Krita

I can't brush aside that Krita makes me more productive than any other drawing software and I don't even know why. After two decades of the GIMP and Inkscape, a few years of Affinity, a few years of the Adobe suite, a little bit of Corel Paint, and a bunch of other tools, I'm now firmly set on Krita as it is the best compromise between open source (meaning I can open my files years from now - yay?) and a valuable painting/sketching/drawing repertoire with a great usability.

Although Krita is free to download (I'm using Linux currently but used Windows before that - Krita works great together with Wacom on both OS), I'm happily paying this tiny bit to support Krita development. Keep on painting!

great brush engine.

the control's are definietly different from other drawing software, but if you give yourself time to adjust, your workflow will be fast compared to other software.

i bought krita after i tried the free software on their website for a few month, you should give it a shot and see if you like it too

I only bought it to support the company; I had been using the free one for years. easy-to-use drawing software that has lots of tools for creating art. It's a great choice for both beginners and experienced artists because of its helpful features ♡

it really has that open-source stank (random bugs, overall user unfriendliness), but its pros slightly overweigh its cons for me. hopefully it gets worked on further and it becomes the godot/obs/blender of 2d digital painting/animation

I had used the free version MANY years ago during high school and I'm really glad Im now able to support them as an adult with money. Had to re-learn some of the basics (thank god for the guide) and not too much different from other programs I have used in the past (ibispaint, Photoshop). I've mainly been using this program for "photoshop" purposes and to touch up my art here and there. Pretty simple to use once you get use to where things are.

it's free to use and open source, and has all the features one could ask for 😍

Great program. Nice UI, easy to use, one-time payment, Linux support, nice set of default brushes with tons more you can find online. What more could you want?

I still can't draw worth a damn though. 💀

1000 hours in and I have yet to know the full potential of the software. Krita is just good, it's highly customisable, be it the dockers you want to edit or create your own custom brushes. I personally like the the small round UI thing when you press right click on your mouse, it pretty handy when you set one of your pen buttons (I am using the Wacom Intuos Medium) to the right click button, in it, you have a built-in colour wheel and brush selection section based on your favourite.

yes i know it says i've only used it for like 2 minutes at the time of writing, thats because i just recently got around to paying for the software, most of my use time up until now has been through the version downloaded directly from their site and not through steam.

I've used some other programs before but my favorite so far has been krita, its been my drawing software of choice for 3 years now so it was about time i contributed something to it.

in my experience it crashes very little (only about 5 times i remember in my 3 years), its very easy to pick up and has all the things you need and expect from a drawing program in 2025.

Pretty darn good program especially for ten buckaroos

I don't even use the Steam version of Krita. I bought it just as a way to support the Devs. That said, the Steam version gets the same attention that the other main versions of Krita get, so if you want to let Valve keep it fairly up to date for you, by all means do so! Saw it in the software list as I was setting up this new PC and realized I had forgotten to review it.

Usable with a mouse! Some of these applications are *not* and that is worth noting when my used XP Pen monitor was $300 if I recall. But Krita shines when running a graphics tablet, especially those graphics tablets that also serve as secondary displays (such as my XP Pen) or 2-in-1 laptops with Pen support (like basically every laptop I've had over the last decade because I love fragile hinges and hideous battery life :P).

Given this, I've installed this on basically everything. It runs on... well basically everything. That noted, it performs MUCH better on something with a dedicated GPU, you need to keep your whole display in VRAM, plus every visible layer in it's own buffer in VRAM, then manipulate them with shader routines... It is a lot to ask of a used business laptop meant for taking notes. Forgive ANY art software a bit of choppiness on such devices, but Krita is more usable than many apps on modest hardware. Throw a cheap discreet GPU and a basic tablet monitor at it though and it's happy working with 4K canvases.

Linux? yep, native. Windows? Yep, Used both and there's parity there, so if you're a windows user who decides to take the plunge this is one piece of software that'll be identical (more than can be said for your tablet monitor's software itself).

Some art software aims to emulate brush/pen and canvas as closely as possible, some aims to fully embrace digital art being different, Krita sits in the middle and has tools to do either approach. It has most every feature you'd want: Tablet features like pen pressure and angle (if the tablet has those), Multi-point Touch (again, if your tablet has it, mine does not sadly), brushes, layers, paint behavior simulation to some extent, masks, color and blending tools, some alignment/measuring aids and I seem to recall stumbling ino a perspective tool in there too somewhere last time I had a chance to draw something. It's not MEANT for photo-editing, but I've used it for such once or twice because I don't have Photoshop and Gimp is far less user friendly.

All in all, just a REALLY good peice of free software that you have the option to pay for. I suspect half the folks who have it on steam bought it just to help support the project.

I'm new to drawing but it worked well with my new drawing tablet and I had a good bit of fun with it. Seems feature rich, I have yet to explore much of it but I think it was well worth the price.

my most sincere apologies, trees, know that you havent been felled in vain,
my physical drawings from the before time will be cherished for many moons to come.
but rest assured i now need no more of your sacrifice until the need arises for a coffin of my own.

full send on the recommend.

I started digital drawing with Krita and so far over the years it has been reliable and accessible. I finally bought it to show my thanks and support and to record my hours. Would definitely recommend to my friends.

By far the best open source free drawing and painting software in my opinion. I paid for Krita on steam as a way to help support it's development. As a game developer I use this almost every week to do the art for my games and thumbnails. Thank you Krita team for this wonderful tool.

One of the very few cases of where I wanted to cough up some money for a piece of software that is awailable fully for free. Even then, the price is laughably small, considering the package you're getting.
Before Krita I used CSP and wanted to buy their license, but they decided to switch to the subscription model which is no bueno. Krita has more functions than I know what to do with, it's just as powerful and works great. Please, show your support to the devs, they absolutely deserved it

i had this for a day or 2 and it crash and i could not reopen it on the the website version and even on the steam is broken. I say it is good but wish they fix the crash.

ive used krita since i started my digital art journey.
i started in 2020 its been 5 years and krita has been special for me. i decided to buy the steam version and i would reccoment krita to everyone even if you dont have money you can downlaod it for free. its beginner friendly but its also advance for more expereinced artis.
krita is truly one of a kind.

I'm still a beginner with digital art at the time of me writing this review, but I've messed around with enough art programs and can confidently say the only one I've felt that really suits me and is easy to use while still being capable of meeting high standards is Krita. I've used the free version for many more hours than my steam profile displays and never once have I thought of using something else. I even like it so much I wanted to pay for it. So if you're considering a digital art software to use, I definitely recommend Krita. And consider supporting the devs! They deserve it.

Best free drawing program you can find so i was happy to pay for it on Steam for the automatic updates. Has all the tools you need for digital painting and drawing and is pretty decent for animating as well. Has been really stable for me and it has an autosave feature even if you do get the rare crash. Only downside is that it doesn't have as many free brushes as something like Clip Studio Paint or Photoshop but i have found ones that I like. Mainly David Revoys (deevad) bundle. I actually use this over the paid programs because some of tools like rotating the canvas simply feels better in Krita (and at this point i'm too used to its hotkeys).

One of the best art programs I have ever used. Well worth paying for it via Steam if you can both to support the devs and to get updates automatically when they're available! Love love LOVE this app :)

I love Krita but you should instead donate on the main website at krita.org/en/donations/ because Steam takes a 30% cut. However, if you want the latest stable version of Krita this is your best option, on Arch Linux I had two instances of an update corrupting my work (most likely user error, and thankfully I keep backups but I'm not taking chances again).

Best program to make your own first art. Very easy to use, very cheap to buy and I recommended to people who is new to this.

Favorite art software I've ever used, have been messing with it since I first got a drawing tablet. The Steam version is more of a donation to the developers with the added bonus of automatic updates, if you cant afford this wonderful program at the moment or need a taste test before you pay up, go to the official site on your browser of choice and download it from there.

It supports every OS, so if you're crossing over to Linux and need a Clip Studio alternative, I highly recommend Krita to anyone willing to take it for a spin!

The UI will seem a bit confusing at first but once it clicks this software REALLY clicks, if you're going for a specific use out of Krita try checking the preset workspaces the application offers by clicking the "Window" button on the top of your screen and hovering over "Workspaces" and peek the different setups you can use. If you need something more custom, go to "Settings" and hover over "Dockers" and create a workspace that works best for you.

Enjoy! Hopefully this art application can serve you well!

Probably the best program for the price. It is available for free online, but I opted to buy it years ago when I got my first drawing tablet for the benefit of automatic updates (and supporting the devs). Rebinding hotkeys and arranging your workspace how you want it is kind of a pain, and many of the hotkeys are not intuitive or similar to other programs.

This is my favorite application for doing art. It's so inexpensive for what it offers! I've used many other drawing/painting/illustration apps including some very expensive ones (for work - I can't afford those), and I've yet to find one I like better than Krita for freehand drawing and painting. There can be some weirdness with different tablets, pen displays, and pens, especially around pressure sensitivity, but the Krita community is huge and helpful - I've always been able to find an answer to fix whatever issue I'm having. And I've used Krita with a Huion, a Veikk, and a Lenovo Yoga. I love this application.

Does its job and more. Love it to heck and back.
But a tip for new users is that i'ts gonna need a little bit of customization first before you could REALY start to use it.

People really think of Krita as a low quality option just because it's free. The reality is that it is comparable to professional drawing programs like clip studio paint or photoshop.
I have used both and I prefer krita.

Photoshop beats krita and csp in every way except its price. Let's say photoshop is 10/10 excluding the price.

Clip studio paint has an asset store which is very handy, it has brush compatibility with photoshop and itself (the majority of brushes are made for those two, they aren't compatible with krita).
The brush engine is horrible, it lags a ton compared to photoshop or krita, that is a huge down if you are a painter, but not noticeable if you prefer to do lineart stuff or use low resolutions. Let's say csp is an 8/10.

The most I miss in krita is the brush compatibility, it has everything else the other programs have. The only problem is that it often works in a different way and thus is a harder experience for newcomers or people that migrate from other software. I would give Krita a 7.5/10.

I still prefer krita over clip studio just because its brush engine doesn't suck ass and it allows for more painterly artwork, so krita is an 8 for me.
That's everything I can write, I hope you use krita, since it's free and really good.

Simply Put

* Supports multiple file formats, including PSD.
* Tools that let you add details and textures.
* Advanced layers, masks, and blending modes for non-destructive editing.
* Automatic updates if you buy it on Steam. It's free on their website without automatic updates.

literally photoshop, this is a steal, well technically its also free but the paid version runs better for various things so buy it trust me it made my life better

I used the free version for a long time but decided to support developers because it was affordable enough.

In the past i used PS but i never felt comfortable enough with that programm, it never felt like i can build a space that fits my own needs. I started to search for alternatives, and when i first saw Krita i thought "no way a free programm could be better than what i use" so i skipped it. But, fortunately, i ended up cornered and turned to Krita.

Oh how mistaken i was! For me Krita is so much better than PS and SAI, i feel all my needs met there. Diverse brush engines allow me to switch my styles, use different workflows. Three steps in PS can be one and easy step in Krita.

Animation is one more wow for me. Im not an animator but sometimes like to mess around with it, and in Krita it's so easy to set up and start finally doing something rather than tweaking endless settings.

Overall, if you're an artist or maybe an animator, Krita will seem as powerfull and grand as PS, but when you work with it a bit you will find out that this is something that was built exactly for you and has everything you expect.

P.S.: it's open source so you can always make a version of Krita that you like

Get the free version off their site before getting this, Its the same thing just a dark-mode and sometimes extra brushes :) <3!

Krita is one of the best tools available for creating art, even though its free i was happy to buy here for auto updates and to support the creators!
Outside of steam i must have 100s of hours, cant wait to get that here as well!

I tried this as an alternative to other apps I've used, I honestly can't recommend it. The GUI is frankly frustrating and the tools do not work with my drawing tablet despite them working just fine on other apps.

Great, cheap (free actually if you download the non-steam version), and amazing replacement for Photoshop, and even though it's mainly advertised as a "digital painting" program, I find that it also works great for making YouTube thumbnails, album covers for my music, etc. and other forms of photo editing.

im so use to this that whenever im in mspaint, i try to use it has fucking krita like a fucking idiot.
but this is pretty good, i like blending colors & this gets the job done.

I've been using krita for 6 years now, decided to buy it to track my hours but also support the devs. I recommend it more than ever if you're into drawing ofc, editing, animation, montage, it's really good.
Krita is not far from Photoshop when it comes to the interface, tools or quality, if you're on a tight budget or need to work on Photoshop for your work but too used to Krita you would never have any issues.

Been using Krita for more than 10 years already. Donated a few times. Bought it here to support the creators - also having it on Steam is neat. Krita is awesome!

There's no difference between the Steam version and the version that's free on Krita's website, but they provide a good product for free, so it's good to support the developers, and they don't do anything scummy or steal your work. Definitely a better option to buy this than to hand Adobe a small fortune just so that they can scrape your art for their scummy AI.

After using Krita for a long time as a free software, I decided to buy it on steam to support the development and developers, Krita is a great software for illustration and has many free resources. 9/10

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Krita Review – 56 Hours In

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

After 56 hours with Krita on Steam, I can confidently say this is one of the best digital art tools out there—and grabbing it on Steam is a great way to support the team behind this incredible open-source project. For €9.75, you’re not just getting fantastic software; you’re helping the developers continue to refine and expand it.

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Interface – Artist-Friendly and Intuitive

The interface is clean, highly customizable, and packed with tools that make it ideal for both beginners and experienced artists. It’s perfect for sketching, digital painting, or even creating animations.

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Features – Packed with Possibilities

Krita comes with an impressive array of features: a versatile brush engine, advanced layering options, animation tools, and more. Whether you’re creating concept art, illustrations, or storyboards, Krita has you covered. The Steam version doesn’t add extra features compared to the standalone version, but purchasing it is a great way to give back to the developers.

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Highlights – Why It’s Worth Supporting

✔️ A powerful, professional-grade art program that’s beginner-friendly.
✔️ Open-source and constantly updated by a dedicated team.
✔️ Steam Cloud support for syncing settings across devices.
✔️ An affordable price that helps support the developers.

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Cons – Small Trade-offs

❌ No added functionality compared to the free standalone version.
❌ The sheer depth of features might feel overwhelming for newcomers.
❌ No Workshop support for easy downloads of brushes and resources.

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Final Thoughts – Worth Every Cent

Krita on Steam is a fantastic way to support the team behind this amazing tool while getting all the features of a professional-grade art program. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, Krita is a must-have for digital art enthusiasts.

Recommended for digital artists who want powerful tools at an affordable price and wish to support the continued development of an outstanding project!

Deelt wrote:

If you found this review helpful, please give it a like or an award! Thanks for reading, and happy creating!

Nice game, waiting more DLC and workshop contents :p

Steam version is buggy, if you want to support the developers just donate and download the free version from their website.

doesn't crash like Photoshop. Animation is pretty easy too.

After years of using tools like GIMP, this is definitely worth it for all things digital art related!

Best Drawing software you can get UI is easy to remember would recommend the price is worth to have on steam

The community tab provides concrete proof that there are people both more talented, and hornier, than I ever hope to be.

this is a pretty neat art program for what it's got (initially free too, though worth of buying if only to support devs :D)
i personally still have some difficulty transitioning from csp/sai as of now for krita feels somewhat oversaturated (?) in comparison to these two (45hrs in); the only major thing that makes me immensely frustrated at times is the way hotkeys work (weirdly complicated unless you customize them to your liking and you also can't really hold down a key to change the tool temporarily like other programms), it hinders my work speed greatly but you just get used to that kinda stuff over time. variety of brushes and tools just sells it for me (and i also have an unhealthy obsession for tracking my hours spent using any software so owning it here on steam also checks that out lol)
i love drawing albert wesker from hit game franchise malicious citizens getting rammed by my oc every day of the week!

I love how customized the whole setup is. It feels as if everything can be changed and tempered perfect to my drawing needs. It takes some getting used to, but as someone coming from Clip Studio, I definitely can recommend this software as a fine addition to any artists art-senal.