Best Drawing Apps for PC in 2024 [Free & Paid]
Get the most out of drawing and sketching with these impressive apps
6 min. read
Updated on
Share this article
This article is translated in
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial team. Read more
Choosing the right drawing software can be a challenge. You might need a tool for quick doodles, detailed illustrations, or complex digital paintings.
Whether you’re designing characters, creating digital comics, or just sketching for fun, the right software should match your specific project needs and workflow.
Does Windows have an art program?
Windows has some painting software that allows you to express yourself. Below are the options available to you:
- Microsoft Paint 3D: This is the native drawing app that comes with Windows. It offers a collection of tools, like brushes, and a series of shapes that allows you to express your creativity.
- Microsoft Fresh Paint: This is another excellent native painting app for Windows. Unlike Paint 3D, Fresh Paint is only available for download for free on the Microsoft Store.
Best digital art software for Windows
Adobe Photoshop – Re-imagined filters
Adobe Photoshop is a top choice for digital painting on Windows PCs, widely favored by artists and designers.
Recent updates have enhanced its painting capabilities with advanced filters and tools powered by Adobe Sensei.
Photoshop excels in painting and design, offering a range of brushes, pencils, and pens, and is fully compatible with XP-Pen tablets.
Its Paint Symmetry feature is great for creating abstract art, and you can access or create thousands of custom brushes and patterns. It’s a versatile tool for all your creative needs.
Clip Studio Paint – Unlimited painting styles
Clip Studio Paint is a powerful drawing and painting tool that excels in creating detailed artwork.
It offers access to over 40,000 brushes from the Clip Studio Assets store, covering various mediums like watercolors, pens, and oil paints.
Its 3D drawing figures help with complex angles and anatomy, allowing you to customize poses and body types.
Additionally, Clip Studio Paint includes pro animation tools for adding movement to your illustrations and organizing them on a timeline. This makes it ideal for both static art and animated projects.
Clip Studio Paint
Take advantage of this great app’s features and create your ideal content.Corel Painter – Custom brushes and palettes
Corel Painter is a digital art software that closely mimics the experience of real painting.
It offers advanced tools for stylizing photos into paintings using AI, alongside brush controls for size, shape, and flow.
With Canvas control, you can easily pan, zoom, and rotate your work while applying textures and lighting.
Unique features such as Flow Maps and Patterns further enrich your creations, making it a robust tool for digital artists.
Corel Painter
Sketch, paint, illustrate, and produce amazing photo art with this unique digital art program.Paint.net – Tabbed document interface
Paint.net is a simplified, user-friendly alternative to Photoshop, perfect for both photo editing and doodling. It features a tabbed interface for easy project management, letting you switch between images with just a click.
The live tab display helps prevent mix-ups. Paint.net works well on both older Windows systems and newer high-spec PCs.
Its layered capabilities allow for professional-quality artwork, making it versatile and accessible for a range of digital art projects.
Krita – Various masks and layers
Krita is a top-notch painting app, especially for those serious about their art.
Developed by a passionate international community, it’s perfect for drawing, with a strong focus on comics and manga.
You’ll find customizable brushes, panel templates, and halftone filters to enhance your work.
The intuitive color palette and tool selection, accessible with a simple right-click, streamline your workflow.
Krita
Paint your ideas with personalized brushes and highlight every detail with the Krita app.Microsoft Paint 3D – Easy to use
Paint 3D updates the classic MS Paint with modern features. While MS Paint remains available, Paint 3D is now the go-to coloring app for Windows.
It offers new drawing tools and brushes, plus the ability to add and customize 3D objects and animals. Enhance your creations with various lighting effects and finishes like matte or polished metal.
The latest version includes a Tube brush for creating ribbons and dollops of volume, making it a fun and versatile app for both casual and serious painting.
Artweaver – Enhanced brush editor
Artweaver is versatile, suited for both serious paintings and fun for kids.
It offers a wide range of pens, from airbrushes to calligraphy pens, and includes various patterns. The layer-based system allows you to work on different stages of your artwork and make changes easily.
The enhanced brush editor provides full control over settings and a preview of brush strokes. Artweaver also supports the Windows Ink Pen interface, ensuring precise pen pressure for a great digital painting experience.
Microsoft Fresh Paint – Good painting feature
Microsoft Fresh Paint is a free Windows app that simulates the feel of real painting.
It offers a lifelike experience, with brushes that splatter and blend colors just like real life. The canvas takes time to dry, allowing for color smearing and blending.
You can also transform photos into paintings for a creative touch. Ideal for both experienced artists and beginners, Fresh Paint delivers an engaging and realistic painting experience.
MyPaint – Varied color packages
MyPaint is a standout painting app with unique features rooted in its Linux origins.
Ideal for artists willing to explore new tools, it offers a variety of brushes and layers for detailed artwork.
You can create sketches in a notepad and expand your options with additional brush packages from the community.
Developed by artist Martin Renold, MyPaint aims to provide an effective painting solution tailored to the needs of serious artists.
Sketchable – High-resolution tool
Sketchable is a versatile and free app that’s perfect for using your stylus to its full potential.
While the free version offers plenty of creative tools, in-app purchases unlock additional features like layer support for more advanced work.
Ideal for design students and professionals, it lets you create high-resolution journals with customizable sizes and covers, from standard screens to 4K.
You can fine-tune colors with precision, import and edit images, or create and share your artwork—all within one handy app.
These are our top recommendations for the best drawing apps for PC. You’ll be delighted with the result whether you choose a free tool or a more complex set of features.
Once you create the best digital creations, consider the best browser-based animation tools for WindowsPCs and create outstanding works.
We’d like to hear more from you on this subject, so drop us a comment in the section below.
User forum
0 messages