Krita is a free, open-source painting program made by the Krita Foundation and the KDE community. It is designed for digital painting, illustration, comics and concept art, with brush engines, layers, animation tools and support for pressure-sensitive tablets. Version 5.3.4 was released on 15 September 2026.
Who it suits
- Illustrators and comic artists who draw with a pen tablet.
- Students learning digital painting without paying for software.
- Artists making short frame-by-frame animations.
Krita is focused on painting. For photo retouching, a photo editor such as GIMP is a better fit.
How to get the official version
- Free: the installer or portable version for Windows, the macOS disk image and the Linux AppImage from krita.org/en/download. Flatpak and Snap packages are also listed.
- Paid store editions: Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store and the Mac App Store. Krita says the money, after store fees, supports Krita development. The Mac App Store listing showed US$12.99 when we checked.
- Android and ChromeOS: Krita on Google Play, published by Stichting Krita Foundation. The listing shows in-app purchases.
There is no official Krita for iPhone. The App Store link on krita.org is the Mac version.
Cost
The krita.org downloads are free, under the GNU GPL version 3. Store editions are the same program sold to fund development; you do not need to buy one to use Krita.
Requirements
Krita lists Windows 8.1 or higher, macOS 10.15, or Linux; at least 4 GB of memory, with 16 GB recommended; and a GPU with OpenGL 3.0 or higher or Direct3D 11.
Safety notes
Because Krita is free on its own site and sold in stores, copies also appear on unofficial sites and in unrelated app listings. Use krita.org or the store links listed on it.
Questions
Is the Steam version better than the free one?
It is the same program. Buying it through a store supports development and gives you automatic updates through that store.
Does Krita run on iPad?
Not officially. Krita’s mobile version is for Android and ChromeOS devices.
Can I install it with winget?
Yes: winget install KDE.Krita.
