The best Linux raster editor depends on what you need to do: make quick bitmap corrections, build a layered composite, paint an illustration, or develop RAW photographs. The 13 applications below are the free and open-source editors named in the September 18, 2026 roundup; they are not interchangeable, and inclusion does not mean that every project has the same capabilities or maintenance status.
This list focuses on raster editing and excludes tools primarily designed for RAW development, batch processing, digital painting, pixel art, or vector graphics. Those workflows still matter when choosing an editor, so the guide also explains when a separate specialist tool may be a better fit.
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How to choose a Linux raster editor
Start with the kind of work you actually do. For cropping, resizing, annotations, and simple image corrections, a lightweight editor may be enough. For composites or complex revisions, prioritize layers and edit history. If you draw with a tablet, look for a painting-oriented workflow. Photographers should distinguish editing pixels directly from developing RAW files or managing a large photo collection.
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- Compositing: Check how the app handles layers, transparency, and the ability to revise prior edits.
- Illustration: Consider brush behavior and tablet compatibility; a general-purpose raster editor may not be built around drawing.
- Photography: Choose between direct pixel edits, non-destructive RAW development, and organizing or searching a photo library.
- Linux setup: Confirm that the project supports your distribution and that a maintained installation route is available for your system.
The 13 editors
1. GIMP
GIMP is one of the roundup’s 13 named options. The roundup includes it without a detailed feature assessment, so treat it as a candidate to evaluate against your own needs rather than assuming a particular workflow or feature set from this list alone.
#1 Best Overall
- Word-first 16K Pressure Levels: The upgraded stylus features 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity and supports up to 60 degrees of tilt, delivering smoother lines and shading for a natural drawing experience. With no battery or charging needed, it operates like a real pen, making it easy for beginners to create effortlessly. This functionality helps novice artists develop their skills and explore their creativity without the intimidation of complex tools
- Designed for Beginners: This drawing pad desinged with 8 customizable shortcuts for both right and left-hand users, express keys create a highly ergonomic and convenient work platform
- Perfectly Adapted for Android: The XPPen Deco 01 V3 art tablet supports connections with Android devices running version 10.0 and above. It is recommended to download the XPPen Tools Android application, which adapts to your smartphone's screen aspect ratio, ensuring accurate mapping. It also supports mapping on Android screens with different aspect ratios in portrait mode
- Large Drawing Space, Bigger Bold Inspiration: This expansive drawing pad has10 x 6.25-inch helps you break through the limit between shortcut keys and drawing area
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The Deco 01 V3 offers USB-C to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C. This ensures easy connection to various devices, allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns. Whether using a laptop, tablet, or desktop, the Deco 01 V3 provides a seamless experience, making it an ideal choice for those just starting their digital art journey
2. JS Paint
JS Paint is described in the roundup as a browser-based recreation of classic Microsoft Paint. Its browser-based approach may suit simple, familiar paint-style tasks; the roundup does not establish detailed file-format support or how it fits offline workflows.
3. Pinta
Pinta is presented by its project as a free, open-source bitmap editor for basic graphics editing and painting. Its user guide documents Linux support, layers, full edit history, add-ins, a customizable workspace, and more than 35 adjustments and effects. The guide covers version 1.6; that is the guide’s scope, not evidence of Pinta’s current release version. Pinta User Guide
4. Photoflare
The roundup describes Photoflare as a cross-platform image editor. It does not provide enough verified detail here to compare its layer system, format coverage, or present maintenance status with the other entries.
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Rank #2
- Working Area Configuration - HUION art tablet equips with a 10 x 6.25 inches working area, providing the user with the most comfortable size to work; the 10mm slim structure and minimalist design of appearance make the drawing tablet more attractive.
- Tilt Function Battery-free Stylus: This computer graphics tablet come with a battery-free stylus PW100, no need to charge, allowing for constant uninterrupted drawing. ±60° tilt support enables imitation of lines input with diverse drawing gestures, with accuracy ensured.
- Press Keys:12 programmable press keys plus 16 programmable soft keys, you can set shortcut keys on drawing tablet's driver based on your preferences, such as erase, zoom in/out, scroll up and down, and so on.
- Compatibility: HUION graphics tablet supports Windows 7 or later/ macOS 10.12 or later/ Android 6.0 or later/ Linux (Ubuntu). A USB adapter is required to connect to a Mac computer. H1060P supports various mainstream design and drawing software, including PS, SAI, AI, CDR, etc. (Please note: The H1060P is compatible with Ubuntu, but it requires the use of the Xorg display server. Wayland is not supported.)
- NOTE: You can easily connect your phone to the art tablet via the OTG connector; while iPhone and iPad are NOT at the moment. The cursor will not show up in the SAMSUNG Galaxy S series at present. If you are not sure whether the product is compatible with your Phone or any help, please contact us.
5. LazPaint
The roundup highlights layers and transparency in LazPaint. Those features make it a candidate to consider for straightforward compositing, but the roundup does not establish its full toolset, supported formats, or current project activity.
6. dibuja
dibuja is characterized as offering simple paint tools. Consider it if your needs are modest, and check the project’s own current documentation for the exact capabilities and installation options you require.
7. Drawing
Drawing is another simple paint-oriented option in the roundup. Its inclusion does not establish that it offers the advanced layer, selection, or retouching workflow needed for more involved editing.
Rank #3
- Large Active Drawing Space: UGEE M708 V3 graphic drawing tablet features 10 x 6 inch large active drawing space with papery texture surface, provides enormous and smooth drawing for your digital artwork creation, offers no-lag sketch and painting experience
- 16384 Passive Stylus Technology: A more affordable passive stylus technology offers 16384 levels of pressure sensitivity allows you to draw accurate lines of any weight and opacity according to the pressure you apply to the pen, sharper line with light pressure and thick line with hard pressure for artistry design or unique brush effect for photo retouching
- Compatible with Multiple System and Softwares: Powerful compatibility, tablet for drawing computer, perform well with Windows 11/10/8/7, Mac OS X 10.10 or later, Android 10.0 or later, mac OS 10.12 or later, Chrome OS 88 or later and Linux; Driver program works with creative software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Macromedia Flash, Comic Studio, SAI, Infinite Stratos, 3D MAX, Autodesk MAYA, Pixologic ZBrush and more
- Ergonomically Designed Shortcuts: 8 customizable express keys on the side for short cuts like eraser, zoom in and out, scrolling and undo, provide a lot more for convenience and helps to improve the productivity and efficiency when creating with the drawing tablet
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The UGEE M708 V3 offers USB to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C, ensuring easy connection to various devices and allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns; Whether using a laptop, desktop, chromebook, or tablet, the UGEE M708 V3 provides a seamless experience for those just starting their digital art journey
8. Textual Paint
Textual Paint is described as a terminal-based Paint program. That makes it distinct from the graphical editors in this list; it is worth considering only if a terminal interface is appropriate for your task.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute9. Pixelitor
The roundup describes Pixelitor as offering layers, filters, and effects. Those are relevant capabilities for image manipulation, but the supplied description does not specify format coverage, installation routes, or current maintenance.
10. paint.software
The roundup characterizes paint.software as an accessible Paint.NET-style editor. Use that as a broad orientation, not a verified feature-by-feature comparison: confirm the current project documentation and Linux support before relying on it for a particular workflow.
Rank #4
- Battery-Free Pen: StarG640 drawing tablet is the perfect replacement for a traditional mouse! The XPPen advanced Battery-free PN01 stylus does not require charging, allowing for constant uninterrupted Draw and Play, making lines flow quicker and smoother, enhancing overall performance
- Ideal for Online Education: XPPen G640 graphics tablet is designed for digital drawing, painting, sketching, E-signatures, online teaching, remote work, photo editing, it's compatible with Microsoft Office apps like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Zoom, Xsplit etc. Works perfect than a mouse, visually present your handwritten notes, signatures precisely
- Compact and Portable: The G640 art tablet is only 2 mm thick, it's as slim as all primary level graphic tablets, allowing you to carry it with you on the go
- Chromebook Supported: XPPen G640 digital drawing tablet is ready to work seamlessly with Chromebook devices now, so you can create information-rich content and collaborate with teachers and classmates on Google Jamboard’s whiteboard; Take notes quickly and conveniently with Google Keep, and effortlessly sketch diagrams with the Google Canvas
- Multipurpose Use: Designed for playing OSU! Game, digital drawing, painting, sketch, sign documents digitally, this writing tablet also compatible with Microsoft Office programs like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote and more. Create mind-maps, draw diagrams or take notes as replacement for mouse
11. Brushshe
Brushshe is listed as a simple raster-editing option. The roundup does not establish detailed editing features or maintenance status, so check whether it handles the images and tasks you have in mind.
12. KolourPaint
KolourPaint is described as KDE’s paint program. Its paint-program focus suggests a candidate for basic raster work; verify its current availability and fit with your desktop and distribution.
Recommended Free Tools
13. CinePaint
The roundup describes CinePaint as providing painting, manipulation, and image-processing tools. It does not give enough independently verified detail to rank it against the other entries for a specific task.
Best Value
- Upgraded A30 V3 drawing tablet with 16384 pressure : A clear upgrade from the previous V2 model, offering finer control and smoother stroke transitions – a solid choice for beginners advancing to intermediate level. This upgraded drawing tablet delivers smooth, natural lines and precise shading for digital illustrations, sketching, and animation in Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or Krita with minimal lag
- Unique multi-touch gesture pad : Features an intuitive multi-touch area that allows you to zoom, scroll, rotate, and switch tools directly on the tablet – making your workflow faster and more convenient for beginners, students, and hobbyists
- 10x6 inch active area with 60° tilt support : Provides a spacious yet portable workspace on this lightweight drawing tablet (only 1.26lb), suitable for detailed drawing and note-taking during remote classes, travel, or daily creative sessions
- 4 customizable hotkeys & touch gestures : Allows quick access to your favorite shortcuts in any software on this graphics tablet – helping digital artists, designers, and OSU! players save time while working on Windows, Mac, Android, or Linux
- Complete accessory kit included – This 10x6 drawing tablet comes with a battery-free pen (extra nibs included), drawing glove, protective film, OTG adapter, and USB cable – everything needed to start creating comfortably right away
When a different kind of image tool is a better fit
For digital painting and tablet illustration: Krita
The roundup excludes software primarily designed for digital painting, so Krita is not one of its 13 entries. It is a relevant alternative if illustration is your main goal: Krita’s official download page listed version 5.3.4, released September 15, 2026, when accessed October 7, 2026. The page offers a Linux 64-bit AppImage, lists Linux system requirements, and says graphics tablets compatible with the operating system can be used. Check the current download page and your specific Linux setup before installing. Krita download page
A tablet is optional for ordinary image editing. If you choose a drawing-oriented workflow, check Linux compatibility for the exact tablet model and your distribution before buying; compatibility with an operating system does not establish support for every device on every Linux setup.
For RAW development: darktable
darktable is a photography workflow tool, not a general-purpose direct pixel editor. Its project describes non-destructive editing in which originals are not modified, and lists RAW, standard, and high-dynamic-range formats, color management, collection filtering, camera tethering, and export formats. That makes it more appropriate when developing photographs and preserving the source files than when you primarily need paint-style editing. darktable features
For managing a photo collection: digiKam
digiKam centers on photographic collection management, organization, and search, while also documenting RAW support, an image editor, editing plugins, 16-bit-per-pixel support, and batch queues. It is best understood as photo-management software with editing capabilities, rather than simply another standalone raster editor. digiKam overview
Quick Recap
Check these details before settling on one
- Try a representative task: Use an image you commonly edit and test the specific steps you need, such as selecting an object, adjusting color, adding text, or combining layers.
- Confirm formats: Check the project’s current documentation for both the formats it can open and the formats it can export. Support for opening a file does not guarantee that every layer or editing feature will be preserved.
- Check project status: A roundup entry is not a guarantee of active maintenance. Look for current releases, recent project updates, and installation guidance for your distribution.
- Match the tool to the workflow: A direct editor, RAW developer, photo-library manager, and digital-painting application solve different problems; using the wrong category can create unnecessary work.
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