Drawing Software reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 374 Reddit reviews across 52 subreddits and 89 posts to rank the best Drawing Software brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/DigitalPainting, r/DigitalArt, r/ArtistLounge, r/cricut, r/Artadvice. Top-rated brands include Krita (4.5/5), Clip Studio Paint (4.3/5), Procreate (4.8/5).
Stats
Reviews374
Subreddits52
Posts89
Brands94
Products8
374 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Krita
4.5
(76)
"Krita, its an amazing free drawing software. highly recommend it."
"I can really recommend krita. Its free and open source."
"Krita for sure. It also has really good (but basic) animation tools."
"I’m supper pleased with it's pen stabliation feature."
"Krita is awesome and free to use"
"Krita its also free"
"Krita, Sai Paint, proCreate would be my go-to."
"I discovered Krita, which I think is on par with Photoshop"
"For me, Krita is the best."
"I highly recommend Krita."
#2
Clip Studio Paint
4.3
(43)
"Clip Studio Paint feels more natural and flexible compared to Krita."
"Personally i’m on the monthly clip studio paint PRO plan (£4.99/month) really good would recommend."
"Clip Studio Paint: Known for its robust drawing and illustration features."
"I switched to clip studio paint and i don't regret it."
"I second CSP. I still use SAI but I also have CSP."
"Ngl I am biased cause I use it but clip studio will have everything you need and more."
"Seconding csp."
"Personally clip studio paint all the way."
"Clip Studio Paint is my fave for PC."
"Try Clip Studio Paint, they have a free trial."
#3
Procreate
4.8
(20)
"I use procreate. I was an Adobe user and switched over to affinity (equivalent to Adobe) affinity design is vector based, procreate is raster."
"I would absolutely recommend procreate, it makes creating art so much easier and more fun."
"I use Procreate on iPad. It’s like $10 flat cost"
"Absolutely, insanely powerful and optimized for iPads."
"Procreate for drawing."
"If you have a compatible iPad, Procreate is the simplest to use."
"Procreate and/or Fresco."
"If you have an ipad, procreate is great!"
"Procreate all day <3"
"I would highly recommend procreate it's a one time purchase."
#4
FireAlpaca
4.2
(15)
"And it's not even close!"
"FireAlpaca, it's 100% free and comes with all the features."
"Firealpaca!! I used it for years before getting an iPad! I still think it’s an amazing program."
"I’m using my old friend Firealpaca"
"I use Inkarnate to make the map and Fire Alpaca to add something, change the color(s) of some things, and/or edit lighting"
"If youre looking for anything free, ive heard that fire alpaca is really great!"
"Fire alpaca is free and personally I think it’s pretty great"
"Otra alternativa gratuita quizás más sencilla pero no mala es Firealpaca."
"Fire alpaca"
"I started with FireAlpaca and have stuck with it since."
#5
MediBang Paint
4.3
(12)
"I’ve been making digital art for well over a decade... my go-to for the past 6 years has been Medibang on my iPad!"
"MEDIBANG PAINT!!!!! It was the easiest program to navigate."
"I prefer medibang paint, because it offers a simple ui, and powerful brush customization. I highly recommend this one if you're a beginner at digital drawing."
"Particularly I recommend Medibang Paint."
"Medibang paint as well."
"Medibang may also be of use to you."
"Others have used MediBang or IbisPaint."
"Medibang it's free and work perfect to sketching."
"MediBang is a good choice. It’s free and the people that run have manga contest as well."
"I work with Medibang. Easy UI and settings on me to work with."
#6
Inkscape
4.2
(12)
"Inkscape! It has a feature where you can put any image in it and it can auto vectorize it to the best of its ability"
"Inkscape is free and very power program that will let you create more or less everything you will need."
"I use freeware like a vector based drawing program like Inkscape for topography, map lines, vector based scaling, icon design, etc."
"Inkscape for vectors, GIMP for raster images."
"You will need to draw directly into a vector design program like Inkscape or Affinity Draw."
"Inkscape"
"I'm going to second the recommendation of Inkscape."
"Inkspace for vector drawing. Gimp for removing backgrounds from bitmaps before you bring them into Inkspace to turn in to vectors."
"To convert art from a raster to a vector, I use Inkscape's "Trace Bitmap" tool."
"If you want to do actual drawings rather than handwriting: inkscape"
#7
Ibis Paint
4.7
(10)
"I first started using ibisPaint."
"I started with Ibis Paint using my phone."
"I recommend that you install Ibis Paint (It is one of the best apps for drawing on the phone)."
"Ibispaint is wonderful & FREE!"
"Ibispaint Android/apple: free."
"Ibispaint is by far the best art program i have ever used."
"I've been using ibis paint since 2012 and continue to use it to this day."
"Ibis paint, gimp, clip studio paint. First 2 are free."
"Ibis paint maybe."
"One of the best apps I have tried so far is IbisPaint."
#8
Paint Tool SAI
4.0
(10)
"I use Easy Paint Tool Sai sometimes."
"Paint tool sai."
"I recommend Paint Tool sai for PC."
"If I went from iPad back to PC paint tool SAI would be my pick."
"The cheapest art program you can pick up that is worth your time (IMHO) is going to be: Paint Tool SAI."
"Paint tool sai was the thing that i used when just starting out. its a very solid lightweight little program"
"I use Paint Tool Sai quite a lot, it's not the most powerful program on the market, but it's dirt cheap, has a free trial, and is hugely customizeable."
"Paint tool sai isnt too bad."
"Paint sai and blender are good options"
"I personally use Paint Tool SAI."
#9
GIMP
3.8
(10)
"Gimp"
"Gimp is basically free photoshop."
"It’s say Gimp or Krita!"
"For photoshopping, there's GIMP."
"Im using gimp atm, i used to use Ibispaint tho"
"Try GIMP 3RC"
"GIMP"
"Other options are GIMP which is a great free open source photoshop alternative."
"Currently am getting back into it and learning using GIMP."
"I found GIMP and Krita PaintTool."
#10
Adobe Fresco
4.3
(7)
"Adobe Fresco."
"Adobe Fresco is really great."
"Adobe Fresco (iPad)"
"Adobe fresco has been my go to for drawing."
"I use both."
"Fresco is free and has lots of brushes to experiment."
"I really like Adobe Fresco, it’s free."
#11
Adobe Photoshop
4.5
(6)
"Adobe programs for me are the best."
"Popular paid software would include Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop."
"Photoshop is arguably the best software for artists and pretty much all professionals I know use it."
"I use Photoshop."
"Personally i use photoshop in windows"
"You can do all of this in Photoshop."
#12
Photoshop
4.2
(6)
"Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint are usually the industry standard for digital art."
"Photoshop for me. Procreate for most people."
"Photoshop is good because the industrie mostly use this but it's a bit pricy."
"If price is no option, Photoshop."
"I use Photoshop."
"I use Photoshop."
#13
IbisPaint
4.8
(5)
"I found this one to be the most user friendly."
"I love using IbisPaintX it's really easy to install new brushes."
"I still use it until today."
"Ok the best one is IbisPaint on mobile since it’s easy to use and download and is a on the go thing."
"For mobile apps, ibis paint is good, you could even try MediBang paint."
#14
SketchBook
3.8
(6)
"You are in luck, one of the best just went completely free."
"Sketchbook is free and is basically Photoshop lite (and my favorite)."
"I recommend Sketchbook or Infinite Painter if you're an android user."
"Or SketchBook."
"Sketchbook is no longer free? WTF?"
"I use Sketchbook because it's free but it's definitely not the best option out there if you're willing to pay."
#15
SketchUp
4.4
(5)
"SketchUp is my recommendation. I do custom high end commercial furniture and it works great."
"The ideal software will be SketchUp as its free and very easy to learn."
"Sketchup or Blender might be the best way to go, assuming you're looking for a free solution."
"Sketchup has a free web version. It’s a 3D program but simple."
"SketchUp, maybe Cheif Architect, maybe AutoCad Lite?"
#16
EasyEDA
4.0
(5)
"I found EasyEDA very straight forward and intuitive."
"I have used easyEDA."
"EasyEDA"
"EasyEDA does all that a hobbyist needs and it's free."
"You can also try EasyEDA."
#17
Autodesk SketchBook
4.0
(5)
"Sketchbook. It is paid now, but the latest unpaid before it was bought from Autodesk was 8.7.1.0."
"My go to recommendations would be: a) Autodesk Sketchbook (Available in both Windows/And)"
"I'm pretty sure autodesk sketchbook is still free."
"I started out with free ones like autodesk sketchbook and they are quite simple and beginner friendly."
"Autodesk Sketchbook is very user friendly for kids"
#18
Affinity Designer
4.0
(5)
"- affinity designer (my favorite as it uses vectors and pixels)"
"Affinity Designer and I will fight the adobe fanboys any day."
"Affinity Designer."
"My favorite is Affinity designer. It's not free but it's not very pricey, only $50."
"Affinity Designer, as recommended already, really is not the one."
#19
Paint.NET
3.8
(5)
"Paint.NET - image editor (layers, clone stamp, undo/redo, effects, filters and other standard features)"
"[Paint.NET](https://www.getpaint.net/). Free."
"Paint.net?"
"Paint.net is a good one"
"For pixel art, there's paint.net."
#20
Inkarnate
4.0
(4)
"+3 for Inkarnate"
"+2 for Inkarnate"
"+1 for inkarnate"
"I use Inkarnate to make the map and Fire Alpaca to add something, change the color(s) of some things, and/or edit lighting"
#21
KiCad
4.0
(4)
"I like kicad, eagle and fritzing depending upon the type of diagram I want to create."
"KiCAD , used it for many projects. It is good with a ton of existing libraries to use."
"Kicad +1"
"Kicad is open source and fairly powerful."
#22
Autodesk
4.0
(4)
"Sketchbook Pro is great!"
"Sketchbook by autodesk is all I use"
"I started with autodesk (free) to see if i liked working digitally."
"I'd suggest Autodesk Sketchbook. It's easy enough to feel around and learn."
#23
AutoCAD
4.7
(3)
"I highly recommend it."
"I'd say stick with AutoCAD or a low no cost AutoCAD like program."
"If not needing a free solution and have money to burn, Autocad and rhino are both very worthwhile."
#24
LibreOffice Draw
4.7
(3)
"LibreOffice Draw component work a treat."
"I think it's the solution to your problem, you'll get high quality diagrams like if you'll be using Visio but for free."
"I think it's the solution to your problem, you'll get high quality diagrams like if you'll be using Visio but for free."
#25
Paintstorm Studio
4.0
(3)
"Paintstorm Studio is great and cheap"
"For PC the best bets imo are Paintstorm Studio."
"Paintstorm Studio has been it for me though! Not too many bells and whistles and the interface is simple."
#26
Fritzing
4.0
(3)
"Fritzing is very friendly for a beginner."
"Fritzing is good for hobby and basic pro jobs."
"Fritzing."
#27
Draw.io
3.7
(3)
"I recommend to use draw.io because is simple to use."
"I usually do most of my freeform diagrams in draw.io."
"Draw.io."
#28
Toon Boom
5.0
(2)
"Toonboom is the best one for animation overall and is considered an industry standard"
"Toonboom or Moho (Moho is used way less in the industry though)"
#29
Kreska
5.0
(2)
"I highly recommend trying kreska.art. It's completely free, works directly in your browser."
"I'd highly recommend checking out kreska.art. It's completely free, works directly in your browser, and is super beginner friendly."
#30
Kidz Fun Art
5.0
(2)
"I built Kidz Fun Art over the last few of years. My kids were 3 and 5 when I started, and are 6 & 8 now, and they've loved it all along."
"I built Kidz Fun Art over the last few of years."
#31
Mozaik
5.0
(2)
"Mozaik. End of discussion."
"Mozaik has been my favourite."
#32
ibisPaint
4.5
(2)
"If your looking for an app I recommend ibisPaint! Gl with your drawing <3"
"Another good alternative is ibis paint X but it's only for drawing"
#33
Affinity
4.5
(2)
"I LOVE affinity designer!"
"I hear Affinity is the closest sub for Adobe, but holding"
#34
Ibis Paint X
4.5
(2)
"Ibis paint x. Simple, free, and extensive."
"I started with ibis paint x, then sketchbook (both should be free) and then after probably a year and a half of digital art I got procreate (which is expensive but very good)."
#35
Adobe
3.0
(3)
"My preference is Adobe fresco which is free. But not available on android."
"Adobe Fresco is $10 / year which is a bargain imo. It does drawing and paint and supports both vector and raster art."
"I do not advise adobe animate at all, by far the buggiest, clunky and unintuitive animation program of them all"
#36
DipTrace
4.0
(2)
"I like DipTrace. Free to try out."
"For non-commercial use it is free, but limited to 500 pins and 2 layers without board size limit."
#37
Medibang
4.0
(2)
"To my knowledge its free, i only used it for a short while but its pretty decent"
"Perhaps Medibang or FireAlpaca?"
#38
Affinity Photo
4.0
(2)
"I'm going to give an unconventional suggestion with Affinity Photo."
"Affinity Photo is a good Photoshop replacement."
#39
ibisPaint X
4.0
(2)
"I think that Ibispaint X might be worth a try."
"I'm currently using: ibisPaint X and Procreate."
#40
Photopea
4.0
(2)
"Photopea.com is pretty much a clone of Photoshop CS5 in a browser, it's what I started using after my Adobe script went on the chopping block."
"I use photopea, a free website that is basically photoshop"
#41
MediBang Paint Pro
4.0
(2)
"Medibang Paint Pro."
"There's also Medibang Paint Pro."
#42
Blender
4.0
(2)
"Sketchup or Blender might be the best way to go, assuming you're looking for a free solution."
"I wonder if Blender’s grease pencil would work. Set up a video object, align the camera and open a video editor timeline."
#43
TikZ
3.5
(2)
"If you typeset your thesis with LaTeX, you can use TikZ to draw diagrams consistently without alignment using mice."
"TikZ is hard to beat for consistency, but getting things *exactly* as you want them to appear requires considerable effort."
#44
Sketchable
5.0
(1)
"Try Sketchable"
#45
Rhinoceros 3D
5.0
(1)
"I recommend Rhinoceros 3D as the best low cost CAD software available."
#46
iArtbook
5.0
(1)
"I would suggest the soft sculpting brush in the oil paints section for the highlights and shadows, the app is called iartbook."
#47
Aseprite
5.0
(1)
"Aseprite is free if you download the files from github or you can pay 20 dollars once for the download link from them."
#48
Adobe Illustrator
5.0
(1)
"You will always be able to create professional artworks with photoshop or illustrator."
#49
SketchBook Pro
5.0
(1)
"Try Sketchbook Pro - it's even more convenient to use than Procreate."
#50
Rebelle
5.0
(1)
"I’ve been using Rebelle and love it."
#51
MoDraw
5.0
(1)
"Try moldraw.com it is free."
#52
Microsoft Whiteboard
5.0
(1)
"It's an excellent piece of software on the surface pro."
#53
Creately
5.0
(1)
"A great tool that helped me generate mindmaps based on AI prompts."
#54
PlantUML
4.0
(1)
"Plantuml."
#55
Revit
4.0
(1)
"Maybe Revit would work for you."
#56
LibrePCB
4.0
(1)
"I find it quiet easy to use and it is in active development for over 6 years now."
#57
ChemDoodle
4.0
(1)
"I think ChemDoodle is maybe even better than ChemDraw, but it's not free."
#58
MarvinSketch
4.0
(1)
"MarvinSketch license renewal for personal use is also free."
#59
Xournal++
4.0
(1)
"Xournal++"
#60
Tinkercad
4.0
(1)
"For a beginner it helps with all the basic stuff."
#61
diagrams.net
4.0
(1)
"Draw.io"
#62
Libresprite
4.0
(1)
"For pixel art, there's libresprite."
#63
EveryCircuit
4.0
(1)
"I like Everycircuit.com for it's easy interface and colourful animation."
#64
PhotoFiltre
4.0
(1)
"PhotoFiltre (portable) - image editor (layers, clone stamp, undo/redo, effects, filters and other standard features)"
#65
Altium CircuitMaker
4.0
(1)
"If you are familiar with designer altium circuit maker may be something you might like."
#66
Various Drawing Applications
4.0
(1)
"And here is a doc that lists various applications: [https://docs.thesevenpens.com/drawtab/applications](https://docs.thesevenpens.com/drawtab/applications) Some applications are kind of complex."
#67
Eagle
4.0
(1)
"Eagle is solid."
#68
Kinovea
4.0
(1)
"Take a look at Kinovea. Some basic video editing and drawing."
#69
Dungeon Painter Studios
4.0
(1)
"Dungeon Painter Studios, you'll find it on steam."
#70
Speedy Painter
4.0
(1)
"Speedy painter its free"
#71
Wunderdraft
4.0
(1)
"Wunderdraft and inkarnate"
#72
SketchUp Free
4.0
(1)
"SketchUp free web version is pretty quick and easy."
#73
Samsung Tablet
4.0
(1)
"Get a Samsung tablet that comes with the S Pen, download ibis paint and/or infinite painter."
#74
FloorPlanner
4.0
(1)
"FloorPlanner dot com is good enough to draw and send something to an architect to get plans from."
#75
Leonardo
4.0
(1)
"I used Leonardo for a long time. Loved it."
#76
SnagIt
4.0
(1)
"SnagIt is clean and fast."
#77
Corel Painter Essentials
4.0
(1)
"Corel Painter essentials. Artrage. Medibang (comic style art). Paintstorm studio."
#78
Dungeon Painter Studio
4.0
(1)
"If you're willing to drop a little bit of money, Dungeon Painter Studio is a pretty good tool."
#79
Affinity Suite
4.0
(1)
"Personally I made the switch to the Affinity suite a few years ago."
#80
Moho
4.0
(1)
"Moho is good for indie animated series cuz it's not as pricey"
#81
Canva
4.0
(1)
"Something else I really enjoy using is canva, which is browser based. There is a free version but I do have a paid account."
#82
Wonderdraft
4.0
(1)
"I would recommend Wonderdraft. It is easy to pick up, and one feature I like a lot is you can create maps from maps."
#83
DungeonScrawl
4.0
(1)
"I've been using DungeonScrawl, which a lot of it can be done on the free version. It's most ideal for making dungeons versus regional maps. Lots of assets already in it but you can add your own, add pictures and lower their opacity if you want to trace something, lots of stuff. Very rewarding."
#84
IbisPaint, Medibang, Autodesk
4.0
(1)
"Regarding free drawing apps the best ones I’ve seen people use in general are IbisPaint, Medibang and Autodesk sketchbook."
#85
Rhino
4.0
(1)
"If not needing a free solution and have money to burn, Autocad and rhino are both very worthwhile."
#86
Vectorworks
4.0
(1)
"I use Vectorworks which I love."
#87
Microsoft Paint
3.0
(1)
"Microsoft paint (the ultimate art software)"
#88
Miro
3.0
(1)
"Best one I have found is Miro, does not support drawing tho, I just paste stuff from PS into it."
#89
DraftSite
3.0
(1)
"Draftsite is acceptable, and I recommend learning and utilizing the command aliases to speed up your ability."
#90
ArtRage
3.0
(1)
"I used a program called ArtRage for this task that appears to be WAY out of date."
#91
DaVinci
3.0
(1)
"Your best bet is to learn how to make the graphics in after effects or davinci."
#92
After Effects
3.0
(1)
"Your best bet is to learn how to make the graphics in after effects or davinci."
#93
Epic Pen
3.0
(1)
"I have Epic pen- and that works for drawing on videos as I'm talking over them for our installs-- but not for telestrating a video for content creation."
#94
ONCE
3.0
(1)
"I'm looking for something like ONCE.de or KlipDraw.com but they've got pretty expensive subscription fees."
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