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2 more ways to get Paint.NET
Other download sites
Run by third parties, not by Rick Brewster, dotPDN LLC. Prefer the official page above when it works.
About Paint.NET
Paint.NET started as a student project mentored by Microsoft and grew into the image editor a lot of Windows users actually keep installed. It has layers, unlimited undo, a good selection of tools and effects, and it opens and saves quickly even on modest machines.
The build downloaded from getpaint.net is free for any use, including commercial and business use. The version in the Microsoft Store is the same program sold as a way to support development, with automatic updates through the Store.
Strengths
- Layers, unlimited undo, special effects and a tool set that covers most everyday editing
- Free for commercial and business use, not just personal use
- Starts fast and stays responsive, with GPU acceleration for effects
- Large community plugin library adds file formats and effects
Limitations
- Windows only and closed source
- The Microsoft Store copy costs money; the free copy is the one from the website
- No CMYK or print production features
Details
- Pricing
- FreeThe Classic release from getpaint.net is free for personal, academic, commercial, government, business, non-profit and for-profit use. The Microsoft Store release of the same program is paid.
- License
- Proprietary
- Developer
- Rick Brewster, dotPDN LLC
- Platforms
- Windows
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Quick everyday image edits on Windows
- Categories
- Image editors
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Selected from the TechWalrus downloads catalog (Graphics); facts checked against the developer's own pages, 4 sources on file.
Alternatives to Paint.NET
Compare allSoftware that can replace Paint.NET for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
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.
Paint.NET as an alternative
Listings that name Paint.NET as an alternative.
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 necessarily 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.
