APPS FOR ARTISTS

✨ PHOTOSHOP

💰 Subscription only
📱 PC & some mobile functionality
🎨 RGB & CMYK

✔ Powerful tools for photo editing & drawing (with add-ons), great filters, effects, and layer masks.
❌ Expensive, steep learning curve, requires a strong PC for large files.

Works well for digital painting but needs extra brushes and add-ons.

🖌️ CLIP STUDIO PAINT

💰 One-time purchase or subscription
📱 PC, mobile & tablet
🎨 RGB only (CMYK in pro version)

✔ Many built-in & downloadable brushes, customizable interface, 3D model support, great community resources.
❌ Can be a bit clunky, requires a decent PC/tablet.

One of the best for illustration! Tons of tools, smooth tablet compatibility, and flexible UI.

🎭 MEDIBANG

💰 Free with ads
📱 PC & mobile
🎨 RGB only

✔ Beginner-friendly, easy-to-use interface.
❌ Lacks features, color mixing isn’t great, crashes on large files.

Decent for quick sketches or beginners, but the mobile version has a lot of ads.

🖥️ KRITA

💰 Free
📱 PC only
🎨 RGB & CMYK (but buggy)

✔ Feature-rich for a free program, good customization, similar to Clip Studio Paint.
❌ Can crash with large files, needs a powerful PC.

A fantastic free option! Great for beginners and advanced artists, but performance depends on your computer.

🎨 PROCREATE

💰 One-time purchase
📱 iPad only
🎨 RGB & CMYK

✔ Smooth interface, great brush engine, excellent performance.
❌ Only on iPad, no vector support, lacks some advanced tools.

One of the best digital painting apps! Feels super natural and perfect for illustration.

📱 IBIS PAINT

💰 Free with subscription for extra features
📱 PC & mobile
🎨 RGB only

✔ Intuitive, great for beginners, many free brushes.
❌ Struggles with large files, lacks deeper customization.

A solid mobile drawing app, but not ideal for high-detail work.