About Clip Studio Paint Clip Studio Paint, Clip Studio Paint PRO, single-device plan $26.99 USD a year
≈$38.48 CAD (converted from USD)
Every pick below has a free version.
Key file formats .clip .psd Filter alternatives 4 alternatives
Windows4 macOS3 Linux1 iOS2 Android2
Open source2 Freeware1 Free tier1
No account needed3
Tool License Platforms Status
Top pick 1 tool The editor’s first choice for most people switching.
1 Kr
Best for free illustration and comics on a desktop
License: Open source
Status: Active
PSD PSD: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Layers, groups, masks, styles and text carry over; adjustment layers and smart objects are not documented TIFF TIFF: opens and saves, full fidelity PNG PNG: opens and saves, full fidelity JPG JPG: opens and saves, full fidelity WEBP WEBP: opens and saves, full fidelity , 0 people switched from Clip Studio Paint to Krita Krita for changes Free on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. It cannot open .clip files, so move work over as PSD.
Strong 2 tools Covers most of the same work, with trade-offs noted on each card.
2 AF
Best for free painting with vector and live brushes
License: Freeware
Status: Verified Oct 7, 2026 PSD PSD: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Built to hand work off to Photoshop; PSD layer fidelity was not tested , 0 people switched from Clip Studio Paint to Adobe Fresco Adobe Fresco for changes Free on iPad, iPhone and Windows, with an Adobe account. It suits illustration more than comic production.
3 MP
Best for free manga and comic drawing on any device
License: Free tier
Status: Verified Oct 7, 2026 PSD PSD: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Layers carry over; effects and some blend modes may differ , 1 person switched from Clip Studio Paint to MediBang Paint MediBang Paint for changes Free to download on Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone and Android. Paid MediBang Premium adds exclusive brushes and materials. Free version: MediBang Paint is free to download. Paid MediBang Premium adds exclusive brushes and materials and other benefits.
Situational 1 tool Right for specific needs, or not yet mature enough to recommend widely.
4 Op
Best for 2D animation production on Windows or macOS
License: Open source
Status: Active
SVG SVG: opens and saves, partial fidelity. The source includes SVG import and export; fidelity was not tested GIF GIF: saves only, partial fidelity. Exports GIF; import is not documented MP4 MP4: saves only, partial fidelity. Video export needs FFmpeg PSD PSD: opens only, partial fidelity. Opens PSD layers as images; effects and adjustments are not kept , 1 person switched from Clip Studio Paint to OpenToonz OpenToonz for changes Built for animation pipelines rather than single-page drawing. It has no Linux build and opens PSD layers as images.
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Feature parity How each alternative covers what people use Clip Studio Paint for. Numbers link to editor notes.
Feature parity with Clip Studio Paint Feature Krita Adobe Fresco MediBang Paint OpenToonz Drawing Brushes with pressure and stabilization Note 1Deep brush engine with stabilizers Note 2Raster, vector and live brushes Note 3Many brushes and pen tools Note 4Raster and vector levels; fewer painting brushes Vector layers and line correction Note 5Vector layers and shape tools; no line correction Note 6Vector brushes with trimming Note 7No vector layers are documented Note 8Vector levels are built in Comics Comic panel, speech balloon and screentone tools Note 9A comics project tool and panel templates; fewer screentone and balloon aids Note 10No panel or balloon tools Note 11Panel division, guidelines and comic materials Note 12No comic panel tools Animation Frame-by-frame animation Note 13A built-in animation workspace Note 14Frame-by-frame animation and motion paths Note 15Frame animation tools; some features such as onion skin are listed as Steam-only Note 16Xsheet and timeline animation Reference 3D models and pose references Note 17No 3D models; reference images only Note 18No 3D models Note 19No 3D models Note 20No 3D models Compatibility .clip file compatibility Note 21Cannot open .clip files; export PSD from Clip Studio Paint first Note 22Cannot open .clip files; export PSD from Clip Studio Paint first Note 23Cannot open .clip files; export PSD from Clip Studio Paint first Note 24Cannot open .clip files Parity score 50% 50% 42% 42%
Krita, Brushes with pressure and stabilization: Deep brush engine with stabilizers Adobe Fresco, Brushes with pressure and stabilization: Raster, vector and live brushes MediBang Paint, Brushes with pressure and stabilization: Many brushes and pen tools OpenToonz, Brushes with pressure and stabilization: Raster and vector levels; fewer painting brushes Krita, Vector layers and line correction: Vector layers and shape tools; no line correction Adobe Fresco, Vector layers and line correction: Vector brushes with trimming MediBang Paint, Vector layers and line correction: No vector layers are documented OpenToonz, Vector layers and line correction: Vector levels are built in Krita, Comic panel, speech balloon and screentone tools: A comics project tool and panel templates; fewer screentone and balloon aids Adobe Fresco, Comic panel, speech balloon and screentone tools: No panel or balloon tools MediBang Paint, Comic panel, speech balloon and screentone tools: Panel division, guidelines and comic materials OpenToonz, Comic panel, speech balloon and screentone tools: No comic panel tools Krita, Frame-by-frame animation: A built-in animation workspace Adobe Fresco, Frame-by-frame animation: Frame-by-frame animation and motion paths MediBang Paint, Frame-by-frame animation: Frame animation tools; some features such as onion skin are listed as Steam-only OpenToonz, Frame-by-frame animation: Xsheet and timeline animation Krita, 3D models and pose references: No 3D models; reference images only Adobe Fresco, 3D models and pose references: No 3D models MediBang Paint, 3D models and pose references: No 3D models OpenToonz, 3D models and pose references: No 3D models Krita, .clip file compatibility: Cannot open .clip files; export PSD from Clip Studio Paint first Adobe Fresco, .clip file compatibility: Cannot open .clip files; export PSD from Clip Studio Paint first MediBang Paint, .clip file compatibility: Cannot open .clip files; export PSD from Clip Studio Paint first OpenToonz, .clip file compatibility: Cannot open .clip files Not covered by any free alternative yet: 3D models and pose references, .clip file compatibility. See all feature gaps
File formats Can each alternative open and save Clip Studio Paint files?
Opening and saving Clip Studio Paint files Format Krita Adobe Fresco MediBang Paint OpenToonz .clip Note 1Cannot open .clip files .psd Note 2Layers, groups, masks, styles and text carry over; adjustment layers and smart objects are not documented Note 3Built to hand work off to Photoshop; PSD layer fidelity was not tested Note 4Layers carry over; effects and some blend modes may differ Note 5Opens PSD layers as images; effects and adjustments are not kept
MediBang Paint, .clip: Cannot open .clip files Krita, .psd: Layers, groups, masks, styles and text carry over; adjustment layers and smart objects are not documented Adobe Fresco, .psd: Built to hand work off to Photoshop; PSD layer fidelity was not tested MediBang Paint, .psd: Layers carry over; effects and some blend modes may differ OpenToonz, .psd: Opens PSD layers as images; effects and adjustments are not kept Switching saves about $27 USD / ≈$38 CAD (estimated from the USD price) a year. Prices checked Oct 7, 2026 ; ≈ means converted from USD.
Based on Clip Studio Paint PRO, single-device plan. Price source . USD to CAD at 1.4257 as of Oct 7, 2026.
Clip Studio Paint is a product of Celsys, named here for comparison only. Platforms listed for Clip Studio Paint: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.