Krita vs Pencil2D: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Krita and Pencil2D side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Krita leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Krita
Free digital painting and illustration software
Best for you if:
- • You want free digital painting
Pencil2D
Create hand-drawn 2D animations with an intuitive, open-source, and cross-platform tool.
Best for you if:
- • You want completely free and open-source, even for commercial use
| At a Glance | Krita | Pencil2D |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free 100% free |
Category | Graphic Design Image Editing | Video & Media Graphic Design |
Rating | 4.3/5 Capterra 4.4 · G2 4.4 · SourceForge 2.5 147 reviews | 3.4/5 SourceForge 2.3 · G2 4.1 · Capterra 4.2 78 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Krita or Pencil2D?
Choose Krita if
- You want free digital painting
- You want professional brushes
- You work in graphic design, not video & media
Choose Pencil2D if
- You want completely free and open-source, even for commercial use
- You want intuitive and easy to use for beginners
- You work in video & media, not graphic design
In-Depth Analysis
Krita
Free digital painting and illustration software
Krita's pricing is exceptionally generous, being entirely free and open-source.
Strengths
- Pro: Free digital painting
- Pro: Professional brushes
- Pro: Animation support
- Pro: Cross-platform
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Not for photo editing
- Con: Resource heavy
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: UI overwhelming
- Con: Tablet issues sometimes
Key features
Pencil2D
Create hand-drawn 2D animations with an intuitive, open-source, and cross-platform tool.
Pencil2D offers an exceptionally generous pricing model, as it is entirely free and open-source.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free and open-source, even for commercial use
- Pro: Intuitive and easy to use for beginners
- Pro: Supports both raster and vector graphics
- Pro: Available on multiple operating systems
- Pro: Actively developed with new features and bug fixes
Weaknesses
- Con: Some legacy builds or packages might not be immediately updated after a new release
- Con: May lack advanced features found in professional paid animation software
Key features
Plans and prices: Krita vs Pencil2D
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Krita |
| krita.org read Sep 28, 2026 |
| Pencil2D |
| pencil2d.org read Sep 30, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Krita pricing and Pencil2D pricing.
Key Takeaways
Krita
- Higher user rating: 4.3/5 vs 3.4/5
Pencil2D
- Choose if you want create hand-drawn 2D animations with an intuitive, open-source, and cross-platform tool
What the data shows
On the data below, Krita leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Krita has the higher user rating (4.3/5 from 147 reviews for Krita, 3.4/5 from 78 reviews for Pencil2D).
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Krita and Pencil2D compare in 2026?
On the data below, Krita leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Krita has the higher user rating (4.3/5 from 147 reviews for Krita, 3.4/5 from 78 reviews for Pencil2D). Both have a free plan.
What are Krita and Pencil2D used for?
Krita: Free digital painting and illustration software. Pencil2D: Create hand-drawn 2D animations with an intuitive, open-source, and cross-platform tool.
What does Krita cost vs Pencil2D?
Krita is free. Pencil2D is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Sep 30, 2026.
What's the main difference between Krita and Pencil2D?
Krita's main strength: free digital painting. Pencil2D's main strength: completely free and open-source, even for commercial use.