Paint.NET

A free, lightweight Windows image editor with layers, effects and plug-ins.

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 6
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Paint.NET

Paint.NET began as a student project meant to replace Microsoft Paint and has grown into one of the most popular free image editors on Windows. It keeps a simple, fast interface while offering layers, blend modes, unlimited history, selection tools, adjustments and a good set of special effects, and a large community has written plug-ins that add file formats and filters. It is a good fit for screenshots, quick photo fixes, resizing and simple compositing, but it has no RAW development, non-destructive adjustment layers or advanced retouching tools, so photographers and professionals usually outgrow it. It is maintained by a single developer, Rick Brewster. The classic download is free; a paid Microsoft Store version is the same app and helps fund development. It runs on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 only, including ARM64 PCs.

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

What works

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

Why people leave

Windows only
No RAW support or adjustment layers
Not open source despite being free

Top Paint.NET alternatives

See all 6

1
Pinta
Open-source editor modelled on Paint.NET that also runs on Linux and macOS.
66.5
2
GIMP
Free, open source and far more capable when you outgrow simple edits.
62.6
3
PhotoScape X
Free Windows and Mac editor geared to quick photo fixes, collages and batch jobs.
53.6
4
Krita
Free and open source with much better tools for painting and drawing.
50.3
5
Photopea
Free browser editor that opens PSD files, with no install needed.
47.7

Why people left Paint.NET

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Paint.NET: common questions

Is Paint.NET free?

Yes, Paint.NET is free to use.

Is Paint.NET open source?

No, Paint.NET is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Pinta, GIMP and Krita.

What platforms does Paint.NET run on?

Paint.NET is available for Windows.

What are the best alternatives to Paint.NET?

The highest-ranked Paint.NET alternatives right now are Pinta, GIMP and PhotoScape X. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 Paint.NET alternatives

Paint.NET facts

4 of 4 verified

Platform: Windows 10 and 11; Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab); “Windows 11 or Windows 10 (version 21H2 or newer)”
Layers and history: Yes; Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab); “support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.”
Origin: Built as a free replacement for Microsoft Paint; Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab); “Originally intended as a free replacement for the Microsoft Paint software”
Developer: Rick Brewster; Checked Oct 25, 2026getpaint.net(opens source in a new tab); “maintained and developed by Rick Brewster.”