Sketchbook review

Sketchbook is the easiest free starting point on this list. The iPhone and iPad app is free on the US App Store with in-app purchases, and the company also publishes Sketchbook Pro for macOS and Windows and Sketchbook for Android. Its pitch is drawing that feels like paper: pencils, markers, airbrushes and smear tools behave like their physical counterparts, and the tools and palettes can be tucked out of sight so the canvas stays clear. Guides, rulers and stroke tools help with precise lines, and layers come with a full set of blend modes. That covers sketching, inking and flat coloring well. It is lighter than the leaders: there are no comic page tools like Clip Studio Paint's, no 3D painting like Procreate's, and the main site does not list desktop Pro pricing, so check the store on your platform before you commit.

Who it is for

beginners and quick sketching on phones

Price

Free on the US App Store with in-app purchases.

Draw, paint, & sketch anywhere Free
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 14, 2026.

Key features

• Pencils, markers, airbrushes and smear brushes that mimic physical tools
• Guides, rulers and stroke tools for precise lines
• Layers with a full set of blend modes
• Tools and palettes can be hidden for a clean canvas
• Sketchbook Pro for macOS and Windows, Sketchbook for iOS and Android

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free download on iPhone and iPad
• Strength: Minimal interface that hides tools until needed
• Strength: Versions for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
• Weakness: Fewer painting and comic features than Procreate or Clip Studio Paint
• Weakness: Some features sit behind in-app purchases
• Weakness: Desktop Pro pricing is not listed on the main site

Key facts

• Price: Free with in-app purchases (iOS)
• Platforms: macOS, Windows (Pro); iOS, Android
• Layers: Yes, with blend modes
• Developer: Sketchbook, Inc.

Where it ranks

Sketchbook is No. 5 in our Best Digital Art Software verdict.