The best alternatives to Procreate for drawing on Android

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Tablets and mobile phones have gone from being simple screens to becoming a real digital notebook for artists, illustrators, and anyone who wants to loosen up their hand with the strokes. If you're coming from an iPad, you'll be familiar with Procreate, but on Android it's not available on Google Play, so you have to look around because there are many apps capable of standing up to it and cover everything from quick sketches to professional projects.

In this guide we gather, sort and compare all the featured alternatives that appear on the best lists, including apps with over 10 million downloads and a rating above 4 out of 5, as well as other powerful tools even if they don't reach those numbers. You'll see options for comics and manga, vector drawing, realistic painting, and cross-platform apps, in addition to hardware and workflow tips to get the most out of your Android with or without a stylus.

What is Procreate and why you should look for alternatives on Android

Procreate is one of the iPad's go-to apps, winner of an Apple Design Award and famous for its Valkyrie engine, high-resolution canvases, and hundreds of handcrafted brushes. It's designed for creating illustrations, simple animation, lettering, and digital painting with a clean and very fluid interface.

Still, there are important nuances if you draw comics or need complex text. For a long time, it was lacking in easy text management, and many artists feel that, despite its improvements, it's not the ideal tool for compositions with fonts or logosAdditionally, Procreate is exclusive to the iPad and doesn't have an Android version. It doesn't have a free trial and requires a one-time purchase from the App Store. Procreate Pocket is available for iPhone, with reduced features.

The best alternatives to Procreate for drawing on Android

If Android is your thing, there is a huge range of drawing appsSome have surpassed 10 million downloads and have outstanding ratings, and others, even with lower figures, stand out for their quality and professional toolsWe start with those that best balance power and ease of use.

Autodesk SketchBook

SketchBook is one of the most popular apps on Google Play and has long been available for download, free of ads and in-app purchases, in its standard version. It offers more than 130 customizable brushes, and depending on the version, up to 190, as well as layers, perspective rulers, selection, transformation, text, and customizable canvases. Its interface is very intuitive, and many designers consider it one of the best apps. easier to start drawing. Exports to JPG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, and PSD, and allows 2500 percent zoom.

For years, it had a Pro version with extras like over 100 brushes, 18 blending modes, Copic color, lasso and magic wand, and gradients. Even in its current free version, the experience is superb, and scanning with the camera to digitize sketches works. wonderfully. On desktop it is also available on Windows and macOS.

ibis Paint

ibis Paint X embraces the concept of social drawing, allowing you to share your creation process in time-lapse videos and take advantage of symmetry or radial line rules. Depending on the version, you'll find everything from over 140 brushes to catalogs exceeding 300, as well as layers, filters, frames, text, and clipping masks. It has an average rating of 4,6 out of 5 and has accumulated millions of downloads. It's free with ads, with in-app purchases to unlock more features and filters exclusive to members. Its practical approach and the ability to choose the canvas size make it a very complete companion for manga and illustration.

An important plus is its integration with other creative ecosystems and the Windows version. Additionally, the community shares timelapses and tutorials that make it easy to learn specific tools and techniques, which is key for anyone who wants to learn creative techniques. start or want to improve.

Medi Bang Paint

If comics are your thing, MediBang Paint shines. It was born with comics and manga in mind, and offers you between 50 and more than 90 customizable brushes, fonts, preset backgrounds, patterns, and vignette tools. With a free account, you get access to their cloud for backups and syncing your work between devices. It's lightweight, cross-platform, and free, with an easy-to-understand interface and resources for dialogues, tones and action.

The app allows you to use layers, insert photos, export to the cloud, and take advantage of its ART Street community to share works and learn with speed paintings. As a pocket-sized comic book tool, it's one of the most comprehensive and highly recommended if you want to create your own. publish online or print.

Infinite painter

Infinite Painter stands out for its painting engine and very clean interface. It comes with more than 160 brushes and the option to create your own, supports layers with Photoshop-like blending modes, selection and clipping masks, perspective guides, and symmetries. It lets you work with sketches, portraits, and cityscapes, create 3D designs, and apply filters and blurs. It's free to start, but for advanced features, the pro version is recommended, sometimes with a 7-day trial period. It's especially effective on powerful tablets. fine and precise.

The brush response on the texture of the digital paper is very natural, achieving finishes reminiscent of traditional media without having to manage bulky physical canvases.

Art Flow

ArtFlow is another beloved veteran. It offers over 80 brushes and tools with pen pressure support, high-resolution canvases up to 4090 x 4090, and up to 50 combinable layers. It exports in JPG, PNG, and PSD for further editing in Photoshop and boasts intelligent palm rejection that prevents palm-pressing errors. The free version limits you to three layers and six undo steps, but the Pro license unlocks over 100 brushes, layer filters, and advanced options. It's fast, intuitive, and feels great. solid for daily use.

Voted by editors as one of the best drawing apps on Android, it remains up to date despite the arrival of more popular options. Ideal for both students and already proficient illustrators. its own flow.

PaperDraw and PaperColor

Colorfit's PaperDraw, also known to many as PaperColor, offers a basic and straightforward experience. The free version offers ten brushes and a single layer, a ruler, an eraser, and the ability to sign your work by hand. Paying removes ads, unlocks layers, more brushes, a text tool, and customization options. A common mode is import a photo to trace it and learn anatomical strokes, light, or graffiti. It's simple, very accessible, and with extras like an author's signature to protect your creations. simple and visible.

Many users praise its ease of use and its comprehensiveness for quick sketches. Its color tools and brush library are enough for anyone to find their sweet spot and start making. constant progress.

Sony sketch

Sketch is Sony's official drawing app, but it can be installed on any Android device. It comes with brushes, stickers, an eraser, a layer editor, and more. It's free with ads and in-app purchases and has impressive stats on Google Play, with over 100 million downloads and an average rating of 4,5 out of 5. If you want a friendly environment, an active community, and well-designed basic tools, this is a great option. to keep in mind.

Adobe Illustrator Draw and Adobe Photoshop Sketch

For years, Illustrator Draw and Photoshop Sketch were two heavyweights on Android. Illustrator Draw focused on vectors with predefined brushes, layers, up to 64x zoom, and export to Illustrator; Photoshop Sketch recreated natural media such as pencils, markers, inks, and watercolors with layers and a customizable toolbar. Both allowed you to bring projects to Photoshop and Illustrator, and use Adobe Stock or Capture templates. They required an Adobe account with 2 GB of free cloud storage. Since July 2021, they were no longer available for download, and it was easier to migrate projects to Adobe Fresco, which focuses on iPad and Windows. Even so, if you already have them installed or are coming from their ecosystem, their legacy remains. reference for vector and sketch.

Layer Paint HD

LayerPaint HD is a very capable tool focused on detailed illustration. It allows you to create your own brushes, use a foreground color brush, clipping layers to match the background, layer lock, watercolor edge effects, selection, and bucket, with stroke stabilization up to 8 levels. If you use a stylus, it only detects the pencil and prevents accidental hand touches. Very useful when you need to. fine lines and maximum control.

ArtRage

For realistic painting, ArtRage excels with oils, watercolors, crayons, rollers, airbrushes, and tubes with paint density control. It manages layers, Photoshop-style blending modes, opacity, and more, with export in PNG or JPG. It's paid, but its unique approach to simulating the physical behavior of paint makes it a fantastic option if you're into painting. traditional finish.

Apps with over 10 million downloads and high ratings

If you want to stick to the premise of 10 million installs and a rating above 4, the classic selection on Android includes ibis Paint X, MediBang Paint, PaperDraw or PaperColor, Autodesk SketchBook and Sony Sketch. For that reason, some lists leave out Adobe Illustrator Draw, ArtFlow or Adobe Photoshop Sketch, not because they are not good, but because strict download criteria. All of them remain valid options depending on your uses and needs.

Recommendations by level and use

Getting off to a good start makes all the difference. If you're just trying out something new, it's a good idea to have an intuitive, free or inexpensive app that lets you experiment seamlessly and has a community that helps you grow. tutorials and examples.

For starters

• Ibis Paint for mobile and tablet, with many tools and timelapse.
• Medi Bang Paint If you are interested in comics and need plots and vignettes.
• Chalk on desktop, free, powerful and with basic animation.
• Clip Studio Paint in its simple mode, ideal for starting without giving up on growing.

For advanced users

If you've mastered the basics or are looking for something specific, opt for tools with professional features. Clip Studio Paint excels at illustration, comics, and manga; Infinite Painter and ArtFlow perform very well on Android with advanced stroke control and layers; and if you combine it with a PC or iPad, Photoshop, Corel Painter, or Paintstorm Studio provide brushes and controls. high level.

According to use

• Professional illustration: Clip Studio Paint, Infinite Painter, SketchBook.
• Comics, manga and webtoon: MediBang Paint, Clip Studio Paint for their vignette, pattern, and export tools.
• Animation of your drawings: Clip Studio Paint and easy timelapse options in ibis Paint.
• Vectors and design: Illustrator on iPad and desktop; on Android, Illustrator Draw is no longer available, but you can still use it. SVG and exports from other apps.
• Doodling for fun: PaperColor, Sony Sketch, PaperDraw.

iPad and desktop software that complements your workflow

Clip Studio Paint

It's a highly versatile digital art suite for illustration, comics, and animation, with natural-stroke brushes, poseable 3D figures, patterns, vignettes, and a timelapse function. It shares the same features on Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, and Chromebook, with cloud syncing and an official resource repository for downloading brushes and resources. It has a one-time purchase on desktop (PRO for €49 and EX for €218) and monthly plans for one or more devices starting at €3,99 per month, in addition to a low-cost smartphone plan. It offers a 30-day trial on PC and up to 3 months free on mobile plans. It's a robust and scalable bet.

Adobe Photoshop

Image editing standard that also works for illustration. It stands out for its color correction, CMYK compatibility for printing, and stroke stabilization. It works on a subscription basis with a 7-day trial. The Photography plan is around €24,19 per month, and the All Apps plan is around €36,29 per month for the first year. If you like to customize everything and already work with Adobe, it's a great option. great complement.

Corel Painter 2023

Focused on natural painting with over 900 brushes and a very realistic feel. It has an annual subscription for around 225 euros and a one-time purchase for around 425 euros with a 30-day trial. Painter Essentials 8 is available as a more affordable version and an Android app called Painter Mobile with both a basic and paid level. For those who prioritize painting, organic brushstroke, is excellent.

Chalk

A free project for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with vector layers, symmetry, and animation. It may experience some lag and requires some customization, but its power and community are a huge plus. You can support it by purchasing it on Steam or the Microsoft Store, and betas are already available for ChromeOS and Android. Highly recommended if you're looking for something new. open source and flexible.

Paint Tool SAI

Loved for its stroke stabilization and its smooth drawing feel, though it lacks text, gradients, and shapes in its classic version and doesn't support CMYK. It has a 31-day trial version and is priced at approximately 5500 JPY. The SAI 2 beta adds text and rulers. Ideal if you want to clean line and control first of all.

Adobe Cool

Drawing and painting app for iPad and Windows that combines raster and vector brushes, with highly polished watercolor and oil painting simulation, color mixing, and compatibility with Photoshop brushes. It's freemium and available within Creative Cloud or with individual plans for iPad. If you're coming from Adobe, it integrates with your cloud and seamless workflow. complications.

Adobe Illustrator on iPad

A touch-based version of Illustrator with Apple Pencil optimization, over 18 fonts, and ready-to-use color palettes. It works in the cloud and works with Photoshop and Fresco. After a month's trial, it requires a subscription, starting at $9,99 per month or a Design Mobile plan for $14,99. For pure vector design, it's a a delight to design on tablet.

Recommended equipment and tips for drawing on Android

To get the most out of your tablet, you need a generous screen. Today, there are powerful Android tablets for less than 200 euros and compatible styluses at reasonable prices. If you use a pressure-sensitive stylus, apps like ArtFlow or Infinite Painter shine. Brands like XP-PEN have recently launched a range of tablets and digitizer screens, from the Star G640S and G960S to the Deco 01 V2, Deco Pro, Deco Fun, Deco MINI4 and MINI7, Deco MW Bluetooth or Deco LW Bluetooth, in addition to the second-generation Artist series. Many can connect to your Android phone or tablet and also to your PC, improving the user experience. ergonomics and precision when drawing long sessions.

If you work across multiple platforms, take advantage of cloud services like MediBang or third-party services. Exporting in PSD to Photoshop or using open formats like PNG and SVG saves you time. And remember to disable system gestures when drawing to avoid unwanted touches or enable palm rejection if your app allows it. Some programs integrate timelapse of the process, perfect for sharing your progress on social media or learning from others.

Downloads, ratings and important notes

On Google Play and the App Store, you have a universe of drawing apps. If you stick to Android and go by volume, there's a trio of essential apps with more than 10 million downloads and ratings above 4, such as ibis Paint X, MediBang Paint, PaperDraw or PaperColor, Autodesk SketchBook, and Sony Sketch. Others like ArtFlow, LayerPaint HD, Infinite Painter, or ArtRage may not exceed that mark in all regions, but they are alternatives. very solid.

Adobe Illustrator Draw and Photoshop Sketch were discontinued in 2021, with migration to Fresco recommended on iOS and Windows. If you have them, you can still export to PSD or AI and continue on desktop. And if you're looking for desktop or iPad options to complement your Android, the sections above cover Photoshop, Clip Studio, Corel Painter, Krita, Paint Tool SAI, Adobe Fresco, and Illustrator, with their pricing and trial periods.

For beginners, there are online courses focused on SketchBook and other apps on platforms like Domestika that can serve as a boost. With a good pencil, a decent tablet, and one of these apps, you have a drawing studio in your pocket, ready to go. create at any time.

With all this choice, it's hard not to find your ideal app. If you prioritize simplicity and community, go for ibis Paint X or MediBang; if you're looking for fluidity and a clean environment, SketchBook is a winner; for expressive painting, Infinite Painter and ArtRage make you feel the brush; and if you work with comics with ambition, Clip Studio on Android, iPad, or PC is probably the most complete option. Add a comfortable stylus, activate the cloud, and you'll have a modern, stable workflow with professional-grade tools.