I had the chance to try out a few different drawing apps for making digital comics and illustrations, and I have to say that it’s now really easy to get to high-quality software on any device. I tried and compared 11 different drawing apps, some of which were paid and some of which were free, to find the best one for me. For artists and illustrators like me, drawing apps have really changed the game.
I switched from drawing on paper to using digital tools and haven’t looked back since because I’m pretty good with hardware. These drawing apps and art software have many benefits, such as powerful drawing tools, beautiful special effects, the ability to work with both vector and raster images, and the chance to make 3D models if that’s your thing. Artists are living in an exciting time, and these apps have changed the way we do our work.
But there are Android tablets, too, and the arrival of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and its expanded screen, not to mention its rumored compatibility with the S Pen, means more devices can give top drawing apps a good home. This is good news because mobile device owners will have plenty of art and drawing apps to choose from. Mobile device users can choose from a lot of art and drawing apps. Below we have mentioned some of the best Drawing Apps.
Best Drawing Apps
Adobe Photoshop
No list of digital art apps would be complete without Adobe’s drawing app offerings Adobe has been an industry leader for decades and Adobe Photoshop continues to be the professionals’ choice for creating raster art. Photoshop is one of the best drawing apps Mac, and PC, with complementary apps for mobile and tablet devices.
The main drawback of Adobe’s offerings, especially for beginners, is that you have to purchase a subscription to use these PC drawing apps. This is a problem for professionals with a steady cash flow, but for amateurs and aspiring beginners, there are plenty of editing apps that offer good features at low prices.
Adobe Illustrator Draw
This application is for graphic designers who are already integrated in the Adobe family: converting work done in Adobe Illustrator Draw on the iPad into an Illustrator file opened through the CC Libraries is very easy. The app is beautifully laid out with the simple approach of Adobe Photoshop Sketch, but the learning curve can be difficult for those unfamiliar with the design software. The app features a robust tutorial platform and community activities for all users and skill levels.
Inspire Pro
The app is so easy to use that even beginners can start creating right away. Blending effects can be used to mix colors using pen pressure for blurring, and over 150 brush sizes and rotations give you the flexibility you need to create masterpieces. The proprietary paint engine runs incredibly fast on the iPad, delivering accuracy, high-quality colors, and speed. Rendering is reliable at up to 120 frames per second, making it easy to manage your work.
Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is a design platform comparable to Adobe. The layouts are so robust that there seems to be no limit to what can be created. A vast library of tutorials is available, and there is a growing community of creatives who incorporate Affinity Designer into their creative process. With the application and desktop version available as a one-time purchase, it is no wonder that this app has caught the eye of many looking for the best digital drawing app on the market.
Sketchbook
Do you always have piles of sketchbooks and have trouble finding a place to put them? No need to keep buying books to sketch in. With a screen that feels like paper, Sketchbook is the perfect tool for interior designers, architects, and artists to draw inspiration on the go. With hundreds of brushes to choose from and linear and radial gradients to use, the user interface is clean and crisp for all users to enjoy. From students studying visual communication to industry professionals, you will find a use for this great app.
Ibis Paint
Ibis Paint is a paint app with lots of fun features. The app has over 140 different brushes, including fun dip pens, felt-tip pens, and actual paintbrushes. In addition, you can record yourself painting so you can keep a video of the process of getting there. Layers are supported and you can use as many layers as your device can handle. There are also features for certain types of drawing, such as cartoons. You can check out the free version, and the paid version is $4.99 with in-app purchases. It is definitely one of the more serious and in-depth drawing apps.
Illustrator
Like Procreate, Adobe Illustrator is immensely popular in the digital art community. The app is free, but does require some in-app purchases. However, features such as radial, grid, and mirror repeats make it worth the money. This app takes the best features from the desktop application and pops them into this handy portable version of the app.
We have found that the combination of the Illustrator app, the new iPad Pro (M1, 2021), and the Apple Pencil 2 provides a sophisticated, controlled, and enhanced digital art experience. Unfortunately, the app is only available on a subscription model and is not compatible with iOS 14 or lower. However, the ability to seamlessly transfer artwork between the desktop app and the iPad app is a big plus.
GIMP
If you can’t get an Adobe Cloud license, but desperately need Photoshop-like functionality, GIMP is exactly the online drawing app you need! GIMP has been around for a long time, is feature-rich, and is constantly being updated and improved. Some might argue that its advanced features make it one of the best free drawing apps available. This online art app is easy to use and allows you to save your files as jpeg, png, SVG, or pdf. Why not use this app to create your next poster design?
