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✦ Free & open sourceGraphic Design

Pinta

Simple GTK paint program, a clone of Paint.NET 3.0, for Linux, Windows and macOS.

Pinta: simple paint-style image editor

A GTK clone of Paint.NET 3.0 under MIT

Free forever · open source · MIT (original code); Paint.NET licence file for derived code
✓ Light setup✓ Browser-based✓ Real-time collaboration
7
ZEKAI
Light paint editor
Free & open source · Graphic Design
Ease of setup6
Usefulness5
Maintenance9.5
Community7.5
★ 4,137
GITHUB
Nov 2026
UPDATED
MIT (original code); Paint.NET licence file for derived code
LICENSE
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⚡ Quick answer

Pinta is a simple GTK paint program described as a clone of Paint.NET 3.0. It suits people who want a light drawing and editing tool on Linux, Windows or macOS.

Runs on
Cross-platform
Hosting
Desktop
Languages
C#
License
MIT (original code); Paint.NET licence file for derived code

What it is

The repository describes a paint program tagged drawing, painting and image-editor. Code from Paint.NET 3.36 is used under the MIT licence, and the repo carries license-mit.txt and license-pdn.txt.

Who it's for

It suits Linux desktop users who want Paint.NET-style editing from Flathub or Snap. It does not suit anyone who needs a layered, photo-grade pipeline, since the README lists no such feature set.

Key features

Paint.NET-style tools

A GTK clone of Paint.NET 3.0.

Three platforms

Linux, Windows and macOS.

Flathub and Snap

Packaged installs for Linux.

MIT licence

Original Pinta code under MIT.

Paint.NET code

Code from Paint.NET 3.36 used under its MIT licence file.

Docker dev setup

A separate virtual development environment project exists.

How to start

Up and running in 3 steps

1
On Linux, install Pinta from Flathub or the Snap Store.
2
On Windows or macOS, follow the README build steps with the .NET 10 SDK and the GTK4 dependencies.
3
Open an image and use the paint and adjustment tools.
Real talk

Our honest verdict

What's great

  • Small, familiar paint-style interface.
  • MIT-licensed original code.
  • Flathub and Snap packages make Linux install simple.
  • Active repository with commits in November 2026.

Where it falls short

  • Windows and macOS instructions in the README build from source with the .NET 10 SDK.
  • Linux builds need GTK 4.18 or later and libadwaita 1.8 or later.
  • The README lists no layers-and-masks feature set comparable to Photoshop.
Cost

Pricing & license

Free under the MIT licence with a separate Paint.NET licence file for derived code. The only cost is your time, since Windows and macOS routes in the README are source builds.

Paid work

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768 open remote AI-training roles, updated November 14, 2026; most pay $20–$175 an hour. Zekai lists them free; the application goes to the employer’s platform.

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Questions

FAQ

Is Pinta the same as Paint.NET?

No. It is a GTK clone of Paint.NET 3.0 that reuses some Paint.NET 3.36 code under MIT.

What do I need to build Pinta?

The README lists the .NET 10 SDK on all platforms, plus GTK4 and libadwaita on Linux and macOS.

Which licences apply?

The repo includes license-mit.txt for Pinta and license-pdn.txt for Paint.NET's original licence.

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