Best Corel Painter Alternatives in 2025

Looking for alternatives to Corel Painter? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Corel Painter alongside similar software solutions including Corel Painter, Krita, Corel Painter Essentials, DrawPad Grafik-Editor, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6, Ulead PhotoImpact, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Paint.NET and AVS Photo Editor.

Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Corel Painter, Krita, Corel Painter Essentials, DrawPad Grafik-Editor, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6, Ulead PhotoImpact, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Paint.NET and AVS Photo Editor stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.

Pricing and Licensing

Corel Painter
Corel Painter
Offers a trial version; full version requires purchase.
Krita
Krita
Free and open-source, no cost barriers.
Corel Painter Essentials
Corel Painter Essentials
Provides a free trial; full version is paid.
DrawPad Grafik-Editor
DrawPad Grafik-Editor
Has both free and paid versions.
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6
Offers a free trial; requires license purchase.
Ulead PhotoImpact
Ulead PhotoImpact
Lower cost compared to premium software; commercial use license.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop
Subscription-based pricing model with a free trial.
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo
One-time payment ($79.99) perpetual license.
Adobe Photoshop CS5
Adobe Photoshop CS5
Requires purchase of a valid license; offers free trial.
Paint.NET
Paint.NET
Free to use with optional paid support.
AVS Photo Editor
AVS Photo Editor
Offers a 7-day free trial; purchase required after trial.

Target Users and Skill Level

Corel Painter
Corel Painter
Aimed at professional and intermediate digital artists seeking natural painting experience.
Krita
Krita
Suitable for all users including beginners and professionals; strong community support.
Corel Painter Essentials
Corel Painter Essentials
Designed for beginners and less experienced artists with some advanced features.
DrawPad Grafik-Editor
DrawPad Grafik-Editor
Intended for users needing basic to moderate image editing features.
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6
Targets graphic design professionals and casual users comfortable with a learning curve.
Ulead PhotoImpact
Ulead PhotoImpact
Geared towards beginners and hobbyists interested in photo editing and graphic design.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop
Professional photographers, designers, and advanced users; high learning curve.
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo
All skill levels including beginners; suitable for photo editing and graphic design.
Adobe Photoshop CS5
Adobe Photoshop CS5
Advanced users needing powerful image manipulation tools.
Paint.NET
Paint.NET
Beginners to intermediate users wanting simple image editing on Windows.
AVS Photo Editor
AVS Photo Editor
Beginners requiring easy-to-use photo editing tools with basic functionalities.

Supported Operating Systems

Corel Painter
Corel Painter
Windows and Mac systems (64-bit).
Krita
Krita
Windows, macOS, Linux.
Corel Painter Essentials
Corel Painter Essentials
Windows and Mac operating systems.
DrawPad Grafik-Editor
DrawPad Grafik-Editor
macOS and Windows operating systems.
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6
Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, XP.
Ulead PhotoImpact
Ulead PhotoImpact
Windows XP and later versions.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop
Windows and macOS; also iOS and Android for mobile apps.
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo
Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo
Windows and Mac operating systems.
Adobe Photoshop CS5
Adobe Photoshop CS5
Windows and Mac operating systems.
Paint.NET
Paint.NET
Windows 7, 10 based systems only.
AVS Photo Editor
AVS Photo Editor
Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 operating systems only.

Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.

This quick comparison shows how Corel Painter stacks up against Corel Painter, Krita, Corel Painter Essentials, DrawPad Grafik-Editor, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6, Ulead PhotoImpact, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Paint.NET and AVS Photo Editor in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.