Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Paint.NET VS Tux Paint

Compare Paint.NET VS Tux Paint and see what are their differences

Paint.NET logo Paint.NET

Paint.NET is a free image and photo editing software.

Tux Paint logo Tux Paint

Tux Paint is a free, award-winning drawing program for children ages 3 to 12 (for example, preschool and K-6).
  • Paint.NET Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-10
  • Tux Paint Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14

Paint.NET features and specs

  • User Friendly
    Paint.NET offers an intuitive and straightforward interface that makes it accessible for users of all skill levels.
  • Freeware
    Paint.NET is free to download and use, making it a cost-effective solution for basic to intermediate image editing tasks.
  • Lightweight
    The software is lightweight and has low system requirements, ensuring it can run smoothly on most computers without demanding significant resources.
  • Active Community
    It has an active community that provides a wealth of tutorials, plugins, and support which can extend its capabilities.
  • Layer Support
    Paint.NET supports layers, allowing users to work on complex projects and easily manage different elements within an image.
  • Plugin Support
    Users can enhance Paint.NET's functionality through a variety of third-party plugins, adding features like additional effects and support for more file types.

Possible disadvantages of Paint.NET

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to professional-grade software like Adobe Photoshop, Paint.NET lacks many advanced features and tools required for high-level image editing.
  • Windows Only
    Paint.NET is available exclusively for Windows, which means users on macOS or Linux cannot natively run the software.
  • Slow Development
    The development and update cycle for Paint.NET can be slow, meaning that new features and bug fixes may take a while to be released.
  • No Vector Support
    Paint.NET does not support vector graphics, which can be a limiting factor for users needing to work with scalable graphic elements.
  • Dependence on .NET Framework
    The software requires the .NET Framework to run, which means users have to install and maintain this additional requirement if it's not already present on their system.
  • Basic Text Tools
    The text tools in Paint.NET are quite basic and lack the advanced text manipulation features found in more comprehensive graphics editing software.

Tux Paint features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Tux Paint is designed specifically for young children, featuring a simple, intuitive, and easy-to-navigate interface.
  • Educational Value
    The software is educationally beneficial, helping children to develop motor skills, creativity, and an understanding of basic computer operations.
  • Fun and Engaging
    It includes various fun tools, like stamps, sound effects, and magic tools, which keep children engaged and entertained.
  • Free and Open Source
    Tux Paint is free to download and use, and being open-source, it encourages community involvement and contributions.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    It runs on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wider audience.
  • Multilingual
    The software supports numerous languages, which is useful for children who speak different languages or are learning a new language.
  • Parental Controls
    Tux Paint includes parental controls, allowing parents to restrict certain features and ensure a safe environment for children.

Possible disadvantages of Tux Paint

  • Limited Advanced Features
    The software may lack advanced features that more experienced or older users might look for in a drawing program.
  • Frequent Crashes on Some Systems
    Some users have reported stability issues, such as crashes, particularly on older or less common operating systems.
  • Basic Toolset
    While suitable for beginners, the basic toolset may not satisfy users looking for more sophisticated drawing tools and capabilities.
  • Outdated Graphics and Interface
    The graphical interface can seem outdated compared to more modern applications, which might be a drawback for some users.
  • Not Suitable for Professional Use
    Tux Paint is aimed at children and lacks the features and precision tools needed for professional graphic design or digital art.

Analysis of Paint.NET

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Paint.NET is generally viewed as a good and reliable image editing software, especially for its price point (free). It effectively balances simplicity and functionality, allowing users to perform a variety of tasks without being overwhelmed.

Why this product is good

  • Paint.NET is considered good due to its user-friendly interface and wide range of features that are available for free. It offers essential photo editing tools and supports layers, special effects, and plugins, making it a versatile option for both beginners and more advanced users. Additionally, its active community provides support and frequently releases updates and new plugins.

Recommended for

    Paint.NET is recommended for beginner to intermediate users who need an easy-to-use but powerful image editing tool. It's particularly suitable for individuals looking for free software for tasks like photo editing, graphic design, and basic digital painting.

Analysis of Tux Paint

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Tux Paint is considered to be a good software for its target audience. It is well-regarded for providing a fun and educational platform for children to explore their creativity while being easy to use.

Why this product is good

  • Tux Paint is a popular open-source drawing software designed specifically for children. It features a simple and intuitive interface, making it accessible for young users. The program includes a variety of drawing tools, fun sound effects, and informative tutorials, which encourage creativity and learning. The availability of numerous stamps and coloring pages further engages children and makes the creative process enjoyable.

Recommended for

    Tux Paint is recommended for children aged 3 to 12, educators looking for interactive teaching tools, and parents seeking to support their children's artistic development in a digital environment.

Paint.NET videos

Reviewing Paint.NET vs MS Paint

More videos:

  • Review - Beginner's Guide to Paint.NET | The Basics
  • Review - Paint.NET vs Photoshop - Avatar Na'vi

Tux Paint videos

Tux Paint Review Halloween 2008

More videos:

  • Review - Tux Paint - Review/Download for Windows
  • Review - Amazing Rainbow in Tux Paint

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Paint.NET and Tux Paint)
Digital Drawing And Painting
Image Editing
86 86%
14% 14
Graphic Design Software
76 76%
24% 24
Art Tools
55 55%
45% 45

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Paint.NET and Tux Paint

Paint.NET Reviews

20+ Picasa Alternatives And Best Similar Apps Like Picasa 2022
Paint.NET has been gaining market share and has been a really widespread and capable editor. options like layers, curves, levels, and a full library of good Paint.NET extensions area units sometimes reserved for costlier photo-editing apps, but Paint.NET boasts all of those for gratis.
68 Best Painting Apps and Softwares
Why Paint.net? – If you want to relax and doodle, Paint.net has it all, with all the paintbrushes you’ll need, and if you want to get more serious, Paint.net also has the massive editing power and features to help you do so.
The 7 Best Free Photoshop Alternatives
That was a long time ago, and Paint.NET has since grown by leaps and bounds to the point where it's comparable in some ways to the more advanced editing software on the market, both free and paid. This includes the ability to use multiple layers and blending, all the while maintaining a fairly simple interface that lends itself to even the most novice user. If you do get...
12 Best Free Photoshop Alternatives You Should Try
Paint.NET was originally developed to be a more powerful version of MS Paint and as such it brings a lot of the features from MS Paint. While Paint.NET is nowhere near as powerful as Photoshop, it brings a lot of features that make it a viable alternative for people looking for a free Photoshop alternative for Windows. Paint.NET supports layers with blending modes which is...
Source: beebom.com
The 9 best alternatives to Photoshop
Paint.net is a Windows-based alternative to the Paint editor that Microsoft shipped with versions of Windows. Don't let that put you off, though: it's a surprisingly capable and useful tool, available completely free of charge via Getpaint.net (there's also a paid-for version in the Windows store).

Tux Paint Reviews

We have no reviews of Tux Paint yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Tux Paint seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Paint.NET mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Paint.NET yet. Tracking of Paint.NET recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Tux Paint mentions (13)

  • KidPix
    Https://tuxpaint.org TuxPaint is an app that is very similar from 2002 onwards to current. I have been installing on many computers for small children since. Stamps and noises are the most loved features. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Sugar: An activity-focused, open-source software learning platform for children
    PBS Kids has a lot of games and activities on their website: https://pbskids.org/games If your kids watch any PBS shows them they'll recognize the characters. The activities were fun enough for our twins to learn how to use computer mice at age 3. Tux Paint is also really fun for young kids and a good way to learn mouse usage: https://tuxpaint.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • ⟳ 4 apps added, 28 updated at f-droid.org
    Tux Paint (version 0.9.30): A drawing program for children. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Instant flood fill with HTML Canvas
    I can also recommend https://tuxpaint.org/. I see they also have an app for Android nowadays, but no iOS it seems. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Kids Computer
    This is going to depend on the age of the kid. I have given a cheap Laptop to my 6-year old and introduced her to Scratch[1] and Tuxpaint[2]. I let her use the mouse and keyboard more instead of tapping on a screen. The school is likely to introduce Scratch from next year. For older kids, they should be on a normal computer. My old MacBook Pro came handy for the elder one. She does the usual Python, games and... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Paint.NET and Tux Paint, you can also consider the following products

GIMP - GIMP is a multiplatform photo manipulation tool.

Microsoft Paint - Paint (formerly Paintbrush) is a simple, ultra-basic graphics painting program that is included...

Krita - Krita is a professional FREE and open source painting program. It is made by artists that want to seaffordable art tools for everyone. Concept art. texture and matte painters, illustrations and comics.

Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Photoshop is a webtop application for editing images and photos online.

MyPaint - MyPaint is a fast, distraction-free, and easy painting tool for digital artists.

Photoscape - high quality photo editing software, that enables you to fix and enhance photos.