The Best SketchBook AlternativesTop Digital Painting Tools & Image Editors like SketchBook

SketchBook is described as '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' and is a very popular digital painting tool in the photos & graphics category. There are more than 50 alternatives to SketchBook for a variety of platforms, including Windows, iPad, Mac, iPhone and Android apps. The best SketchBook alternative is Krita, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like SketchBook are Adobe Photoshop, Photopea, MyPaint and Procreate.

filter to find the best alternatives

SketchBook alternatives are mainly Digital Painting Tools, but if you're looking for Image Editors or Photo Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows + Free. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to SketchBook.
SketchBook iconSketchBook
  147
  • ...

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.

More about SketchBook
SketchBook alternatives page was last updated Mar 30, 2025
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. Krita icon
     1359 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Free, open-source painting software designed by artists for artists. Offers customizable UI, 9 brush engines, color management, tablet support, non-destructive editing, and privacy features. Portable and available on major platforms, supporting seamless texture creation.

    140 Krita alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • NL flagNetherlands
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android Tablet
    • Epic Games Store
    • PortableApps.com
    • Steam

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Digital Drawing
    2.  Blending brushes
    3.  Keyframe Animation
    4.  Drawing 2D
    5.  Advanced brush settings
    6.  Drawing Tablet Support
    7.  Digital-painting focused
    8.  Sketching
    9.  Color blending
    10.  Support for Layers
    11.  Texture painting
    12.  Custom Brushes

    Krita VS SketchBook

     
    Comments about Krita as an Alternative to SketchBook
    Guest
    Positive Mar 6, 2019
    6

    It has lots of features great for digital painters. To all you Linux users out there, I recommend this amazing app.

    SketchBook Icon
    Krita icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Krita is a great SketchBook alternative.

    • Krita is the most popular Windows, Mac, Linux & Android Tablet alternative to SketchBook.

    • Krita is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to SketchBook.

    • Krita is Free and Open SourceSketchBook is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Krita is LightweightSketchBook is not according to our users
  2. Adobe Photoshop icon
     2399 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Comprehensive raster graphics editor offering advanced photo and image editing features. Supports multiple layers, masks, alpha compositing, various color models, and has limited vector graphics, 3D, and video capabilities. Extensible via plug-ins.

    220 Adobe Photoshop alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Wine
    • ReactOS

    Properties

    1.  Intuitive Interface

    Features

    1.  RAW Photo Editors
    2.  Color correction
    3.  Photo effects
    4.  Advanced brush settings
    5.  Image Processing
    6.  Raster graphics
    7.  Support for Layers
    8.  Color Picker
    9.  Non Destructive Editing
    10.  Open PSD files
    11.  Resizing dpi
    12.  Hardware Accelerated

    Adobe Photoshop VS SketchBook

     
    • Most users think Adobe Photoshop is a great SketchBook alternative.

    • Adobe Photoshop is the most popular Web-based, iPhone & iPad alternative to SketchBook.

    • Adobe Photoshop is the most popular commercial alternative to SketchBook.

    • Adobe Photoshop is Paid and ProprietarySketchBook is Freemium and Proprietary
  3. Photopea icon
     310 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Browser-based image editing supports PSD, XCF, Sketch formats, advanced layers, vector tools, RAW photo support, and exports in 40+ formats. Fully client-side with AI background removal, content-aware tools, and privacy as files never leave your device.

    104 Photopea alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Top Photopea Features

    1.  Web-Based
    2.  Open PSD files
    3.  Support for Layers
    4.  Vectorize raster images
    5.  Photoshop-like
    6.  Sketch to PSD
    7.  RAW Photo Editors
    8.  Text tool
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Colorize Photo
    12.  No registration required

    Photopea VS SketchBook

     
    • Photopea is the most popular SaaS alternative to SketchBook.

    • Photopea is Freemium and ProprietarySketchBook is also Freemium and Proprietary
  4. MyPaint icon
     379 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

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

    122 MyPaint alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Sketching
    2.  Support for Layers
    3.  Infinite canvas
    4.  Portable
    5.  Drawing Tablet Support
    6.  Fullscreen support
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Custom Brushes
    10.  Color blending

    MyPaint VS SketchBook

     
    Comments about MyPaint as an Alternative to SketchBook
    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive Apr 22, 2017
    1

    The pencil tool is like drawing on paper.

    Guest
    Positive Jun 29, 2019
    0

    it has good and innovative brushes. The interface is also easy to use and very adaptable. There is no text tool though.

    Guest
    Negative Apr 4, 2017
    -4

    not the same amount of tablet-interaction i.e. in sketchbook you can use the pen to quickly zoom in-out but MyPaint needs you to go to the view tab. Also MyPaint lacks a 'fill' tool which is important for time saving in my work.

    SketchBook Icon
    MyPaint icon
    • Most users think MyPaint is a great SketchBook alternative.

    • MyPaint is Free and Open SourceSketchBook is Freemium and Proprietary
  5. Procreate icon
     160 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Procreate is a versatile, award-winning app for creative digital drawing and painting on iOS. It delivers a robust, professional toolset with hundreds of configurable brushes, a powerful layering system, vector graphic tools, and comprehensive design capabilities, ensuring desktop-level flexibility and power.

    58 Procreate alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad

    Top Procreate Features

    1.  Apple Pencil support
    2.  Texture for brushes
    3.  Custom Brushes
    4.  Drawing 2D
    5.  Love
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Support for Layers
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Support for 4K
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Drawing Tablet Support

    Procreate VS SketchBook

     
  6. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Professional software for comic and manga creation, optimized with panel layouts, perspective rulers, sketching, inking, toning, vector support, and 3D model import, suitable for artists seeking advanced drawing and coloring tools.

    97 Clip Studio Paint alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • JP flagJapan

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Samsung Galaxy Store

    Properties

    1.  Optimal performance
    2.  Customizable
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for Layers
    2.  Pressure Sensitivity
    3.  Texture for brushes
    4.  Open PSD files
    5.  Tablet support
    6.  Smooth lines
    7.  Keyframe Animation
    8.  Drawing Tablet Support
    9.  Cloud Sync
    10.  Custom Brushes
    11.  Built-in 3D model viewer
    12.  Natural media painting

    Clip Studio Paint VS SketchBook

     
    Comments about Clip Studio Paint as an Alternative to SketchBook
    Guest
    Positive Oct 18, 2021
    0

    Much more freedom in working generally. Good performance even in documents with a high rate of layers.

    SketchBook Icon
    Clip Studio Paint icon
    • Most users think Clip Studio Paint is a great SketchBook alternative.

    • Clip Studio Paint is the most popular Android alternative to SketchBook.

    • Clip Studio Paint is Paid and ProprietarySketchBook is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Clip Studio Paint is LightweightSketchBook is not according to our users
  7. MediBang Paint icon
     115 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    MediBang Paint is a lightweight software for illustration and making comic books on Windows and Mac OS.

    72 MediBang Paint alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • JP flagJapan

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Multi-choice brushes
    2.  Pressure Sensitivity
    3.  Digital-painting focused
    4.  Color blending
    5.  Pen Stabilization
    6.  Keyframe Animation
    7.  Support for Layers
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Drawing Tablet Support
    10.  Custom Brushes
    11.  Category Filters
    12.  Texture for brushes

    MediBang Paint VS SketchBook

     
  8. PaintTool SAI icon
     136 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    87 PaintTool SAI alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • JP flagJapan

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Pen Stabilization
    2.  Texture for brushes
    3.  Color blending
    4.  Sketching
    5.  Support for Layers
    6.  Pressure Sensitivity
    7.  Audio lessons
    8.  Stabilizing
    9.  Brush Stabilizers
    10.  Out Of The Box
    11.  Drawing 2D

    PaintTool SAI VS SketchBook

     
  9. FireAlpaca icon
     82 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    FireAlpaca is the image editor that can be used readily and easily. We made it possible to provide the completely free download, in order for our products to be experienced by more users from all over the world. It is available for both Mac and Windows users!

    122 FireAlpaca alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  User friendly

    Features

    1.  Support for Layers
    2.  Smooth lines
    3.  Digital Drawing
    4.  Blending brushes
    5.  Multi-choice brushes
    6.  Tablet support
    7.  Drawing Board

    FireAlpaca VS SketchBook

     
  10. Corel Painter icon
     68 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Corel Painter offers realistic traditional media simulation with features like customizable brushes, extensive format support, layering, blending tools, and more, tailored for professional artists working in drawing, painting, and printmaking.

    75 Corel Painter alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows

    Corel Painter Features

    1.  Paint simulation
    2.  Sketching
    3.  Conditional styles

    Corel Painter VS SketchBook

     
  11. ibis Paint X icon
     40 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    ibis Paint is an easy yet powerful drawing app made with tools for sketching manga right at your fingertips.

    50 ibis Paint X alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • JP flagJapan

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad

    Top ibis Paint X Features

    1.  Color blending
    2.  Extract Drawing
    3.  Text tool
    4.  Pressure Sensitivity
    5.  Custom Brushes
    6.  Realtime magic wand tool
    7.  Support for Layers
    8.  Texture for brushes
    9.  Blur Filter
    10.  Brush Stabilizers
    11.  Pen Stabilization
    12.  Gradients

    ibis Paint X VS SketchBook

     
    Comments about ibis Paint X as an Alternative to SketchBook
    Guest
    Positive Jul 26, 2022
    0

    It is very easy to use and has a lot of features.

    SketchBook Icon
    ibis Paint X icon
    • ibis Paint X is Freemium and ProprietarySketchBook is also Freemium and Proprietary
  12. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Infinite Painter is an advanced painting app created for mobile with natural brushes, realistic blending, and an unparalleled toolset.

    22 Infinite Painter alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Support for Layers
    2.  Tablet support
    3.  Sketching
    4.  Custom Brushes
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Pressure Sensitivity
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Image Masking
    9.  Color correction
    10.  Convert Photo to Painting
    11.  Open PSD files
    12.  3d Drawing

    Infinite Painter VS SketchBook

     
12 of 78 SketchBook alternatives