How to Do Digital Art on Your Phone is easier than ever thanks to powerful mobile apps that let you sketch, paint, or design no matter where you are. Whether you’re commuting, traveling, or simply relaxing at a café, your phone can become a portable art studio. There are a variety of apps available for both iPhone and Android that offer intuitive interfaces and professional-grade tools, making it simple to dive into digital creativity. If you’re wondering how to do digital art on your phone without facing a steep learning curve, you’ll find that many of these apps cater directly to both beginners and professionals. Explore this list of top-rated tools and discover how to do digital art on your phone in a way that fits your workflow and artistic style. With the right app, you’ll learn quickly how to do digital art on your phone and unlock a whole new level of creative freedom.
1.Procreate Pocket
Procreate Pocket gives you everything you need to create stunning digital art—right from your iPhone. Available on the Apple App Store, this powerful app includes a wide range of features, from beginner-friendly tools to advanced options for seasoned artists. To get started, you simply open Procreate Pocket and tap the white plus sign in the top right corner of the home screen to create a new canvas.From there, you can experiment with various brush types, color palettes, and artistic elements to bring your vision to life.
Note: Procreate Pocket is compatible only with iPhone and iPod Touch running iOS 13.2 or later.
While it’s a streamlined version of the iPad-exclusive Procreate app, Procreate Pocket still includes most of the core features. For a more detailed guide on using them, check out this in-depth tutorial.
2 Sketchbook
Sketchbook is an excellent, beginner-friendly app that’s perfect for digital doodling and sketching. It’s available for both Android and iOS devices, so you can easily download it from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Once you’ve installed Sketchbook on your phone, open the app and start drawing directly on the screen using your finger.
To customize your tools, tap the color wheel and pen icons in the top menu to adjust the brush’s color, size, and opacity. For more advanced design tools, tap the protractor and ruler icons to access additional features that can help refine your artwork.
3 Adobe Fresco
Adobe Fresco is a cutting-edge, professional-grade drawing app designed for serious digital artists. Available on iOS devices, it provides a wide array of high-quality tools and features—perfect for advanced or professional-level work.
Want to learn more about using Adobe Fresco? Visit the official Adobe Fresco tutorial page for step-by-step guidance.
4 iArtbook
iArtbook is packed with powerful design features, giving mobile artists a comprehensive set of tools to bring their ideas to life—much like Procreate Pocket. While the app offers everything a digital artist might need, its interface and features may be a bit complex for beginners. Those new to digital art might prefer a more intuitive option to start with.
Available for both iOS and Android devices, iArtbook also supports cloud syncing, allowing your artwork to be accessed from the desktop version of the app. This makes it an excellent choice for artists who like to work across multiple devices.
5. Paper by WeTransfer
Artists of all skill levels can enjoy Paper, a beautifully designed and versatile drawing app. It offers a clean interface and easy-to-use tools, making it perfect for quick sketches or organizing ideas in digital sketchbooks. While it’s beginner-friendly, professional artists might prefer more advanced tools like those in Procreate Pocket or iArtbook.
- Only available on iOS through the Apple App Store.
- Try the built-in Paper Demo when you first open the app to get familiar with its features.
- Design tools are conveniently located in a panel at the bottom of the screen.
6. Tayasui Sketches
Tayasui Sketches is a stylish and intuitive app, striking a good balance between functionality and ease of use.
- Available on both Android and iOS, downloadable via the App Store or Google Play.
- Launching the app takes you directly to a blank canvas where you can start drawing.
- Use the bottom menu to explore tools and features like different brush types, layers, and more.
7. Concepts
Concepts is a minimalist and free drawing app ideal for beginners, kids, or anyone who wants a lightweight, straightforward sketching experience. The app emphasizes simplicity and ease of use.
- Available on iOS, Android, and Samsung devices.
- Upon installation, you’ll be taken directly to a blank canvas where you can start sketching immediately.
- All design tools are placed at the top of the screen for quick access.
8. MediBang Paint
MediBang Paint is a powerful drawing app tailored for comic and manga creators. It includes features like comic templates, panel tools, and brush presets ideal for storytelling and character art.
- Available for Android and iOS platforms.
- Best suited for intermediate to advanced users—beginners may find the interface a bit complex.
- Check out the in-app tutorial for step-by-step guidance on using its many features.
9. FlipaClip
FlipaClip is a fun and easy-to-use 2D animation app that lets you create frame-by-frame animated videos. It’s perfect for users who want to experiment with animation in a simple and engaging way.
- Available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
- Draw each frame on its own layer and play them back to see your animation in action.
- Great for beginners interested in learning basic animation techniques.
10. ibis Paint
ibis Paint offers a comprehensive digital art experience, combining advanced tools with an intuitive, user-friendly interface.Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced digital artist, this app has everything you need—from layer support to customizable brushes.
- Available on iOS and Android; the free version is called ibis Paint X.
- Artwork can be saved to the cloud for easy syncing across devices.
- Perfect for transferring sketches from your phone to a tablet for further editing.
11. Happy Color
Happy Color is a stress-relieving coloring app based on paint-by-number mechanics. It’s ideal for users looking to relax and enjoy coloring pre-designed illustrations without needing to draw from scratch.
- Available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- Offers a huge library of themed artworks to color in.
- Note: It doesn’t support freehand drawing—great for casual creativity but not for original sketching.
