What are the best free art programs for digital painting?

[Timothy.J]

I want to get into digital art but don't have money for expensive software. Looking for recommendations on the best free art programs specifically for painting and illustration. I've heard about Krita and GIMP but wondering if there are other hidden gems out there for free digital art apps.

[Eleanor30]

Krita is hands down the best free art program for digital painting. I've been using it for three years and it keeps getting better with each update. The brush engine is fantastic, it has good layer management, and the interface is customizable. For someone getting into digital art, it's the perfect free digital art app to start with.

[Ava57]

MediBang Paint is another great free art program that doesn't get enough attention. It's available on multiple platforms including mobile, and it has a really nice cloud sync feature. The brush library is extensive and it's designed specifically for comic and manga artists. For free digital art apps, it's definitely worth checking out alongside Krita.

[Nicholas35]

I'll throw in a recommendation for FireAlpaca too. It's another free digital art app that's really lightweight and easy to use. The interface is clean and it has all the basic tools you need for painting. What I like about these free art programs is that they often have active communities where you can find brushes and resources shared by other artists.

[SavannahQA]

One thing to consider with free art programs is whether you need animation features. Krita has basic animation tools built in, which is great if you want to try making simple animations. Some other free digital art apps might not have that feature. Also, check if the program supports pressure sensitivity with your tablet - most of the good ones do these days.

[AuroraS]

If you're looking for the best free art programs specifically for 2025, I'd recommend keeping an eye on development roadmaps. Krita has regular updates with new features. The open source nature of these free digital art apps means they often incorporate user feedback into new versions. The community-driven development is one of the biggest advantages over paid software.