PaintTool SAI Alternatives for Linux

PaintTool SAI is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Krita, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to PaintTool SAI and 11 are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to PaintTool SAI are MyPaint, Pixelitor, AzPainter and Paintstorm.

PaintTool SAI alternatives are mainly Digital Painting Tools but may also be Image Editors or Photo Editors. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of PaintTool SAI.

PaintTool SAI

135

Paid • Proprietary
Digital Painting Tool

PaintTool SAI is high quality and lightweight painting software, fully digitizer support, amazing anti-aliased paintings,...

More about PaintTool SAI

PaintTool SAI alternatives page was last updated

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
139 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 Windows, Mac, Linux & Android Tablet alternative to PaintTool SAI.
- - Krita is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to PaintTool SAI.
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 PaintTool SAI
Most users think Krita is a great PaintTool SAI alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Very advanced program that is absolutely free, only downside is that it's not as lightweight as SAI
Top positive comment •
6

It has animation features, fullscreen support, and works well
Top positive comment •
8

Too glitchy and too hard to use. It will zoom in and out randomly making it hard to draw.
Top negative comment •
-2

It has many capabilities, and I've seen people's work using this. It's amazing to work in and is good in animation features.
Positive comment •
0

I realy like krita, it's a good alternative for paint tool sai even on windows, recomended!
Positive comment •
1

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5 of 12 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 PaintTool SAI
Most users think MyPaint is a great PaintTool SAI alternative.
There aren't as many functions as PaintTool SAI
Negative comment •
3
Pixelitor
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Image Editor
Photo Editor
Digital Painting Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
121 Pixelitor alternatives
Pixelitor is a cross-platform raster graphics editor written in Java. It supports image filters, drawing, layers, multiple undo, etc. Currently its main strength lies in the more than 70 image filters and color adjustments, some of which are unique.
Suggest and vote on features
Pixelitor Features
1. Support for LayersPixelitor supports the organization of elements through a hierarchical order that can be manipulated/viewed independently.
2. Works OfflinePixelitor can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
3. Ad-freePixelitor doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. LightweightPixelitor consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Image Processing
Image Filters
Photo effects
Retouch photos
Photographic filters
Java based
Sketching
AzPainter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Digital Painting Tool
Image Editor
Linux
28 AzPainter alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
AzPainter Features
1. LightweightAzPainter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Support for LayersAzPainter supports the organization of elements through a hierarchical order that can be manipulated/viewed independently.
3. Drawing Tablet SupportAzPainter supports the use of external drawing tablets as input devices.
Tablet support
Sketching
Texture for brushes
Texture painting
Pixel Art
Comments about AzPainter as a Alternative to PaintTool SAI
Almost everyone thinks AzPainter is a great PaintTool SAI alternative.
Smooth brushes, almost like PaintTool SAI. Includes "cell animation". ultra light, loads in 1 or 2 seconds in my computer.
Positive comment •
3

Lightweight, very simple and powerful.
Positive comment •
2

Has almost funtions as Sai does
Positive comment •
2

It is simple, light, and it has almost function that sai has.
Positive comment •
0
Paintstorm
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Digital Painting Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
iPad
41 Paintstorm alternatives
Paintstorm Studio is created for professional digital painting. And a major role in this program play the brushes. We did our best so that you can easily and quickly adjust the brushes suitable for your painting style.
Suggest and vote on features
Paintstorm Features
Multi-choice brushes
Google Drive integration
Opinions about Paintstorm as a Alternative to PaintTool SAI
Almost everyone thinks Paintstorm is a great PaintTool SAI alternative.
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.

Opinions about Gimp Paint Studio as a Alternative to PaintTool SAI
This alternative is disputed. Gimp Paint Studio is still a legitimate PaintTool SAI alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
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.
Suggest and vote on features
QAquarelle Features
Watercolor
Discontinued
Latest vsersion: 0.0.4 from 2010-02-09. See https://sourceforge.net/projects/qaquarelle/files/