Head-to-head · facts checked 26 Sept 2026
Paint.NET vs Photopea
2 tools, 11 differing data points, mostly pricing and positioning.
From
Free (Premium removes ads)
Free plan
Yes
The verdict
Paint.NET or Photopea?
Section 01
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
PPaint.NET
Free
Free
Full app, free download from getpaint.net
Photopea
Free
Free
Full editor, shown with ads
Premium
—
Removes ads; price shown only inside the app
Section 02
Pros and cons
From each tool's full review, written from the same checked facts.
PPaint.NET
Pros
- Free with full functionality, and no account required to use it.
- Third-party plugins add new effects, adjustments and file-format support.
- Pressure-sensitive input for tablets from Wacom, UGEE, Microsoft and others.
- Ships with 35 built-in interface languages.
Cons
- Cannot open or save PSD files.
- No non-destructive editing; only plain layers and undo history.
- Runs only on Windows, with no Mac or Linux version.
Photopea
Pros
- Full editor is free to use, with no account required.
- Files are processed on your own device and never uploaded to a server.
- Fully supports opening and saving PSD, its main format.
- Supports a CMYK colour mode with colour profiles for print work.
Cons
- Premium's price is not published on the site; it only appears inside the app.
- Runs only in the browser, with no native desktop or mobile app.
- Its brush tools do not support pressure sensitivity from a tablet or stylus.
Side by side
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2004 | 2013 |
| HQ | — | Czech Republic |
| Platforms | Windows | Web |
| Languages | — | 61 |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | — | Freemium |
| Free plan | Yes, the whole app | Yes, with ads |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Starting price | Free | Free (Premium removes ads) |
| All plans | Free — Free | Free — Free Premium |
| Positioning | ||
| Best for | Windows users who want a free, lightweight image editor with layers and plugins | Anyone who needs to open, edit and save PSD files in a browser tab, with nothing to install |
| Differentiator | Paint.NET is a free Windows image editor with layers, tablet pressure and a large plugin library. | Photopea opens and saves PSD files in a browser tab, with no install and no account needed. |
| Competitors | GIMP, Photopea, Krita | Adobe Photoshop, Affinity, GIMP |
Section 03
Paint.NET vs Photopea: common questions
Is Paint.NET or Photopea cheaper?
Paint.NET's cheapest paid plan is Free and Photopea's is Free (Premium removes ads). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
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