10 Best Drawing Apps for Digital Artists in India 2024

In today’s digital age, graphic designers in India have access to an incredible array of apps and programs to transform their creative visions into stunning digital art. With the rise of stylus-compatible devices, artists now have more freedom than ever to create fluid, natural movements in their digital work.

When paired with a professional-grade drawing program, a stylus can empower artists to unleash their creativity from anywhere. Whether you’re sketching on the go in bustling Mumbai or refining designs in a Bangalore studio, the right app can make all the difference.

Let’s explore our top picks for the best drawing apps that make excellent use of a stylus, including both free and paid options available to artists in India.

Top drawing apps for Indian digital artists

Every artist has unique preferences, and the software you choose may depend on the type of art you create. Whether you’re crafting intricate madhubani designs or developing sleek logos for tech startups, there’s an app to suit your needs.

While some of the more robust tools on our list can be used for various applications, they often come with a steeper learning curve and a higher price tag. Let’s dive into the options:

1. Krita

Krita is a free, open-source software that works for Windows, Mac, and Linux users. Like other sketching apps, it’s pen-based but is especially useful for creating comic art with premade panels. This could be particularly handy for artists working on graphic novels inspired by Indian mythology or contemporary urban tales.

Krita supports animation functions, including audio, and comes with premade templates. If you want to get the most out of this free program, you can import textures from third-party sources, allowing you to incorporate traditional Indian textile patterns or architectural motifs into your digital art.

You can choose to use Krita for free, but you can also pay for premium options via Steam and the Microsoft Store. The paid version includes the same features but provides automatic updates and support. There’s also a mobile Krita app in beta, which could be a game-changer for artists who like to work on the go, perhaps sketching ideas while travelling on India’s extensive rail network.

2. MediBang Paint Pro

MediBang Paint is very popular among anime creators, but it boasts useful applications for all types of graphic designers, too. It includes a neat community feature called Art Street, which offers competitions for the best art. This social aspect could be particularly appealing to India’s vibrant, community-oriented art scene.

With access to more than 1,000 screen tones and 20 fonts, this cloud-based tool lets you save your work to your account and continue on any logged-in device. It’s available for free for PC, iPad, iPhone, and Android, making it a versatile choice for Indian artists who often work across multiple devices.

3. FireAlpaca

FireAlpaca is a very easy-to-use drawing tool that’s free forever for Windows and Mac users, or you can pay to remove the ads on Steam. This app is best for vector art and doesn’t include the same textures ability as its competitors. However, its perks include a very simple design that anyone can learn with time, making it an excellent choice for beginners in India’s growing digital art scene.

FireAlpaca works in 20 languages and boasts pen, pencil, airbrush, and watercolour brush in the default settings. You can also customise additional brush options. FireAlpaca is a very light program that takes up few resources, even with its comic templates and a handy perspective tool. You can run it on an older computer with lower processing capabilities, which could be particularly useful in areas of India where the latest hardware might not be readily available.

4. Autodesk Sketchbook

If you don’t need to edit photos or refine existing images, consider a draw-only app like Autodesk’s Sketchbook. It boasts easy-to-master tools that will help you turn your big graphics ideas into reality, whether you’re designing rangoli patterns or creating modern illustrations.

Use Sketchbook to draw on your tablet, Mac, or desktop PC. You can also export your project to Photoshop when you’re done without losing layer data.

Sketchbook is totally free to use, making it the perfect tool for those just getting started with stylus pen art in India’s burgeoning digital creative industry.

5. CorelDRAW

Corel is well-known in the graphic design space, and it continues to impress artists with products like CorelDRAW Standard. This app actually comes bundled with Corel PHOTO-PAINT and offers features for professionals and hobbyists.

You’ll enjoy hundreds of brushes tools, vectors, photo editing filters, and typography tools, making this the gold standard for anyone interested in professional ad or graphic design. This could be particularly useful for Indian designers working in the country’s booming advertising and media industries.

However, Photoshop is a powerhouse option with a steeper learning curve. It’s also somewhat expensive compared to other products, but you have the option to pay for a monthly subscription, which is more manageable than an outright purchase. Photoshop is available for iPad and desktop platforms, giving Indian artists flexibility in their work setup.

7. Procreate

The Procreate app is an iPad Pro exclusive that works with the Apple Pencil. It uses many of the effects you would want in a desktop software solution, such as layers, brushes, and filters. While you may not want to do heavy editing on your iPad, you can easily export the finished Procreate project to other programs, such as Photoshop.

Apple enthusiasts in India who want a handy, powerful, and portable drawing option will enjoy this easy-to-master drawing option. It even allows you to create and sell your own brushes to others, potentially opening up a new revenue stream for Indian digital artists.

8. Blender

Blender is open-source 3D animation software for creating 3D models and big-budget movie animations. However, it’s gaining popularity among those who just want to draw, including in India’s growing animation and visual effects industry.

One of Blender’s cooler features is the grease pencil mode, which lets you create artwork from simple lines. You can use the mode to make all kinds of vector-based artwork, sculptures, storyboards, animations, comics, and more.

And if you need inspiration or a starting place, Blender hosts a ton of templates from its community. Even better, this PC drawing app is always free to use, making it accessible to artists across India, regardless of their budget.

9. Inkscape

Inkscape is an entirely vector-based drawing program that lets you draw and manipulate objects. It’s perfect for creating shapes and designing logos, making it an excellent choice for graphic designers working in India’s diverse business landscape.

Users love it for creating clip art, typography, flowcharts, diagrams, and infographics, as well as simple cartoons. The items you create in Inkscape are in the SVG file format, but you can also export in PNG, OpenDocument Drawing, DXF, sk1, PDF, EPS, and PostScript.

You have the option to draw free-hand with your pen or you can use the shape tools to get a just-right look to your drawings. The Boolean operations make it easy to convert selected objects in the file to “paths” using simple directions like “exclusion, combine, or break apart.” You can render as you draw, too, and watch your drawings come alive.

Inkscape is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows users, catering to the diverse range of systems used by Indian designers.

10. Artrage

With Artrage, you can create realistic-looking paintings with only your stylus. Use the multiple brush customisation settings to create oil, watercolour, or pastel finishes. You can also record as you work, so you can show off your entire process - a great feature for Indian artists looking to build their online presence and share their techniques.

Artrage makes it feel like working on a real canvas, and it includes blending modes. The app is available in the Lite version as an iOS and Android mobile app, or you can download the full-featured desktop version (Vitae) for Mac or Windows.

Bonus app: Rebelle

Rebelle, from Escape Motions, bills itself as “the first painting software with physical colour mixing based on traditional pigments.” If you know your colour wheel, you’ll be impressed by the realistic use of colour and texture, which mimics real-life painting. No surprise, then, that Rebelle was developed by an artist, which gives it an extra touch of authenticity.

This award-winning software allows you to experiment with oils, watercolour, acrylics, and a variety of other media types, along with plenty of paper finishes. You can even blow paint, use a palette knife to create 3D effects, and take advantage of stencils for a more consistent look. These features could be particularly appealing to Indian artists looking to recreate traditional painting techniques in a digital format.

Rebelle is a great way to experience what mixed media feels like in real life, without the mess or additional materials. Both versions are available for Windows and Mac, giving Indian artists flexibility in their choice of hardware.

How to pick the right stylus drawing app for Indian artists

When you’re trying to figure out which app is right for you, consider the following:

• Start with your device, which may determine which app is the best choice based on processing power and/or operating system. If you’re using an HP Pavilion Laptop 15-eg3027TU, for example, you’ll want to ensure the app is compatible with Windows 11.

• Look at the galleries on the websites of each app to see what’s even possible. Many feature work by international artists, including those from India, which can be inspiring.

• Take a peek at tutorials to learn how long it will take for you to master all the features. Many apps offer tutorials in multiple languages, which can be helpful for India’s diverse linguistic landscape.

• Keep your budget in mind. Many of the art apps on our list are free, but some offer “lite” versions for half the price of the full-featured desktop tools. Also, look for trials so you can familiarise yourself with the tool before buying.

Remember that the stylus tool you use matters, too. While some computers come with a stylus, others require a separate purchase. Stylus pens can have any number of their own features, too, including shortcut buttons and extra-comfy grips. Do your research to make sure that your stylus is compatible with your PC or laptop so you can achieve the level of detail you want.

For artists in India looking for a versatile device that can handle demanding drawing apps, consider the HP OMEN 40.9 cm (16.1) Gaming Laptop 16-xd0020AX. Its powerful processor and dedicated graphics card can handle even the most resource-intensive drawing applications with ease.

Whether you’re a professional graphic designer in Mumbai, a budding digital artist in Kolkata, or a student exploring digital art in Chennai, there’s a drawing app out there that’s perfect for your needs. With the right combination of hardware and software, you can unleash your creativity and contribute to India’s vibrant digital art scene.