Krita
Krita is a professional free and open source painting program designed for concept artists, illustrators, matte and texture artists, and the VFX industry to create digital art from scratch.
Pixilart
Pixilart is a social networking platform and online drawing tool designed for enthusiasts to create, share, and discover pixel art through a browser-based editor and community marketplace.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Krita | Pixilart |
|---|---|---|
| Website | krita.org | pixilart.com |
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2005 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Deventer, Netherlands | Chicago, USA |
Overview
Krita
Krita is a professional-grade digital painting application that gives you a complete set of tools for illustration, concept art, and texture mapping. Whether you are a professional illustrator or a hobbyist, you can access a highly customizable interface and advanced brush engines without any subscription fees. You can manage complex projects using a non-destructive layer system and a wide variety of masks and blending modes.
The software solves the problem of expensive entry barriers to digital art by providing industry-standard features for free. You can create frame-by-frame animations, touch up photos with advanced filters, and work with CMYK or HDR color spaces. It is ideal for individual creators and small studios looking for a versatile, community-driven alternative to proprietary design suites.
Pixilart
Pixilart is a specialized drawing platform that lets you create pixel-perfect art and animations directly in your browser. You can start with a blank canvas or upload existing images to transform them into retro-style graphics. The editor provides essential tools like pixel brushes, dithering, and layer management, making it accessible for beginners while remaining functional for experienced sprite artists.
Beyond the drawing tools, you can join a global community to share your work, enter themed drawing contests, and follow your favorite artists. It serves as both a creative suite and a social hub, allowing you to build a portfolio and interact with other creators. Whether you are designing game assets or just doodling for fun, the platform provides a collaborative environment to grow your digital art skills.
Overview
Krita Features
- Brush Engines Customize over nine unique brush engines to mimic real-world media or create entirely new digital textures for your artwork.
- Vector & Text Tools Create complex shapes and typography on dedicated vector layers so you can scale your designs without losing any quality.
- Animation Tools Bring your drawings to life with frame-by-frame raster animation and onion skinning to see previous frames while you work.
- Wrap-around Mode Create seamless textures and patterns instantly by letting your image wrap around the edges of the canvas while you paint.
- Resource Manager Import brush and texture packs from other artists or share your own custom toolsets to expand your creative library.
- Drawing Assistants Use magnetic vanishing points and perspective grids to help you nail difficult technical drawings and architectural layouts every time.
Pixilart Features
- Online Pixel Editor. Create detailed pixel art and sprites using a full suite of drawing tools directly in your web browser.
- Animation Suite. Build frame-by-frame animations and export them as GIFs to bring your retro characters and scenes to life.
- Layer Management. Organize your artwork with multiple layers to separate backgrounds, characters, and effects for easier editing and depth.
- Community Gallery. Share your creations with a massive social network of artists and get instant feedback on your work.
- Drawing Contests. Participate in regular themed challenges to test your skills against other artists and win community recognition.
- Custom Palettes. Save and load specific color palettes to maintain consistency across your game assets and art projects.
Pricing Comparison
Krita Pricing
- Full professional feature set
- No subscription required
- All brush engines included
- Animation tools included
- Commercial use allowed
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Automatic software updates
- Easy installation on Steam/Windows
- Direct support for developers
- Cloud save synchronization
Pixilart Pricing
- Full drawing toolkit
- GIF animation tools
- Public portfolio
- Community participation
- Unlimited cloud saves
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Ad-free experience
- Exclusive profile badge
- Priority support
- Support the community
Pros & Cons
Krita
Pros
- Completely free with no recurring subscription fees
- Highly customizable interface to suit your workflow
- Excellent brush stabilization for smooth line art
- Supports professional color spaces like CMYK and HDR
Cons
- Performance can lag on very large canvases
- Steep learning curve for the advanced brush engines
- Text tool is less intuitive than competitors
- Occasional stability issues on certain hardware setups
Pixilart
Pros
- Completely free to use for all core creative features
- Very low barrier to entry for beginner artists
- Active and supportive community for sharing work
- Works smoothly in most modern web browsers
Cons
- Free version contains frequent advertisements
- Mobile app interface can feel cramped on small screens
- Lacks advanced photo editing features found in Photoshop