Simply Draw earned its 4.5 rating because it does one thing well: short video tutorials guide you through pencil drawings step by step, with a personalized path that adapts to what you want to learn. The complaints come from learners who stick around. The catalog is shallow once you finish the introductory paths, the practice canvas inside the app is basic compared with real digital sketching tools, and the Pro subscription is hard to justify when free apps with deeper tutorial communities exist. If you have hit any of those, here are seven Simply Draw alternatives that pair stronger drawing tools with bigger tutorial libraries.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Notable strength | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sketchbook | Free pro-grade drawing for sketchers | Yes, fully free | All brushes and tools, no IAPs | Android, iOS |
| Ibis Paint X | Drawing with a huge community-tutorial layer | Yes, ad-supported | YouTube-tutorial-friendly tools | Android, iOS |
| Infinite Painter | Professional brush engine on tablets | Limited free | Deep brush customization | Android, iOS |
| ArtFlow | Android-native pro drawing studio | Yes, with limits | Stylus-optimized tools | Android |
| MediBang Paint | Comic-and-manga focused drawing | Yes, fully free | Built-in comic templates | Android, iOS, web |
| Skillshare | Instructor-led drawing courses | Trial month | Project-based classes | Android, iOS, web |
| Krita | Open-source pro paint studio | Yes, fully free | Desktop-grade brushes | Android, desktop |
Why people leave Simply Draw
The catalog is shallow past the basics. After working through the intro paths, advanced learners run out of new tutorial content fast.
The drawing canvas is locked in to lesson context. There is no real free-form sketching tool, no layer management, no advanced brushes, which means you cannot use the same app to make the next thing you want to draw.
Pro pricing is hard to justify. Subscription content sits next to free apps with deeper tools and active YouTube tutorial communities.
Stylus and tablet support is basic. Pen pressure handling and palm rejection do not match what a real drawing app delivers.
The personalization is rules-based, not personal. The “personalized path” follows a template; advanced learners want to pick what they study, not be guided.
The best Simply Draw alternatives
1. Sketchbook by Autodesk, best free pro-grade drawing app
Sketchbook went fully free in 2018 when Autodesk released the entire Pro feature set with no IAPs. The result is one of the strongest no-cost drawing apps on Android: 190+ brushes, layers, blend modes, perspective guides, symmetry tools, and a clean fullscreen canvas. For Simply Draw learners who want to sketch what they have just learned, Sketchbook is the obvious place to do it.
Where it falls short: No tutorials inside the app. Sketchbook is a tool, not a class. Pair it with YouTube or Skillshare lessons to learn technique.
Strengths over Simply Draw: Real drawing tool with everything unlocked. Weaknesses vs Simply Draw: No structured tutorials.
Switching from Simply Draw: Open Sketchbook, pick a basic round brush, and replicate the last Simply Draw lesson without the guided overlay.
Bottom line: First-choice swap. Free, deep, and trusted across the industry.
2. Ibis Paint X, best for drawing with a massive tutorial community
Ibis Paint X has 80+ million downloads and one of the largest tutorial communities of any mobile drawing app. The app records your drawing as a process video by default, so the tutorial culture has grown into an enormous library of step-by-step videos on YouTube and inside the app’s “Online Gallery”. Brushes, screentones, materials, and fonts are deep enough for finished comics and illustrations.
Where it falls short: The free tier shows ads. Premium ($2.99/month or one-off $9.99) removes them and unlocks more brushes and fonts. The interface is dense for new users.
Strengths over Simply Draw: Massive tutorial community, real brush variety, comic-friendly. Weaknesses vs Simply Draw: No structured curriculum, ad-supported free tier.
Switching from Simply Draw: Install, watch a “Ibis Paint X for beginners” video, and follow along inside the app.
Bottom line: Best for learners who like learning from real artists’ process videos.
3. Infinite Painter, best professional brush engine on Android tablets
Infinite Painter is the closest Android gets to Procreate. The brush engine handles real-media simulation (oil, watercolor, ink) at a level Sketchbook does not match, and the perspective tools (multi-vanishing point, fish-eye, panorama) are genuinely pro features. For Simply Draw users on a Galaxy Tab S or similar tablet, Infinite Painter unlocks the full creative range.
Where it falls short: The full feature set requires the paid Pro version. The interface is denser than Sketchbook’s.
Strengths over Simply Draw: Professional brushes, real perspective tools, tablet-optimized. Weaknesses vs Simply Draw: Paid for full features, no built-in tutorials.
Switching from Simply Draw: Try the free version first to see how the brushes feel on your stylus before paying.
Bottom line: Best paid pick for serious tablet artists.
4. ArtFlow, best Android-native drawing studio
ArtFlow was built Android-first and the design shows: stylus and S Pen handling are excellent, the brush engine is smooth on mid-range devices, and the canvas can grow to massive resolutions for detailed work. It is less polished than Infinite Painter but cheaper to unlock fully.
Where it falls short: Smaller community than Ibis or Sketchbook means fewer tutorials. Limited iOS presence.
Strengths over Simply Draw: Stylus-tuned, large canvas, lower upgrade price. Weaknesses vs Simply Draw: Smaller tutorial community.
Switching from Simply Draw: Best on a Samsung tablet with S Pen. Try the free version with a stylus before committing to the upgrade.
Bottom line: Best pick for S Pen tablet owners on a budget.
5. MediBang Paint, best for comic-and-manga drawing
MediBang Paint is built around comic and manga creation. The free app includes built-in comic page templates, panel rulers, screentones, and cloud sync between phone, tablet, and desktop. For Simply Draw learners whose endgame is comic art rather than realistic pencil drawings, MediBang fits the workflow that Simply Draw never aimed at.
Where it falls short: It is comic-specialized. For pure pencil-and-paper sketching practice, Sketchbook is more general.
Strengths over Simply Draw: Free, comic-specific tools, cloud sync across devices. Weaknesses vs Simply Draw: Specialized for comics.
Switching from Simply Draw: Pick a comic template, lay out a 4-panel page, and draw a short story.
Bottom line: Right swap when manga or comics is the goal.
6. Skillshare, best for instructor-led drawing courses
Skillshare is not a drawing app but it is the closest thing to “Simply Draw with a deeper catalog”. Thousands of project-based drawing classes from working illustrators, ranging from anatomy and perspective to character design and watercolor. Each class includes a downloadable project, so the structure that Simply Draw promises is delivered at a much wider scale.
Where it falls short: Subscription required. No drawing canvas inside the app, you bring your own tool. Class quality varies.
Strengths over Simply Draw: Massive catalog, instructor-led, project-based. Weaknesses vs Simply Draw: Subscription, no built-in canvas.
Switching from Simply Draw: Take the free trial month, bookmark three illustration classes, and pair it with Sketchbook for the canvas.
Bottom line: Right choice if you want curriculum, not a canvas.
7. Krita, best open-source pro paint studio
Krita is the open-source desktop paint program that artists use professionally for concept art, comic work, and animation. The Android build brings the same engine to phones and tablets, with the famous Krita brush library and color management. It is fully free with no IAPs and no telemetry.
Where it falls short: The Android build is newer than the desktop version and the touch experience is rougher around the edges. Best on a tablet with a stylus.
Strengths over Simply Draw: Desktop-grade brushes, fully free, no telemetry. Weaknesses vs Simply Draw: Touch interface still maturing.
Switching from Simply Draw: Best paired with the desktop app for cross-device work. Save .kra files to Drive and round-trip.
Bottom line: Choose Krita if you want a free, fully-featured paint program with no subscription.
How to choose
Pick Sketchbook if you want a free, full-featured drawing canvas to actually practice in.
Pick Ibis Paint X if you learn best by watching real artists’ process videos.
Pick Infinite Painter or ArtFlow for tablet-first pro drawing. Infinite Painter for the best brushes; ArtFlow for stronger Android-native S Pen handling.
Pick MediBang Paint if comics or manga is the goal.
Pick Skillshare if your problem is curriculum, not canvas. Pair with one of the free drawing apps above.
Pick Krita if you want desktop-grade tools at zero cost and own a tablet with a stylus.
Stay on Simply Draw if you specifically need pencil-style step-by-step lessons that hold your hand through every line. Its niche is real, even if the catalog is shallow.
FAQ
What is the best free Simply Draw alternative?
Sketchbook by Autodesk is fully free with all pro features unlocked. Krita is also fully free and open source. Both pair well with free YouTube tutorials.
Is Procreate available on Android?
No. Procreate and Procreate Pocket are iOS-only. The closest Android equivalents are Sketchbook, Infinite Painter, and ArtFlow.
Which drawing app is best for beginners?
Sketchbook for the simplest interface with all tools unlocked. Ibis Paint X for the largest beginner tutorial library on YouTube.
Which app handles the S Pen best?
ArtFlow and Sketchbook are both well-tuned for the S Pen. Infinite Painter on a Galaxy Tab S also performs well.
Can I learn to draw without a tutorial app?
Yes. Pair any of the drawing apps above with free YouTube channels (Proko, Marc Brunet, Sinix Design) or a Skillshare subscription for project-based classes.
