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Mobile Drawing App Alternatives to Procreate Pocket
Do you really need to shell out $5 for Procreate Pocket to capture the sights of the world and the visions of your imagination? We've done the research. Here are the results.

Table of Contents
The undisputed king
Apps devoted to sketching on today's market are both numerous and of pretty decent quality. The competition is quite stiff yet AutoDesk's SketchBook manages to come head and shoulders above all others.
Why we chose SketchBook:
- Extremely easy to use - no matter your level of skill
- Well suited for professionals and amateurs alike
- Offers a massive drawing space and is free from clutter
- Loads of brushes, a good selection of special effects, and the option to use layers
- The fully-featured version is completely free to use - forever
If you're looking for a solution that will cover all your needs for creating art on the go yet don't want to be burdened by a clunky piece of software - not a substantial bill - this should be your first pick.
Read SketchBook's Full ReviewLearn something new
It is perfectly ok if you don't feel secure about your skills. Even the most experienced artists have plenty to learn. A few lessons could come in handy and this is precisely where this app excels.
Why we chose Infinite Painter:
- A simple yet potent user interface
- A wide selection of brushes and effects at your disposal
- A community section that gives you a chance to share your art and appreciate the work of others
- Most importantly - a great collection of lessons and tutorials that will enable you to make huge progress
There is no need to be shy about your skills or lack thereof. Take it easy, experiment, try out a few things, and you will get a lot better in no time.
Read Infinite Painter's Full ReviewOld school class and charm
Not every sketching app needs to adhere to the aesthetic of traditional media. In fact, many users prefer a distinctly computer-generated look. If this is your thing, don't miss this awesome app.
Why we chose MediBang Paint:
- It connects the quick nature of a sketchpad and the old school approach to graphic design
- A strong social media component will connect you to creative minds from across the globe
- It never lags behind neither SketchBook nor Infinite Painter in regards to brushes
- Great customizability allows it to fit like a glove - no matter your needs and expectations
Some may find the look a bit old-fashioned, reminiscent of programs created c.1998 but don't let this discourage you. Underneath lies a powerful beast.
Read MediBang Paint's Full ReviewEverything We Recommend
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Our PickFrom quick sketches to fully finished artwork, Sketchbook goes where your creativity takes you.
Sketchbook is an award-winning sketching, painting, and drawing app for anyone who loves to draw. Artists and illustrators love Sketchbook for its professional-grade feature set and highly customizable tools. Everyone loves Sketchbook for its elegant interface and natural drawing experience, free of distractions so you can focus on capturing and expressing your ideas.
• A full complement of brush types: pencils markers, airbrushes, smear and more that look and feel just like their physical counterparts
• Brushes are highly customizable so you can create just the look you want
• Guides, rulers and stroke tools support precision when you need it
• Layers with a full complement of blend modes deliver the flexibility to build up and explore drawings and color
• Purpose-built for sketching, the interface is clean and unobtrusive so you can focus on drawingCostFreeFreeIn-App PurchasesNo$1.99 per item -
Runner Up
Infinite Painter
4.3 Ratings 130K+ Reviews 10M+ DownloadsExperience one of the best-designed painting, sketching, and drawing apps for tablets, phones, and Chromebooks. Used by millions, this award-winning app brings rich, powerful features to all artists, whether art is your hobby, passion or career.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Best-in-class pencils
- Minimal and intuitive interface
- Robust, powerful tool set
- Share Timelapse recordings with your friends
- Convert brush strokes into editable shapes
REIMAGINING BRUSHES
- Hundreds of built-in brushes
- Realistic brush to canvas interaction
- Over 100 customizable brush settings
- Organize and share your favorite brushes and brush sets
- Designed for stylus devices with full pressure and tilt support
- Apply realtime color adjustments and live effects to any brush
- Sample lower layers when blending
- Import and export custom brushes and brush sets
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SPACE
- More canvas, less clutter with a clean, customizable interface
- Assign finger functions separate from your stylus
- Expand and collapse layers with a flick
- Dock brush settings for quick, easy editing
- Quick access eyedropper
- Rotate and flip canvas with gestures
- Group layers with a pinch
MAKING ART LESS WORK
- Pin tools and actions to the main interface
- Pull the color wheel on the canvas with two fingers
- Add multiple reference images
- Lighting-fast saving and loading
- Step back in time with Project History
DIVERSIFYING TOOLS
- Simple or complex symmetry with Radial or Kaleidoscope
- Draw with precision using Guides or Shapes
- Smart shape detection by pausing when drawing
- Innovative Hatching guide
NEVER LOSING PERSPECTIVE
- Design 3D cityscapes with five different Perspective Guides
- Drag Rectangle and Circle shapes in perspective
- Create game art with Isometric perspective
PIXEL-PERFECT EDITING
- Seamless Pattern projects
- Selection & Masking tools
- Industry-leading Transformations
- Transform multiple layers at once
- Gradient and Pattern Fill tools
- Target separate layers or all layers with Fill tools
- Drag with Fill tool or Magic Wand for live tolerance adjustment
- Bring your painting to life with Timelapse
- Canvas Preview with flip and grayscale (for checking proportions and values)
- Artistic & Photo cloning
- Tools for pattern creation
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO CREATE
- 64-bit Deep Color when painting
- Layer support with 30 blend modes
- Masks for layers, adjustments, and groups
- Clipping masks
- Gradient map, Color Curves, and Filter layers
- Industry-leading color correction
- Over 40 live Filter effects
- Focus and Tilt-shift masking
- Liquify
- Crop and Resize
- Pattern and Array tools
- Powerful selection workspace
- Photoshop®-like smart layers for multiple transformations without loss of quality
- Solo & Trace modes
- Print presets & CMYK color modes
ACCELERATE YOUR WORKFLOW
- Import from Photos, Camera, Clipboard, or Image Search
- Search over 1 million free for commercial-use images
- Export images as JPG, PNG, WEBP, ZIP, layered PSD files, or Painter projects
- Share artwork to Infinite Painter's ever-growing community and see what others are creating #InfinitePainter
WHAT’S FREE?
- 3 layers at the device resolution
- Solid Fill, Lasso selection, Basic Transform and Symmetry tools
- Seamless Pattern projects
- All the built-in brushes and brush editing
- Smart shape detection
WHAT’S PRO?
- HD canvas sizes and tons of layers*
- Adjustments and live Filter layers
- Layer groups and masks
- Over 40 powerful, professional tools
* Maximum number of layers depends on the canvas size and your device
TAKE INFINITE PAINTER WITH YOU
See what you can do.
ARTIST CREDITS
Tiffanie Mang
Yong Hong Zhong
Kamila Stankiewicz
Anthony Jones (RobotPencil)
Andrew Theophilopoulos (Theonidas)
Piotr Kann
@dwight_theartist
Constantine Rotkevich
Diane Kay
Ssecretgarden
Gadelhac
RapCore
SunyuCostFreeFreeIn-App Purchases$1.99 - $9.99 per item$3.99 - $9.99 per item -
Also Groovy
MediBang Paint - Make Art !
4.0 Ratings 294K+ Reviews 10M+ DownloadsIllustrations/Manga -based effects that have been downloaded more than 75 million times worldwide!
From drawing of illustrations to beginners to professional illustrations/manga production! It can be used by a wide range of people with simple UI.
A new time lapse creation function is also available! Let's make a making video of the illustration ♪
Data sharing on multiple devices can be done quickly!
All basic functions are free! The hidden advertisement can be done with the subscription "MediBang Premium".
[What is MediBang Paint? ]
Free illustration and manga production software. It is a tool that is widely used, from beginners to illustrations to professional illustrators/manga artists.
A simple and comfortable UI provides creators around the world with the best environment where you can produce anytime and anywhere.
◆ Illustration and manga production anytime, anywhere on a smartphone!
・ A wealth of functions comparable to PC version software, the most multifunctional paint app in the world. A full -fledged drawing app.
・ The movement and capacity supported by users around the world are also attractive.
◆ A wealth of ingredients in your hand. Of course it is free.
・ All -you -can -use more than 1000 kinds of tones!
・ Because there are plenty of background materials such as cityscape and vehicles, troublesome background work is easy.
◆ Various brushes, finest drawing comfort
・ More than 180 kinds of brushes can be used for free and various expressions can be made.
・ You can also create an original brush based on the image.
◆ Let's make a making video with the time lapse creation function
・ Created time lapse videos can be shared on SNS.
・ By saving the production process, it can also be used to prove your own illustration.
◆ On the support site
・ It is a perfect support system such as tutorials and illustrations of apps.
・ It is a site that I want to come to for beginners who want to draw illustrations but do not know where to start!
◆ Your work is more manga with manga fonts.
◆ Cumbersome frames can be easily divided
◆ Stress -free that can be drawn
・ The interface is extremely simple. You can easily draw.
・ Customize the shot cut key freely!
◆ You can easily fix only the parts you care about
・ You can use the "layer function" that can be divided into a single picture by dividing the work part separately.
◆ Data management is in the cloud
・ Since the data can be backed up automatically, it is safe even if there is a sudden accident during drawing.
・ Since the created data can be stored in the cloud, you do not need to worry about the capacity of the terminal.
◆ Immediately in the usual environment
・ The brush / material / palette setting of the PC version "MediBang Paint Pro" and the preset of the brush / material can be synchronized in the cloud.
◆ Can be co -produced even in a distant place
◆ You can publish your work to many people
・ You can easily post works on the manga -illustration posting site "Art Street" (https://mediBang.com/) (free membership registration is required).
[Make MediBang Paint more convenient]
◆ "MediBang Premium"
A subscription service that allows you to use many benefits.
You can try it for free only for the first 60 days.
・ Unlimited use of more than 200 types of brushes that can be used in MediBang Paint!
・ Hide in -app advertising
・ Output in various file formats
・ Added cloud storage capacity
・ Time Lapse Watermark (MediBang logo) hides
…etc! We will continue to increase its functions in the future! !
【Notes】
* The pen pressure sensing function is valid for the following stylus pen (setting is required for use).
[Compatible stylus pen]
SONAR PEN
[Recommended terminal]
Android8 or later
* To use some functions, an account of "Art Street" (https://mediBang.com/) is required.
* The comfort of the operation may change depending on the condition of the terminal.CostFreeFreeIn-App Purchases$2.49 - $8.99 per item$2.99 - $9.99 per item
The 411 from our Appventurer
How we tested?
This was a fun and thoroughly enjoyable process. Still, we had to be strict and objective in our assessment.
Of course, the most important bit of criteria we had to apply was the technical stability of the platform. You wouldn't want to lose your precious drawings, after all. We asked more than a few questions in the process. How responsive is the app? Is there any lag? Does it crash? Is it reliable?
In addition, we also paid attention to the number of features, brushes, filters, and layering - all of which are essential for any digital creative. How well these played together was also high on our list of priorities.
As the title of this article suggests, we also had to take costs into consideration. Is the app free? Free-to-try? Comes with premium features? In the time of the global pandemic and rising unemployment, perhaps it's better to stick to the budget-friendly version.
Why get the app?
There are more than a couple of reasons why you would want to dip your virtual brush into the world of AutoDesk SketchBook or Infinite Painter.
If you're someone who enjoys doodling to kill boredom, a simple platform will serve the purpose well enough. You will be able to keep yourself amused, capture a cool idea or two, or simply explain a more abstract concept or a more complex hiking trail to a friend. There are many ways in which a sketching app could make your life easier.
If, on the other hand, you are a professional artist or at least an amateur that likes to create more complex pieces - one of these cool apps will also let you create loose sketches or even more highly detailed studies without having to drag any art supplies with you. Not to mention that it's a lot cheaper! It's a clean approach that is easy, requires no preparation, and lets you be creative whenever - wherever.
More About SketchBook: Our Pick
Few apps manage to strike the balance between having enough options yet not being too busy. Ideally, they should give enough space yet have every tool no more than two taps away. Light yet powerful, the ideal app ought to be suited for beginners and seasoned pros alike. Out of all the programs that we tested, this is the only one that manages to walk this fine line and deliver on every front.
AutoDesk's SketchBook is about as good as it gets. There are no preparations, no complicated intros, and no tutorials needed to jump right in. You can just sit - perhaps stand, or even lie on your couch - and start sketching. Capture your fleeting impressions of nature, people, or note the products of your imagination for further use in your creative process. Luckily, it doesn't stop there. You can utilize this app as a starting point for your next project - or for the whole process - from start to finish.
Both the amateur enamored with the visual language of art and the professional working in the creative industry can take maximum advantage of such a platform. It is small enough, quick enough, and useful enough for everyone.
You can draw, paint, stack layers, and even use photographic references as a tool in creating your masterpiece. For the latter, you only need your camera to serve as the scanner. Import a photo or an existing drawing, draw over it, add effects, and make it absolutely your own.
The user interface is beyond clear and nearly all of the features can be hidden away so that your workspace is maximized. The developers were definitely aware of the fact that phones offer us only a limited amount of square inches to work with and that every single pixel counts.
Of course, any app that attempts to replicate traditional drawing media needs to be judged accordingly. In this respect, SketchBook delivers extremely consistent results and a stroke of a (virtual) pencil will be just as recognizable as a translucent wash of watercolor. Markers, ink pens, and oil colors are also well represented, as are charcoal and pastels. This makes it ideal for those who love the old school look yet don't appreciate the cleanup process - or the smell of turpentine.
Once you're done and fully satisfied with your creation, you will be able to share it in just about any way you can imagine. Send it via email, post it on any social media account you have - from Facebook and Twitter to Pinterest and even LinkedIn - or aim for a more specialized community such as DeviantArt. WhatsApp, Telegram, and Viber are also included, in case you want to show your family how talented you are. All of this can be done without leaving the core app.
Even though we always aim to focus on smartphone apps exclusively, the desktop version is well worth mentioning too - if for no other reason than to emphasize the fact that the two are practically identical. Unlike Adobe that limits the number of features for their smartphone apps, AutoDesk has gone all the way in making sure that every single thing is present - no matter which device you intend to use. In our experience, this is an extreme rarity and yet another reason why we've fallen in love with SketchBook.
Snags but not drags:
Our winner has left us with very little to complain about. Perhaps the only notable flaw - if you can call it that - is the fact that you will have to register in order to use it. This means the usual process of signing up through your Google account. In the case of an app as simple and as straightforward as this, the process seems somewhat redundant. Still, we have to remember that most other apps on the market require this too and that our digital world is becoming increasingly interconnected.
One thing that younger, more social-media-savvy users might notice is the lack of special effects that apps like FaceTune or Bazaart offer. Then again, SketchBook aims to satisfy a different segment of the market, but perhaps a few more filters and stickers could make it more attractive to casual users. Still, the way it is now, it does an absolutely brilliant job.
More About Infinite Painter: Runner Up
Not everyone using drawing and photo-editing apps will be a professional. In fact, it is safe to assume that the general majority downloading them are simply amateurs who love art but only occasionally indulge in their passion. This is the sort of crowd that Infinite Painter chooses to focus on - with great success.
Once you start, you will be offered to swipe through a brief intro and get acquainted with the interface. Using the basic tools is beyond easy and you are likely to get the hang of it in a matter of minutes. The no-frills design is ideal for anyone who is just starting their sketching journey. A few taps here, a few swipes there - and you're ready to rock.
An impressive selection of brushes sets this app apart from many other contenders. One thing that particularly stood out was the fact that each comes with a very large preview which clearly shows you how it will behave once it's applied onto the digital canvas. This makes your choice so much easier. You will always know what to expect. Even if we were being extremely picky here (which we usually are anyway), we couldn't possibly aim a single complaint at this feature.
Another thing worth mentioning is that you can edit each brush in fine detail and, of course, create your own from scratch to fit your artistic needs. This segment has a somewhat steeper learning curve but, once you get the hang of it, it runs like clockwork.
You can smudge, erase, move things around, create natural-looking effects, and do all this on a surface that is almost as large as that SketchBooks offers. The grey tones of the interface may look a bit washed out but, once you get drawing, you won't even notice them. The app also offers you to import and export images, join an online community and browse other people's work. You can browse by newest, trending, and popular - along with the ability to explore and pick which of your own digital canvases you'd like to submit.
If all of this sounds pretty standard to you, we should now mention why we think this app is ideal for total beginners. The "classroom" feature offers a couple of dozen amazing lessons that will guide you through every bit of the process of creating amazing work. Digital features, as well as purely artistic skills, are thoroughly covered - enough to take you from rookie to expert in a matter of weeks.
Of course, as you can imagine, this sort of service does come with a price tag. Still, after a 7-day trial, you will need to invest only $9.99 to unlock every single feature. This is a one-time payment and no further spending will be necessary. A great deal, if you ask us.
More About MediBang Paint: Also Groovy
The top two contenders both aim to replicate the natural feel of traditional painting and drawing media. MediBang Paint, on the other hand, assumes an approach that is more digital, more "artificial", to satisfy the needs of those who prefer a more computer-generated look to their work. This is not to say that there aren't more than a couple of tools that very much resemble the ones used by draftsmen of old. The app does, in fact, boast more than 100 different presets plus an option to create your own brushes from scratch.
Once you launch the software, you will be offered a chance to watch a tutorial that will guide you through the basics of the system. Spending a minute or two on this will eliminate any confusion and allow you to get started almost immediately.
You can choose between working on a new, blank canvas, continuing a previous effort you have already focused on, or browse through the gallery on your smartphone. You never know which one of your old photos could prove a useful foundation for your next awesome sketch.
In addition, the app gives you a chance to participate in its social media segment. You can submit your work for others to appreciate, browse through thousands of entries made by users from across the globe - or even enter a competition and win cash prizes. This can serve as excellent motivation if you don't really feel like creating anything today.
Once you start working, you will see that all options will be at your fingertips. The screen may appear cluttered at first, giving the app an old-school feel. You will, however, soon realize that each individual toolbar can be hidden and that you will be left with just as much space as SketchBook offers.
You can choose between various brushes, crop, drag, and drop, copy-paste, and take advantage of other options that bring the app closer to traditional graphic design. The platform even offers tracing lines which will make perspective a piece of cake. It is practically ideal for architectural sketches. MediBang Paint indeed serves as a convenient middle ground between fine art and digital media.
Perhaps the only downside to the whole package is the ads which have a tendency to take up a lot of screen space once you enter any of the menus. If you want to get rid of them, you will need to spend $5.99 for this luxury. Luckily, it's a one-time payment so the expense won't be too big. Other than that, it's a wonderful app for anyone who loves to sketch.
Other Apps Considered
While our aim was definitely to find a quick and easy-to-use solution, this app somehow ended up being too easy. It's not a pro software by a long shot and, in fact, seems to be closer to a game. There are no advanced features, no filters, no layers, but only a straightforward interface that aims to be more fun than functional. Paying $4.99 for the pro version is advisable only if you absolutely fall in love with the app - which we definitely didn't. It could be a nice one for your child's tablet although, even in that department, we can think of a few that would work a lot better.
The company known across the globe for its photo-editing software also has a few other tricks up its sleeve. Photoshop Sketch tries (and mostly succeeds) in riding the coattails of its older sibling. Still, the attempt to cover this part of the spectrum comes with a few downsides - the most obvious one being the price. The entire Creative Suite will snatch $49.99 from your pocket on a monthly basis while picking an individual app from the collection will set you back $9.99. If you're focused on saving, you might want to skip this one - and the next two apps.
While Photoshop Sketch focuses on raster graphics, Illustrator stays true to its original purpose and can be your go-to for the world of vectors. This will be particularly useful for those employed in graphic design that don't like converting traditional 2D images into more pliable files but, instead, like to start using digital measurements from the get-go. Unfortunately, much like the previous contender, Illustrator too comes with a heft price tag. In addition, it gives the impression of an app that holds only 50% of the power of the desktop version. It's simply not good enough.
Branching out into all corners of the creative industry, Adobe has also created a system that aims to replicate traditional media such as oils or watercolors. This is an amazing idea that, due to the software's fairly recent date, lacks some of the polish of more seasoned apps. The feel is natural enough and the results you can get with it can be genuinely impressive - especially if you devote some time to practice. Still, this late addition to the Adobe family still has some steps to take before it starts being fully functional. It promises a lot but has yet to deliver. Also, much like the previous two entries, it also suffers from an exorbitantly high price.
Stefan Racic
My phone tends to be filled to the brim with apps I am either trying on for size of using on a regular basis. I use them for a variety of tasks, including sketching and creating art, keeping in touch with friends, being up to date with the latest news, learning about diverse spiritual practices and, of course, playing games!
With over 10 years of experience as a translator and writer, I channel my creativity into writing about things I enjoy. My education in business (I hold a bachelor's degree in operations management) is but one part of expertise. I have worked for art magazines, spiritual blogs, news and business sites, and now I explore the fascinating world of apps.
My previous work is as diverse as my interests. Fresh out of college, I was employed as a translator and interpreter at the fringes of the corporate world and the NGO sector. After switching to writing, I first focused on business news, then shifted to working for a series of art magazines (WideWalls perhaps being the most well known), and even wrote content for a couple of spirituality-focused apps for Labyrinthos Academy. Little did I know that I would eventually devote a good chunk of my time to writing about all sorts of interesting new apps out there.
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The nature of the creative mind is such that inspiration can strike at any time. You can be in your bedroom, in a park, visiting a museum, on a train to work, or out camping. What can you do if you cannot get a hold of a pencil and paper? Use your smartphone, of course.
Maybe the screen is not the biggest surface you've ever worked on (although, with each passing year, they seem to grow) but the opportunities it offers can be substantial. We have tested more than half a dozen apps to see if any rival Procreate Pocket in enabling you to unleash your creative side on the go - and found that SketchBook is the best for the job without breaking the bank, considering it is 100% free. Here's how we chose: