The $9.99 note-taking app has an excellent interface full of tools for handwriting, drawing, annotating PDFs, making shapes, highlighting, moving objects around.
- Vector graphics software allows users to design and manipulate computer images using geometric and mathematical commands, rather than clicks and strokes as used in drawing software. Vector images created using these programs can be scaled indefinitely without losing quality.
- Mac-drawing-software-review.toptenreviews.com: Best Drawing and Art Apps 2018 - Top Apps for Android, iPhone Here are our favorite drawing apps, from simple doodling tools to high end professional suites that turn your device into an art studio.
- The best drawing apps for the iPad Pro Unleash your inner artist with the best drawing apps for the iPad Pro By Simon Hill @iamsimonhill — Posted on October 23, 2018 - 12:00PM 10.23.18 - 12:00PM.
- Feb 04, 2011 This is a video to show the cool apps that I have on my mac hope you enjoy it rate and comment if you want any video of specific instructions for any app.
- Like the PC and Mac versions, the ArtRage drawing app for iPad art is overflowing with options (we gave ArtRage five stars in our review). There's a variety of canvas presets and paper options, plus a wide array of brushes, pencils, crayons, rollers, and pastels.
- Check out our 2018 guide to the 30 best free CAD software tools (2D/3D CAD programs) for beginners, intermediates, and advanced users. All of them are free.
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
The Rundown
- Best Overall:XP-Pen Artist16 Pro 15.6 Drawing Tablet at Amazon, “With a host of creative features that make it an excellent all-around choice for most artists.”
- Best Android:Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 at Amazon, “Featuring the best stylus available on mass-market devices.”
- Best Drawing Pad:Huion H610 Pro Graphic Drawing Tablet at Amazon, “Narrow enough to perfectly fit on your desk with a keyboard, a space-saving plus for graphic designers.”
- Best Budget:Monoprice 10594 Graphic Drawing Tablet at Walmart, “Not a top-of-the-line number, but more than eye-catching for the price.”
- Best for Windows Users:Microsoft Surface Pro 12.3 at Best Buy, “A standalone device that lets you do basically everything a laptop would allow you to do.”
- Runner-Up, Best Overall:Huion KAMVAS GT-191 at Amazon, “Gives you a massive amount of sketching real estate for the price.”
- Best Small Screen:Lenovo Yoga Book at Amazon, “Guaranteeing high-performance hardware despite its trim size.”
- Best for Professionals:GAOMON PD1560 at Amazon, “Compatible with the latest Windows (7/8/10) and Mac OS systems, as well as most professional designing programs.”
- Runner-Up, Best Budget:Huion H420 USB Graphics Drawing Tablet Board Kit at Amazon, “With an active area of 4 x 2.23 inches and a resolution of 4,000 lines per inch.”
- Best Apple Tablet:Apple iPad Pro at Apple, 'The user-friendly touch controls and lag-free connection to the Apple Pencil make for a very natural drawing experience.'
- Best Paper-to-Digital:Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition at Amazon, “Allowing you to capture and upload pen-on-paper artwork into a completely digital form.”
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: XP-Pen Artist16 Pro 15.6 Drawing Tablet
The Artist16 is a drawing tablet by XP-Pen with an extra-wide viewing angle and a host of creative features that make it an excellent all-around choice for most artists. Featuring a 1080P FullHD IPS display, your creations will come to life in vivid color and definition. An extra-wide, 178-degree viewing angle gives you the canvas you need to realize your design. And with 2,078 levels of pressure sensitivity, this tablet will work for drawing, painting, editing, designing, sketching and animating without any trouble.
The Artist16 comes with two rechargeable pens, a black anti-fouling glove and an HDMI adapter. It has eight express keys to eliminate headaches, allowing you to focus on the creative element. The adjustable display stand will also give you the freedom and flexibility you need to get in the zone. Finally, the tablet is compatible with Sai, Photoshop and most mainstream design software.
Best Android: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
Samsung equips their Galaxy tablets with the best stylus available on mass-market devices. The S Pen offers true-to-life pressure and sensitivity that rivals pens designed exclusively for drawing tablets. The pen never needs to be re-charged and can operate as a variety of drawing styles and devices.
In addition to a best-in-class pen, the Galaxy Tab S3 is an excellent all-around tablet. It has a vivid Super AMOLED display for deep contrast and extraordinary colors. It also comes with powerful Quad speakers tuned by AKG and a featherlight keyboard that can be attached to the tablet so that it operates like a laptop for word processing. It has a powerful 12-hour battery and a speedy Snapdragon quad-core processor.
Best Drawing Pad: Huion H610 Pro Graphic Drawing Tablet
Designed with office work in mind, this ultra-narrow tablet is wireless and fits perfectly on your desk with a keyboard, a space-saving plus for graphic designers. The tablet connects to your PC or Mac where it works on Illustrator, Maya and other graphic design software (you'll need Windows 7 to 10 or Mac 10.10 or above). It has a six-meter wireless connection distance and a 2500mAh battery that lasts up to 40 hours. The sleek design separates the touch and draw area, so you can work without worrying about your palm accidentally touching the screen. The device has six customizable buttons and 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity.
Best Budget: Monoprice 10594 Graphic Drawing Tablet
When it comes to functionality for your drawing tablet, it doesn't get much more nuts-and-bolts than this option from Monoprice. If you haven’t heard of the brand, then it’s worth taking a look, because tech heads swear by Monoprice for their cables, and in recent years we’ve been increasingly more impressed with the company’s ability to produce true quality products across the board. This drawing peripheral is no exception – it’s a serious workhorse for the visually inclined.
Let’s unpack the features: it offers a 10 x 6.25-inch drawing surface that sports a 4,000 LPI drawing resolution at a report rate of 200 RPS. There are 2,048 levels of pen pressure, rounding out all dimensions of accuracy for the drawing surface itself. These are certainly not top-of-the-line “premium” numbers, but are more than eye-catching for the price. There are 16 hot zones that can at the top of the drawing surface that can be assigned by you, plus further assignable expression keys that’ll let you do as much work as possible on the surface itself without the need to move to other accessories. It connects to the computer via USB and is compatible with basically any modern OS, and could even be modded to work on Linux.
Best for Windows Users: Microsoft Surface Pro 12.3
Like a couple of the other tablets on this list, the Surface isn’t strictly a drawing surface – it’s a standalone device that lets you do basically everything a laptop would allow you to do. But the lines are getting blurrier and blurrier when it comes to the difference between tablets and laptops and drawing peripherals. The Microsoft Surface Pro line is the tech giant’s strongest tablet effort to date, and while the original Surface generations didn’t take off, these newer ones are completely viable options, especially if you’re a working designer.
For starters, their ultra-high resolution PixelSense displays are almost as stunning as Apple’s Retina Displays, and the color representation is pretty solid, too. There’s an added color bonus of being able to spec out and add notes on the screen about print colors that are directly compatible (and readable) by the OS sending print jobs to a Windows Ink printer – a great feature for designers working in print. It’s powered by a full Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM, so if you do want to do more than just use it to draw, you’ll have tons of speed.
In terms of accessories, the accompanying pen and Microsoft’s Surface Dial are both great options for those who want to be more and more efficient and precise with their gestures, and the screen itself offers extra accurate tracking. The whole thing is super light and it runs on an impressive battery that Microsoft says is 50 percent and 68 percent better than the previous two generations, respectively.
Check out our other reviews of the best 2-in-one laptop tablets available on the market today.
Runner-Up, Best Overall: Huion KAMVAS GT-191
The 19.5-inch IPS, widescreen HD display offered by the Huion KAMVAS drawing tablet is the first thing you’ll notice when you pull it out of the box. And that’s for good reason — this thing gives you a massive amount of sketching real estate for the price. But the 72 percent NTSC color gamut gives you equally impressive levels of color representation, so you’ll almost forget that it’s just a peripheral.
As for the actual mechanics of sketching, there are over 8,000 separate levels of pen pressure, giving you extra z-axis precision when you’re trying to realize your art, and that physical flexibility is further extended with the ergonomically adjustable stand, allowing you to position the tablet at the perfect angle for whatever you’re working on.
The included PE330 stylus is rechargeable with two separate assignable gesture buttons, and this model is newly redesigned to be extra responsive when drawing on the display. It’s compatible with both Windows and Mac and further works with the Adobe Suite. This particular package comes with that aforementioned pen, plus a writing glove and additional pen tips to replace once they wear out.
Best Small Screen: Lenovo Yoga Book
For the artist on the go, the Lenovo Yoga Book fits snugly into any backpack or travel bag. Ten inches long, 0.4 inches thick, and weighing less than 2 pounds, Lenovo proudly claims that their product is the thinnest and lightest 2-in-1 tablet on the market. It's also a highly versatile machine with four modes that respond to your needs whether you want to draw, binge Netflix, or draft an email. You can adjust the Yoga Book's 360-degree hinge to place it in Create Mode, Browse Mode, Watch Mode, and Type Mode.
Despite its trim size, the Yoga Book also guarantees high-performance hardware, featuring a 64GB solid-state drive, 4GB LP DDR3 of RAM, and 13 hours of battery life. The 10.1-inch screen delivers picture-perfect visuals: 1920 x 1200 HD resolution and 400 nits of brightness. The tablet’s main bonus for artists is the battery-free Real Pen stylus and the attached Create Pad, which allows you to digitize written notes or sketches. The Real Pen stylus boasts 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity and accurately replicates the experience of writing in a real notebook.
Best for Professionals: GAOMON PD1560
Most artists will swear by Wacom as one of the most reputable brands in the industry, but GAOMON is just as respectable and the company's 15.6-inch PD1560 tablet boasts high-performance specs at half the price of a 13-inch Wacom tablet. Firstly, the screen features full 19020 x 1080 (16:9) HD resolution as well as bright, accurate colors. Secondly, the glass itself offers a smooth drawing experience and the pen features 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity for finessed and precise sketching. There’s also a useful “screen-flip” function to accommodate left-handed artists.
On the edges of the display, you’ll find the menu controls as well as 10 shortcut keys, ready to be customized according to your creative needs. Additionally, you’ll find an adjustable stand on the back of the tablet, offering maximum comfort while you work. Finally, the GAOMON model is compatible with the latest Windows (7/8/10) and Mac OS systems, as well as most professional designing programs, including but not limited to Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchBook Pro, SAI 2, and SketchBook Pro.
Runner-Up, Best Budget: Huion H420 USB Graphics Drawing Tablet Board Kit
Before you plunk down hundreds of dollars on a professional tablet, get a feel for drawing with this $30 kit. The tablet itself has an active area of 4 by 2.23 inches and a resolution of 4,000 lines per inch, while the pen offers 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, giving you precise control over brush effects and line width. It also has three express keys that let you do things like close or save the current page.
It’s compatible with all major graphics applications (think Corel Painter, CorelDraw, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Fireworks and beyond) as well as most operating systems, including Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP and Mac OS 10.4+. Unfortunately the handy pen scrolling feature, which lets you scroll documents and websites by pressing the middle button of the digital pen over the tablet's working area, is unavailable in Mac OS. Even so, it’s a fantastic value, complete with a wool carrying case, USB cable, anti-fouling glove and cleaning kit.
Best Apple Tablet: Apple iPad Pro
The latest iPad Pro model boasts lighter and slimmer dimensions, living up to Apple’s claim: “More screen. Less device.” The 11-inch model has the same dimensions as its predecessor, the 10.5-inch Pro, but the screen is larger. How did Apple accomplish this? The new iPad’s display spans the entire front of the device, eliminating the home button and downsizing both the camera and speakers. Additionally, the screen itself offers remarkable visual quality: up to 2732 x 2048 pixels, true-to-life color detail, 600 nit brightness, and the lowest level of reflectivity on the market.
For artists, this tablet wouldn’t be complete without the Apple Pencil. The user-friendly touch controls and lag-free connection make for a very natural drawing experience. With a simple double-tap, you can switch between the brush, pen, and highlighter tools, or change the brush’s size. The Pencil is also sensitive to pressure: press down to draw thicker lines or tilt to shade. You can even rest your palm against the tablet screen without leaving any unwanted marks, mimicking a true drawing experience as much as possible and eliminating wrist strain.
Best Paper-to-Digital: Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition
Some people will always prefer the feel and function of drawing on a piece of paper, but still want digital versions of their creations that they can upload and edit. If you're in this camp, then the Intuous Pro Paper Edition is perfect, as it allows you to capture and upload pen-on-paper artwork into a completely digital form in a raster or vector file. Just use the Intuos Pro tablet’s new Pro Pen 2 technology. It comes combined with a removable paper clip and .4mm fine-tip gel pen. Just place the paper over the tablet and sketch. Your work will be captured on the tablet, even if you aren’t connected to the Internet.
The Pro Pen 2 also delivers the most accurate performance, with 4x higher accuracy than earlier versions for lag-free tracking and tilt recognition. The tablet is very comfortable to hold, opting for a thin and lightweight edition that feels great in your hands and lap. Eight express keys can be programmed to your liking, while a touch ring controls canvas rotation and other features. It's compatible with Windows 7 or later (64bit) and Mac OS 10.10 or later.
Tested by
How We Tested
Our reviewers spent 14 hours testing the five most popular drawing tablets on the market. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using these tablets and we've outlined them here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.
What to Look for in a Drawing Tablet
Type of tablet -While drawing tablets are more expensive, they’re a bit more intuitive because you draw with a stylus directly on the screen. Graphic tablets — which need to be hooked up to a computer — usually deliver a faster workflow because they’re backed by more processing power. They also don’t need to be charged and are usually more durable.
Pressure sensitivity - Pressure sensitivity determines how much you can vary the width of the lines you paint, based on the amount of pressure you apply to the stylus. The standard tablet offers 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, which should be more than enough for most creatives.
Budget -Drawing tablets prices can start as low as $30 and creep up to nearly $1,000. The difference in price is largely related to the display. The better the resolution and pressure sensitivity, the more expensive the tablet. But of course, if it doesn’t have a display, you’ll likely get it for a lower price.
Test Results: XP-Pen Artist16 Pro 15.6 Drawing Tablet (Best Overall)
What We Like
Large screen
Comes with eight pen nibs
Has eight customizable express keys
Best Drawing App For Mac 2018 Collections
What We Don’t Like
Has a lot of wires
Not beginner friendly
If you’re looking for a balance between budget and precision, the XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Drawing Tablet is the option you need. According to our testers, the screen size is great, the display is clear, and the colors are very crisp. One of our testers, who also owns a Wacom Intuos 5 tablet and a Wacom Cintiq 22HD tablet (both of which are much more expensive), gave this model high marks. She described it as “surprisingly light” and loved how many extra accessories it came with. “There was a small half-glove for you to keep the surface of the tablet clean, two pens, and extra nibs,” she said. The extra nibs were particularly helpful, because she told us she tends to go through nibs quickly.
One reviewer did mention that “light strokes could be finicky” but said the tablet was “spot-on” if you applied harder pressure.
Drawing App For Mac Free
Test Results: Galaxy Tab S3 (Best Android)
What We Like
Lightweight
Very durable
Pen is very responsive
Our testers thought this tablet was a top-notch choice. One person said, “It has everything I need: internet access, a camera, and great drawing capabilities.” Plus, this tablet is not just for drawing. Grab it for a quick binge-watching session on the couch or use the included S Pen to sketch out your favorite designs. It’s a great option for artistic tablet users that want to get more than one function out of a pricey device.
The Galaxy Tab S3 is also easy to travel with, according to Lifewire reviewers.Just throw it in your bag to draw on the go. Our testers’ only gripe is that it takes a little over 2.5 hours to get a full charge.
Test Results: Huion H610 Pro Graphic Drawing Tablet (Best Drawing Pad)
What We Like
Great pressure sensitivity
Light
Wireless connectivity for a cable-free experience
What We Don’t Like
Length (14.7 inches) makes it a tight fit in smaller backpack
Our reviewers love the Huion H610 Pro Graphic Drawing Tablet’s wireless capability. You can move up to six meters away from your computer whenever you want. Since some of our testers complained about other drawing tablets’ many wires, being completely unencumbered is a big plus.
Lifewire reviewers did say that only experienced designers should spring for this model. It’s not the right choice if you’re a total drawing-tablet beginner. Once you do buy it though, you’ll be impressed. “The screen is very responsive,” one person said.
Test Results: Monoprice 10594 Graphic Drawing Tablet (Best Budget)
What We Like
Shortcut keys to customize functionality
Lightweight
Stylus is wireless
What We Don’t Like
Tablet has no wireless capability
Comes with a CD to install the software
The Monoprice 10594 Graphic Drawing Tablet has everything you want in a very budget-friendly device.It has eight express keys and 16 hot zones that you can assign functionality to. “I would recommend this product if you are looking for a basic, no frills drawing tablet,” one reviewer said. Plus it’s light — weighing in at a little less than 3 ounces — which makes it easy to take on the road.
Test Results: Microsoft Surface Pro 12.3 (Best for Windows Users)
2018 Best Mac Applications
What We Don’t Like
Large screen can affect portability
Designers are known for their preference for Apple products, but if you’re a creative type that sticks with Windows, the Microsoft Surface Pro should be your go-to drawing tablet. The 12-inch screen allows you to see exactly what you’re doing and our testers describe both the picture and color quality as “above average.” Though you can do more than draw on this device, you may not want to: Lifewire reviewers loved everything about this tablet’s drawing functionality. “The screen was very responsive,” one person said. “[The pen] is extremely accurate and very flexible with its pressure-sensing feature.” He went on to say that he actually prefers this pen over Apple’s because it’s easier to hold and shorter. “The pen is very sensitive and it almost provides the same experience as writing on actual paper,” he added.