Best Art and Design Apps 2025

Whether you’re a professional illustrator, a graphic design student, or just love doodling on your tablet, finding the right creative tools is essential. With mobile and desktop apps becoming more powerful than ever, artists now have access to studio-quality software right in their pocket.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up the best art and design apps across multiple categories: digital painting, graphic design, vector art, 3D modeling, UX/UI, and more. Whether you’re looking for free art apps for beginners or pro-grade tools for complex projects, there’s something here for every skill level and style.

Best Apps for Digital Painting & Illustration

These apps are designed to mimic traditional drawing and painting techniques while giving you the flexibility and versatility of digital tools.

Platform: iPad (with Apple Pencil support)
Pricing: One-time purchase approximately $12.99

Overview:

Procreate is a powerful and beloved drawing and painting app tailored specifically for iPad users. Designed with professional artists in mind, it features a sleek interface, intuitive gesture controls, and a brush engine that feels incredibly natural. With no subscription and a wide range of tools, it’s perfect for illustrators, concept artists, and hobbyists alike.

Key Features:

Over 200 customizable brushes, plus the ability to import or create your own
Full layering system with blend modes and masking
High-resolution canvas support (up to 16k x 4k on iPad Pro)
Time-lapse video recording of your artwork
ColorDrop for quick filling, quick shape for perfect geometry
Animation Assist for simple frame-by-frame animation
Export to PSD, PNG, JPG, or native Procreate formats

Best For:

Digital painting
Illustration and character design
Concept art
Sketching on-the-go
Artists who prefer a one-time purchase model

Pros:

Seamless Apple Pencil integration with pressure, tilt, and precision
No subscription required
Fast, smooth performance
Great for both beginners and professionals
Active community with free brushes and tutorials

Cons:

iOS-only (no Android or desktop support)
Limited vector or graphic design tools
No built-in cloud sync (you need iCloud or third-party storage)

2. Clip Studio Paint (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS)

Pricing: Subscription (monthly/yearly) or one-time license for desktop

Overview:

Clip Studio Paint is a favorite among comic creators, manga artists, and illustrators who want both powerful brush tools and specialized comic creation features. It has a steeper learning curve than some apps but rewards users with deep customization and control.

Key Features:

Advanced brush engine with realistic textures
Comic panel and speech bubble tools
3D model support for drawing assistance
Perspective rulers and symmetry tools
Timeline animation tools
Cloud syncing between devices

Best For:

Manga and comic book creation
Professional illustration
Artists transitioning from traditional to digital workflows

Pros:

Industry-standard for comic and manga artists
Works across devices with cloud backup
In-depth brush customization

Cons:

Subscription required for mobile versions
Interface can feel complex for beginners

3. Adobe Fresco (iOS, Windows)

Pricing: Free with in-app purchases; included in Creative Cloud bundles

Overview:

Adobe Fresco is Adobe’s answer to digital painting, combining both raster and vector brushes in one place. It’s particularly known for its live brushes, which simulate watercolor and oil painting with realistic blending.

Key Features:

Live watercolor and oil brushes that bleed and blend naturally
Integration with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
Vector brush support for scalable artwork
Unlimited layers and masking tools
Time-lapse video export

Best For:

Artists who use other Adobe products
Painters who want natural media simulation
Mixed-media and experimental workflows

Pros:

Seamless Adobe ecosystem integration
Unique live brushes mimic real paint
Free tier available

Cons:

Requires a Creative Cloud account for full features
Fewer brush customization options than Procreate or Clip Studio

Top Graphic Design Apps

Ideal for layout design, content creation, branding materials, and social media graphics.

4. Canva (iOS, Android, Web/Desktop)

Pricing: Free with premium Pro plan ($12.99/month or $119.99/year)

Overview:
Canva is one of the most popular design apps for non-designers and professionals alike. With its drag-and-drop interface and thousands of templates, it’s ideal for creating everything from social media graphics to business presentations and marketing materials. It’s user-friendly and doesn’t require prior design experience.

Key Features:

Access to millions of templates, icons, fonts, and stock photos
Easy-to-use interface with drag-and-drop functionality
Real-time collaboration and commenting
Brand Kit (with Pro plan) for consistent visual identity
Pre-sized templates for Instagram posts, YouTube thumbnails, resumes, flyers, etc.
Video editing and animation tools

Best For:

Social media managers
Small business owners
Bloggers and marketers
Educators and students

Pros:

Extremely beginner-friendly
Massive template and asset library
Free version includes generous features
Works on all devices

Cons:

Limited advanced customization
Less suitable for detailed professional-level design
Requires internet connection for most features

5. Affinity Designer (iOS, macOS, Windows)

Pricing: One-time purchase approx. $19.99 for iPad, $69.99 for desktop

Overview:
Affinity Designer is a professional vector and raster design tool often compared to Adobe Illustrator. It offers powerful tools for logo creation, UI/UX design, branding, and more without the need for a subscription. It’s well-optimized for iPad, making it one of the best portable design apps for professionals.

Key Features:

Precise vector and pixel editing in one app
Unlimited artboards and zoom at over 1 million percent
Advanced typography controls and grid systems
Real-time effects, blend modes, and layer styles
Snap-to-pixel accuracy for clean web and interface design

Best For:

Professional graphic designers
Logo and branding work
Web and UI mockups
Designers looking to avoid subscriptions

Pros:

Fully professional tool with great performance
No subscription pay once and own it
Cross-platform with iPad and desktop versions
Can handle complex projects with ease

Cons:

Steeper learning curve for beginners
Smaller template library compared to Canva
No cloud sync unless manually configured

Best Vector Drawing & Logo Design Tools

6. Adobe Illustrator (iPad, macOS, Windows)

Pricing: Subscription only ($20.99/month or included with Adobe Creative Cloud)

Overview:
Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard for vector design and logo creation. Now also available on iPad, it offers nearly the same functionality as the desktop version, including pen tools, vector brushes, and advanced path editing.

Key Features:

Precision vector drawing tools
Shape building, typography tools, and artboard management
Full Creative Cloud integration
Access to Adobe Fonts and Libraries
Real-time syncing between devices

Best For:

Professional logo designers
Print and web designers
Vector illustration work

Pros:

Industry gold standard with extensive features
Cross-device syncing and Adobe ecosystem
Highly precise tools for complex designs

Cons:

Subscription required
Can be overwhelming for beginners
May feel heavy on older devices

7. Vectornator (iOS, macOS)

Pricing: Free

Overview:
Vectornator is a free and surprisingly robust vector illustration app available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac. It’s well-suited for users who want to create professional-level designs without the cost of premium software.

Key Features:

Pen tool, shape builder, auto-trace, and Boolean operations
Unlimited layers, advanced text editing, and artboards
SVG and PDF import/export
Works seamlessly with Apple Pencil
Cloud sync with iCloud

Best For:

Freelancers and students
Mobile vector art
Logo design, typography, and layout

Pros:

Completely free with no ads
Powerful vector tools rivaling paid apps
Great for touch and pen input
Clean interface and good performance

Cons:

No Android or Windows support
Some advanced Illustrator features are missing

8. Inkscape (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Pricing: Free (Open-source)

Overview:

Inkscape is a fully-featured vector editor favored by those who want professional tools without the cost. It’s open-source, which means it’s constantly evolving and has a passionate community behind it.

Key Features:

Comprehensive vector drawing tools
Node editing, path operations, and bitmap tracing
Supports SVG, PDF, EPS, and AI formats
Customizable interface and extensions support

Best For:

Students
Budget-conscious designers
Cross-platform use including Linux

Pros:

100% free and open-source
Extensive feature set for a free program
Works well for creating logos, illustrations, and diagrams

Cons:

UI feels outdated compared to modern apps
Performance can lag with large files
Learning curve can be steep

Top 3D Art & Modeling Apps

If you’re venturing into 3D art, animation, or product design, these apps provide robust features for modeling, sculpting, and rendering.

9. Blender (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Pricing: Free (Open-source)

Overview:

Blender is a powerful, all-in-one 3D creation suite used for modeling, sculpting, animation, VFX, and rendering. It’s widely adopted in professional game development, animation studios, and indie filmmaking. Despite being free, it offers features that rival expensive 3D software.

Key Features:

Polygonal modeling, sculpting, texturing, and UV mapping
Powerful Cycles and Eevee rendering engines
Rigging, skinning, and pose animation
Node-based materials and compositing
Physics simulations (fluid, cloth, smoke)
Video editing and motion tracking

Best For:

Professional and aspiring 3D artists
Animators and game developers
Indie filmmakers and VFX creators

Pros:

Entirely free and open-source
Huge user community and thousands of tutorials
Regular updates and plugin support
Production-ready feature set

Cons:

Steep learning curve for beginners
Requires a powerful computer for rendering
Complex interface may feel overwhelming

10. Nomad Sculpt (iOS, Android)

Pricing: Approx. $14.99 one-time purchase

Overview:

Nomad Sculpt is a highly intuitive and tactile 3D sculpting app designed for mobile devices. It brings the feel of clay modeling into the digital world, optimized for stylus use like the Apple Pencil. Perfect for hobbyists and concept artists who want to sculpt on the go.

Key Features:

Dynamic topology and voxel remeshing
Clay, move, trim, and flatten tools
Real-time rendering with PBR materials and lighting
Layers and masking support
OBJ and GLTF export for use in other software

Best For:

Beginners in 3D sculpting
Character artists and illustrators
Portable 3D workflows

Pros:

Mobile-friendly and fast
Intuitive touch and pen-based UI
Great price-to-feature ratio

Cons:

Not ideal for animation or complex hard-surface modeling
Limited file format support compared to desktop tools
Requires a newer tablet for smooth performance

11. Shapr3D (iOS, macOS, Windows)

Pricing: Free with limited features; Pro plan ~$25/month

Overview:

Shapr3D is a precision CAD modeling tool built for industrial designers, engineers, and product designers. It’s known for combining professional-grade 3D modeling with a clean, user-friendly touch interface, especially on iPad.

Key Features:

Direct modeling with parametric constraints
STL, STEP, and IGES file support for 3D printing and CAD
Real-time sectioning and dimensioning
Apple Pencil optimization
Integration with SolidWorks

Best For:

Product and mechanical design
Engineers and architects
Industrial design professionals

Pros:

Extremely accurate and intuitive
Mobile-first, perfect for prototyping on-site
Fast modeling with pencil gestures

Cons:

Premium features locked behind a paywall
Not suitable for organic modeling or animation
Limited texture and rendering tools

UX/UI and Web Design Tools

12. Figma (Web-based, Desktop, iOS/Android for viewing)

Pricing: Free for individuals; paid team plans available

Overview:
Figma is a cloud-based collaborative interface design tool that has become a favorite in the UX/UI design community. It supports real-time collaboration and prototyping, making it ideal for teams working on apps, websites, and design systems.

Key Features:

Vector editing tools and auto-layout for responsive design
Real-time collaboration with commenting
Prototyping with interactions and transitions
Design system and component management
Plugin ecosystem for icons, maps, content, etc.

Best For:

UX/UI designers
Web and mobile app teams
Remote design collaboration

Pros:

Accessible via browser no heavy downloads
Real-time collaboration with teammates
Great for building reusable components and styles

Cons:

Requires constant internet connection
Limited raster editing tools
Interface may feel different for Adobe users

13. Sketch (macOS only)

Pricing: Free trial; $99/year license

Overview:

Sketch was the original UX/UI design darling for macOS users and is still widely used for wireframing and interface design. With a growing plugin ecosystem and solid design-to-code workflows, it’s a strong choice for solo designers and small teams.

Key Features:

Vector-based design tools
Symbols and reusable design components
Real-time collaboration (with Sketch Cloud)
Integration with tools like Zeplin and InVision
Responsive resizing and artboards

Best For:

Product designers
Web and mobile UI designers
macOS-centric workflows

Pros:

Lightweight and fast on Mac
Excellent vector handling
Huge plugin library

Cons:

macOS only
Lacks native prototyping depth compared to Figma
Collaboration tools not as strong as Figma

14. Adobe XD (Windows, macOS)

Pricing: Free starter plan; full access via Creative Cloud

Overview

Adobe XD is Adobe’s entry into the UX/UI space, offering wireframing, design, prototyping, and sharing in a single tool. It integrates well with other Adobe apps, making it a natural fit for users already in the Adobe ecosystem.

Key Features:

Vector drawing tools and reusable components
Interactive prototypes with animations
Voice prototyping and transitions
Cloud document sharing and coediting
Plugins for usability testing, icon libraries, and more

Best For:

UX designers who use Adobe Creative Cloud
Interactive prototype design
Collaboration with developers

Pros:

Intuitive and clean interface
Great for designing and testing user flows
Works well with Photoshop and Illustrator

Cons:

Limited browser-based collaboration features
Some prototyping features are still basic
Smaller plugin ecosystem than Figma

Free vs. Paid Options

Choosing between free and paid apps often comes down to your goals and budget. Fortunately, some of the best art and design apps offer free versions that are surprisingly powerful.

Notable Free Options:

Canva (free with premium tiers)
Vectornator (entirely free)
Krita (free desktop painting app with pro-level features)
Figma (free tier for individuals)
Inkscape (fully open-source)

Paid Tools Worth Investing In:

Procreate (one-time fee)
Affinity Designer (one-time fee)
Adobe Creative Cloud (subscription model, but includes Illustrator, Photoshop, and Fresco)

Subscription vs. one-time payment is often a deciding factor, especially for students or freelancers just starting out.

Tips for Choosing the Right App

Not sure where to begin? Here are a few things to consider when picking the right digital painting apps or graphic design tools:

Skill level: Beginners may prefer Canva or Procreate, while advanced users might need Illustrator or Blender.
Device compatibility: Not all apps are available on both Android and iOS or across mobile and desktop.
Creative goals: Are you making comics, logos, animations, or UI prototypes?
Community support: Apps with large communities often have more tutorials, brushes, templates, and troubleshooting help.
Budget: Evaluate what features you need now vs. what you’ll grow into over time.

Experimenting with different platforms is often the best way to find what feels intuitive and inspiring to use.

Conclusion: Let the Right Tools Empower Your Creativity

Choosing the right tools is a key part of your creative workflow. Whether you’re a digital painter, a logo designer, or a UI/UX pro, today’s tools offer incredible power and flexibility across platforms.

These art and design apps can help you level up your work, explore new mediums, and stay productive whether you’re at your desk or on the go. From free art apps for beginners to advanced programs used by professionals, there’s an app for every artist’s journey.

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