Paint.NET
The facts below are what the maker publishes about Paint.NET, checked and dated. Our editors have not written about it yet.
Plans and prices
From Paint.NET's own pricing page, checked 20 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Store | — | Paid Store release · Automatic updating |
| Classic | Free | Windows download · same functionality as Store release |
| Store | — | Paid Windows Store release · same functionality as Classic · fully automatic updating |
The facts
Each one read from Paint.NET's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Color management
- Built-in color profiles include sRGB, Adobe RGB, Display P3, and Pro Photo RGB, and users can import ICC or ICM files.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Editing features
- It supports layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a variety of image-editing tools.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Third-party plugins can add effects, adjustments, and file-format support, and are distributed through the Paint.NET forum.checked 12 Oct 2026
- File formats
- Supported formats include PDN, PNG, JPEG, JPEG XL, JPEG XR, BMP, GIF, TGA, DDS, TIFF, HEIC, WebP, and AVIF.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The license permits use for personal, business, commercial, school, and government purposes, and allows installation on as many systems as desired.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Layer editing
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Masking tools
- Nochecked 20 Sep 2026
- Multiple images
- The app can open multiple images at once in a tabbed interface, and tabs can be reordered by drag and drop.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Plugin security
- The documentation advises downloading plugins only from the Paint.NET forum or author links there and recommends scanning plugins for viruses before installation.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Plugin support
- The Paint.NET team does not provide support for community plugins; plugin users are directed to the forum thread where each plugin was released.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says the software does not collect or transmit personal information, while Classic anonymously reports completed installations and updates unless MSI-based deployment is used.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Paint.NET is image and photo editing software for PCs that run Windows.checked 12 Oct 2026
- RAW photo support
- Nochecked 20 Sep 2026
- System requirements
- The current download page lists Windows 10 version 21H2 or newer, Windows 11, or Windows Server 2022, a 64-bit CPU with at least four cores, and a Direct3D 11 GPU.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Updates
- Updates are free; the Store release updates automatically in the background, while the Classic release can be updated in a few clicks.checked 12 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
The company
- Maker and project
- The homepage says the project began as a college senior design project mentored by Microsoft and is now maintained and developed by Rick Brewster.checked 12 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Platform
- desktopchecked 20 Sep 2026
Alternatives to Paint.NET
- 1
Picsart
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI9.0From $10.50 a month - 2
Photoroom
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI9.0From $7.50 a month - 3
PhotoPad
Free planAndroidiOSWebExtension8.8Free plan - 4
Adobe Photoshop
AndroidiOSWebmacOS8.7 - 5
Adobe Lightroom
AndroidiOSWebmacOS8.7 - 6
BeFunky
Free planAndroidiOSWeb8.7Free plan