Drawing is a favorite pastime for many people worldwide. Useful Android device features, like stylus support, vibrant displays, and brilliant touch input, give users who love to draw more options. In fact, your inner artist will definitely love these highly recommended drawing apps for Android.
1. ArtFlow
Price: Free with premium options
If you are looking for an app that simulates a natural drawing experience by bringing a digital sketchbook to your fingertips, ArtFlow is a good option. The main selling point of this app is the insane number of brushes it provides. The ArtFlow app has over 80 paintbrushes, smudge, fill, and an eraser tool, which makes it one of the best Procreate alternatives.
ArtFlow also supports stylus input and provides a canvas size of 6144 x 6144, with up to 50 layers. You can create your own paintbrush by importing images. Other features include a layer clipping mask and 10 layer filters to adjust HSV, brightness, saturation, color curves, and more.
The app user interface is smooth and responsive, and you will love the look and feel of the app. Artwork can be imported or exported in PNG, JPG, and PSD. It also has an advanced “Palm Rejection” feature.
2. PaperColor
Price: Free with premium options
PaperColor is another drawing app that tries to bring real-life drawing experience. The app has an easy-to-use interface and provides all the necessary options to begin your artistic journey.
It provides all the different varieties of brush, ruler, eraser, etc. The color library is also huge, and the PaperColor app lets you import a picture as the base map, which you can later set to transparent mode. The transparent mode allows you to trace the original image and draw above it. If you just want to experiment with features, you can pick any image from the samples it provides.
Further, you can add text, custom covers, graphics tools, etc. Users can also add a handwritten signature with a pen after they have finished drawing their artwork.
3. DotPict
Price: Free with premium options
DotPict is an Android drawing app meant for a specific niche. If you are really into pixel art, look no further, as DotPict has you covered.
This 8-bit drawing app offers a grid for drawing. Additionally, zoom in on artwork and create little touchups to your 8-bit artwork. It includes features like auto-saving, undo, and redo. You can export your artwork or share it with friends and family members.
You can also customize your color palette to any color you want. It also allows you to view, comment, and like the artwork by other creators using the Home tab. If you wish to draw with other users, you can participate in the existing events on the app or even create your own.
4. ibis Paint X
Price: Free with premium options
ibis Paint X has a ton of features that would be appreciated by an artist. With over 381 brushes, 2500 materials, over 800 fonts, 71 filters, 46 screen tones, and 27 blending modes, ibis Paint X is a very versatile Android drawing app.
The app offers smooth drawing at 60fps. You can use different styles of brushes, including dip pens, felt-tip pens, digital pens, airbrushes, fan brushes, flat brushes, pencils, oil brushes, charcoal brushes, crayons, and stamps. It offers the option to record your own video while you draw so that you can share it on your own YouTube channel or other social media accounts.
ibis Paint X supports multiple layers and has specific features for a specific style of drawing, such as manga.
5. Infinite Painter
Price: Free with premium options
Infinite Painter is a sophisticated app designed for artists, and it boasts an impressive selection of brushes and tools. One of the standout features is its advanced brush engine, which allows a level of precision and versatility that artists will appreciate. You can view the entire collection of brushes by tapping the brush icon in the bottom pane.
The app also allows you to import images that can be layered and blended, which can be great if you are looking to work on existing pieces or use them as references for new projects. For those looking to refine their skills or explore new styles, Infinite Painter includes tutorials that cover a broad spectrum of techniques and applications.
The workspace is designed to be intuitive, which means users can focus on their art without being hindered by complicated menus or settings. It is also one of the best drawing apps for Chromebook users.
6. Sketchbook
Price: Free with premium options
Sketchbook, as the name suggests, is like a digital canvas that mirrors the traditional sketchbook experience. It has a straightforward and simple interface, with all the tools listed in the top pane. One of the main highlights of this app is the wide range of brushes available.
This includes highly realistic pencil brushes for fine line work, ink brushes for sharp outlines, and various paintbrushes that replicate the texture and flow of real paint. Each brush is fully customizable, allowing artists to tweak settings, such as size, opacity, and flow, to achieve the exact effect they’re aiming for.
It supports an unlimited number of layers, enabling intricate detailing and depth. The app also offers a comprehensive set of blending modes, which are crucial for creating nuanced effects and textures. You can also create your own time-lapse video on the app if you want to share your work with others.
7. Krita
Price: Free
Krita is an open-source and free illustration program that specializes in painting, concept art, comics, and more. It was created in 1998 and has been developed by the Krita community.
Krita has over 100 brushes that you can use for different effects and styles. You can also import Photoshop brushes or create your own custom brushes. Users also have the option to organize their brushes by category and access them easily from the toolbar or the docker. The platform supports multiple layers and modes, and you can also use masks, filters, and transformations to modify your layers.
Another interesting feature is the built-in animation tool that lets you create frame-by-frame animations. You can use onion skins, keyframes, and playback controls to animate your drawings. You can also export your animations as GIFs, MP4s, or image sequences.
If you have a knack for drawing and want to feed your artistic appetite, try one or more of these Android drawing apps. If you are a Mac user, check out this list of drawing applications for macOS.
Image credits: Unsplash. All screenshots by Zainab Falak.
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