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Software · head to head

Gravit Designer vs PaintTool SAI

Gravit Designer logo

Gravit Designer

Software

Free vector graphics editor in the cloud

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PaintTool SAI logo

PaintTool SAI

Software

Lightweight digital painting and illustration software for Windows

From
5500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Gravit Designer has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Gravit Designer the Gravit Designer brand and domain designer.io were retired and now redirect live to CorelDRAW, confirming the standalone product no longer exists under its own name; PaintTool SAI windows-only software with no native Mac or Linux version.
  • They diverge on capability: Gravit Designer covers Vector drawing, PaintTool SAI covers Pressure-Sensitive Tablet Support.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Gravit Designer and PaintTool SAI actually diverge.

Attributes where Gravit Designer and PaintTool SAI differ
AttributeGravit DesignerPaintTool SAI
Starting priceFree5500/month
Pricing modelfreemiumone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Webwindows
Founded2014Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Gravit Designer

  • Vector drawing
  • Bezier tools
  • Shape tools
  • Typography
  • Gradient tools
  • Symbols
  • Layers
  • Cloud storage

Only in PaintTool SAI

  • Pressure-Sensitive Tablet Support
  • Anti-Aliased Brushes
  • 16-bit ARGB Color Channels
  • Lightweight Performance
  • Crash Data Protection

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Gravit Designer

  • Logo designnot PaintTool SAI
  • Vector illustrationnot PaintTool SAI
  • Icon designnot PaintTool SAI
  • Web graphicsnot PaintTool SAI

PaintTool SAI

  • Digital illustration and manga artnot Gravit Designer
  • Line art and inking with pressure-sensitive pensnot Gravit Designer
  • Lightweight painting on lower-spec computersnot Gravit Designer
  • Character and concept art sketchingnot Gravit Designer

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Gravit Designer

  • The Gravit Designer brand and domain designer.io were retired and now redirect live to CorelDRAW, confirming the standalone product no longer exists under its own name

PaintTool SAI

  • Windows-only software with no native Mac or Linux version.
  • Only supports 32-bit operation, lacking modern 64-bit performance benefits.
  • Lacks the advanced brush engine customization and layer effects found in tools like Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint.
  • No cloud sync or mobile app, unlike many modern illustration tools.

Pricing, plan by plan

Gravit Designer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Cloud storage
    • All design tools
    • SVG support

PaintTool SAI

5500/month
  • Standard License$5500/month
    • Perpetual license
    • All 1.x.x minor updates
    • Free upgrade path to version 2

Which should you pick?

Choose Gravit Designer if

  • You need vector drawing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Web.
  • You also want bezier tools.
Gravit Designer review

Choose PaintTool SAI if

  • You need pressure-sensitive tablet support.
  • You work on windows.
  • You also want anti-aliased brushes.
PaintTool SAI review

Questions people ask

Is Gravit Designer or PaintTool SAI better?
Neither clearly leads. Gravit Designer starts at Free and PaintTool SAI at 5500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Gravit Designer or PaintTool SAI?
Gravit Designer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Gravit Designer and 5500/month for PaintTool SAI.
Does Gravit Designer or PaintTool SAI run on more platforms?
Gravit Designer runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Web. PaintTool SAI runs on windows.
Can I use Gravit Designer for free?
Yes. Gravit Designer has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PaintTool SAI starts at 5500/month.
What is Gravit Designer best used for?
Gravit Designer is most often used for logo design, vector illustration, icon design, web graphics. Of those, logo design and vector illustration are not what PaintTool SAI is typically brought in for.
What can Gravit Designer do that PaintTool SAI cannot?
Gravit Designer covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Shape tools, Typography. PaintTool SAI covers Pressure-Sensitive Tablet Support, Anti-Aliased Brushes, 16-bit ARGB Color Channels, Lightweight Performance.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PaintTool SAI: Is there a free trial for PaintTool SAI?

Yes, PaintTool SAI offers a 31-day free trial with full functionality before requiring purchase of a license.

Source
PaintTool SAI: What does the license cover?

The one-time 5,500 JPY purchase provides a perpetual license covering all minor updates within version 1.x.x; a major version 2 upgrade is offered for free.

Source
PaintTool SAI: What operating systems are supported?

PaintTool SAI runs on Windows XP through Windows 11, but only in 32-bit mode, requiring at least a 450MHz Pentium processor and 256MB of RAM.

Source
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