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Design · head to head

PaintTool SAI vs ProtoPie

P

PaintTool SAI

Design

Lightweight digital painting and illustration software for Windows

From
5500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ProtoPie logo

ProtoPie

Design

Create advanced interactive prototypes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ProtoPie has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: PaintTool SAI windows-only software with no native Mac or Linux version.; ProtoPie the free plan allows 2 prototypes, 8 scenes per prototype and 50MB of cloud storage
  • They diverge on capability: PaintTool SAI covers Pressure-Sensitive Tablet Support, ProtoPie covers Interactive prototyping.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where PaintTool SAI and ProtoPie differ
AttributePaintTool SAIProtoPie
Starting price5500/monthFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformswindowsWindows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2013

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 PaintTool SAI

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

Only in ProtoPie

  • Interactive prototyping
  • Data binding
  • Advanced interactions
  • Animation
  • Collaboration
  • Cloud sharing
  • Device testing
  • Code export

What people use each for

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

PaintTool SAI

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

ProtoPie

  • Interactive prototype designnot PaintTool SAI
  • User testing and handoff managementnot PaintTool SAI
  • Team design collaborationnot PaintTool SAI

Where each one falls short

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

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.

ProtoPie

  • The free plan allows 2 prototypes, 8 scenes per prototype and 50MB of cloud storage
  • Free prototypes carry a watermark and shareable links require the Basic plan
  • Saving prototypes locally requires the Pro plan
  • Team libraries and handoff recordings require the Pro plan
  • Basic caps storage at 500MB and prototypes at 20
  • Single sign on, private servers, custom fonts and custom hardware integrations are Enterprise only
  • Enterprise requires a minimum of 3 seats and is priced by quote
  • Connect Core is a paid add on at $20 per user per month

Pricing, plan by plan

PaintTool SAI

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

ProtoPie

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 prototypes
    • 8 scenes per prototype
    • 50MB cloud storage
  • Basic$25/month
    • 20 prototypes
    • 10 scenes per prototype
    • 500MB storage
  • Pro$47/month
    • Unlimited prototypes
    • Unlimited handoff recordings
    • 5GB team storage

Which should you pick?

Choose PaintTool SAI if

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

Choose ProtoPie if

  • You need interactive prototyping.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want data binding.
ProtoPie review

Questions people ask

Is PaintTool SAI or ProtoPie better?
Neither clearly leads. PaintTool SAI starts at 5500/month and ProtoPie at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PaintTool SAI or ProtoPie?
ProtoPie has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at 5500/month for PaintTool SAI and Free for ProtoPie.
Does PaintTool SAI or ProtoPie run on more platforms?
PaintTool SAI runs on windows. ProtoPie runs on Windows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use ProtoPie for free?
Yes. ProtoPie has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PaintTool SAI starts at 5500/month.
What is PaintTool SAI best used for?
PaintTool SAI is most often used for digital illustration and manga art, line art and inking with pressure-sensitive pens, lightweight painting on lower-spec computers, character and concept art sketching. Of those, digital illustration and manga art and line art and inking with pressure-sensitive pens are not what ProtoPie is typically brought in for.
What can PaintTool SAI do that ProtoPie cannot?
PaintTool SAI covers Pressure-Sensitive Tablet Support, Anti-Aliased Brushes, 16-bit ARGB Color Channels, Lightweight Performance. ProtoPie covers Interactive prototyping, Data binding, Advanced interactions, Animation.

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
ProtoPie: How much does ProtoPie cost?

ProtoPie offers a free plan ($0/month), Basic at $25/month, and Pro at $47/month per editor. Annual billing offers up to 26% savings. Enterprise pricing is custom for minimum 3 seats.

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
ProtoPie: Is there a free version of ProtoPie?

Yes. The free plan includes 2 prototypes, 8 scenes per prototype, and 50MB cloud storage. Perfect for trying the platform.

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
ProtoPie: What is included in the Pro plan?

Pro plan at $47/month includes unlimited prototypes, unlimited handoff recordings, 5GB team storage, local saving, and team libraries per editor.

Source
ProtoPie: What add-on products does ProtoPie offer?

Connect Core ($20/month per user), Connect Enterprise and Connect Embedded (custom pricing), and User Testing (custom pricing, annual-only for Pro plan users).

Source
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