Alternatives to Paint.NET
A fast Windows image editor that sits between Microsoft Paint and a full photo suite. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Paint.NET
A fast Windows image editor that sits between Microsoft Paint and a full photo suite.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Paint.NET.
Pinta
A small painting and image editor modelled on Paint.NET 3, and the closest thing to it on macOS and Linux.
Pinta is modelled on Paint.NET 3, is MIT licensed and runs on macOS and Linux too, but lacks a comparable plugin ecosystem.
GIMP
The long-running free image editor for photo retouching, compositing and general pixel work.
GIMP is open source and cross-platform with masks, paths and scripting for serious editing, but has a steeper, unfamiliar interface and can be slow on heavy filters.
Photopea
Browser-based image editor that opens Photoshop, XD and Sketch files.
Photopea runs in the browser and opens Photoshop files, but it is ad-supported unless you pay and performance depends on the browser.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe's raster image editor for photo retouching, compositing, painting and generative AI edits.
Adobe Photoshop offers a much broader toolset with generative AI and a macOS version, but the full desktop version requires a subscription.
PhotoFlare
Simple cross-platform image editor for quick edits and batch processing.
PhotoFlare is open source, cross-platform and has built-in batch processing, but it has no layers and no non-destructive editing.
LazPaint
A free cross-platform image editor with raster and vector layers, similar to Paint.NET.
LazPaint is a free open-source cross-platform editor with a Paint.NET-like approach and raster plus vector layers, with a smaller community.
PhotoDemon
A free, portable, open-source photo editor for Windows that runs without installation.
PhotoDemon is a free open-source portable Windows editor that runs without installing, with over 200 tools, macros and batch processing.
KolourPaint
A simple KDE paint program for quickly creating raster images and doing basic touch-ups.
KolourPaint is a free open-source KDE paint program for quick sketches on Linux and macOS, with no layered work.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Paint.NET as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Consumer photo editor from Adobe with AI fixes, guided edits and photo organizing.
Paint.NET is free from its website and covers layers and effects for everyday edits, but it is Windows only and lacks guided edits and photo organizing.
JS Paint
Browser-based remake of classic MS Paint with extra features and an optional desktop app.
Paint.NET adds layers, unlimited undo, effects and a large plugin library for everyday edits, but it is closed source and runs only on Windows.
Microsoft Paint
Simple image editing and drawing app for Windows, distributed through the Microsoft Store.
Paint.NET stays on Windows and free from its website but adds layers, unlimited undo, GPU-accelerated effects and a large plugin library for everyday edits.
miniPaint
Open-source online image editor with layers and filters that runs entirely in the browser.
Paint.NET is a free Windows desktop editor with layers, effects and a large plugin library, but it is closed source and does not run in a browser.
Pixelmator Pro
Apple's image editor for Mac and iPad with nondestructive layers, vector tools and AI features.
Paint.NET is a free, closed-source Windows editor with layers and plugins, lacking Pixelmator Pro's vector tools and iPad version.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Krita
A free digital painting program built for illustrators, with over a hundred brushes ready to use.
Squoosh
Browser tool for comparing and compressing images with different codecs.
CloudConvert
An online file converter for more than 200 document, image, audio, video, archive and CAD formats.
Inkscape
A free vector editor that works natively in SVG, for logos, diagrams and illustration.
Gwenview
KDE's image viewer for browsing collections of images, with simple editing and annotation tools.
Converseen
A free batch image converter and resizer for Windows, Linux, macOS and FreeBSD.
