Paint.NET Review

Paint.NET is a free image editor for Windows that supports pressure-sensitive tablet input and accepts third-party plugins from its community. It has no CMYK mode and no built-in template library, keeping the focus on straightforward photo editing. The software itself is not published under an open-source licence.

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Research-based review. Features and prices are checked on the vendor's own website, and the score is worked out from those facts. We haven't tested it hands-on yet.

The verdict

Paint.NET works well for casual Windows users who want a free, simple photo editor, though GIMP is open source, runs on more platforms and adds scripting for advanced workflows.

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.

From $0/moFree plan YesFree trial No

4.6/10

Spec Score

Paint.NET against 9 photo editors

of 9 photo editors

-1.9

vs the average

100%

from published facts

Ahead of other photo editors

Pricing+0.8

Behind other photo editors

What it adds beyond the basics-4.7Workflow and output-1.2Privacy and trust-1.0

Every criterion

Tap a row for the facts

What it adds beyond the basics0.5

-4.7 vs avg

-4.7 vs 5.2 avg1.8 of 35 points

Opens and saves layered Photoshop filesno0 / 1.7

Generative fill and expandno0 / 1.4

Generates images from a promptno0 / 1.2

Selects a subject or sky by itselfno0 / 1.2

AI image editing (erase, relight)no0 / 0.9

One-action background removalno0 / 0.9

AI upscalingno0 / 0.9

Works in CMYK for printno0 / 0.9

Pressure sensitivity from a tablet or stylusyes0.5 / 0.5

Template libraryno0 / 0.4

Why these numbers

Opens and saves layered Photoshop files: PSD is not in the vendor's own supported file-format list; checked features page and documentation overview, no PSD support mentioned (third-party forum plugins may add it, but that is not the vendor's own claim).

Generative fill and expand: Checked features page for prompt-based generative fill/expand; none found.

Generates images from a prompt: Checked features and documentation overview pages; no image-generation feature.

Selects a subject or sky by itself: Checked features page for automatic subject/sky/background selection; only a manual Magic Wand tool is described.

AI image editing (erase, relight): Checked features and documentation overview pages for background removal, object erase/replace, expand; not present.

One-action background removal: Checked features page; no one-click background removal tool found (manual selection tools only).

AI upscaling: Checked features page; no model-based upscaler found.

Works in CMYK for print: Color management page lists only RGB-family working profiles; no CMYK color model or profile is mentioned anywhere on getpaint.net.

Template library: Checked features and documentation overview pages; no ready-made template library found.

getpaint.net/doc/latest/index.h…· 26 Sep 2026 getpaint.net/features.html· 26 Sep 2026

Workflow and output4.5

-1.2 vs avg

-1.2 vs 5.7 avg9.9 of 22 points

File formats it exports3 export formats2 / 3

Where it runs1 platform0.5 / 3

Third-party pluginsyes2 / 2

Apps it connects to0 integrations0 / 2

Why these numbers

File formats it exports: Counted from export_formats. Full stated list also includes PDN (native), JPEG XL, JPEG XR, BMP, TGA, DDS, TIFF, HEIC, WebP and AVIF, all outside this checklist's enum. No svg/pdf/pptx/mp4/html/react/figma/code export found.

Where it runs: Counted from platforms; a browser app also counts as running on Windows and Mac. No macOS, Linux, iOS, Android or web version found anywhere on getpaint.net.

Third-party plugins: Plugins are downloaded from the community forum.

Apps it connects to: Counted from integrations. Desktop app with no named third-party SaaS integrations listed; extensibility is via plugins, not integrations.

getpaint.net/doc/latest/index.h…· 26 Sep 2026 getpaint.net/features.html· 26 Sep 2026

Pricing10.0

+0.8 vs avg

+0.8 vs 9.2 avg25 of 25 points

Cheapest plan you can edit in, monthly$07 / 7

Commercial use allowedyes3 / 3

Why these numbers

Cheapest plan you can edit in, monthly: Free, with no paid tier to price. getpaint.net's own download and license pages never state a dollar figure for the Store release; the vendor's own Microsoft Store listing (microsoft.com/store/apps/9NBHCS1LX4R0, linked from download.html) is a JavaScript-rendered page the fetch helper could not read, so the price is left unrecorded rather than guessed.

getpaint.net/download.html· 26 Sep 2026 getpaint.net/license.html· 26 Sep 2026

Privacy and trust5.0

-1.0 vs avg

-1.0 vs 6.0 avg9 of 18 points

Does not train AI on what you uploaddoes not applyn/a

SOC 2does not applyn/a

GDPRdoes not applyn/a

Source published under an open licenceno0 / 2

Ways to reach support3 support channels2 / 2

Why these numbers

Source published under an open licence: Freeware with a restrictive license, not an OSI-approved open source licence; no source repository is offered.

Ways to reach support: Counted from support_channels. Email is for bug reports/feedback (support questions are routed to the forum); community is the forum; help_center is the documentation at getpaint.net/doc/. No phone or live chat found.

getpaint.net/license.html· 26 Sep 2026 getpaint.net/contact.html· 26 Sep 2026

yesnonot published average for photo editors

How the Spec Score works

Scored from what Paint.NET publishes on its own site. Not a hands-on test.

Compared with 9 photo editors. Facts checked 26 Sep 2026.

A fact the vendor does not publish gets half the points, or the typical value for a number, and says so. It never counts as a no. How we score.

Paint.NET is a free image editor for Windows, maintained by dotPDN LLC and Rick Brewster. It suits people who want a straightforward, no-cost editor with plugin support on Windows, and it suits less well anyone who needs PSD compatibility, non-destructive editing or CMYK color for print.

Paint.NET homepage screenshot — Paint.NET, Homepage

What is Paint.NET?

Paint.NET started in 2004 as a Washington State University senior design project mentored by Microsoft, and it is now maintained by dotPDN LLC and Rick Brewster. The free "Classic" release, downloaded directly from getpaint.net, is freeware rather than open source: its license explicitly forbids modifying the software or creating derivative works from it. Paint.NET is an installed Windows application with no account required to use it, and it runs only on Windows.

Editing images in Paint.NET

Paint.NET works with plain compositing layers and an unlimited undo history, and pressure-sensitive input is supported for tablets from Wacom, UGEE, Microsoft and others. Selection is handled with a manual Magic Wand tool rather than automatic subject detection. Third-party plugins, downloaded from the community forum, add new effects, adjustments and file-format support, and the app ships with a documented effect-plugin SDK for developers to build them.

Paint.NET does not open or export PSD files, and it has no non-destructive editing: there are no adjustment layers or live filters, only layers and undo history. There is no CMYK color, no camera RAW support, no batch processing across multiple files, and no AI-based editing tools of any kind.

Working with other people

Paint.NET is built for one person editing locally, with no real-time collaboration or comment workflow. It ships with 35 built-in interface languages. Support runs through a general contact email for bug reports and feedback, a community forum for how-to questions, and a built-in documentation site.

Paint.NET pricing: what it costs

Paint.NET's "Classic" release is free, with the same functionality as the paid Microsoft Store release except for fully automatic background updating, which the free release handles in two manual clicks instead. The Microsoft Store release is the identical app sold once, as a way to support the developer, rather than a paid tier with extra features. Commercial, business, school and government use is explicitly allowed.

Privacy and support

Paint.NET's privacy policy states that the software does not collect or transmit any personal information, and there is no account of any kind, so questions about training on your work, SOC 2 and GDPR do not arise. Support runs through a general contact email, a community forum and a built-in documentation site.

Who Paint.NET suits

Paint.NET suits anyone on Windows who wants a free, no-account image editor with layers, undo history, pressure-sensitive tablet input and a plugin ecosystem to extend it. It also suits anyone who wants to support the developer through an optional one-time Microsoft Store purchase of the same app.

It suits less well anyone who needs PSD compatibility, non-destructive adjustment layers or CMYK color for print production, since none of those are offered, or anyone on Mac or Linux, since Paint.NET runs only on Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paint.NET free?

Yes. The "Classic" release from getpaint.net is free with full functionality. A Microsoft Store release exists as a way to support the developer with the identical app, differing only in how updates are delivered.