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Head-to-head · Free Drawing Software

Krita vs Artweaver

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Krita #1 in Free Drawing Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Krita
Artweaver #6 in Free Drawing Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Artweaver

Krita leads on 0 checks, Artweaver on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreKrita · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresArtweaver · 2 of 3

Krita scores higher on our rubric for free drawing software: 9.4 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #6.

Krita is the better fit for free digital painting across desktop and Android. Artweaver is the better fit for windows artists wanting a traditional painting toolkit.

  • Krita fits best

    Free digital painting across desktop and Android

  • Artweaver fits best

    Windows artists wanting a traditional painting toolkit

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Side by side

Feature Krita 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Artweaver 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.7
Ranking #1 in Free Drawing Software #6 in Free Drawing Software
Best for Free digital painting across desktop and Android Windows artists wanting a traditional painting toolkit
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android Windows, macOS
Features Krita 0/3 · Artweaver 2/3
Layer support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Pen pressure support Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Custom brushes Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Platforms Not checked yet Not checked yet
Drawing modes Not checked yet Not checked yet
Supported file formats Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Configurable brush engines, layers, masks, and vector-shape tools
  • Frame-by-frame raster animation with timeline and export options
  • Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
  • Create and customize brushes, with stroke smoothing and brush-engine enhancements
  • Use layer groups, blend modes, transparency and pressure-sensitive pen tablets
  • Record painting processes and work with PSD, PNG, TIFF, WebP, SVG and AWD
Cons
  • Its focus is digital painting rather than general-purpose design software
  • Community and documentation are the listed support channels
  • Some platform store editions are paid
  • Artweaver Free is limited to non-commercial and academic purposes
  • The free edition lacks the advanced features and commercial-use rights of Plus
  • Available for Windows and macOS, with no other platforms listed
Our verdict

Krita is a free, open-source painting program for illustrators, comic artists, concept artists, and texture painters. Its desktop application brings together configurable brush engines, layers and masks, vector shape and path tools, color…

Read the review →

Artweaver is digital painting and image-editing software for beginners and advanced artists who want a traditional painting toolkit. Its features include realistic predefined brushes, brush creation, layers, selections, filters and…

Read the review →
  1. KritaFree Drawing Software 9.4Free plan
  2. ArtweaverFree Drawing Software 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Krita — where it wins

    • Configurable brush engines, layers, masks, and vector-shape tools
    • Frame-by-frame raster animation with timeline and export options
    • Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android

    Where it doesn't

    • Its focus is digital painting rather than general-purpose design software
    • Community and documentation are the listed support channels
    • Some platform store editions are paid

  • Artweaver — where it wins

    • Create and customize brushes, with stroke smoothing and brush-engine enhancements
    • Use layer groups, blend modes, transparency and pressure-sensitive pen tablets
    • Record painting processes and work with PSD, PNG, TIFF, WebP, SVG and AWD

    Where it doesn't

    • Artweaver Free is limited to non-commercial and academic purposes
    • The free edition lacks the advanced features and commercial-use rights of Plus
    • Available for Windows and macOS, with no other platforms listed

More comparisons

All free drawing software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update