Drawing Essentials

WIP List of unique drawing apps with potentially specialized tool or workflow, not just random app.

cel
cel List by cel , last updated 
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. Essential digital tool for comic and manga artists, offering specialized tools for shortcuts like panel layouts, inking, vector support, and 3D model import.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Samsung Galaxy Store
    Customizable workspace
    Simple UI mode
    Blank Canvas
    +9
    Tool editing dialog
  2. Krita icon
     Like

    A free, open-source painting program for professional artists offering customizable UI, 9 brush engines, layer support, and color management.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android Tablet
    • KDE Plasma
    • Epic Games Store
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Steam
    • AppImage
    Krita screenshot 1
    Krita screenshot 1
    Krita screenshot 2
    +6
    Main Window
  3. Procreate icon
     Like

    Multi-award winning app offers professional tools and flexibility for creative illustration on iPad and iPhone with features like layering and brushes.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Procreate screenshot 1
    Procreate screenshot 1
    Procreate screenshot 2
    +13
    Procreate screenshot 3
  4. Rebelle icon
     Like

    Simulates watercolor, acrylic, and dry media artwork with real-world color blending, wet diffusion, paint drying, custom brushes, and textured canvas.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Rebelle screenshot 1
    Rebelle screenshot 1
    Rebelle screenshot 2
    +11
    Rebelle screenshot 3
  5. Wigglypaint is a juicy, jiggly drawing program built with Decker, with notable similarities to Shake Art and KidPix. Pick a tool, make a doodle, crop it as desired, and save a GIF. Feel free to share your creations below!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • itch.io
    WigglyPaint screenshot 1
  6. PaintTool SAI is high quality and lightweight painting software, fully digitizer support, amazing anti-aliased paintings, provide easy and stable operation, this software make digital art more enjoyable and comfortable.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    PaintTool SAI screenshot 1
    PaintTool SAI screenshot 1
    PaintTool SAI screenshot 2
  7. Sketchbook drawing software features an artist-friendly, gesture-based user interface that is so fast and intuitive even new users can be productive within minutes.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Android (1)
    Android (2)
    Android (3)
    +12
    Android (4)
  8. Browser-based open-source tool for making games, animations, and interactive projects with vector graphics, scripting support, asset import, and no feature restrictions.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    Candlestick screenshot 1
    Candlestick screenshot 1
    Main landing page of Candlestick
  9. A simple yet secretly powerful painting app! Focus on pure colors and shapes with a streamlined interface. Ideal for plein air painting, color notes, sketches and studies.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Online
    HEAVYPAINT screenshot 1
    HEAVYPAINT screenshot 1
    HEAVYPAINT screenshot 2
    +1
    HEAVYPAINT screenshot 3
  10. ibis Paint is an easy yet powerful drawing app made with tools for sketching manga right at your fingertips.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    ibis Paint X screenshot 1
    ibis Paint X screenshot 1
    ibis Paint X screenshot 2
    +3
    ibis Paint X screenshot 3
  11. Kleki icon
     Like

    Kleki is a multi-platform web app for painting and editing. It features: 4 different brushes; pressure sensitivity for Wacom tablets; up to 8 layers; numerous filters with real-time preview; import to PSD, PNG, JPEG; export to JPEG and PNG; upload to imgur.com; local storage.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    Kleki screenshot 1
  12. MyPaint icon
     Like

    MyPaint is a fast, distraction-free, and easy painting tool for digital artists. It supports graphics tablets made by Wacom, and many similar devices.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    MyPaint screenshot 1
    MyPaint screenshot 1
    MyPaint screenshot 2
    +2
    The 0.9.0 interface
  13. MediBang Paint is a lightweight software for illustration and making comic books on Windows and Mac OS.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Steam
    Great for anime or comics
    Good simple!!
And like Adobe
    MediBang Paint screenshot 2
    +4
    MediBang Paint screenshot 3
  14. Npainter icon
     Like

    NPainter is a free fast and simple painting software created from scratch. the most important goal is provide a powerful and lightweight tool for beginner and amateur art artists as well semi-professional artists.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • itch.io
    Npainter screenshot 1
    Npainter screenshot 1
    Npainter screenshot 2
    +4
    Npainter screenshot 3
  15. AzPainter icon
     Like

    AzPainter is a full color painting program for Linux. It's a lightweight tool with tablet pressure support, and provides basic functions such as selection, layers, filters. you can use it for painting, image editing, or pixel art making.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • AppImage
    AzPainter screenshot 1
    AzPainter screenshot 1
  16. KRESKA.art is a free online drawing and painting app that lets you create art directly in your web browser. It offers a simple interface, diverse brushes, and unique features like auto-color tracing. You can use it to sketch and paint without any downloads or installations.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    KRESKA.art screenshot 1
  17. MagicaVoxel is a free lightweight 8-bit voxel editor and path tracing renderer.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    MagicaVoxel screenshot 1
    MagicaVoxel screenshot 1
    MagicaVoxel screenshot 2
    +2
    MagicaVoxel screenshot 3
  18. Zakomemo icon
     Like

    Create wiggly drawing like on NDS.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    Zakomemo screenshot 1
  19. Storyboarder makes it easy to visualize a story as fast you can draw stick figures. Quickly draw to test if a story idea works. Create and show animatics to others. Express your story idea without making a movie.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Storyboarder screenshot 1
    Storyboarder screenshot 1
    Storyboarder screenshot 2
    +3
    Storyboarder screenshot 3
  20. Clipnote studio is basic animation software and a spiritual successor to the now defunct Flipnote studio by Nintendo. Clipnote allows you to create basic animations that you can share with your friends.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • itch.io
    Clipnote Studio screenshot 1
    Clipnote Studio screenshot 1
    Clipnote Studio screenshot 2
    +3
    Clipnote Studio screenshot 3
  21. Experience natural painting with a vast brush collection on stylus and touch devices. Merge vector and raster brushes, customize UI, and enjoy real-time watercolor effects.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Adobe Fresco screenshot 1
    Adobe Fresco screenshot 1
    Adobe Fresco screenshot 2
    +1
    Adobe Fresco screenshot 3
No comments so far, maybe you want to be first?
Gu