Clip Studio Paint vs Krita:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Krita had more branded searches than Clip Studio Paint among illustration software worldwide. Krita had about 673,000 branded searches, while Clip Studio Paint had 246,000. Krita made up 23.1% of all illustration software searches we track, and Clip Studio Paint accounted for 8.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about illustration software, both Clip Studio Paint and Krita appeared in all five answers. Clip Studio Paint was mentioned before Krita in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Krita, about 3 searches for every 1 for Clip Studio Paint
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Clip Studio Paint, named ahead of Krita in every answer
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Top illustration software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Clip Studio Paint and Krita showed up in all five answers. Clip Studio Paint was listed before Krita in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Procreate1st- Clip Studio Paint2nd
Adobe Illustrator3rd- Krita4th
Affinity5th
Inkscape6th- Adobe Fresco7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Krita5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Procreate5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Clip Studio Paint5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Affinity4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Adobe Fresco4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Adobe Illustrator3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Inkscape2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about illustration software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which illustration software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best illustration software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best illustration software for digital drawing?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“illustration software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“digital drawing app”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Clip Studio Paint or Krita more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Clip Studio Paint and Krita by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven illustration software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Krita, Clip Studio Paint. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Inkscape | Krita | Adobe Illustrator | Procreate | Clip Studio Paint | Affinity | Adobe Fresco |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 22.1% | 18.1% | 22.5% | 18.1% | 9.9% | 6.9% | 2.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 20.8% | 17% | 21.1% | 17% | 11.3% | 10.1% | 2.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 19.7% | 19.7% | 20% | 19.7% | 13.2% | 5.1% | 2.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 23.6% | 19.3% | 19.6% | 19.3% | 10.6% | 5% | 2.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 26.5% | 17.7% | 22.1% | 17.7% | 9.7% | 3.8% | 2.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 23.4% | 19.1% | 19.5% | 19.1% | 12.8% | 4.1% | 2.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 25.8% | 21.1% | 21.5% | 17.2% | 9.4% | 3.1% | 1.9% |
| May 2026 | 26.8% | 17.9% | 22.3% | 17.9% | 9.8% | 3.2% | 2% |
| Jun 2026 | 23.3% | 19.1% | 19.4% | 19.1% | 12.8% | 4.1% | 2.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 24% | 19.6% | 20% | 19.6% | 10.7% | 4.2% | 1.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 23.1% | 23.1% | 19.2% | 18.9% | 10.3% | 3.3% | 2.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 23.1% | 23.1% | 19.3% | 18.9% | 8.5% | 4% | 3.1% |
How has the Clip Studio Paint and Krita comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Krita was ahead of Clip Studio Paint in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Clip Studio Paint’s share of searches among illustration software worldwide moved from 9.9% to 8.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 301K to 246K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Krita’s share of searches among illustration software worldwide moved from 18.1% to 23.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 550K to 673K.
How did search popularity change for illustration software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Clip Studio Paint lost share of searches among illustration software worldwide, from 10.3% to 8.5%.
Krita’s share of searches among illustration software worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 19.1% to 23.1% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Clip Studio Paint’s and Krita’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Clip Studio Paint
1 branded search term
- clip studio paint
Krita
1 branded search term
- krita
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