PaintTool SAI
UnclaimedLightweight painting software for digital artists with amazing anti-aliased drawings.
Visit WebsiteTL;DR - PaintTool SAI
- Lightweight painting software with full digitizer support.
- Produces amazing anti-aliased drawings with 16-bit ARGB channels.
- Offers a simple, powerful, and stable user interface for digital art.
Pricing: Paid only
Best for: Enterprises & pros
4.4/5 across review platforms
What is PaintTool SAI?
PaintTool SAI is a high-quality, lightweight painting software designed to make digital art more enjoyable and comfortable. It offers full digitizer support with pressure sensitivity, enabling artists to create natural and expressive strokes. The software is known for its amazing anti-aliased drawings and highly accurate composition capabilities with 16-bit ARGB channels, ensuring smooth lines and vibrant colors.
This tool is ideal for digital artists, illustrators, and hobbyists who are looking for a simple yet powerful application focused purely on painting and drawing. Its easy-to-learn interface and stable operation contribute to a seamless creative workflow. PaintTool SAI aims to provide a focused environment for digital painting without unnecessary complexities, making it a favorite for those who prioritize performance and drawing quality.
Available on: Windows
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lightweight and performs well on older systems
- Excellent line art and anti-aliasing capabilities
- User-friendly and easy to learn interface
- Stable operation with data protection features
Cons
- Limited feature set compared to more comprehensive art software
- Does not support high DPI monitors well (requires resolution change)
- Specific compatibility issues with certain N-trig pen tablets
Ratings Across the Web
4.4(73 reviews)
What people say
“I live for their lineart tool, it's my favourite implementation I've seen of it in any art program.”, via Capterra
“PaintTool SAI is legendary for how fast its brush engine is. Many brushes, you can blend better.”, via SourceForge
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Full digitizer support with pressure sensitivityAmazing anti-aliased drawingsHighly accurate composition with 16-bit ARGB channelsSimple and powerful user interfaceFull support for Intel MMX TechnologyData protection function to avoid abnormal termination
Pricing Plans
Free TrialPricing checked Jul 28, 2026
Software License
$37 (one-time)
- No limitation in using this major version (for Ver.1.x.x)
- Removes trial limitation
- One-time purchase, no subscription
Reviews
4.4/5
Across 73 verified user reviews on g2, capterra, sourceforge
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PaintTool SAI FAQ
How does PaintTool SAI enhance digital drawing quality?
PaintTool SAI is known for its amazing anti-aliased drawings and highly accurate composition capabilities. It uses 16-bit ARGB channels to ensure smooth lines and vibrant colors, making digital art more expressive.
Which teams or individuals benefit most from PaintTool SAI?
PaintTool SAI is ideal for digital artists, illustrators, and hobbyists who seek a straightforward yet powerful application. It caters to those who prioritize performance and drawing quality in a focused painting environment.
How is PaintTool SAI priced?
PaintTool SAI is offered as a paid product, meaning it does not include a permanently free tier. Users purchase the software to access its full range of features for digital painting.
What kind of digital art can be created with PaintTool SAI?
PaintTool SAI is designed for creating various forms of digital art, particularly focusing on painting and drawing. Its full digitizer support with pressure sensitivity allows for natural and expressive strokes, making it suitable for illustrations and detailed artwork.
How does PaintTool SAI compare to Clip Studio Paint?
PaintTool SAI is a lightweight painting software focused purely on drawing, known for its excellent line art and anti-aliasing. In contrast, Clip Studio Paint offers a more comprehensive feature set, catering to a broader range of comic, manga, and animation creation needs.
What are the main limitations of PaintTool SAI?
PaintTool SAI has a limited feature set compared to more comprehensive art software, focusing primarily on painting and drawing. It also requires resolution changes for optimal display on high DPI monitors and may have compatibility issues with certain N-trig pen tablets.
Can PaintTool SAI be used on older computer systems?
Yes, PaintTool SAI is designed to be lightweight and performs well even on older systems. This allows artists to achieve high-quality results without requiring the latest hardware.
Source: systemax.jp