--- title: "PaintTool SAI Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about PaintTool SAI Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Graphic Design products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/229456/PaintTool-SAI/" page_type: "product" language: "en" --- # PaintTool SAI Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on September 17, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Pricing](#pricing)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) PaintTool SAI ## What is PaintTool SAI? PaintTool SAI is a raster-based lightweight graphics editor and painting solution for digital art creation and editing. PaintTool SAI provides anti-aliasing, full digitizer support, accurate composition with 16bit ARGB channels, selection tools, raster drawing tools, layering functionality, and more. ## What is PaintTool SAI used for? [Graphic Design](https://www.capterra.com/graphic-design-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 9 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive \- Neutral \- Negative \- Starting price $50.81 Flat Rate, One Time Free trial not available Free version not included Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for PaintTool SAI?[Manage this product listing](https://www.g2.com/products/painttool-sai/claim_requests/new?auto=true) ## PaintTool SAI Overview Updated September 2026 AI summary PaintTool SAI equips small businesses with essential graphic design capabilities, focusing on CAD tools, image editing, design templates, and collaboration features. Designed for Windows deployment, it facilitates the creation, refinement, and sharing of visual content. Integration with Adobe Photoshop supports more advanced workflows, while support options include email and user forums for guidance. ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### PaintTool SAI 4.3 (9) VS. [4.7 (7,345)](https://www.capterra.com/p/48969/Adobe-Creative-Cloud/reviews/) Starting Price $50.81 Flat Rate, One Time Starting Price $52.99 Flat Rate, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.2 (9) Ease Of Use 4.2 (13,436) Value For Money 4.3 (8) Value For Money 4.2 (10,215) Customer Service 3.5 (4) Customer Service 4.2 (8,401) ## PaintTool SAI alternatives [4.6 (1,242)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174232/adobe-express/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 94% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Canva](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/) [4.7 (13,448)](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/reviews/) Starting price $15.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 97% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/168956/Canva/) Highest Rated [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) [4.8 (2,469)](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/reviews/) Starting price $22.99 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 98% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) [GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)](https://www.capterra.com/p/168960/GIMP/) [4.4 (3,500)](https://www.capterra.com/p/168960/GIMP/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 89% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/168960/GIMP/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/229456/PaintTool-SAI/alternatives/) ## FAQs about PaintTool SAI Features and Usability ### What are the key features of PaintTool SAI? PaintTool SAI offers CAD Tools, Design Management, and Image Editing as its core features. It also includes Collaboration Tools, Data Visualization, Design Templates, and Watermarking for managing visual work, sharing design files, presenting data in charts or graphics, and applying branded overlays. Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does PaintTool SAI integrate with? PaintTool SAI integrates with Adobe Photoshop, supporting workflows that move artwork between the two tools. The available integration data highlights Adobe Photoshop as the confirmed third-party platform, with no broader catalog of additional native integrations provided here. Answer based on 1 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does PaintTool SAI offer? PaintTool SAI provides Email/Help Desk and FAQ/Forum support. These channels give users direct contact for questions and self-service guidance for common issues. No reviewer feedback is available to describe response times, helpfulness, or recurring support frustrations. ## Features AI summary Based on 10,533 Graphic Design reviews Capterra data shows that buyers of Graphic Design software rank the following features as their top priorities: - **Content Import/Export** (**43%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Drag & Drop Editor** (**35%**) - **Image Editing** (**41%**) PaintTool SAI includes **Image Editing**, which makes it useful for refining artwork and adjusting visual elements. However, it does not include **Content Import/Export** or **Drag & Drop Editor**. Instead, it offers **Design Templates** (**33%**), which can give users a starting point for creative work when quick setup matters more than flexible file handling or drag-and-drop layout tools. Together, these features help businesses create and update visual content more efficiently, providing teams with practical tools for day-to-day design tasks. Features 4.1 (9) 4.1 Based on 9 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.3 (8) Basic $50.81 Flat Rate,One Time Value for money 4.3 (8) 4.3 Based on 8 reviews ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 3.5 (4) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 3.5 (4) 3.5 Based on 4 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.3 Based on 9 reviews Filter by rating 5(4) 4(4) 3(1) 2(0) 1(0) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent ML Mercedes L. Artist Arts and Crafts ### "A really impressive lightweight art program" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 May 22, 2024 I love this program so much and I am incredibly grateful to the man who made it and continues to work hard on it. If he ever sees this review I want to say thank you very much for the decades of SAI that I have enjoyed Pros I live for their lineart tool, it's my favourite implementation I've seen of it in any art program. I also really appreciate how there are always improvements being made. I feel honored to get to work with SAI Cons I think the selection tool could possibly use some more tweaking as it felt like it worked a bit better around SAI 1.2 but the gap tolerance slider is a really lovely addition Switched from [Adobe Creative Cloud](https://www.capterra.com/p/48969/Adobe-Creative-Cloud/) I had student pricing with Adobe but when I finished school I found that their monthly price was very expensive and I saw a post online from someone who used SAI and that it cost less to fully buy SAI than to subscribe to Adobe CC Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. LP Lorenzo P. Disegnatore Performing Arts ### "Intuitivo " 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 January 16, 2024 Ho utilizzato questo software quando ancora ero uno studente e soprattutto quando mi sono approcciato per la prima volta al disegno digitale con tavoletta grafica e mi sono trovato benissimo Pros Il software è molto semplice da utilizzare ed e’ perfetto anche per i principianti o studenti che si stanno approcciando al disegno per cartoni animati o fumetto Cons Un po limitato dal punto di vista dei menu’ e tools Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Claudia P. Chat Moderator and Consultant Public Relations and Communications ### "It's good" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 November 1, 2023 Pros PaintTool SAI proved to be a safe ally, always allowing me to recover works etc. Not all softwares have this option and I find it really life-saving. Cons I think PaintTool SAI isn't that permissive in fact on brushes compared to other softwares. Others allow more, but this one is kinda restrictive. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Souleymane D. Training assistant Mining & Metals ### "The drawing software for digital artists." 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 August 19, 2023 PaintTool SAI is indeed a wonderful drawing software that assists its users in various ways, such as the line stabilizer feature, which allows for smooth drawing by reducing hand tremors. Pros PaintTool SAI offers a variety of drawing tools that are highly favorable for illustrators and manga artists. It also supports layers, allowing users to combine or overlay elements without complexity. Cons What I like least is perhaps the coloring tool, which, in my opinion, doesn't assist me much with my fillings or flat colors. Switched from [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) [Affinity Designer](https://www.capterra.com/p/110533/WebPlus-X4/) Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Sukesha W. Content Curator Education Management ### "Great option for graphic design" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 December 9, 2022 Overall it has been a good experience using PaintTool SAI Pros The feature i like best on paint tool SAI is the user friendly interface, it is very easy to edit images using this software, it is much better than the microsoft paint that comes preinstalled on windows. Cons The only feature they can improve on is giving more editing options for images, other than that i did not find any issues using the software. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. SH Sabina H. Graphic Designer Design ### "PainTool SAI for digital artists" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 November 11, 2022 Pros It is really great software for digital art. I enjoy drawing in it with my wacom tablet. It is easy to use and learn. Cons It would be nice if the design would be updated a little bit more. Switched from [Inkscape](https://www.capterra.com/p/178240/Inkscape/) Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AK Asif K. Head of IT Education Management ### "PaintTool SAI" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 June 8, 2022 Pros It's a very lightweight application and rarely crashes. Cons It is lacking more options for image editing. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. TO Travis O. Freelance Illustrator Arts and Crafts ### "An Introductory Software" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 2.0 2.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 4/10 June 7, 2022 I learned so much using this program, and it worked well with multiple drawing peripherals. But at it's current price point, I cannot recommend it over other options. Pros The basic tools in SAI are intuitive and easy to use out of the box. It is a great way to learn the basics of digital art. Cons The software has some clever tools and features, but isn't as robust as a program like Clip Studio Paint. Anymore, I'd recommend GIMP as an introductory software. GIMP's open source model really broadens the capabilities and versatility of an ever changing art scape. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. GG Gal G. Industrial Design Student Design ### "Benefits and struggles of Paintool SAI" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 6/10 January 25, 2022 Pros Great variety of tools and modifiers to each allows you to customize your brushes, erasers, etc to your liking. Paintool SAI has a more lightweight feel compared to other painting softwares, allowing you to have a more fluid workflow Cons Lacks the variety of tools other softwares in the industry have. Its interface looks a little outdated, despite its tools being a good match against other softwares. Switched from [Sketchbook](https://www.capterra.com/p/233346/Sketchbook/) [Krita](https://www.capterra.com/p/209859/Krita/) [Adobe Photoshop](https://www.capterra.com/p/229092/Adobe-Photoshop/) Its one-time payment makes it a lot more affordable than the industry standard Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/229456/PaintTool-SAI/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox.