Microsoft Paint AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Digital Painting Tools

The best Digital Painting alternative to Microsoft Paint is Paint.NET, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Microsoft Paint and loads of them are Digital Painting Tools so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Digital Painting Tool alternatives to Microsoft Paint are Krita, Pinta, Photopea and MyPaint.

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Microsoft Paint alternatives are mainly Digital Painting Tools but may also be Image Editors or Photo Editors. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Microsoft Paint.
Microsoft Paint iconMicrosoft Paint
  176
  • ...

Basic, ad-free editor bundled with Windows for bitmap, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and TIFF files. Features AI powered features, layer support, offline use, and no registration.

More about Microsoft Paint
More about Microsoft Paint
Microsoft Paint alternatives page was last updated Feb 13, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. Paint.NET icon

    Paint.NET

     1633 likes
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    Free Windows image editor with support for layers, plugins, and special effects. Offers intuitive interface, works offline, ad-free, and portable, consuming fewer resources.

    166 Paint.NET alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • .NET Framework
    Paint.NET screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  User friendly
    3.  Minimalistic

    Features

    1.  Support for Layers
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Support for image plugins
    5.  Export to PNG
    6.  Community-based
    7.  Transparency
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Portable
    10.  Built-in Color Picker
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  No registration required

    Paint.NET VS Microsoft Paint

     
    Comments about Paint.NET as an Alternative to Microsoft Paint
    ThomasJPitts
    Positive •Mar 6, 2017
    1

    The amount of support, plugins and alternative options make it far better than Paint.

    Guest
    Positive •Jun 15, 2017
    -1

    Easy to use, basic, photo editing software.

    Microsoft Paint Icon
    Paint.NET icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Paint.NET is a great Microsoft Paint alternative.

    • Paint.NET is the most popular Windows alternative to Microsoft Paint.

    • Paint.NET is the most popular free alternative to Microsoft Paint.

    • Paint.NET is Free and ProprietaryMicrosoft Paint is also Free and Proprietary
    • Paint.NET is Lightweight and MinimalisticMicrosoft Paint is not according to our users
  2. Krita icon

    Krita

     1349 likes
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    Free, open-source painting software designed by artists for artists. Offers customizable UI, 9 brush engines, color management, tablet support, non-destructive editing, and privacy features. Portable and available on major platforms, supporting seamless texture creation.

    142 Krita alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • NL flagNetherlands
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android Tablet
    • Epic Games Store
    • PortableApps.com
    • Steam
    Main Window

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Digital Drawing
    2.  Blending brushes
    3.  Keyframe Animation
    4.  Drawing 2D
    5.  Advanced brush settings
    6.  Drawing Tablet Support
    7.  Digital-painting focused
    8.  Sketching
    9.  Color blending
    10.  Support for Layers
    11.  Texture painting
    12.  Custom Brushes

    Krita VS Microsoft Paint

     
    Comments about Krita as an Alternative to Microsoft Paint
    Top Positive Comment
    vincentasmargis
    Jul 24, 2017
    1

    I was looking for a program that could convert a .JPG file into .ico,and Krita did just that.

    Top Negative Comment
    vertigo
    Dec 19, 2022
    3

    Krita is probably a great program for those that need the extra functionality, but those looking for an alternative to the extremely basic MS Paint don't need that, and it will be far more complicated to use. Even more importantly, though, is that even on my high-end system, it takes minimum several seconds to start, and sometimes around half a minute or longer, and that's just too long for doing basic tasks that would be done in Paint.

    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Negative •Oct 17, 2024
    0

    too complicated and bloated

    Show more comments
    3 of 8 comments
    Microsoft Paint Icon
    Krita icon

    • Most users think Krita is a great Microsoft Paint alternative.

    • Krita is the most popular Mac, Linux & Android Tablet alternative to Microsoft Paint.

    • Krita is the most popular Open Source alternative to Microsoft Paint.

    • Krita is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Paint is Free and Proprietary
    • Krita is LightweightMicrosoft Paint is not according to our users
  4. Pinta icon

    Pinta

     266 likes
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    Pinta is a image editing, drawing and painting application with a simple yet powerful interface. Pinta has a wide range of drawing tools, including: freehand, rectangles, circles and lines. It also has over 35 effects to apply to your images, and also has the ability to create...

    105 Pinta alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Mono
    Pinta 3.0

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for Layers
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Non Destructive Editing
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  No registration required
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Multiple languages
    9.  Color correction
    10.  Image Filters
    11.  Gtk

    Pinta VS Microsoft Paint

     
    Comments about Pinta as an Alternative to Microsoft Paint
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    Feb 9, 2018
    2

    Simple interface with powerful tools

    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive •Feb 12, 2022
    0

    This app uses similar features like MS Paint, but there’s one thing that’s missing. The Grid Lines. Needs an Update.

    Guest
    Positive •Sep 23, 2020
    0

    Similar options like mspaint. If you come from windows, install and work.

    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Microsoft Paint Icon
    Pinta icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Pinta is a great Microsoft Paint alternative.

    • Pinta is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Paint is Free and Proprietary
    • Pinta is LightweightMicrosoft Paint is not according to our users
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    Clip Studio Paint icon
    Clip Studio Paint

    Professional software for comic and manga creation, optimized with panel layouts, perspective rulers, sketching, inking, toning, vector support, and 3D model import, suitable for artists seeking advanced drawing and coloring tool...

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  6. Photopea icon

    Photopea

     309 likes
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    Online photo editor, which can work with PSD, XCF and Sketch files (Photoshop, Gimp and Sketch App). Convert between PSD, XCF, JPG, PNG and many other formats.

    104 Photopea alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Online
    Photopea screenshot 1

    Top Photopea Features

    1.  Web-Based
    2.  Open PSD files
    3.  Support for Layers
    4.  Vectorize raster images
    5.  Photoshop-like
    6.  Sketch to PSD
    7.  RAW Photo Editors
    8.  Text tool
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Colorize Photo
    12.  No registration required

    Photopea VS Microsoft Paint

     
    Comments about Photopea as an Alternative to Microsoft Paint
    Guest
    Negative •Nov 7, 2018
    2

    Photopea is an outstanding Chrome OS substitute for Photoshop (or GIMP), but it is much more complicated to use than MS Paint.

    Guest
    Positive •Nov 21, 2019
    -1

    Its The same but simply it's more advanced

    Microsoft Paint Icon
    Photopea icon

    • Most users think Photopea is a great Microsoft Paint alternative.

    • Photopea is the most popular Web-based alternative to Microsoft Paint.

    • Photopea is Freemium and ProprietaryMicrosoft Paint is Free and Proprietary
  7. MyPaint icon

    MyPaint

     378 likes
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    MyPaint is a fast, distraction-free, and easy painting tool for digital artists. It supports graphics tablets made by Wacom, and many similar devices.

    122 MyPaint alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    MyPaint screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Sketching
    2.  Support for Layers
    3.  Infinite canvas
    4.  Portable
    5.  Drawing Tablet Support
    6.  Fullscreen support
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Custom Brushes
    10.  Color blending

    MyPaint VS Microsoft Paint

     
    Comments about MyPaint as an Alternative to Microsoft Paint
    Guest
    Negative •Jun 27, 2017
    6

    There is no selection tool, which is what i need.

    Microsoft Paint Icon
    MyPaint icon

    • Most users think MyPaint is a great Microsoft Paint alternative.

    • MyPaint is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Paint is Free and Proprietary
  8. Paint 98 icon

    Paint 98

     3 likes
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    Paint 98 is a simple yet powerful drawing tool for iPhone and iPad that lets you to create, edit and share images without all the complications of today's image editors. Paint like it's 1998!.

    9 Paint 98 alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Paint 98 screenshot 1
    Paint 98 screenshot 2
    Paint 98 screenshot 3

    Paint 98 Features

    1.  Copy & paste actions
    2.  Pixel Art

    Paint 98 VS Microsoft Paint

     
    Comments about Paint 98 as an Alternative to Microsoft Paint
    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive •Jul 20, 2017
    7

    It edits image files exactly like paint does

    Guest
    Positive •Sep 3, 2017
    0

    Straightforward for amateurs!

    Guest
    Positive •Dec 19, 2017
    -2

    it's actually pretty much microsoft paint

    Microsoft Paint Icon
    Paint 98 icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Paint 98 is a great Microsoft Paint alternative.

    • Paint 98 is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Microsoft Paint.

    • Paint 98 is Free and ProprietaryMicrosoft Paint is also Free and Proprietary
  10. Procreate icon

    Procreate

     160 likes
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    Procreate is a versatile, award-winning app for creative digital drawing and painting on iOS. It delivers a robust, professional toolset with hundreds of configurable brushes, a powerful layering system, vector graphic tools, and comprehensive design capabilities, ensuring desktop-level flexibility and power.

    58 Procreate alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Procreate screenshot 1

    Top Procreate Features

    1.  Apple Pencil support
    2.  Texture for brushes
    3.  Custom Brushes
    4.  Drawing 2D
    5.  Love
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Support for Layers
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Support for 4K
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Drawing Tablet Support

    Procreate VS Microsoft Paint

     

    • Most users think Procreate is a great Microsoft Paint alternative.

    • Procreate is the most popular commercial alternative to Microsoft Paint.

    • Procreate is Paid and ProprietaryMicrosoft Paint is Free and Proprietary
7 of 70 Microsoft Paint alternatives