Krita review
A capable free choice for digital painting, illustration, animation, and reusable creative workflows.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Krita is a free, open-source digital painting application for illustrators, comic artists, concept artists, animators, and other digital creators. Its core toolkit combines raster painting and brush engines with vector layers, layer and mask-based editing, selection and transformation tools, color management, and frame-by-frame raster animation. The application is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, while an Android tablet version is documented in beta. Developed within the KDE community and supported by the nonprofit Krita Foundation, it suits creators who want a dedicated illustration environment without a paid plan.
The feature depth is strongest for painting and illustration workflows. Krita includes CMYK and HDR capabilities, perspective and grid tools, document templates, and reusable resource libraries. Its animation support focuses on frame-by-frame raster work, and Python and C++ plugin extensibility can expand the application beyond its built-in tools. Vector drawing is included alongside raster editing, giving artists options for combining painted elements with scalable shapes. These capabilities make Krita a strong fit for standalone creative production, particularly when brush control, layers, color handling, and illustration-focused tools matter more than team workflow features.
Krita’s pricing is straightforward: the Free plan is a free and open-source application licensed under GNU GPL v3, with commercial use permitted. It can also be purchased through third-party stores, while the Android version remains beta. The platform coverage is broad across desktop operating systems, but iOS and iPadOS are not supported. Krita should appeal to artists seeking capable free software for painting, comics, concept work, or animation. Teams that require verified collaboration features, established integrations, or a supported Apple tablet app should choose a different tool.
Krita pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Raster painting, brush engines, vector layers, and animation tools
- CMYK, HDR, and other color-management capabilities
- Free, open-source licensing with commercial use permitted
- Where it doesn't
- Android support is documented as beta
- iOS and iPadOS are not supported
- Collaboration and integrations are not verified
Krita fact sheet, pricing and score →
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