The 11 Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android You Must Try!

Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android – Are you in search of a digital painting solution that is optimized for your Android mobile device? Look no further! Whether you are a budding artist or a seasoned professional, the painting apps outlined below will satiate your creative needs. Don’t fret if you are not in possession of a stylus, as these apps are still available for use, albeit it is advised that you procure one to unleash the full potential of their capabilities.

Upon completing your digital painting endeavors, you may also be interested in browsing through the crème de la crème of drawing apps for Android. Expand your horizons and take your artistic talent to greater heights!

Preparing for Digital Painting and Drawing on Android: What to Do Before You Begin

Creating art on a digital tablet is a whole new ballgame when compared to working on paper with a pen or paintbrush. In fact, it’s an entirely distinct experience. And the introduction of a mouse is an added wrinkle, which makes the process even more distinct.

Before even considering which digital painting app to utilize on your Android device, there are a few questions that should be addressed to ensure that it’s the right choice for your artistic endeavors. Firstly, it’s essential to check if your phone or tablet possesses the multi-touch point capability, which can be a significant advantage in creating artwork that requires a high level of detail.

Secondly, it’s important to investigate whether or not your device can detect when your palm is resting on the display. This is crucial because resting your hand on the screen while painting is a natural occurrence, and the last thing you want is for the device to interpret it as an unintended gesture.

While most Android painting apps permit the use of your fingers, investing in a stylus could be a smart move. Several Android tablets are shipped with a stylus, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7, which includes the S-Pen. This device’s stylus is a bigger version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20’s stylus, providing a similar experience to that of a traditional pen.

The KEKOW Active Stylus Pen is an all-around excellent option that is compatible with all Android phones and tablets. The stylus’s versatility allows for precision in digital art that can be difficult to achieve with traditional tools. And the ability to create art with a single tool across multiple devices can streamline your process and free you from the confines of your studio.

For those working with a more constrained budget, the MEKO Universal Stylus might be a more suitable option. This stylus uses a disc stylus nib that provides improved accuracy when working on digital art. It might not have the same aesthetic appeal as other high-end styluses, but it’s an excellent entry-level choice for beginners and those looking to explore the possibilities of digital art.

Once you have your hardware in place, it’s time to select the best Android drawing app. There are several great options available, so take the time to investigate and discover the one that works best for you.

The 11 Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android You Must Try!

1. Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android: MediBang Paint

Have you been seeking to hone your skills in crafting digital art with the convenience of your smartphone? Then, you’ll be thrilled to discover that MediBang Paint is a consummate drawing application, especially for Android users, that offers a user interface reminiscent of the esteemed Adobe suite, rendering it a comfortable yet novel experience.

The beauty of this app lies in its dualistic nature, as it bestows upon you a surplus of striking features and a pristine performance quality, while also remaining economically accessible, free of charge, and replete with tutorials and informational resources readily available on the web, in turn, providing you with an abundance of guidance and support as you embark upon your journey to artistic mastery.

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2. Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android: Pixel Studio

Are you yearning for a painting app that graces your Android with a less flashy resolution? Pixel art, the ubiquitous style that graced the early days of arcade gaming and console classics, may pique your interest. And, lo and behold, Pixel Studio, the Android art app that allows you to unleash your creativity, grants you the ability to craft 8-bit and 16-bit style pixel artwork, be it singular objects, characters or backgrounds.

Pixel Studio, true to its moniker, is not merely limited to static artwork. Rather, Pixel Studio offers the added perk of animation tools, complemented by the option of integrating music or sound effects in repetitive sequences. As a result, GIFs are generated as the output of your animations, whereas your static artwork is safely preserved in standard formats, such as JPG, PNG or BMP, ready to be exported to other art packages, should the need arise.

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3. Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android: Da Vinci Eye: AR Art Projector

Da Vinci Eye: AR Art Projector is the app for those seeking to ameliorate their artistic dexterity. By virtue of the cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) technology, the application serves as an unparalleled means to “trace” images on your phone, directly to a surface below.

The modus operandi is straightforward – first, position the phone above your paper, followed by the launch of the app. Once the application is running, you can select the image of your choice and get started with your creative process. The augmented reality technology of Da Vinci Eye: AR Art Projector enables you to view the image as you draw, offering you an unprecedented, groundbreaking experience.

As you engage with the app, your artistic skills will be bolstered by the augmented reality, providing you with the technical assistance you require to create masterpieces.

For some, using the Da Vinci Eye: AR Art Projector might be viewed as an artifice, an artificial, ingenuine method. Despite that, the app remains a remarkable, awe-inspiring tool that innovatively harnesses the potential of AR for artistic purposes.

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4. Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android: Ibis Paint X

If one finds themselves in pursuit of a tool that enables the creation of digital paintings on an Android phone, then ibis Paint X is the indisputable point of embarkation. A laudable instrument for artists with a predilection for illustration, this app boasts of stroke stabilization, rulers, and clipping masks, rendering it an exceptional option.

A grand total of over 300 brushes, accompanied by limitless layers, each with individual parameters, can be found on ibis Paint X. Furthermore, upon the conclusion of the artistic process, users are able to share their creations with other denizens of the internet, courtesy of the online sharing functionality incorporated into the application.

The aforementioned features are available at no cost, however, the option of acquiring two premium alternatives is present. One of these options serves to eradicate any and all ads. The other is a Prime membership, which proffers its members access to a slew of advanced features, such as new fonts and filters. Such an option is most certainly worth taking into account. Additionally, it would behoove one to acquaint themselves with the ibis Paint X YouTube channel, which offers tutorial videos.

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5. Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android: Infinite Painter

Infinite Painter, a mobile app for Android, has surged in popularity among users for its ease of use and intuitive interface. 

At first glance, all that appears to the untrained eye are the rudimentary tools which comprise its default interface: a brush, a smudge, brush size, color selection, and brush opacity. 

However, hidden behind the veneer of simplicity is a vast range of sophisticated tools accessible with a single button click. 

This deceptively minimalistic app packs a powerful punch, with enough features and functionalities in its free version alone to render truly impressive, professional-quality artwork. It is due to its accessibility and the impressive results it yields that Infinite Painter has cemented its status as one of the leading Android drawing apps currently available.

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6. Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android: Bamboo Paper

When it comes to artistic expression on Android, a practical and accessible option worth considering is the Bamboo Paper application. Crafted by Wacom, a leading entity in the digital art realm, Bamboo Paper offers an effortlessly lightweight user experience that seamlessly blends the domains of written notation and digital artwork.

This app can cater to a vast array of design-oriented endeavors, and stylus compatibility provides an enhanced and immersive creative experience. Drawing upon a rich palette of pens, palettes, and textures that can be further expanded upon via in-app purchases, Bamboo Paper enables novices and seasoned creatives alike to delve into the world of digital artistry with a sense of ease and confidence.

Moreover, Bamboo Paper offers the added advantage of Inkspace sync functionality, which can be unlocked with a Wacom ID. This feature allows users to keep their sketches and notes available across all of their digital devices, providing a consistent and streamlined experience across multiple platforms.

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7. Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android: PaperColor

When it comes to the artistic expression of the digital variety, the app known as PaperColor presents itself as a dynamic and multifaceted tool, well-equipped to provide you with everything you require to embark on your artistic journey. 

One notable feature that separates PaperColor from its competitors lies in its nuanced user interface, which eschews the minimalist design approach so prevalent among modern apps, and instead lays bare a veritable cornucopia of pens and brushes for the user to peruse and utilize as they see fit. 

In fact, it is not a stretch to say that PaperColor provides a level of functionality that surpasses that of many conventional easels and canvases in the domain of digital painting on the Android platform.

But that’s not all: in addition to its expansive toolset, PaperColor also boasts an impressive and intuitive selection of brushes that are sure to delight even the most seasoned of digital artists. 

And if that wasn’t enough, the VIP version of the app unlocks access to a vast array of additional tools and functionalities that are guaranteed to take your artistic endeavors to new heights. 

So, if you’re looking to delve into the world of digital art on your Android device, PaperColor is an app that you simply cannot afford to overlook.

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8. Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android: Adobe Illustrator Draw

Adobe, the well-established purveyor of creative productivity software, is extending their suite of products to include a gratis mobile sketching application known as Adobe Illustrator Draw. This diminutive version of their widely-admired vector graphics program is bestowed with an interface that is user-friendly and a gesture-based mechanic that is easy to comprehend, coupled with a compendious catalog of features.

Unquestionably, this application provides easy-to-use brush tools for the creation of vector art-based illustrations. This, in turn, generates images that are aesthetically pleasing, and resoundingly unambiguous in their visual representation. Furthermore, the application’s unique ability to seamlessly transfer sketches or finished products into the full-fledged Adobe Illustrator, lends itself to a remarkable degree of flexibility and productivity.

In addition, this Android drawing app’s multifarious set of features is a testimony to Adobe’s renowned reputation of being comprehensive in their approach to software development. This comprehensive approach to feature-set includes everything from layering and sketching to painting, thereby making it the go-to application for artists, graphic designers, and anyone else who may benefit from the creative potential of this illustrious mobile application.

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9. Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android: Krita

Krita, a leading open-source creativity software, stands as a vanguard in the world of digital painting, with its freeware status an obvious nod to its dedication to democratizing art. Currently in beta on Android, Krita’s ambitiously wide-ranging appeal spans from its initial Linux-based development to its subsequent versions on Windows, macOS, and Chrome, with Android as the upcoming frontier.

With its arrival on Android, Krita seeks to elevate the digital painting capabilities of artists everywhere, regardless of their level of expertise. The Android version is virtually identical to its desktop counterpart, with an extensive repertoire of menus and tools, all strategically located to ensure a streamlined and intuitive user experience. However, as Krita is more conducive to stylus or mouse use rather than finger touch, the software is ideal for those who are serious about creating professional-quality digital art.

The creative possibilities with Krita are virtually limitless. This software is an impeccable tool for unleashing an artist’s full potential, with its diverse range of features that empower users to create outstanding works of art. Whether you’re an aspiring artist looking to hone your skills, or a seasoned professional seeking to push the boundaries of digital artistry, Krita is the ideal companion to help you achieve your goals.

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10. Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android: ArtFlow

ArtFlow, the premier Android sketch app, is a tool of many wonders, replete with a plenitude of options and features that are both accessible and awe-inspiring, all the while remaining cost-free, which is sure to leave you dumbfounded. Its multiple brushes, diverse in-app functions, available at the mere tap of an icon, make it a veritable wellspring of creativity that surpasses the other pedestrian sketch apps, leaving them in the proverbial dust. Whether you aspire to while away your time with some playful doodling or endeavor to conjure up bona fide art, ArtFlow is unequivocally your optimal choice.

The free option, though it serves as an impressive stand-alone feature in its own right, saves artwork exclusively in JPEG or PNG formats, thereby limiting its full potential. However, the Pro version, with its manifold capabilities, presents itself as a truly invaluable asset. Most notably, it permits the PSD format for art exports, enabling you to continue refining your artistic endeavors on your desktop, something that’s utterly unparalleled in the world of digital artistry.

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11. Best Drawing and Painting Apps for Android: SketchBook

Sketchbook, an Android painting app, is a creation of none other than the design software giant Autodesk, which has also bestowed upon the world such gems as AutoCAD, among others. Aspiring creators are offered an eclectic mix of useful tools and features, serving to unleash the full power of their imagination and bring their most daring ideas to life.

Although Sketchbook was once considered a premium app, replete with all the customary bells and whistles, Autodesk has of late decided to unleash the power of this formidable tool to the masses, rendering it free for all and sundry. Whether you choose to work on the desktop or prefer to go mobile, the Sketchbook app offers an all-encompassing solution that caters to your unique needs and talents, no matter what form they may take.

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At The End

Android platform is rich with a vast array of free and paid painting apps that cater to the artistic needs of artists and creators of all levels. 

From MediBang Paint, Pixel Studio, Da Vinci Eye: AR Art Projector, Ibis Paint X, Infinite Painter, Bamboo Paper, PaperColor, Adobe Illustrator Draw, Krita, ArtFlow, and SketchBook, each app offers a unique set of features, tools, and functionalities that cater to the specific needs of the user. 

Whether you’re an aspiring artist looking to hone your skills, or a seasoned professional seeking to push the boundaries of digital artistry, there is an app that caters to your unique needs and abilities. Ultimately, the world of digital art on Android is a rich and diverse landscape, waiting for you to explore and unleash your creative potential.