features
DPaint JS Features
1. Color PickerDPaint JS allows you to select and copy a color property from an image, object, or shape.
2. Support for LayersDPaint JS supports the organization of elements through a hierarchical order that can be manipulated/viewed independently.
3. Ad-freeDPaint JS doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. PortableDPaint JS can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. Dark ModeDPaint JS supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
6. Works OfflineDPaint JS can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
7. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in DPaint JS without registration.
Image Filters
Image Masking
Image Effects
QAquarelle
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Digital Painting Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
71 QAquarelle alternatives
Qaquarelle is a very young opensource Qt4-based painting application that is supposed to provide a native way of painting with emulated traditional instruments, including watercolor simulation, full support for tablets and OpenGL-based processing in GPU.
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QAquarelle Features
Watercolor
Discontinued
Latest vsersion: 0.0.4 from 2010-02-09. See https://sourceforge.net/projects/qaquarelle/files/