Clip Studio Paint
An app that gives comic and manga artists a full studio on a tablet.
What Clip Studio Paint does
Clip Studio Paint is a drawing and painting app built with comics, manga and webtoons in mind. It has panel and speech bubble tools, 3D pose models, vector layers and animation. It runs on iPad, iPhone and Android, with a free trial and then a monthly or yearly plan.
If you want to make comics, this is the app to look at first. You get panel frames, speech balloons, screen tones and multi-page projects, plus 3D figures you can pose for reference. Inking feels great thanks to line stabilization and vector layers you can tidy up later.
It is a full illustration app too, with brushes that mimic real media, a big library of free and community brushes, Liquify, mesh and puppet warp tools, and shading and color matching helpers. Animation tools let you make frame-based animations.
The pricing is the part to understand. On iPad you get a 30-day free trial, then you need a plan to save and export. PRO covers illustration and short animations; EX adds multi-page comics and unlimited animation frames. Phones get 30 free hours a month and a cheaper phone plan.
You need a Clip Studio account to buy a plan, and the app shows no ads.
Alternatives to Clip Studio Paint
Who it's for
Skip it if: People who want a free app forever. Casual doodlers who want something simple.
Pricing
30-day free trialOn iPad there is a 30-day free trial. After that, PRO is $4.89 a month and EX is $9.69 a month on the US App Store. Phones get 30 free hours a month, and the iPhone PRO plan is $0.99 a month.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.
What people like
- A deep comic toolset on a tablet or phone
- Runs on iPad, iPhone and Android
- No ads
- Generous free trial
Watch out for
- Ongoing subscription after the trial
- Saving and exporting need a paid plan on tablets
- Lots of tools to learn
Want a comic tool shaped around your story? Build your own.
Describe your app idea and Bilt builds it. Free to start, on your phone in minutes.
Try this idea: “a comic page app where I pick a panel layout, draw in each box, add speech bubbles, and export the page as an image”
Questions people ask
Is Clip Studio Paint free?
Not long term. You get a free trial (30 days on iPad, 30 hours a month on phones), then a plan is needed to save and export.
Is Clip Studio Paint good for comics?
Yes. It has panels, speech balloons, screen tones, 3D pose models and multi-page projects (EX).
Does Clip Studio Paint work on Android?
Yes. It is on Google Play as well as the App Store.
What is the difference between PRO and EX?
PRO covers illustration and short animations. EX adds multi-page comic tools and unlimited animation frames.