Krita

Krita is a free, open-source digital painting program for making artwork. It is used by comic artists, illustrators, concept artists, matte and texture painters, and people working in digital visual effects. The program includes more than 100 preloaded brushes and over nine brush engines for customizing brushes. Its 2D animation tools support audio, onion skinning and thousands of timeline frames, with export to video or still images. Krita provides color management through LCMS for ICC and OpenColorIO for EXR, as well as HDR painting and OpenEXR. It can load and save PSD files and uses SVG for vector work. C++ and Python plugins can extend the program, though distributed Krita plugins must be shared under the GNU GPL. The maker says no registration or internet connection is needed to use Krita, and that the GPL permits commercial artwork. Downloads are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android; iPads and iPhones are not supported. Minimum listed RAM is 4 GB, with 16 GB recommended.

Krita pairs digital painting tools with 2D animation, color-management and plugin support. It is free and supports commercial artwork, though distributed plugins must follow the GNU GPL.

Krita suits illustrators, comic artists, concept artists and digital VFX workers looking for painting and animation tools. It is also an option for artists who want to work offline or use their artwork commercially.

Overview

Krita is a free, open-source program for making digital artwork, best suited to illustrators, comic artists and other image-makers who want detailed control over painting. Its range reaches from still images into 2D animation, but its focus is art creation rather than template-led design.

That makes Krita a strong fit for artists who want capable painting and color tools without a subscription. It is less compelling for people whose main need is ready-made layouts or a collaborative design workflow.

Explore our guides to Digital Painting Software and Graphic Design Software.

Key features

• Brushes: More than 100 included brushes and over nine brush engines offer a broad starting palette, with room to customize brush behavior. Artists who depend on a particular brush style can also look at Digital Brush Libraries.
• 2D animation: Audio support, onion skinning and timelines spanning thousands of frames make Krita useful for animation work as well as static illustration. Export to video or still images gives users ways to deliver finished work in different forms.
• Color and HDR: LCMS supports ICC color management, while OpenColorIO handles EXR workflows; HDR painting and OpenEXR support add options for advanced color and production needs. This depth is valuable to users with specific color workflows, though it may be more than a casual sketcher needs.
• File compatibility: Loading and saving PSD files can help artists work with Photoshop documents, while SVG is used for vector content.
• Extensions: C++ and Python plugins, including Python extensions with custom widgets, let developers adapt the program. Distributed Krita plugins must use the GNU GPL, although creators may charge for downloads, so this is not a route to distributing proprietary plugins.
• Privacy and ownership: No registration or internet connection is required to install and use Krita. Its optional startup news feature downloads news without tracking. The GPL permits commercial artwork, and the maker says users retain sole ownership of their creations.

Pricing

Krita: free. The free and open-source edition has no subscription or trial period, making it a practical choice for artists who want to keep recurring software costs out of their workflow. The free plan is the core Krita program rather than a time-limited preview.

Paid editions are also sold through the Microsoft Store, Steam, Epic Games Store and Mac App Store. They receive automatic updates, and proceeds support Krita development. These store editions are optional; the free edition remains the better fit for users who do not need store-based installation or updates.

Platforms

Krita supports Android, Linux, macOS and Windows. Desktop downloads list Windows 8.1 or later, macOS 10.15 and Linux; iPads and iPhones are not supported. Android users can get the app through Google Play or individual APK builds.

The minimum listed memory requirement is 4 GB of RAM, with 16 GB recommended. Graphics support requires OpenGL 3.0 or higher or Direct3D 11. The requirements and lack of iOS support are worth checking before choosing Krita for an older device or an Apple tablet workflow.

Who it's for

Krita suits comic artists, illustrators, concept artists, matte and texture painters, and people working in digital visual effects. Its brush customization, animation features and color-management support reward users who want control over how artwork is made and delivered.

It is a less natural choice for users looking primarily for presentation layouts, template-driven graphics or a mobile-first experience on iPhone or iPad. The Krita Foundation directs user questions to the Krita Artists forum; its foundation email is not for user support.

Pros and cons

• Pro: The free, subscription-free program supports commercial artwork, so independent artists can use it without a recurring fee or giving up ownership of their work.
• Pro: A large brush set, customizable brush engines, 2D animation, HDR and color-management tools give specialists room to work across varied art tasks.
• Pro: PSD support and offline use make it easier to fit Krita into workflows that involve existing documents or limited connectivity.
• Con: iPads and iPhones are not supported, limiting its reach for artists committed to Apple mobile devices.
• Con: Distributed plugins must be GPL-licensed, which rules out proprietary plugin distribution even though paid downloads are allowed.
• Con: The minimum 4 GB RAM requirement and recommendation of 16 GB may make it a poor fit for lower-memory systems.

Alternatives

Choose Figma instead if you need a freemium design tool available on web and iOS as well as desktop and Android; its Starter plan is free and includes unlimited drafts, UI kits and templates, with limited access to Figma products.

Visme is a better match for presentation and template-led work: its free Basic plan includes 500MB of storage and up to 50 slides or pages per project, while Starter costs $12.25 a month when billed annually ($147/year) and includes 1GB of storage.

ibisPaint is worth considering for artists who want a free mobile option across Android and iOS. Its Free version has unlimited usage time, 64MB of cloud storage and advertisements; a Premium Membership is also offered.

MiriCanvas offers a free, web-based template alternative on iOS and Android, with over 50,000 templates, more than 350,000 photos and graphics, and 1GB of personal storage.

Sketchbook is another option for artists who want a free mobile application with brushes, layers, guides, rulers and stroke tools, across Android, iOS, macOS and Windows.

Desygner is a freemium web and mobile option for users whose priorities include project and account limits: its free plan allows three users, 100 projects, 20 AI credits per month and 5GB of storage.

PosterMyWall is an alternative to consider for users seeking design and email templates alongside social publishing tools; its free plan includes downloads and publishing to one social media account.

Adobe Creative Cloud is a broader creative-software alternative for readers who want access to Adobe products across web, desktop and mobile; a free plan and trial are offered.

Verdict

Krita is the right choice for artists who want a capable digital painting program, useful animation tools and advanced color support without paying a subscription. Its main trade-offs are the lack of iOS support and the GPL requirement for distributed plugins. If your work centers on templates, presentations or an iPad, choose a tool built for that workflow instead.