GIMP is a free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image editing, retouching, drawing, and more.
Best Painter Alternatives ranked by AI · updated Aug 2026
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Painter is a professional digital painting application for traditional-media artists, illustrators, and concept designers. Its signature feature is a large collection of realistic natural-media brushes that emulate oils, acrylics, watercolor, chalk, and other physical tools.
Top 6 Painter alternatives
Krita is a professional free and open-source painting program. It is made by artists that want to see affordable art tools for...
Rebelle is a digital painting software that allows artists to create realistic watercolor, acrylic, and wet and dry media artwork digitally.
Wizardbrush was a Windows painting and photo-editing application for hobbyists and entry-level digital artists. It included customizable brushes, layers, and basic image-editing...
Pros
- Simpler interface than Photoshop or Corel Painter
- Combined digital painting and basic photo-editing tools
- Included customizable brushes and layer support
Cons
- No longer actively maintained or officially sold
- Far fewer tools than Krita or Photoshop
- Windows-focused with limited modern compatibility
MediBang Paint is a free digital drawing and comic-making app with layers, brushes, text, and cloud features. It is aimed at beginners,...
Pros
- Free access to a broad set of digital drawing tools
- Strong comic, panel, and text features absent from Traced
- Supports cloud-based work across supported platforms
Cons
- Does not match Traced's physical-paper AR workflow
- Ads and premium features affect the free experience
- Reference tracing is less specialized than in AR-focused apps
Free with ads; paid options available
6
Photoshop
Adobe
Photoshop is a professional raster image editor for photographers, designers, illustrators, and digital artists. It provides advanced layers, masking, retouching, compositing, typography,...
Pros
- Industry-standard file format and workflow compatibility
- More advanced retouching, compositing, and masking than most alternatives
- Extensive plugin, brush, and template ecosystem
Cons
- Requires a recurring subscription rather than a perpetual license
- Steeper learning curve than Photopea or Canva
- Some features require an internet connection or Adobe account
From $22.99/mo
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