Free digital painting and illustration software
Visit WebsiteThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Free digital painting
Biggest con
Not for photo editing
TL;DR - Krita
- Krita is a free digital painting program for illustrators and concept artists
- It provides professional-grade brushes, layers, and animation tools
- Completely free and open-source
What is Krita?
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free digital painting
- Professional brushes
- Animation support
- Cross-platform
- Active development
Cons
- Not for photo editing
- Resource heavy
- Learning curve
- UI overwhelming
- Tablet issues sometimes
Ratings Across the Web
Krita holds an aggregate rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 143 reviews across G2, Capterra and SourceForge, last checked March 18, 2026.
What people say
“I've had an Adobe Photoshop license but I find Krita so much easier to use that I never got it renewed. The documentation is so well written.”via G2
“Its brushes, like its the best, so many options plus online brushes to be able to add too”via Capterra
“Over 5 years, I have saved several 1,000 euros thanks to the program.”via SourceForge
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Pricing Plans
Pricing checked Aug 18, 2026
Free
Open source
- Digital painting
- Animation
- Brush engines
- Layer support
Is Krita worth the price?
Krita's pricing is exceptionally generous, being entirely free and open-source.
For $0, users gain access to a comprehensive suite of digital painting and animation tools that often cost hundreds of dollars in proprietary software. This makes it an outstanding choice for students, hobbyists, and professionals on a budget.
Hidden Costs & Gotchas
No official customer support included.
Hardware upgrades might be needed for performance.
Donations are encouraged but optional.
How Krita Compares to Competitors
Compared to Adobe Photoshop, which costs $22.99/month, or Clip Studio Paint, which has a one-time purchase of $219 for EX or a monthly subscription, Krita stands out by offering its full feature set for $0. This makes it a highly competitive and accessible alternative for digital artists.
Reviews
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Across 143 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2, SourceForge
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Still deciding?
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Krita FAQ
How does Krita support digital artists in their workflow?
Which teams would benefit most from using Krita?
How is Krita priced?
What kind of limitations should users be aware of when considering Krita?
Can Krita be used for animation projects?
How does Krita compare to Adobe Photoshop for digital painting?
Does Krita offer cross-platform compatibility?
Source: krita.org