kitio.aiIOPaint vs SwarmUI
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. IOPaint starts at Free and SwarmUI starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Object and watermark removal
- Multiple inpainting models
- Prompt-based replacement
- Outpainting
- Plugins
- Simple generate tab
- Built-in ComfyUI workflows
- Grid comparisons
- Multi-GPU support
- Video model support
| Feature | IOPaint | SwarmUI |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free self-hosted inpainting tool for removing objects from images | Open-source image generation UI with a ComfyUI engine underneath |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Sanster | mcmonkey |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
IOPaint starts at Free and SwarmUI starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
IOPaint
- Free and private
- Several fill models
- Runs on CPU too
- Needs local install
- Basic interface
- Slow on CPU for big images
SwarmUI
- Easier than raw ComfyUI
- Supports new models quickly
- Can use multiple GPUs
- Smaller community than A1111
- Local setup required
- Docs assume some knowledge
Which one should you choose?
Choose IOPaint if you want:
- Free and private
- Several fill models
- Runs on CPU too
Watch out: needs local install.
Choose SwarmUI if you want:
- Easier than raw ComfyUI
- Supports new models quickly
- Can use multiple GPUs
Watch out: smaller community than a1111.
IOPaint vs SwarmUI FAQ
What is the difference between IOPaint and SwarmUI?
IOPaint: Free self-hosted inpainting tool for removing objects from images. SwarmUI: Open-source image generation UI with a ComfyUI engine underneath. Both are image tools.
Is IOPaint or SwarmUI cheaper?
IOPaint starts at Free and SwarmUI starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do IOPaint and SwarmUI have free plans?
IOPaint: Yes, fully free. SwarmUI: Yes, fully free.
Who makes IOPaint?
IOPaint is made by Sanster.
Who makes SwarmUI?
SwarmUI is made by mcmonkey.
Which should I choose, IOPaint or SwarmUI?
Choose IOPaint if you value free and private and several fill models. Choose SwarmUI if you value easier than raw comfyui and supports new models quickly.