Krita
#8 in Creative Software · Rated 4.3
Free, open-source painting tool with professional features.
Krita is a free and open-source painting and illustration application widely used by artists for concept art, matte painting, and digital painting. The project emphasizes a robust brush engine, stabilizers, advanced layer management, and an approachable, customizable interface. Krita runs on multiple platforms and is supported by an active developer and user community. While Krita’s core is free, some stores (Steam, Microsoft Store, etc.) offer paid variants to support development, and Krita’s licensing remains free under the GPL for desktop use. Krita’s strength is low cost and community-driven innovation, making it a popular entry point for students and independent artists exploring digital painting without licensing barriers. The app’s ongoing evolution, including regular version updates and new features, keeps Krita competitive with paid programs in the same space. Established years around the early 2010s; Krita has grown into a global, volunteer-driven ecosystem.
Features
- Powerful brush engine and stabilizers
- Layer management, masking, and non-destructive editing
- Color management and HDR/acrylic painting tools
- Animation support (frame-by-frame) and workflow
- Multiplatform and open-source
Pros
- Zero cost; strong community support
- Extensible via plugins and scripting
- Good for concept art and illustration workflows
Cons
- Less built-in industry-standard ecosystem vs paid suites
- Some advanced features less mature than commercial peers