Sketching apps are digital tools that allow you to create drawings and paintings using your computer or mobile device. Many sketching apps offer a range of features and tools that are similar to those found in traditional art media, such as pencils, pens, markers, and watercolors. Some sketching apps also offer additional features, such as layers, blending modes, and custom brushes, that allow you to create more complex and nuanced artwork.
Sketching apps are popular among artists, designers, and hobbyists who want to create digital artwork. They can be used for a wide range of purposes, including creating concept art, storyboards, character designs, and finished paintings.
Here are three options for free sketching apps that you might find useful:
Autodesk SketchBook: This is a professional-grade sketching app that is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. It has a wide range of tools and features, including pencils, markers, and watercolors, as well as layers and blending modes.
Autodesk SketchBook is a professional-grade sketching app that is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Some of the main highlights of the app include:
Wide range of tools and features: Autodesk SketchBook includes a wide range of traditional art tools, including pencils, pens, markers, and watercolors, as well as more advanced features such as layers, blending modes, and custom brushes.

Intuitive user interface: The app has a simple and intuitive user interface, making it easy to use even for beginners. It also includes helpful tutorials and tips to help you get started.
High performance: Autodesk SketchBook is designed to be fast and responsive, so you can sketch and paint without any lag or delay. It also supports high-resolution canvases, so you can create detailed and intricate artwork.
Cloud synchronization: With the Autodesk SketchBook Pro subscription, you can access your artwork from any device and save it to the cloud for easy access and collaboration.
Overall, Autodesk SketchBook is a very simple & feature-rich sketching app that is suitable for artists, designers, and hobbyists who want to create professional-grade digital artwork.
MediBang Paint: This is a free digital art app that is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. It has a wide range of brushes and tools, as well as pre-made backgrounds and characters that you can use in your sketches.
MediBang Paint is a free digital art app that is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Some of the advantages of this app include:
Wide range of brushes and tools: MediBang Paint includes a variety of brushes and tools that you can use to create different types of artwork, including pencils, pens, markers, and watercolors. It also includes custom brush options, so you can create your own unique brushes.
Panel layout tools: The app includes tools that you can use to create the panel layout for your manga or comic. You can divide the canvas into different panels and adjust the size and position of each panel to suit your needs. MediBang Paint is a powerful and feature-rich digital art app that is well-suited for creating manga and comics.
Exporting options: MediBang Paint allows you to export your manga or comic in a variety of formats, including image files, PDFs, and EPUBs. This makes it easy to share your work with others or publish it online.
Pre-made backgrounds and characters: The app includes a library of pre-made backgrounds and characters that you can use in your artwork. This can be helpful for artists who are working on comics, manga, or other types of illustrated stories.
Cloud synchronization: MediBang Paint allows you to save your artwork to the cloud, so you can access it from any device and collaborate with other artists.
Collaboration features: The app includes a range of collaboration features, such as the ability to leave comments on other people’s artwork and work on the same document with other people in real-time.
MediBang Paint is a powerful and feature-rich digital art app that is suitable for artists, designers, and hobbyists who want to create a wide range of digital artwork.
Krita: This is a free and open-source digital art app that is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It has a wide range of tools and features, including brush engines, blending modes, and vector art support. It is popular among artists who create digital paintings and illustrations.
Krita is a free and open-source digital art app that is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Some of the main highlights of the app include:
Wide range of tools and features: Krita includes a wide range of traditional art tools, including pencils, pens, markers, and watercolors, as well as more advanced features such as layers, blending modes, and custom brushes. It also includes advanced brush engines that allow you to create unique and expressive brushes.

Support for vector art: Krita includes support for vector art, so you can create scalable illustrations and graphics. It also includes a range of tools for creating and editing vector shapes.
Customizable interface: The app allows you to customize the layout and appearance of the interface to suit your workflow. You can create your own toolbar configurations and dockers, and save them as presets for easy access.
In Krita, brushes are digital tools that you can use to apply paint or other media to the canvas. Krita includes a wide range of brush engines, each of which has its own set of options and parameters that you can use to create a wide range of brush styles. Some of the brush engines available in Krita include:
- Chalk: This brush engine simulates the look of a soft pastel or chalk, and allows you to control the width, softness, and texture of the brush.
- Color Smudge: This brush engine allows you to smear and blend colors together, creating a range of textured and painterly effects.
- Dynamic Brush: This brush engine allows you to create custom brushes that respond to various inputs, such as pressure, tilt, and speed. You can use this engine to create expressive and natural-feeling brushes.
- Ink: This brush engine simulates the look of traditional ink and brush techniques, and allows you to control the width, wetness, and color of the brush.
- Pixel: This brush engine allows you to create pixel art and other low-resolution graphics. You can use this engine to create precise and detailed artwork, or to create a retro or pixelated look.
Krita also includes a range of preset brushes that you can use as-is or customize to suit your needs. You can also create your own custom brushes by combining different brush engines and options.
Community support: Krita is developed by a community of volunteers, and there is a strong and active community of users who share resources, tips, and tutorials online.
Overall, Krita is a nice and feature-rich digital art app that is very popular among artists who create digital paintings and illustrations. It is suitable for both beginners and advanced users.
Each of these sketching apps has its own strengths, so you may want to try a few of them to see which one works best for you.