Paint.NET

Name: Paint.NET
Brand: Paint.NET
Rating: 4.7 (39 reviews)

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Powerful yet simple image and photo editing software for Windows PCs.

Free plan available

Freemium Graphic Design Image Editing

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4.7 (39 across the web)

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Coverage from XDA Developers

39 reviews tracked 2 press mentions

The Bottom Line

Updated Nov 2, 2026

Price: Free plan available. Compare plans

Key facts

Free image and photo editing software for Windows.
Features layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and powerful tools.
Fast performance and intuitive user interface.

Pros

Free to download and use (with optional paid version on Microsoft Store)
Fast performance and optimized for modern hardware
User-friendly interface, easy to learn
Includes advanced features like layers and color management
Active online community with tutorials and plugins

Cons

Only available for Windows PCs
Some advanced features might require plugins
Not as feature-rich as professional-grade software like Adobe Photoshop

What is Paint.NET?

Paint.NET is an intuitive and innovative image and photo editing software designed specifically for Windows PCs. It offers a rich set of features typically found in more expensive professional software, such as support for layers, unlimited undo history, and a wide array of special effects and powerful tools. The software is known for its fast performance, leveraging modern hardware capabilities like multicore CPUs, GPUs, and NVMe SSDs. Originally conceived as a free replacement for Microsoft Paint, it has evolved into a robust editor suitable for both casual users and those needing more advanced capabilities for digital photo manipulation and graphic design. Its user-friendly interface, comprehensive file format support, and active online community with tutorials and plugins make it an accessible yet powerful choice for anyone looking to enhance or create digital images on a Windows platform.

Available on: Windows

Data compiled by Toolradar Pricing checked Nov 2, 2026 · How we evaluate

Source getpaint.net

Ratings Across the Web

4.7 (39 reviews)

Paint.NET holds an aggregate rating of 4.7 out of 5 from 39 reviews across SourceForge and Capterra, last checked September 17, 2026.

SourceForge 1 reviews

5/5

Capterra 38 reviews

4.6/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Intuitive and innovative user interface with tabbed documents
Layers for rich image composition
Pen and drawing tablet pressure sensitivity support
Comprehensive file format support (PNG, JPEG, AVIF, HEIC, WebP, etc.)
Full color management support with Windows Advanced Color
Special effects (blurring, sharpening, red-eye removal, 3D Rotate/Zoom)
Adjustments (brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, curves, levels)
Powerful tools (Gradient, Magic Wand, Clone Stamp, Text Editor, Shapes)

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Nov 2, 2026. Source: getpaint.net, read Nov 2, 2026

Paint.NET plans and prices, checked November 2026
Plan	Price	Details
Free Download	Free
Windows Store Purchase	Contact us

View full pricing

Is Paint.NET worth the price?

Great value

Paint.NET offers an incredibly generous pricing model, with its core software available for free.

The 'Windows Store Purchase' tier is effectively a donation, making the software accessible to everyone without financial barriers. This pricing is best for individuals and small businesses seeking powerful image editing without recurring costs.

Full Paint.NET pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

Paint.NET by the numbers

Paint.NET compared with 173 Image Editing tools on Toolradar, as of Nov 2026
Metric	Paint.NET	Peer median	Position (1 is best)
Free plan	Yes	65% have one	n/a
Listed as an alternative to	1 tool	2	#97 of 173 (joint)
User rating	4.7/5 (across the web, 39 ratings)	4.5/5	#5 of 64 (joint) tools with 20+ reviews
Compare-page visits, last 30 days	33 visits	41	#44 of 68 (joint) tools with 20+ compare-page visits

Visitors most often compare Paint.NET with GIMP and Krita (last 30 days, Nov 2026).

Listed as an alternative to: #94 on 2026-10-16 to #97 on 2026-11-02 (rank among 173 tools, 1 is best).

Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All Image Editing data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source.

Cite this: Toolradar, “Paint.NET by the numbers”, Nov 2026.

Reviews

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4.7/5

Across 39 verified user reviews on Capterra, SourceForge

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Best Paint.NET Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

GIMP Free

Professional image editing, free and open-source

3.7

Affinity Photo Free

Pro photo editing without the subscription

4.6

Photopea Freemium

Powerful Photoshop-like image editor, no installation needed

4.5

Krita Free

Free digital painting and illustration software

4.3

See all graphic design tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Paint.NET vs GIMP Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Paint.NET vs Affinity Photo Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Paint.NET vs Photopea Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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Paint.NET FAQ

How does Paint.NET support graphic design workflows?

Paint.NET supports graphic design workflows by offering features like layer support, an unlimited undo history, and a variety of special effects and tools. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible for creating and enhancing digital images.

How does Paint.NET compare to GIMP for image editing?

Paint.NET is designed specifically for Windows PCs and is known for its fast performance and user-friendly interface. While both offer robust image editing, Paint.NET focuses on providing advanced features like layers and color management within an intuitive Windows-native experience.

What are the main limitations of Paint.NET?

Paint.NET is exclusively available for Windows PCs, which limits its accessibility to other operating systems. Additionally, while powerful, it may require plugins for some advanced features and is not as feature-rich as professional-grade software like Adobe Photoshop.

Which teams would benefit most from using Paint.NET?

Teams working on Windows PCs that require a balance of powerful image and photo editing capabilities with a user-friendly interface would benefit most. It is suitable for both casual users and those needing more advanced features for digital photo manipulation and graphic design.

How is Paint.NET priced?

Paint.NET is available on a free tier, allowing users to download and use it without cost. There is also an optional paid version available through the Microsoft Store, which may offer additional usage or features.

Can Paint.NET leverage modern hardware for improved performance?

Yes, Paint.NET is optimized for fast performance and leverages modern hardware capabilities. It utilizes multicore CPUs, GPUs, and NVMe SSDs to enhance its speed and responsiveness during image and photo editing tasks.

Does Paint.NET offer an active community for support and resources?

Paint.NET features an active online community that provides tutorials and plugins. This community support makes it easier for users to learn the software and extend its capabilities.

Source: getpaint.net

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