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Sketchbook

An app that gives you a clean, free sketchbook on your phone or tablet.

Photo & videoSketching and paintingDrawing for beginners and kidsFree plan+1 more
Get SketchbookBuild your own drawing appFree plan

What Sketchbook does

Sketchbook (once Autodesk SketchBook) is a free drawing app for iPhone, iPad and Android. It has a clean screen, good pencils and markers, layers and rulers. A one-time $2.99 Premium Bundle adds the advanced extras.

Pencils, markers, airbrushes and smudge brushes
Rulers, guides and predictive stroke for clean lines
Layers with blend modes
Export to PSD, TIFF, PNG and JPG
One-time $2.99 Premium Bundle for advanced tools
No account or login needed

Sketchbook is one of the easiest drawing apps to open and just start. The screen stays out of your way, and the brushes cover pencils, markers, airbrushes and smudge tools you can adjust. Guides, rulers and a predictive stroke tool help you get clean lines and shapes.

Layers come with blend modes, and files can be saved as TIFF with layers kept, or exported as PSD, PNG or JPG. It works with stylus pressure, including the Samsung S Pen on Android. A recent update removed the login screen, so you do not need an account.

The free app is plenty for sketching. If you want more, the $2.99 Premium Bundle adds custom and imported brushes, canvas resizing, layer masks and groups, adjustments like blur and sharpen, and PDF export.

It is not trying to be a heavy painting suite. Big, complex pieces outgrow it, but as a free everyday sketchbook it is a great pick.

Alternatives to Sketchbook

ibis Paint XHuge free drawing app with over 130,000 brushes
Sketching and paintingDrawing for beginners and kids
Free, paid from $4.49/moFree plan
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Tayasui SketchesA calm, paper-like sketchbook with realistic watercolors
Sketching and paintingDrawing for beginners and kids
Free, with paid extrasFree plan
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PENUPFree drawing, coloring and draw-along app from Samsung
Drawing for beginners and kidsSketching and painting
FreeFree plan
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FlipaClipMake flipbook-style cartoons on your phone or tablet
AnimationDrawing for beginners and kids
Free, with paid extrasFree plan
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Adobe FrescoFree drawing and painting app with brushes that blend like real paint
Sketching and paintingIllustration on iPad
FreeFree plan
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ProcreateA pay-once painting app for iPad and Apple Pencil
Illustration on iPadSketching and painting
From $12.99 one-time
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Who it's for

Beginners who want a free app that is not cluttered
Android and iPhone owners who sketch every day

Skip it if: Artists who need animation or comic tools. People making large, layered paintings.

Pricing

Free plan
Free, paid from $2.99 one-time

Sketchbook is free. The Premium Bundle is a one-time $2.99 on the App Store and adds custom brushes, layer masks and groups, canvas resizing, adjustments and PDF export.

Prices can vary by country. Checked 19 Oct 2026.

What people like

  • Free core app with a very cheap one-time upgrade
  • Clean, distraction-free screen
  • Works on iPhone, iPad and Android
  • Very high App Store rating

Watch out for

  • Fewer pro tools than paid painting apps
  • PDF export and masks need the Premium Bundle
  • No animation

Want a sketchbook with just the tools you reach for? Build your own.

Describe your app idea and Bilt builds it. Free to start, on your phone in minutes.

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Try this idea: “a simple sketch app where I draw with a pencil and a marker, use a ruler for straight lines, and save sketches into folders”

Questions people ask

Is Sketchbook still free?

Yes. The app is free, and a one-time $2.99 Premium Bundle adds advanced tools.

Is Sketchbook the same as Autodesk SketchBook?

Yes. It is now published by Sketchbook, Inc. instead of Autodesk.

Does Sketchbook work on Android?

Yes. It is on Google Play, with S Pen pressure support.

Do I need an account for Sketchbook?

No. A recent update removed the login screen, so you can just open it and draw.