PaintTool SAI
PaintTool SAI: A focused, one-time-purchase painting tool for Windows manga artists. Ranked #30 of 46 in Digital Painting Software by our editors (6.4/10); pricing: 31-day trial; best for windows manga artists wanting a simple paid tool.
At a glance
- Editor score6.4 / 10
- Pricing31-day trial
- Best forWindows manga artists wanting a simple paid tool
- Free planNo
- Paid from5,500 JPY one-time
- Layer supportYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Pressure-sensitive input, stabilization, and anti-aliased drawing
- Layers, custom brushes, textures, and swatches support flexible workflows
- One-time ¥5,500 license with a 31-day full-function trial
Where it doesn't
- Available only for Windows PCs
- The ¥5,500 license has no limitation only within its major version
- SAI Ver.2 is still presented as a technical preview
Our verdict on PaintTool SAI
PaintTool SAI is a lightweight digital painting application for Windows PCs, aimed at artists who draw with compatible pen tablets, including manga artists seeking a focused paid tool. Its core workspace supports pressure-sensitive input, anti-aliased drawing, layered artwork, customizable brushes, brush textures, paper textures, swatches, canvas zooming, and file viewing. The result is a concentrated set of painting and line-work features rather than a broad, platform-spanning creative suite.
Pricing is straightforward: PaintTool SAI Ver.1 Software License costs ¥5,500 as a one-time payment. The license provides no limitation during the licensed major version and includes a digital software license certificate. A 31-day full-function trial is available before purchase, giving prospective buyers time to assess the drawing workflow. The plan is a good fit for users who prefer a perpetual license over an ongoing payment, while buyers who need features tied to a newer major version should pay attention to the version scope.
For drawing control, SAI includes stroke stabilization settings, pressure-sensitive pen-tablet input, custom brushes, textures, and high-bit image processing with 64-bit-per-pixel processing and 16-bit ARGB channels. It also uses an SAI file format with data-breakdown detection. SAI Ver.2 is presented as a technical preview, so users wanting a mature, narrowly focused Windows painting application should consider the Ver.1 license, while those requiring broader platform coverage or a different version path should look elsewhere. PaintTool SAI suits artists who value direct painting tools, layers, and brush customization without recurring pricing; it does not suit users who need software beyond Windows.
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PaintTool SAI pricing
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PaintTool SAI fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | 5,500 JPY one-time |
| Brush customization | Yes |
| Layer support | Yes |
| Pressure sensitivity | Yes |
| Supported platforms | Windows |
| Color management | Advanced |
| Stroke stabilization | Yes |
| Free trial | 31 days |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Pricing | 31-day trial (source) |
| Website | systemax.jp |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to PaintTool SAI
- KritaA broad, professional-grade painting toolkit with no paid plan and wide platform coverage.9.4
- Clip Studio PaintA broad digital art workspace spanning illustration, comics, 3D, animation, and cloud tools.9.3
- ProcreateA polished iPad painting workflow with broad creative tools and limited platform coverage.9.1
See all PaintTool SAI alternatives →
Also Ranked In
PaintTool SAI is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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