Clip Studio Paint vs FireAlpaca
Clip Studio Paint
clipstudio.netFireAlpaca
firealpaca.comSide by side
| Figure | Clip Studio Paint | FireAlpaca |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.92/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 10 | 5 |
| Spec score · Digital Painting Software | 9.0 (#4) | 9.1 (#2) |
| Spec score · Graphic Design Software | 9.1 (#14) | 9.0 (#23) |
| Spec score · Design tools | 9.1 (#14) | 9.0 (#22) |
| Animation | Animation tools include a light table and onion-skin features, and PRO supports simple animation up to 24 frames while EX includes full-length animation tools. | The program includes onion-skin animation and can export animated GIF files. |
| Comic tools | Comic tools include panel frames, speech balloons, text, effect lines, screentones, and multi-page project management. | Comic-oriented functions include frame creation, speed lines, concentration filters and halftone processing. |
| Founded | 1991 | LinkedIn lists PGN Inc. as founded in 2010. |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan | PGN Inc. lists CIOS Iwamoto-cho Building 3F, 1-13-3 Iwamoto-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0032, Japan. |
| Purpose | Clip Studio Paint is a digital art app for creating illustrations, comics, webtoons, and animations. | FireAlpaca is a free digital painting tool for creating illustrations and images. |
Plans
Clip Studio Paint
- Clip Studio Paint PRO annual/monthly plan$0.99 a month
- Clip Studio Paint EX annual/monthly planPrice not published
- Clip Studio Paint PRO Ver. 5.0 perpetual license$63 a month
- Clip Studio Paint EX Ver. 5.0 perpetual license$277 a month
- Clip Studio Paint PRO Annual / Monthly Plan$0.99 a month
- Clip Studio Paint EX Annual / Monthly Plan$2.49 a month
- Clip Studio Paint PRO Update Pass$10.99 a year
- Clip Studio Paint EX Update Pass$31.99 a year
- Clip Studio Paint PRO Ver. 5.0 Edition$63, paid once
- Clip Studio Paint EX Ver. 5.0 Edition$277, paid once
FireAlpaca
- FreeFree
- FireAlpacaFree
- FireAlpaca standardFree
- FireAlpaca SE$39.99, paid once
- FireAlpaca SE$39.99, paid once
In their own words
Clip Studio Paint
Clip Studio Paint is a digital art app for making illustrations, comics, webtoons, and animations. Its customizable brushes are designed to evoke traditional materials, and adjustable 3D models can serve as references for drawing characters and backgrounds. Comic tools include panel frames, speech balloons, text, effect lines, screentones, and multi-page project management. Animation features include a light table and onion-skin tools; PRO supports simple animation up to 24 frames, while EX includes full-length animation tools. Monthly and annual plans include 10GB of cloud data, with an option to add storage. Clip Studio Assets offers downloadable brushes and other materials, and GOLD can be used to buy materials there. Projects can be saved in compatible and industry-standard file formats. The app is listed for Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows; the download page also lists Chromebook. PRO is described for concept artists, illustrators, and designers; EX for comic and manga artists and animators. PRO monthly plans start at US$0.99/month and EX at US$2.49/month.
FireAlpaca
FireAlpaca is a digital painting program for making illustrations and images, available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its listed tools include animation, mesh deformation, gradient maps, lasso fill, CMYK display, text, halftone, 3D perspective, tone curves, and reference windows. The standard software supports 10 languages, and the maker distributes original brushes weekly in styles including pencil, watercolor, motifs, patterns, and effects. Brush customization, layers, pressure sensitivity, and stroke stabilization are supported; color management is described as basic. The free edition permits individual and commercial use without a license fee. Its separate FireAlpaca SE edition adds onion-skin animation with GIF or APNG export, a store with more than 300 brush types, a liquify tool, and layer masks. SE costs 39.99 USD once. Listed downloads are version 2.16.3 or later requirements: Windows 10 or later, macOS 12 or later, and Linux distributions including Ubuntu 23.04, Fedora 36, and Debian 12 or later.