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Design · head to head

InVision vs PaintTool SAI

InVision logo

InVision

Design

Digital product design platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
P

PaintTool SAI

Design

Lightweight digital painting and illustration software for Windows

From
5500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only InVision has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: InVision service discontinued as of end of 2024; no longer available or supported; PaintTool SAI windows-only software with no native Mac or Linux version.
  • They diverge on capability: InVision covers Interactive prototypes, PaintTool SAI covers Pressure-Sensitive Tablet Support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which InVision and PaintTool SAI actually diverge.

Attributes where InVision and PaintTool SAI differ
AttributeInVisionPaintTool SAI
Starting priceFree5500/month
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Macos, Windows, Ios, Androidwindows
Founded2011Unknown

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

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 InVision

  • Interactive prototypes
  • Design collaboration
  • Freehand whiteboarding
  • Design system manager
  • Inspect mode
  • Comments & feedback
  • Version control
  • User testing

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.

InVision

  • Prototype creationnot PaintTool SAI
  • Design feedbacknot PaintTool SAI
  • Whiteboarding sessionsnot PaintTool SAI
  • Design handoffnot PaintTool SAI
  • User testingnot PaintTool SAI

PaintTool SAI

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

Where each one falls short

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

InVision

  • Service discontinued as of end of 2024; no longer available or supported
  • Workflow required constant switching between design software (Sketch/Photoshop) and InVision for prototyping, creating inefficiency
  • Performance issues and glitches reported, especially with larger projects
  • Limited development capabilities; required additional hosting and developer support for deployment
  • Could not export working web or mobile applications without additional development

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

InVision

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the InVision review.

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 InVision if

  • You need interactive prototypes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Macos, Windows, Ios, Android.
  • You also want design collaboration.
InVision 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 InVision or PaintTool SAI better?
Neither clearly leads. InVision 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, InVision or PaintTool SAI?
InVision has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for InVision and 5500/month for PaintTool SAI.
Does InVision or PaintTool SAI run on more platforms?
InVision runs on Web, Macos, Windows, Ios, Android. PaintTool SAI runs on windows.
Can I use InVision for free?
Yes. InVision has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PaintTool SAI starts at 5500/month.
What is InVision best used for?
InVision is most often used for prototype creation, design feedback, whiteboarding sessions, design handoff. Of those, prototype creation and design feedback are not what PaintTool SAI is typically brought in for.
What can InVision do that PaintTool SAI cannot?
InVision covers Interactive prototypes, Design collaboration, Freehand whiteboarding, Design system manager. PaintTool SAI covers Pressure-Sensitive Tablet Support, Anti-Aliased Brushes, 16-bit ARGB Color Channels, Lightweight Performance.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

InVision: Is InVision still active and supported in 2026?

No. InVision announced discontinuation of all services by end of 2024. The platform is no longer available or supported.

Source
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
InVision: What were InVision's core features?

InVision allowed designers to transform designs into interactive prototypes and mockups for web and mobile. It supported Craft Player for Sketch, Craft Sync for Photoshop, and preview mode in Studio, enabling design-to-prototype workflows.

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
InVision: What were InVision's pricing plans?

InVision offered Free ($0), Starter ($25/month), Professional ($99/month), and Team plans. Annual billing provided a 10% discount. Free plan included basic prototyping; paid plans added collaboration and file access.

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
InVision: Why did InVision fail in the market?

InVision's market position was disrupted by Figma, which unified design, prototyping, and collaboration in a single web-based platform. InVision required switching between design software and prototyping, creating friction and reducing competitiveness.

Source
InVision: What integrations did InVision support?

InVision integrated with design tools like Sketch and Photoshop, and supported sharing and collaboration workflows. The platform did not support deployment or direct development integration.

Source
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