Adobe Fresco
by Adobe
Adobe Fresco is a free drawing and painting app for iPad, iPhone and Windows with raster, vector and Live Brushes.
- Price
- Free; optional Photoshop bundle $7.99/month
- Runs on
- iPadOS, iOS, Windows
- Rating
- ★ 4.7 on the App Store (62K ratings)
MediBang Paint
by MediBang
MediBang Paint is a free, ad-supported painting and comic app for iPad, iPhone, Android and desktop with cloud sync and shared canvases.
- Price
- Free with ads; Premium plans from $2.99
- Runs on
- iPadOS, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows
- Rating
- ★ 4.6 on the App Store (33K ratings)
Key differences
Only MediBang Paint has
- Mac: Yes, desktop version
- Android and Chromebook
Feature comparison
| Feature | Adobe Fresco |
MediBang Paint |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free; optional Photoshop bundle $7.99/month | Free with ads; Premium plans from $2.99 |
| Free version | Yes, fully free | Yes, ad-supported |
| Subscription | Optional, bundles Photoshop on iPad | Optional MediBang Premium |
| Ad-free | Not advertised | No, ads unless removed for $7.99 |
| No account needed | Adobe account needed to export | Account needed for cloud features |
| iPad | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | Yes, same app | Separate app, MediBang Paint for iPhone |
| Mac | No (Windows version available) | Yes, desktop version |
| Android and Chromebook | No | Yes |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | Thousands | 180 (700 more with Premium) |
| Brush customization | Brush settings, raster, vector and Live Brushes | Adjustable; make your own |
| Brush import | Photoshop brushes | Cloud brushes |
| Apple Pencil | Supported, including Apple Pencil Pro | Supported |
| Comics and manga | ||
| Comic panel layouts | Not advertised | Comic panel tools |
| Screentones | Not advertised | 1,000 screentones |
| Text and lettering | Adobe Fonts | 60 fonts |
| Layers and editing | ||
| Layer limit | Unlimited | Not advertised |
| Blend modes | Yes | Yes |
| Masks | Layer masks and clipping | Not advertised |
| Adjustments and filters | Adjustment layers: brightness, hue/saturation, color balance | Filters (extra Filter Pack available) |
| Selection tools | Lasso, magic wand and more | Not advertised |
| Liquify and distortion | Liquify | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Drawing aids | ||
| Symmetry | Rotational and reflective | Not advertised |
| Perspective guides | Perspective grids, including from a photo | Not advertised |
| Shape correction | Snap to Shape | Not advertised |
| Gradients | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Paintable materials | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Seamless patterns | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Extras | ||
| Animation | Frame-by-frame and motion paths | Not advertised |
| 3D painting | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Timelapse | Yes | Yes |
| Live collaboration | Not advertised | Group Project shared canvases |
| Generative AI | None; Content Credentials can mark art as AI-free | None advertised |
| Files | ||
| Photoshop PSD | Export, plus direct Photoshop integration | Not advertised |
| Export formats | PSD, PNG, JPG, PDF, GIF, MP4 | Images, with cloud saving |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 (62K ratings) | 4.6 / 5 (33K ratings) |
| Last updated | September 29, 2026 | September 11, 2026 |
| Languages | 18 | 16 |
Price
Adobe Fresco is free with every tool included, while MediBang Paint is free to download with paid upgrades.
Adobe Fresco is free, with thousands of brushes, unlimited layers and animation tools included. An optional subscription bundles it with Photoshop on iPad for $7.99 a month on the US App Store.
MediBang Paint is free with ads. MediBang Premium plans, from $2.99 on the US App Store, add 700 more brushes, and ads can be removed with a separate $7.99 add-on.
Platforms
Both run on iPad, iPhone and Windows. Only MediBang Paint runs on Android and Mac.
Fresco is one app for iPad and iPhone, and there is also a Windows version. Adobe's system requirements list no Mac or Android version. You can start drawing without signing in, but exporting and cloud saving need an Adobe account.
MediBang Paint has an iPad app, a separate iPhone app, and versions for Android, Mac and Windows. Its cloud feature, which needs a MediBang account, lets you move a drawing between devices.
Brushes
Fresco includes thousands of free brushes: blendable raster brushes, vector brushes that stay sharp at any size, and Live Brushes that simulate watercolor and oil paint. It also imports Photoshop brushes.
MediBang Paint includes 180 adjustable brushes, and Premium plans add 700 more. You can also make your own brushes.
Comics and manga
Adobe Fresco does not advertise comic tools such as panel layouts or screentones, though its text, shapes and vector brushes help with lettering and clean line art.
MediBang Paint was built with comics in mind, with 1,000 screentones, 60 fonts for lettering, easy comic panels and shared canvases for team projects.
Layers and editing
Adobe Fresco: Layers are unlimited, with masks, clipping and Photoshop-style adjustment layers for brightness, hue/saturation and color balance. Liquify, free transform and a magic wand are included, and documents open directly in Photoshop and Illustrator.
MediBang Paint: It covers the essentials with layers, blend modes and filters, and keeps the interface simple and lightweight, so it stays fast without needing much storage.
Drawing tools and extras
Adobe Fresco: Drawing aids include Snap to Shape, rotational and reflective symmetry, rulers, and perspective grids you can build from a photo. Fresco also has frame-by-frame animation with motion paths, GIF and MP4 export, Adobe Fonts for text, and timelapse export.
MediBang Paint: Group Project lets you and your friends draw on the same canvas, cloud saving keeps drawings in step between devices, and MediBang Paint records a timelapse of your work.
Which should you choose?
Choose Adobe Fresco if
- You want Live Brushes that blend like real watercolor and oil paint
- You want a completely free professional app
- You want vector brushes that stay sharp at any size
- You already use Photoshop or Illustrator
Choose MediBang Paint if
- You make comics on a budget and want screentones and panels for free
- You want to draw on a shared canvas with friends or a team
- You want to switch between an iPad and a desktop computer
- You also draw on Android
Frequently asked questions
Is Adobe Fresco better than MediBang Paint?
Neither is better for everyone. Adobe Fresco is the better pick if you want Live Brushes that blend like real watercolor and oil paint, or you want a completely free professional app. MediBang Paint suits you better if you make comics on a budget and want screentones and panels for free, or you want to draw on a shared canvas with friends or a team.
Is Adobe Fresco free?
Yes. Adobe Fresco is free, with thousands of brushes, unlimited layers and animation included. You need a free Adobe account to export and save to the cloud, and an optional bundle with Photoshop on iPad costs $7.99 a month.
Is MediBang Paint free?
Yes, MediBang Paint is free with ads. Premium plans from $2.99 add 700 more brushes, and a $7.99 add-on removes ads.
Which works on iPhone, Adobe Fresco or MediBang Paint?
Adobe Fresco runs on iPhone in the same app as on iPad. MediBang Paint has a separate iPhone app, MediBang Paint for iPhone.
Do Adobe Fresco and MediBang Paint work on Android?
Adobe Fresco is not available on Android. MediBang Paint has an Android version.
Can two people draw together in Adobe Fresco or MediBang Paint?
Yes, MediBang Paint does (Group Project shared canvases). Adobe Fresco does not advertise live collaboration.
Do Adobe Fresco or MediBang Paint use generative AI?
Adobe Fresco does not include generative AI tools, and its Content Credentials feature can mark artwork as made without generative AI. MediBang Paint does not advertise any generative AI features.
Sources
- Adobe Fresco on the App Store
- Adobe Fresco: get started
- Adobe Fresco system requirements
- MediBang Paint on the App Store
Facts checked on October 2, 2026. Prices are from the US App Store, and features from each app's listing and official site. Apps change often, so check the App Store for current prices and features. Adobe Fresco and MediBang Paint are trademarks of their respective owners. App icons come from each app's App Store listing and belong to their owners. Paintrix Studio is not affiliated with the makers of Adobe Fresco and MediBang Paint.