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Design · head to head

Lunacy vs PaintTool SAI

Lunacy logo

Lunacy

Design

Free design software that keeps your flow

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 Lunacy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Lunacy desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers; PaintTool SAI windows-only software with no native Mac or Linux version.
  • They diverge on capability: Lunacy covers Vector editing, 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 Lunacy and PaintTool SAI actually diverge.

Attributes where Lunacy and PaintTool SAI differ
AttributeLunacyPaintTool SAI
Starting priceFree5500/month
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linuxwindows
Founded2016Unknown

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 Lunacy

  • Vector editing
  • Auto layouts
  • Components
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Built-in photos & icons
  • AI background remover
  • AI upscaler
  • Sketch file support

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.

Lunacy

  • UI/UX designnot PaintTool SAI
  • Web designnot PaintTool SAI
  • Mobile app designnot PaintTool SAI
  • Icon designnot PaintTool SAI
  • Marketing graphicsnot PaintTool SAI

PaintTool SAI

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

Where each one falls short

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

Lunacy

  • Desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers
  • Animation capabilities are basic, lacking timeline-based animation editing or spring physics available in modern design tools
  • Paid collaboration features, unlike Figma's free cloud-based team collaboration

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

Lunacy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Lunacy 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 Lunacy if

  • You need vector editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want auto layouts.
Lunacy 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 Lunacy or PaintTool SAI better?
Neither clearly leads. Lunacy 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, Lunacy or PaintTool SAI?
Lunacy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Lunacy and 5500/month for PaintTool SAI.
Does Lunacy or PaintTool SAI run on more platforms?
Lunacy runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. PaintTool SAI runs on windows.
Can I use Lunacy for free?
Yes. Lunacy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PaintTool SAI starts at 5500/month.
What is Lunacy best used for?
Lunacy is most often used for ui/ux design, web design, mobile app design, icon design. Of those, ui/ux design and web design are not what PaintTool SAI is typically brought in for.
What can Lunacy do that PaintTool SAI cannot?
Lunacy covers Vector editing, Auto layouts, Components, Real-time collaboration. PaintTool SAI covers Pressure-Sensitive Tablet Support, Anti-Aliased Brushes, 16-bit ARGB Color Channels, Lightweight Performance.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lunacy: Is Lunacy free to use?

Yes. Lunacy is absolutely free for personal and commercial use. There is no subscription required or trial period limitation.

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
Lunacy: Can Lunacy open and work with Sketch files?

Yes. Lunacy has smooth integration with Sketch files, allowing designers to import and collaborate on Sketch projects without requiring a Sketch subscription.

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
Lunacy: Does Lunacy require internet connection to work?

No. Lunacy can work offline, allowing designers to work without an internet connection. It is a desktop application that runs locally on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

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
Lunacy: What are Lunacy's hardware requirements?

Lunacy is not demanding on hardware and runs smoothly even on moderate laptops. It has minimal system requirements compared to resource-intensive design tools.

Source
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