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    Krita

    Open-source application for digital painting, illustration and concept art.

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    ToolTrim verdict4.1/ 5Great

    Krita is the best free choice for digital artists; for pro photo retouching, Photoshop or Affinity Photo fit better.

    Krita, preview 1
    About

    In practice. What you can do with Krita.

    Free open source digital painting and professional art creation software. Designed by and for artists with thousands of brushes, advanced layer management, and 2D animation tools.

    Practical uses

    • Create digital art and illustrations
    • Produce 2D animations and concept art
    • Do digital painting without license fees

    Features & use cases

    Concept art
    Digital painting
    Illustration
    Creation

    Pros and cons. What Krita does well, and what to expect.

    Pros

    • Completely free with no limitations
    • Very complete and professional painting tools
    • Native 2D animation with timeline
    • Large community and abundant resources

    Cons

    • Less modern interface than Photoshop
    • Fewer plugins and third-party integrations
    • Less optimized for photo retouching than painting

    When it makes sense. Keep Krita, or challenge it?

    Keep if

    • You do digital painting with no budget.
    • You seek an open source Photoshop alternative.

    Challenge if

    • You need complete Adobe Suite integration.
    • You mainly do professional photo retouching.

    Pricing. What does Krita cost ?

    Free

    $0

    Free plan available.

    Paid plan

    Paid plans available. See the official pricing source for details.

    Official pricingChecked on July 8, 2026

    Alternatives. What could replace Krita?

    Current

    Direct substitutes

    Our verdict. What to know about Krita.

    Why this verdict

    Great

    Krita is fairly easy to replace with an alternative, a free tier to test before paying, clearly documented use cases.

    Krita Summary

    Category
    productivity tool.
    Price from
    Free.
    Best for
    professionals.
    Avoid if
    You need complete Adobe Suite integration; You mainly do professional photo retouching.
    Alternatives
    Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, Adobe Fresco.
    ToolTrim verdict
    Krita is the best free choice for digital artists; for pro photo retouching, Photoshop or Affinity Photo fit better.

    Frequently asked questions.

    What to know before choosing Krita.

    What is Krita used for?

    Open-source application for digital painting, illustration and concept art.

    How much does Krita cost?

    Krita costs $0 (free). Price verified on 2026-07-08.

    Is Krita suitable for beginners?

    Krita suits most professionals. See the "Who is it for" section for details.

    Is Krita worth the price?

    Krita is the best free choice for digital artists; for pro photo retouching, Photoshop or Affinity Photo fit better.

    What are the best alternatives to Krita?

    The main alternatives to Krita are: Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, Adobe Fresco. Free alternatives: Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, Adobe Fresco.

    KritaFree
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