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Best digital art and drawing software of 2025: Quick Menu(Image credit: Shutterstock)1. Best overall2. Best for painters3. Best free painting app4. Best for realism5. Best free drawing software6. Best for cross-platform7. FAQs8. How we testLooking for the best digital art software and the best drawing software? We've put the top tools through their paces, and these are desktop programs we recommend. Our reviews team have tested hundreds of creative programs including the best drawing apps and the best free digital art software. From our own reviews, Adobe Photoshop is our top choice for digital art and drawing. The program works across Windows and Apple devices, and it's packed with every tool a professional artist or beginner designer might need. We've rounded up the best drawing software and the best digital art software we've used. As part our comprehensive review process, we've explored the drawing and painting experience, range of brushes and tools, and pricing. The best digital art and drawing software of 2025 in full:Best digital art & drawing software overallWhy you can trust TechRadarWe spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.(Image credit: Future)Top choice for illustrators and artistsSpecificationsOperating system: Windows, macOS, iPadOS, AndroidPlan: SubscriptionBilling: Monthly, Annual, Annual billed monthlyReasons to buy+Easy-to-use+Cloud-based suite+Comprehensive toolsReasons to avoid-Subscription only-May intimidate newcomers-No Android versionWhen it comes to the best digital art software, Adobe has dominated the scene for decades. Popular with artists and designers, it's effectively the industry-standard drawing software - so, whether you're a professional or just starting out, knowing Photoshop is a great skill to have. There's not a lot you can't create with the software - unless you're using an Android device, in which case, you'll have to make do with the limited Photoshop Express. The main app, though, features a host AI tools for automating the more complex elements of digital art. Changing backgrounds, removing subjects, adding filters are all streamlined. It's constantly being updated, too. Photoshop's interface might seem overwhelming if you're new to it. The software is absolutely full of features, so it can be difficult to know what every tool means or where to find them. But you'll find plenty of guides online, and once you understand Photoshop, you'll easily find your way around Adobe's other Creative Cloud apps. The digital art and drawing software is available as a standalone subscription, bundled with Lightroom and 1TB cloud storage on the Photography plan, and as part of the Adobe Creative Clouds All Apps subscription. Read our full Adobe Photoshop review.^ Back to topBest free digital art software(Image credit: Gimp)Unlimited digital artworkSpecificationsOperating system: Windows, macOS, LinuxPlan: FreeBilling: NoneReasons to buy+Advanced editing tools+Cross-platform+Raw and PSD compatible+Free and open source+Great community supportReasons to avoid-Steep learning curve-Could be more responsiveGimp - or GNU Image Maniipulation Program - is a professional-grade digital art tool that works across Windows, macOS, and Linux machines. When it comes to the best digital art software, Gimp is to

The best software for digital art also allows you to break away from traditional methods. Layers, effects, filters, and many other tools allow you to manipulate your art in ways not previously possible.What is the best drawing software for PC?Adobe Photoshop is the best drawing software for Windows devices overall. The digital art program sets an industry-standard for features and tools, including impressive AI work to lighten the load. Photoshop also works well combined with the likes of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Fresco. Corel Painter, Rebelle, and Krita offer extra for digital artists and painters. To help you find the right program for you, we've reviewed the best Photoshop alternatives.What’s the best drawing software for Mac?Photoshop is the best software for drawing on Mac. It may feel daunting if you’re a beginner, but the powerful tool is intuitively designed, delivering pro results. It syncs your artwork across iPhone and iPad, too. If you’re an artist looking for painting apps on Mac, we recommend trying Corel Painter and Rebelle. Krita is a good free and open-source alternative. What’s the best free digital art software? Gimp is the best free digital art software on WIndows, Mac, and Linux. The open-source drawing app is as powerful as Adobe Photoshop, however, there is a learning curve to mastering the tool. The freemium Adobe Fresco is also worth trying, without having to pay for the full app. Krita is a fully-featured open-source digital art app for Windows, Mac, and Android, if you want to paint and draw. For a simple free drawing software on PC, try Artweaver. It’s been around a while now, and the free version is somewhat limited, but the highly configurable brush system makes it worth a download. What software do digital artists use?Digital artists express themselves through a range of drawing apps. Many professionals use Photoshop, which works across desktop, mobile, and tablet and integrates with Adobe’s other digital art apps like Adobe Illustrator. Gimp is an open-source alternative to Photoshop, although it’s tied to desktops. The well-loved Procreate is a favorite drawing tool among talented digital artists. Autodesk Sketchbook is a great professional illustrator app for iPhone, Android, Windows, macOS, and iPad. What are some digital art software alternatives? While we've tested out the best digital art and drawing software, there are still alternative tools available - especially if looking for something more entry-level, or simply competent when it comes to art and design.PaintShop Pro is a neat little art program. Although not as fully featured as some of the above it's still very competent software for many aspects of art and design. Whether it's photo editing, drawing, or creating/designing graphics, there are a lot of tools and additional plugins available to get the effect you want. Originally developed by Jasc, it's now part of the Corel stable of creative programs.Adobe Illustrator can sometimes be thought of as being the little brother to the more powerful Photoshop, but don't overlook its possibilities. While Photoshop was originally built for photo editing,

Features, and it even offers AI-based tools to make it more convenient for you to create realistic paint effects.It’s a solid choice. You just have to make sure you’ve got good hardware support. Otherwise, you may experience lags and shutdowns!Get Corel Painter! Not sure whether you’ll like digital art? OR, are you just not a fan of spending money on software?Krita is a FREE, open-source drawing software suitable for those who like to draw manga and comics!It’s not as powerful as the other recommended programs we’ve mentioned thus far. BUT, it has withstood the test of time and maintained a good standing in the eyes of many modern artists.Give Krita a Try for FREE! FAQsWhat Device Do Most Digital Artists Use?Digital artists need to use a pen tablet — also called, ‘drawing tablet’ or ‘digital tablet’ — in order to start creating digital art. The only exceptions are those who prefer to draw with a mouse, those who want to use an iPad, etc.If you’re wondering which drawing tablet is most suitable for your needs, you can check out this article on the most popular drawing tablets to find one that matches you.What Do I Need to Start Digital Art?Generally, outside of the digital art software, you’ll need a digital tablet, a computer with middle-to-high-grade hardware to run the drawing program, and a durable keyboard and mouse to use as shortcuts whilst drawing.If you want to use an iPad instead, all you’ll need is a stylus and a digital art app. Most digital drawing apps have built-in touch gestures, so a keyboard and mouse is optional.What Drawing Software Do Professionals Use for Drawing?Most professionals use Photoshop CC as their favorite drawing software. Although better known as photo editing software, it is actually packed with abundant features for working on illustrations and painting.Which Painting Software is Best for Comic Art?If you want to create comics, the painting software we recommend is Clip Studio or Krita. Both are very popular with artists who prefer to draw or paint comics, webtoons, or manga.Which Digital Art Software is Best for Android?The digital art software recommended for Android is Clip Studio Paint. You can also try Sketchbook and ArtFlow.The Bottom Line: The Right Digital Art SoftwareAs a final piece of advice, the only way to find the right digital art software is through experimentation and practice.So, go ahead and pick a few favorites from our list and brush up on your drawing skills!Related posts:74 Easy Drawing Ideas For Beginners To Fuel Your Creative FireWant the Best iPad for Drawing in 2024? Read This First.27 Easy Monochromatic Painting IdeasColor Theory In Art: The Definitive Guide for ArtistsBest Online Digital Art Classes in 2023: Top 8 Courses