FireAlpaca vs PD Howler
FireAlpaca
firealpaca.comPD Howler
thebest3d.comSide by side
| Figure | FireAlpaca | PD Howler |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 2 |
| Spec score · Digital Painting Software | 9.1 (#2) | 7.7 (#28) |
| Support | The SE page directs users to the FireAlpaca manual website for questions about basic operation and tools. | The maker provides user guides, support documents, and additional help for Howler, with guides also available in Spanish and French. |
| System requirements | Version 2.16.3 supports 64-bit Windows 10 or later, macOS 12 or later, and Linux distributions based on Ubuntu 23.04, Fedora 36 or Debian 12 or later. | The program is 32-bit and the maker recommends a 64-bit Windows version, DirectX 11 for GPU support, and a processor with SSE2 support. |
Plans
FireAlpaca
- FreeFree
- FireAlpacaFree
- FireAlpaca standardFree
- FireAlpaca SE$39.99, paid once
- FireAlpaca SE$39.99, paid once
PD Howler
- Howler 2027 upgrade$17, paid once
- Howler 2027 full version$19.99, paid once
In their own words
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.