Sketchbook
by Sketchbook, Inc.
Sketchbook is a free sketching and drawing app for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and Windows with a one-time $2.99 Premium Bundle.
- Price
- Free; Premium Bundle $2.99 one-time
- Runs on
- iOS, iPadOS, Android, macOS, Windows
- Rating
- ★ 4.8 on the App Store (221K 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)
Feature comparison
| Feature | Sketchbook |
MediBang Paint |
|---|---|---|
| Price and platforms | ||
| Price | Free; Premium Bundle $2.99 one-time | Free with ads; Premium plans from $2.99 |
| Free version | Yes | Yes, ad-supported |
| Subscription | None | Optional MediBang Premium |
| Ad-free | Not advertised | No, ads unless removed for $7.99 |
| No account needed | Not advertised | Account needed for cloud features |
| iPad | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | Yes, same app | Separate app, MediBang Paint for iPhone |
| Mac | Yes, separate desktop version | Yes, desktop version |
| Android and Chromebook | Yes | Yes |
| Brushes | ||
| Built-in brushes | Pencils, markers, airbrushes, smear and more | 180 (700 more with Premium) |
| Brush customization | Highly customizable; custom brushes in Premium | Adjustable; make your own |
| Brush import | Premium Bundle | Cloud brushes |
| Apple Pencil | Supported | Supported |
| Comics and manga | ||
| Comic panel layouts | Not advertised | Comic panel tools |
| Screentones | Not advertised | 1,000 screentones |
| Text and lettering | Not advertised | 60 fonts |
| Layers and editing | ||
| Layer limit | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Blend modes | Full set | Yes |
| Masks | Clipping and layer masks in Premium | Not advertised |
| Adjustments and filters | Blur, sharpen, brightness/contrast, greyscale, invert (Premium) | Filters (extra Filter Pack available) |
| Selection tools | Selection tools | Not advertised |
| Liquify and distortion | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Clone tool | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Drawing aids | ||
| Symmetry | Yes | Not advertised |
| Perspective guides | Perspective guides | Not advertised |
| Shape correction | Predictive Stroke | Not advertised |
| Gradients | Gradient fill | Not advertised |
| Paintable materials | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Seamless patterns | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Extras | ||
| Animation | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| 3D painting | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Timelapse | Yes | Yes |
| Live collaboration | Not advertised | Group Project shared canvases |
| Generative AI | None advertised | None advertised |
| Files | ||
| Photoshop PSD | Export | Not advertised |
| Export formats | PNG, JPG, PSD, PDF (Premium) | Images, with cloud saving |
| CMYK and print | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| App Store | ||
| Rating | 4.8 / 5 (221K ratings) | 4.6 / 5 (33K ratings) |
| Last updated | June 1, 2026 | September 11, 2026 |
| Languages | 10 | 16 |
Price
Both are free to download, but they charge for different things.
Sketchbook is free, and a one-time $2.99 Premium Bundle unlocks extras such as custom brushes, clipping masks, layer grouping, extra adjustments and PDF export. There is no subscription.
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, Android, Mac and Windows.
Sketchbook is one app for iPhone and iPad, with separate versions for Android, Mac and Windows.
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
Sketchbook has a full set of pencils, markers, airbrushes and smear brushes that feel like their physical versions, and every brush is highly customizable. Creating, importing and exporting custom brushes is part of the Premium Bundle.
MediBang Paint includes 180 adjustable brushes, and Premium plans add 700 more. You can also make your own brushes.
Comics and manga
Sketchbook does not advertise comic panel or screentone tools; its strengths are sketching, rulers and perspective guides.
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
Sketchbook: Layers come with a full set of blend modes. The Premium Bundle adds clipping masks, layer masks, layer groups, and adjustments such as blur, sharpen and brightness/contrast.
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
Sketchbook is built for sketching and precision, with guides, rulers, symmetry, perspective guides and Predictive Stroke for clean lines and shapes. Its clean interface stays out of the way so the canvas gets the screen.
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 Sketchbook if
- You mostly sketch and want a clean, distraction-free interface
- You want a nearly free app with a $2.99 one-time upgrade
- You want perspective guides, rulers and Predictive Stroke
- You want Predictive Stroke for clean lines and shapes
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 a free app and do not mind ads
- You want a library of 1,000 screentones
Frequently asked questions
Is Sketchbook better than MediBang Paint?
Neither is better for everyone. Sketchbook is the better pick if you mostly sketch and want a clean, distraction-free interface, or you want a nearly free app with a $2.99 one-time upgrade. 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 Sketchbook free?
Yes. Sketchbook is free, and a one-time $2.99 Premium Bundle unlocks extras such as custom brushes, clipping masks, layer groups and PDF export. There is no subscription.
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, Sketchbook or MediBang Paint?
Sketchbook runs on iPhone in the same app as on iPad. MediBang Paint has a separate iPhone app, MediBang Paint for iPhone.
Do Sketchbook and MediBang Paint work on Android?
Sketchbook has an Android version. MediBang Paint has an Android version.
Can two people draw together in Sketchbook or MediBang Paint?
Yes, MediBang Paint does (Group Project shared canvases). Sketchbook does not advertise live collaboration.
Do Sketchbook or MediBang Paint use generative AI?
Sketchbook does not advertise any generative AI features. MediBang Paint does not advertise any generative AI features.
Sources
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. Sketchbook 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 Sketchbook and MediBang Paint.