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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
1GIMP logoGIMPOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
2Krita logoKritaOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 450.3
  1. GIMP logo

    1. GIMPTop pick

    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)
  2. Krita logo

    2. 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)

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.