{"slug": "paint-net", "name": "Paint.NET", "category": "media", "category_name": "Media and creative", "description": "Free raster image and photo editor for Windows, simpler than Photoshop or GIMP.", "recommenders": 5, "commenters": 6, "warners": 1, "score": 3.854, "rising": 5.0, "first": "2026-09-01", "latest": "2026-09-02", "why": "HN commenters like it as a lightweight, intuitive editor for basic cropping, resizing and adjustments, and because it is not a subscription.", "why_is_quote": false, "has_verdict": true, "sentiment": {"recommend": 5, "neutral": 0, "compare": 0, "warn": 1}, "spark": [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5, 0], "listed": true, "loved": ["Simple and light", "Polish"], "caveat": "No Linux version", "short_quote": "I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it to do.", "icon": true, "domain": null, "github_repo": null, "official_url": "https://www.getpaint.net/", "pricing": "free", "aliases": ["Paint.NET", "Paint.net"], "verdict": [{"text": "HN commenters like it as a lightweight, intuitive editor for basic cropping, resizing and adjustments", "cites": [{"id": 792655536, "item_id": 49540971, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540971", "by": "colkassad", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Paint.net is my go-to image editing software.", "excerpt": "Paint.net is my go-to image editing software. I'm not a digital artist or professional photographer, I just need to downsize/crop/adjust the occasional image. I don't need the kitchen sink. Regular MS Paint is annoyingly basic and Krita, GIMP, et al., are too much UI-wise. That said, I use Linux daily but not for images so not sure if there is a Paint.net analog on Linux already.", "context": "not a digital artist, uses Linux daily", "use_case": "resize, crop, adjust images", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792651905, "item_id": 49540744, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540744", "by": "louthy", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX.", "excerpt": "I use Krita, but I miss Paint.NET It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX. for basic image manipulation tasks it\u2019s awesome. For creation of art I\u2019d use Krita, it is more feature complete. But if Paint.NET appeared on Linux, I\u2019d use it in a heartbeat. Paint.NET is closer to Gimp, but usable.", "context": "", "use_case": "basic image manipulation", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}]}, {"text": ", and because it is not a subscription.", "cites": [{"id": 792660864, "item_id": 49541304, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49541304", "by": "pseudosavant", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it to do.", "excerpt": "The backlash is so completely unwarranted. This is a piece of free software where the creator is making it easier to use on free software platforms. If you don't want PDN on Linux because you hate AI no matter what, then don't use it. Don't rage attack the creator so that others can't use PDN. Thanks Rick Brewster! I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it ", "context": "paid customer on the Microsoft Store", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}]}, {"text": " The most common caveat is that there is no Linux version", "cites": [{"id": 792655536, "item_id": 49540971, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540971", "by": "colkassad", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Paint.net is my go-to image editing software.", "excerpt": "Paint.net is my go-to image editing software. I'm not a digital artist or professional photographer, I just need to downsize/crop/adjust the occasional image. I don't need the kitchen sink. Regular MS Paint is annoyingly basic and Krita, GIMP, et al., are too much UI-wise. That said, I use Linux daily but not for images so not sure if there is a Paint.net analog on Linux already.", "context": "not a digital artist, uses Linux daily", "use_case": "resize, crop, adjust images", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792651905, "item_id": 49540744, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540744", "by": "louthy", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX.", "excerpt": "I use Krita, but I miss Paint.NET It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX. for basic image manipulation tasks it\u2019s awesome. For creation of art I\u2019d use Krita, it is more feature complete. But if Paint.NET appeared on Linux, I\u2019d use it in a heartbeat. Paint.NET is closer to Gimp, but usable.", "context": "", "use_case": "basic image manipulation", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}]}, {"text": ", and it is less capable than Photoshop or Krita for serious art work.", "cites": [{"id": 792660864, "item_id": 49541304, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49541304", "by": "pseudosavant", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it to do.", "excerpt": "The backlash is so completely unwarranted. This is a piece of free software where the creator is making it easier to use on free software platforms. If you don't want PDN on Linux because you hate AI no matter what, then don't use it. Don't rage attack the creator so that others can't use PDN. Thanks Rick Brewster! I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it ", "context": "paid customer on the Microsoft Store", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792651905, "item_id": 49540744, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540744", "by": "louthy", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX.", "excerpt": "I use Krita, but I miss Paint.NET It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX. for basic image manipulation tasks it\u2019s awesome. For creation of art I\u2019d use Krita, it is more feature complete. But if Paint.NET appeared on Linux, I\u2019d use it in a heartbeat. Paint.NET is closer to Gimp, but usable.", "context": "", "use_case": "basic image manipulation", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}]}], "praise": [{"label": "Simple and light", "summary": "Commenters find it lighter, faster and more intuitive than GIMP or Krita for everyday edits.", "quotes": [{"id": 792651905, "item_id": 49540744, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540744", "by": "louthy", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX.", "excerpt": "I use Krita, but I miss Paint.NET It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX. for basic image manipulation tasks it\u2019s awesome. For creation of art I\u2019d use Krita, it is more feature complete. But if Paint.NET appeared on Linux, I\u2019d use it in a heartbeat. Paint.NET is closer to Gimp, but usable.", "context": "", "use_case": "basic image manipulation", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792655536, "item_id": 49540971, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540971", "by": "colkassad", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Paint.net is my go-to image editing software.", "excerpt": "Paint.net is my go-to image editing software. I'm not a digital artist or professional photographer, I just need to downsize/crop/adjust the occasional image. I don't need the kitchen sink. Regular MS Paint is annoyingly basic and Krita, GIMP, et al., are too much UI-wise. That said, I use Linux daily but not for images so not sure if there is a Paint.net analog on Linux already.", "context": "not a digital artist, uses Linux daily", "use_case": "resize, crop, adjust images", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792660864, "item_id": 49541304, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49541304", "by": "pseudosavant", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it to do.", "excerpt": "The backlash is so completely unwarranted. This is a piece of free software where the creator is making it easier to use on free software platforms. If you don't want PDN on Linux because you hate AI no matter what, then don't use it. Don't rage attack the creator so that others can't use PDN. Thanks Rick Brewster! I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it ", "context": "paid customer on the Microsoft Store", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}]}, {"label": "Polish", "summary": "It is described as more polished and usable than alternatives like Pinta or GIMP.", "quotes": [{"id": 792649154, "item_id": 49540572, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540572", "by": "Macha", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Krita is a heavier program, but has a similar level of polish.", "excerpt": "Paint.Net was only really open source entirely from 2004-2007 and partially from 2007-2009 (engine only, not the UI for the latter part). My experience: Pinta is an inferior Paint.NET . It's about the same level of complexity, but everything is just like... 60-85% as good. Krita is a heavier program, but has a similar level of polish. You might not use half the features, but Krita's what I'd suggest for anyone wantin", "context": "", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792651905, "item_id": 49540744, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540744", "by": "louthy", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX.", "excerpt": "I use Krita, but I miss Paint.NET It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX. for basic image manipulation tasks it\u2019s awesome. For creation of art I\u2019d use Krita, it is more feature complete. But if Paint.NET appeared on Linux, I\u2019d use it in a heartbeat. Paint.NET is closer to Gimp, but usable.", "context": "", "use_case": "basic image manipulation", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}]}, {"label": "No subscription", "summary": "One commenter values that it does most of what they need without being a rental like Photoshop.", "quotes": [{"id": 792660864, "item_id": 49541304, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49541304", "by": "pseudosavant", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it to do.", "excerpt": "The backlash is so completely unwarranted. This is a piece of free software where the creator is making it easier to use on free software platforms. If you don't want PDN on Linux because you hate AI no matter what, then don't use it. Don't rage attack the creator so that others can't use PDN. Thanks Rick Brewster! I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it ", "context": "paid customer on the Microsoft Store", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}]}], "caveats": [{"label": "No Linux version", "summary": "Linux users say they miss it or are unsure of a Linux equivalent.", "quotes": [{"id": 792651905, "item_id": 49540744, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540744", "by": "louthy", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX.", "excerpt": "I use Krita, but I miss Paint.NET It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX. for basic image manipulation tasks it\u2019s awesome. For creation of art I\u2019d use Krita, it is more feature complete. But if Paint.NET appeared on Linux, I\u2019d use it in a heartbeat. Paint.NET is closer to Gimp, but usable.", "context": "", "use_case": "basic image manipulation", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792655536, "item_id": 49540971, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540971", "by": "colkassad", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Paint.net is my go-to image editing software.", "excerpt": "Paint.net is my go-to image editing software. I'm not a digital artist or professional photographer, I just need to downsize/crop/adjust the occasional image. I don't need the kitchen sink. Regular MS Paint is annoyingly basic and Krita, GIMP, et al., are too much UI-wise. That said, I use Linux daily but not for images so not sure if there is a Paint.net analog on Linux already.", "context": "not a digital artist, uses Linux daily", "use_case": "resize, crop, adjust images", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}]}, {"label": "Limited features", "summary": "It is less capable than Photoshop, and Krita is preferred for creating art.", "quotes": [{"id": 792660864, "item_id": 49541304, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49541304", "by": "pseudosavant", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it to do.", "excerpt": "The backlash is so completely unwarranted. This is a piece of free software where the creator is making it easier to use on free software platforms. If you don't want PDN on Linux because you hate AI no matter what, then don't use it. Don't rage attack the creator so that others can't use PDN. Thanks Rick Brewster! I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it ", "context": "paid customer on the Microsoft Store", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792651905, "item_id": 49540744, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540744", "by": "louthy", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX.", "excerpt": "I use Krita, but I miss Paint.NET It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX. for basic image manipulation tasks it\u2019s awesome. For creation of art I\u2019d use Krita, it is more feature complete. But if Paint.NET appeared on Linux, I\u2019d use it in a heartbeat. Paint.NET is closer to Gimp, but usable.", "context": "", "use_case": "basic image manipulation", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}]}, {"label": "Closed source", "summary": "It was open source early on but later moved to a proprietary license, which some find dubious.", "quotes": [{"id": 792337424, "item_id": 49521089, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49521089", "by": "RunSet", "date": "2026-09-01", "stance": "warn", "quote": "Paint.net likely still benefits from the announcement of \"Open Source Alternative To Microsoft Paint\" long after switching to a proprietary license", "excerpt": "Paint.net was originally MIT licensed but the author closed its source because people did not give him credit. Note: The MIT license does not require credit. https://blog.paint.net/2007/12/04/freeware-authors-beware-of-%E2%80%9Cbackspaceware%E2%80%9D/ Paint.net likely still benefits from the announcement of \"Open Source Alternative To Microsoft Paint\" long after switching to a proprietary license, which I find more d", "context": "", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792649154, "item_id": 49540572, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540572", "by": "Macha", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Krita is a heavier program, but has a similar level of polish.", "excerpt": "Paint.Net was only really open source entirely from 2004-2007 and partially from 2007-2009 (engine only, not the UI for the latter part). My experience: Pinta is an inferior Paint.NET . It's about the same level of complexity, but everything is just like... 60-85% as good. Krita is a heavier program, but has a similar level of polish. You might not use half the features, but Krita's what I'd suggest for anyone wantin", "context": "", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}]}], "who": [{"by": "pseudosavant", "context": "paid customer on the Microsoft Store", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49541304", "date": "2026-09-02"}, {"by": "colkassad", "context": "not a digital artist, uses Linux daily", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540971", "date": "2026-09-02"}], "tags": ["for basic image edits", "for non-professionals"], "use_cases": ["image editing", "resize, crop, adjust images", "basic image manipulation"], "compared": [{"slug": "krita", "name": "Krita", "co": 5, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 1}, {"slug": "gimp", "name": "GIMP", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}], "makers": [], "threads": [{"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49539389", "title": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux", "mentions": 6}], "sentiment_by_month": {"2025-11": {}, "2025-12": {}, "2026-01": {}, "2026-02": {}, "2026-03": {}, "2026-04": {}, "2026-05": {}, "2026-06": {}, "2026-07": {}, "2026-08": {}, "2026-09": {"warn": 1, "recommend": 5}, "2026-10": {}}, "quotes": [{"id": 792674400, "item_id": 49542150, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49542150", "by": "llm_hal_9000", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I like Paint.net. Will try it out when its finished.", "excerpt": "This seems fun. I like Paint.net. Will try it out when its finished. I understand the backlash against LLM stuff and have my own reasons for not liking it that much. If its disclosed though, I don't mind. The rest of this comment is claude wondering why I have not run into that much LLM assisted software and games. I've been trying to find at least partially LLM made software, software features, and games to try that", "context": "", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792660864, "item_id": 49541304, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49541304", "by": "pseudosavant", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it to do.", "excerpt": "The backlash is so completely unwarranted. This is a piece of free software where the creator is making it easier to use on free software platforms. If you don't want PDN on Linux because you hate AI no matter what, then don't use it. Don't rage attack the creator so that others can't use PDN. Thanks Rick Brewster! I love PDN. It isn't as capable as Photoshop, but it isn't a rental, and it does 99% of what I need it ", "context": "paid customer on the Microsoft Store", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792655536, "item_id": 49540971, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540971", "by": "colkassad", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Paint.net is my go-to image editing software.", "excerpt": "Paint.net is my go-to image editing software. I'm not a digital artist or professional photographer, I just need to downsize/crop/adjust the occasional image. I don't need the kitchen sink. Regular MS Paint is annoyingly basic and Krita, GIMP, et al., are too much UI-wise. That said, I use Linux daily but not for images so not sure if there is a Paint.net analog on Linux already.", "context": "not a digital artist, uses Linux daily", "use_case": "resize, crop, adjust images", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792651905, "item_id": 49540744, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540744", "by": "louthy", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX.", "excerpt": "I use Krita, but I miss Paint.NET It\u2019s lighter, simpler, and faster with a much more intuitive UX. for basic image manipulation tasks it\u2019s awesome. For creation of art I\u2019d use Krita, it is more feature complete. But if Paint.NET appeared on Linux, I\u2019d use it in a heartbeat. Paint.NET is closer to Gimp, but usable.", "context": "", "use_case": "basic image manipulation", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792649154, "item_id": 49540572, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49540572", "by": "Macha", "date": "2026-09-02", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Krita is a heavier program, but has a similar level of polish.", "excerpt": "Paint.Net was only really open source entirely from 2004-2007 and partially from 2007-2009 (engine only, not the UI for the latter part). My experience: Pinta is an inferior Paint.NET . It's about the same level of complexity, but everything is just like... 60-85% as good. Krita is a heavier program, but has a similar level of polish. You might not use half the features, but Krita's what I'd suggest for anyone wantin", "context": "", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}, {"id": 792337424, "item_id": 49521089, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49521089", "by": "RunSet", "date": "2026-09-01", "stance": "warn", "quote": "Paint.net likely still benefits from the announcement of \"Open Source Alternative To Microsoft Paint\" long after switching to a proprietary license", "excerpt": "Paint.net was originally MIT licensed but the author closed its source because people did not give him credit. Note: The MIT license does not require credit. https://blog.paint.net/2007/12/04/freeware-authors-beware-of-%E2%80%9Cbackspaceware%E2%80%9D/ Paint.net likely still benefits from the announcement of \"Open Source Alternative To Microsoft Paint\" long after switching to a proprietary license, which I find more d", "context": "", "use_case": "image editing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Paint.net 5.2 alpha now runs on Linux"}]}