The 5 Best PaintTool SAI Alternatives for Digital Artists

PaintTool SAI is a lightweight yet powerful digital painting software popular among artists and illustrators, especially those creating anime and manga style art. Developed by SYSTEMAX Software, SAI offers an intuitive interface, custom brush engine, and tools optimized for illustration and painting.

However, at around $50 for a license, SAI is not the cheapest option out there. It‘s also only available for Windows, leaving Mac and tablet users looking for alternatives. Luckily, there are a number of excellent digital art programs that can meet or exceed SAI‘s functionality. As a professional illustrator, I‘ve tested many of them for my own work.

In this guide, I‘ll introduce you to the five best PaintTool SAI alternatives across a range of prices and platforms. Whether you‘re a beginning digital artist or a seasoned pro, you‘re sure to find the ideal software to suit your needs and budget. Let‘s jump in!

1. Clip Studio Paint (Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android)

If you‘re looking for a SAI alternative with expanded features for comics and manga creation, look no further than Clip Studio Paint. Developed by Celsys, Clip Studio Paint (formerly Manga Studio) is available in both Pro and EX versions. The Pro version contains all the essentials for illustration and painting, while EX adds advanced functions for comics and animation.

Some of Clip Studio Paint‘s standout features include:

• Industry-standard pen and brush engine with over 1000 customizable presets
• Perspective rulers and 3D references for accurate drawing
• Robust panel layout and speech bubble tools for comics
• Frame-by-frame animation tools
• Assets store with tens of thousands of brushes, 3D models, and more

With a one-time price of $49.99 for Pro and $219 for EX, Clip Studio Paint is in the same ballpark as SAI. Monthly usage plans are also available starting at just $0.99/month. If your work involves comics, manga, or animation, the expanded features make Clip Studio Paint well worth the cost.

Best for: comic artists, manga artists, illustrators, animators

2. Procreate (iPad)

For artists seeking a tablet-based SAI alternative, Procreate is the gold standard. This powerful iOS app packs a full suite of professional digital art tools that take full advantage of the Apple Pencil and iPad Pro.

Top features in Procreate include:

• 200+ customizable brushes
• Dual-texture system for natural-looking brush strokes
• Intuitive layer system with masks, blend modes, and groups
• 4K cinema-quality canvas resolutions
• Incredibly high-resolution 3D model painting
• Stunning effects, warp and symmetry tools
• Rich text, touch gestures, and QuickMenu

At just a one-time price of $12.99, Procreate is an incredible value. The app‘s frequent free updates continue to expand its capabilities. If you want to unleash your creativity anywhere inspiration strikes, Procreate can‘t be beat.

Best for: illustrators, concept artists, matte painters, lettering artists

3. Krita (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Don‘t let the fact that Krita is free fool you – this open-source digital painting app is immensely powerful and professional. Krita was created by artists, for artists, and is packed with the tools and functions they need most.

Some of the highlights in Krita are:

• 9 unique brush engines, including pixel, color smudge, and shape
• Over 100 professionally-made presets and brush packs
• Brush stabilizers for smooth, clean lines
• Pop-up color palette and color history for quick color picking
• HDR painting support
• PSD and ABR file import
• Built-in comic templates, halftone filters, and 2D frame-by-frame animation

With a streamlined UI, great documentation, and helpful tutorials, Krita is fantastic for both beginners and experts. And of course, you can‘t beat the price. If you‘re on a tight budget, Krita provides unbeatable functionality for $0.

Best for: illustrators, concept artists, texture artists, comic artists

4. MediBang Paint (Windows, macOS, Android, iPad)

Another free option, MediBang Paint provides an array of illustration-focused tools and a cloud-based platform for easy sharing and collaboration. The program‘s online community also offers tons of free resources like brushes, fonts, and templates.

Features to note in MediBang Paint include:

• 50+ customizable brushes plus thousands more for free download
• 800+ free backgrounds and tones
• Easy comic panel creation and editing
• Cloud syncing between desktop and mobile versions
• Gradient, selection, and fill tools
• Extensive text formatting options
• Timelapse recording

Though not as advanced as some paid programs, MediBang Paint still delivers the essentials in an approachable package. The ability to seamlessly jump between devices is a huge plus for many artists. And the wealth of community-created resources provide endless inspiration.

Best for: illustrators, comic artists, beginners and hobbyists

5. GIMP (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Rounding out our list of the best free SAI alternatives is GIMP, the open-source powerhouse for image editing. While designed mainly for photo retouching, GIMP also offers a capable painting toolset that will feel familiar to Photoshop users.

GIMP‘s expansive feature set includes:

• Customizable paintbrushes, pencils, airbrushes and more
• Layers and masks
• Filters, effects, and adjustments
• Perspective clone, healing, and repair tools
• Animation support via GAP plugin
• Hardware support for tablets, controllers, and other input devices

With an active developer community, GIMP continues to expand and refine its already impressive capabilities. For digital artists who also want to edit photos, GIMP is an all-in-one solution that won‘t break the bank.

Best for: photo editors, illustrators, graphic designers

Which PaintTool SAI Alternative is Right for You?

With so many excellent options to choose from, selecting the best digital art software comes down to your individual needs and preferences. Consider the following factors when making your choice:

Compatibility: Make sure the software works on your computer or tablet‘s operating system.

Specific tools: Do you need illustration and painting tools only, or would you benefit from extras for comics, animation, or photo editing?

Skill level: Some programs have more of a learning curve than others. Pick one that matches your current skills but has room for you to grow.

Price: Free software can be great for casual use, but a one-time or subscription fee gets you more features, stability, and support. Choose what fits your budget.

Community: Look for active forums or social media groups where you can get feedback, find resources, and learn new techniques for that software.

No matter which PaintTool SAI alternative you go with, the most important thing is to choose one and start creating! Dive in, experiment with all the features, and don‘t be afraid to switch programs as your art evolves. With practice and inspiration, you can create amazing digital art with any of these tools.