20 Best Mobile Drawing Apps

Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, finding the right drawing app can unlock your creative potential. Our list of the 20 best mobile drawing apps covers a range of styles, from the beginner-friendly Sketchbook to the powerful ibis Paint X and the feature-rich Infinite Painter. Each app offers a unique blend of tools, brushes, and effects to help you bring your artistic vision to life.

Top app for drawing

1. Sketchbook

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Cost: Free Plan (Free), Pro Membership ($2.99 per month)

I've tried a ton of drawing apps, but Sketchbook is the one I always come back to. It's like having a whole art studio in my pocket! With over 145 million downloads, it's clear a lot of people agree. Sketchbook has the most natural drawing experience I've found on mobile. It feels like I'm actually sketching on paper, thanks to the super realistic brushes and tools. Plus, the app lets you customize everything to your liking, so it's perfect for both beginners and pros. I can't imagine using anything else!

Sketchbook - Professional-grade tools, Natural drawing experience

Key Features:

  • Customizable brushes for unique looks
  • Intuitive interface for natural drawing
  • Layers and blend modes for complex art

✨ Read more: app to create flyers

2. ibis Paint X

Download:

Cost: ibis Paint X (Free Version) (Free), Prime Membership (Monthly Plan) ($2.99 per month)

ibis Paint X is a powerful drawing app that takes mobile art to a whole new level. It's got more features than you can shake a stylus at, with over 47,000 brushes, 21,000 materials, and tons of other tools. Unlike other apps, ibis Paint X lets you record your drawing process, making it perfect for learning new techniques or showing off your skills. You can even use its advanced features like stabilization and blending modes to create professional-quality artwork, proving it's a serious contender in the digital art world.

ibis Paint X - 47000+ brushes, Recording function, 84 filters

Key Features:

  • Over 47,000 brushes for artistic expression
  • Record your creation process for learning and sharing
  • Smooth and responsive drawing experience with OpenGL technology

✨ Read more: app to add text to photos

3. Infinite Painter

Download:

Cost: Free Plan (Free), Monthly Subscription ($9.99 per month)

If you're looking for a powerful drawing app on your phone, look no further than Infinite Painter. It's been downloaded by millions, and for good reason. Unlike many other drawing apps, Infinite Painter is designed with a focus on realistic brushstrokes and smooth, intuitive controls. With hundreds of built-in brushes and customizable settings, it gives you the freedom to create anything your imagination can dream up. You can even convert your brushstrokes into editable shapes, making it ideal for both traditional and digital artists.

Infinite Painter - Realistic brush to canvas interaction, Convert brush strokes into editable shapes

Key Features:

  • Hundreds of built-in brushes
  • Realistic brush to canvas interaction
  • Designed for stylus devices with full pressure and tilt support

✨ Read more: app to remove background

4. AR Drawing

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Cost: Free Plan ($0.00), Premium Subscription ($4.99/month)

I've tried tons of drawing apps, but AR Drawing is my go-to. It's way more fun than just tapping on a screen because it uses your camera to project images onto real paper, letting you trace them. They have over 1000 templates to choose from – animals, cars, you name it – so there's always something new to try. Plus, it's super easy to use, even for beginners. Once you're done, you can save your masterpiece in your gallery or even record a video of the whole process, which is super cool. AR Drawing is like having a personal art teacher right in your pocket!

AR Drawing - Trace projected picture, Lots of tracing templates

Key Features:

  • Trace projected pictures on paper
  • Color drawings with augmented reality
  • Save and share your creations

✨ Read more: app to create a logo

5. FlipaClip

Download:

Cost: Free ($0.00), FlipaClip Plus ($5.99 per month)

FlipaClip isn't just another drawing app; it's the ultimate tool for turning your ideas into animated masterpieces. With its intuitive interface and powerful features, FlipaClip makes creating frame-by-frame animation easy, even for beginners. I chose FlipaClip over other drawing apps because it's packed with professional-grade features, including layers, onion skinning, and a huge selection of brushes, making it ideal for both simple doodles and complex animations. With over 60 million downloads and a 4.6-star rating on the Play Store, FlipaClip is clearly the top choice for anyone looking to bring their creative vision to life.

FlipaClip - Frame-by-frame animation, Intuitive user interface

Key Features:

  • Create animations with intuitive frame-by-frame controls.
  • Import custom images for personalized animation scenes.
  • Express yourself with a variety of brushes and tools.

✨ Read more: app for photo editing

Other drawing app

The most important factors when choosing a drawing app

  1. Ease of Use: Is the interface intuitive and easy to navigate, even for beginners?
  2. Brush and Tool Options: Does the app offer a wide variety of brushes, tools, and layers to suit your artistic style?
  3. Performance: Is the app responsive and smooth, even when working on complex drawings?
  4. Features and Functionality: Does the app offer features like pressure sensitivity, layer blending modes, and export options that meet your specific needs?