| Feature | Paint.NET v3.5.10 (Legacy) | Paint.NET v5.1.3 (Current) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Windows XP, Vista, 7 | Windows 10 (1809+), Windows 11 | | CPU Architecture | x86 (32-bit) only | x64 and ARM64 only | | .NET Framework Requirement | Requires .NET 3.5 SP1 installed on the system | Does not require a separate .NET installation (runtime is bundled) | | GPU Acceleration | Basic support | Full support for Direct3D 11, requires GPU with Direct3D 11 support | | Key Features | Layers, unlimited undo, effects | All v3.5.10 features + GPU-accelerated effects, better color management (HDR/WCG), modern UI, and more | | Plugin Support | Supports legacy plugins | Supports both legacy and modern GPU-accelerated effect plugins | | Performance on Modern PCs | Very fast but lacks optimization for modern hardware | Optimized for modern CPUs (requires AVX2 for best performance) and GPUs |
There is no "official" self-contained portable version from the developer, as Paint.NET relies heavily on the , which must be installed on the host PC. However, a "portable" setup is commonly achieved by: Portable Mode in paint.net 4.0.17+ paintnet 3510 final portablezip top
You can carry your entire image editing setup on a USB thumb drive. Just plug it into any Windows PC, launch PaintDotNet.exe , and edit your images without leaving a trace on the host machine. | Feature | Paint
: Includes classic effects like Surface Blur, Dents, and Crystalize. : Includes classic effects like Surface Blur, Dents,
Curves, Levels, Hue/Saturation, and Black & White conversions are all available. 4. Unlimited History