JS Paint review
A free, familiar pixel editor with broad format support and limited design depth.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
JS Paint is an open-source pixel-art and image-editing application that recreates Microsoft Paint tools and menus in a browser. It suits people who want familiar drawing, selection, text, color, and image-editing controls without a paid plan. The project runs on the web and offers desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux, while its mobile Progressive Web App supports touch-oriented use on mobile devices. It is also available under the MIT License and can be deployed on a regular web server.
Its strongest fit is broad, straightforward image handling. JS Paint supports PNG, BMP, TIFF, PDF, WebP, GIF, JPEG, SVG, and ICO files, along with image transformations, URL-based image loading, and uploads to Imgur. Touch controls, pinch-to-zoom, fullscreen mode, and mobile-friendly interaction extend the basic editor beyond a desktop-only workflow. Accessibility features such as Dwell Clicker and Speech Recognition add further flexibility. Themes include classic, dark, modern, winter, occult, and bubblegum variants. These features make it a practical choice for quick pixel edits, simple drawings, and users who value an open-source tool that can work offline with native file handling.
The trade-off is focus. JS Paint provides the core capabilities of a familiar paint program, but it does not offer the broader design system found in tools built around templates, brand kits, or deeper layout workflows. Its multi-user collaboration sessions are rudimentary, so teams needing a more developed collaborative design environment should look elsewhere. Imgur, Firebase, CORS Anywhere, and the Internet Archive Wayback Machine provide ecosystem connections, while self-hosting and API availability support technical deployment options. Choose JS Paint for accessible, format-flexible pixel editing across devices; choose an alternative for advanced graphic design production or structured brand work.
JS Paint pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Works in browsers and offline desktop apps across major platforms
- Supports PNG, BMP, TIFF, PDF, WebP, GIF, JPEG, SVG, and ICO
- Includes touch controls, accessibility features, and rudimentary collaboration
- Where it doesn't
- Limited design depth for advanced graphic design workflows
- No templates or brand-kit features
- Multi-user collaboration is rudimentary
JS Paint fact sheet, pricing and score →
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