Paint.NET Classic vs Microsoft Store Differences

When choosing how to install the popular image editor Paint.NET on Windows, users can select between the traditional desktop installer and the Microsoft Store edition. While both packages provide the exact same core photo editing tools, UI, and performance, they differ significantly in cost, update delivery, installation customization, and plugin management.

Pricing and Developer Support

  • Classic Desktop Installer: Available as a free download from the official website. Users can choose to donate to support ongoing development, but payment is entirely optional.
  • Microsoft Store Version: Sold as a paid app. The upfront cost serves as a direct contribution to support the developer, Rick Brewster, while leveraging Microsoft's streamlined purchasing and licensing system.

Updates and Maintenance

  • Classic Desktop Installer: Relies on an internal updater. When a new version is released, the software prompts the user, who must confirm the download and run the updater utility.
  • Microsoft Store Version: Completely automated. The Microsoft Store client handles downloads and installs updates silently in the background without user intervention, ensuring the application is always up to date.

Installation and Portability

  • Classic Desktop Installer: Offers flexible setup options. System administrators and power users can use command-line arguments (such as silent flags), choose custom installation directories, or extract files to run the software as a portable application from a USB drive.
  • Microsoft Store Version: Uses Windows app packaging (MSIX). It installs seamlessly with a single click across multiple linked Windows devices, but does not allow custom directory selection or portable deployment.

Plugin Management and File Access

  • Classic Desktop Installer: Installs to the standard Program Files directory, allowing direct file access for manual installation of custom file types, shapes, and effect plugins.
  • Microsoft Store Version: Operates within a secure, virtualized container. To accommodate plugins without breaking the sandbox, the Store version looks for plugins in the user’s Documents/paint.net App Files directory instead of the installation folder.

Core Features and Performance

There is no difference in the software's capabilities. Both editions share the same codebase, support hardware acceleration, receive the same feature additions, and handle the same file formats natively.