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Pinta alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Pinta: basic feature set compared with GIMP or Krita, and no RAW processing. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Pinta, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Paint.NET currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Paint.NET logoPaint.NETFreeNoWindows4 of 466.5
2GIMP logoGIMPOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
3Krita logoKritaOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 450.3
4Photopea logoPhotopeaFree plan + paidNoWeb2 of 347.7
  1. Paint.NET logo

    1. Paint.NETTop pick

    Best for: Windows users who want a quick, free editor for everyday image edits

    FreeWindows

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Pinta

    The Windows editor Pinta was modelled on, with a richer plug-in ecosystem.

    Pros

    • Free, fast and easy to learn
    • Layers, unlimited history and many effects
    • Large library of community plug-ins

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • No RAW support or adjustment layers
    • Not open source despite being free
    Visit Paint.NET Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Paint.NET a good Pinta alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Platform
    Windows 10 and 11
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Layers and history
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Origin
    Built as a free replacement for Microsoft Paint
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Developer
    Rick Brewster
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab)
  2. GIMP logo

    2. GIMP

    Best for: Anyone who wants a capable layered image editor at no cost, especially on Linux

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Pinta

    Free and open source on the same platforms, with far deeper editing tools.

    Pros

    • Free and open source with no account or licence fees
    • Runs on Linux, Windows and macOS
    • Extensible with scripts and plug-ins

    Cons

    • Interface and terms differ a lot from Photoshop
    • Limited CMYK and print-production support
    • Fewer AI-assisted tools than commercial editors
    Visit GIMP Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is GIMP a good Pinta alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Licence
    GNU GPL
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, macOS, Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Main uses
    Retouching, composition, image authoring
    Checked Oct 25, 2026gimp.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Krita logo

    3. Krita

    Best for: Illustrators and concept artists who want a free, full-featured painting app

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android

    50.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Pinta

    Free and open source with professional painting tools for illustration.

    Pros

    • Free and GPL-licensed
    • Excellent brush engines and drawing assistants
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android

    Cons

    • Not built for photo editing
    • Can slow down on very large canvases
    • No iPad version
    Visit Krita Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Krita a good Pinta alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Android
    Google Play builds
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Photopea logo

    4. Photopea

    Best for: Occasional photo editing and opening PSD files without Photoshop

    Free plan + paidWeb

    47.7

    score / 100

    Why switch from Pinta

    Browser-based and free when you need to open PSD files.

    Pros

    • Free and runs in the browser
    • Opens PSD and many other formats
    • Familiar Photoshop-style interface

    Cons

    • Ads in the free version
    • Large files can be slow in the browser
    Visit Photopea Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1577
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Photopea a good Pinta alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free with ads; premium removes ads
    Not checked yetphotopea.com(opens source in a new tab)
    PSD support
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026photopea.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Install required
    No (browser)
    Checked Oct 24, 2026photopea.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Pinta alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Paint.NET logo

Best Pinta alternative for most people

Paint.NET

The Windows editor Pinta was modelled on, with a richer plug-in ecosystem.

GIMP logo

Best Pinta alternative for a free option

GIMP

Free and open source on the same platforms, with far deeper editing tools.

Photopea logo

Best Pinta alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Photopea

Browser-based and free when you need to open PSD files.

Krita logo

Best Pinta alternative for open source

Krita

Free and open source with professional painting tools for illustration.

GIMP logo

Best Pinta alternative for Mac

GIMP

Free and open source on the same platforms, with far deeper editing tools.

Paint.NET logo

Best Pinta alternative for Windows

Paint.NET

The Windows editor Pinta was modelled on, with a richer plug-in ecosystem.

GIMP logo

Best Pinta alternative for Linux

GIMP

Free and open source on the same platforms, with far deeper editing tools.

Photopea logo

Best Pinta alternative for working in the browser

Photopea

Browser-based and free when you need to open PSD files.

Pinta alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Pinta?

Paint.NET ranks first right now. The Windows editor Pinta was modelled on, with a richer plug-in ecosystem. GIMP and Krita follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Pinta?

Yes. Paint.NET (free), GIMP (open source), Krita (open source) and Photopea (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Pinta?

Yes: GIMP and Krita.

Which Pinta alternatives work on Linux?

GIMP and Krita run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Pinta?

The complaints we hear most: basic feature set compared with GIMP or Krita; no RAW processing; limited support for layered file formats like PSD.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Pinta, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.