PaintTool SAI AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Image Editors

The best Image Editor alternative to PaintTool SAI is MediBang Paint, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to PaintTool SAI and many of them are Image Editors so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Image Editor alternatives to PaintTool SAI are Adobe Photoshop, FireAlpaca, ibis Paint X and Affinity.

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PaintTool SAI alternatives are mainly Image Editors, but if you're looking for Digital Painting Tools or Photo Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Free, Linux, Android, iPhone, Windows, iPad and Mac. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to PaintTool SAI.
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Alternatives list

  1. MediBang Paint icon
     117 likes

    MediBang Paint is a lightweight software for illustration and making comic books on Windows and Mac OS.

    77 MediBang Paint alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Steam
     
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    14
    MediBang Paint vs PaintTool SAI Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    5

    Its very convenient and it works on every device

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    -1

    the app is filled with a bunch of tools and not enough explaniton

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    I love the dark UI and how organized it is

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 14 comments
    • MediBang Paint is Freemium and ProprietaryPaintTool SAI is Paid and Proprietary
    • MediBang Paint is LightweightPaintTool SAI is not according to our users
  2. Adobe Photoshop icon
     2423 likes

    Comprehensive raster graphics editor offering advanced photo and image editing features. Supports multiple layers, masks, alpha compositing, various color models, and has limited vector graphics, 3D, and video capabilities. Extensible via plug-ins.

    226 Adobe Photoshop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Wine
    • ReactOS
    • Google Chrome
     
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    3
    Adobe Photoshop vs PaintTool SAI Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It isn't because it's not free.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    Photoshop is good. Because Photoshop can make an animation an we can draw an animate in this App

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -6

    The simplicity is not here. Too many options which I don't use.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Adobe Photoshop is Paid and ProprietaryPaintTool SAI is also Paid and Proprietary
  3. FireAlpaca icon
     89 likes

    FireAlpaca is the image editor that can be used readily and easily. We made it possible to provide the completely free download, in order for our products to be experienced by more users from all over the world. It is available for both Mac and Windows users!

    124 FireAlpaca alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
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    9
    FireAlpaca vs PaintTool SAI Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    5

    Firealpaca is much easier to use! It's simpler to find your way around and it's completely free for mac and windows! It's also great because it has regular updates so you know it's always gonna get better. You can animate on it and use masks, references and palettes.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Overall very similar brush/color sampling system, especially with color blending.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    FireAlpaca is good. Can be easier to draw with pentablet

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 9 comments
    • FireAlpaca is Free and ProprietaryPaintTool SAI is Paid and Proprietary
  4. ibis Paint X icon
     41 likes

    ibis Paint is an easy yet powerful drawing app made with tools for sketching manga right at your fingertips.

    57 ibis Paint X alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
     
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    11
    ibis Paint X vs PaintTool SAI Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    4

    The app is very functional :) So many brushes and options. Maybe at the beginning everything's a bit complicated, but if get used to it it's very easy and effective. Also there's a chance of learning so many methods and styles of drawing by the new features and even from other artists. I definitley recommend this aplication :3

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It's like medibang, but you don't have good stabilization and stuff like that. it's a simular.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Has a lot of features and the ones that are locked can be all unlocked at once if you watch one add, really good alternative but sadly it's only for phone users

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 11 comments
    • ibis Paint X is Freemium and ProprietaryPaintTool SAI is Paid and Proprietary
  5. Affinity icon
     59 likes

    Unified design solution merging advanced photo, vector, and layout tools for seamless workflow, non-destructive editing, RAW support, batch processing, AI enhancements, GPU acceleration, file compatibility, cloud asset integration, and tailored workspace options.

    67 Affinity alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
     
  6. Photopea icon
     337 likes

    Browser-based image editing supports PSD, XCF, Sketch formats, advanced layers, vector tools, RAW photo support, and exports in 40+ formats. Fully client-side with AI background removal, content-aware tools, and privacy as files never leave your device.

    112 Photopea alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
     
  7. 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 tools.

    102 Clip Studio Paint alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Samsung Galaxy Store
     
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    3
    Clip Studio Paint vs PaintTool SAI Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    not only can both do illustration, but CSP can do comics with ease and finesse, seriously if you wanna make comics, get csp.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It has very smooth drawing

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    -3

    files don't seem compatible with posting to deviant art, has a bit of a learning curve

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Clip Studio Paint is Paid and ProprietaryPaintTool SAI is also Paid and Proprietary
    • Clip Studio Paint is LightweightPaintTool SAI is not according to our users
  8. Procreate icon
     165 likes

    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.

    64 Procreate alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
  9. Corel Painter icon
     70 likes

    Corel Painter offers realistic traditional media simulation with features like customizable brushes, extensive format support, layering, blending tools, and more, tailored for professional artists working in drawing, painting, and printmaking.

    81 Corel Painter alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
     
  10. AzPainter icon
     22 likes

    AzPainter is a full color painting program for Linux. It's a lightweight tool with tablet pressure support, and provides basic functions such as selection, layers, filters. you can use it for painting, image editing, or pixel art making.

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    4
    AzPainter vs PaintTool SAI Comments
    ADRIANO DUARTE
    Positive
    2

    Lightweight, very simple and powerful.

    Guest
    Positive
    3

    Smooth brushes, almost like PaintTool SAI. Includes "cell animation". ultra light, loads in 1 or 2 seconds in my computer.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    2

    Has almost funtions as Sai does

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 4 comments
    • AzPainter is Free and Open SourcePaintTool SAI is Paid and Proprietary
    • AzPainter is LightweightPaintTool SAI is not according to our users
  11. Vectr icon
     92 likes

    Vectr is a free graphics editor. Vectr is collaborative like Google Docs, and runs in your web browser. With an intuitive interface, Vectr is easy to learn and use.

    104 Vectr alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Chrome OS
     
12 of 37 PaintTool SAI alternatives