5 Best Free Drawing Apps for Kids in 2026
By The PaintPal Team · 2026-02-18
If your kid loves to draw, there's no shortage of apps to keep them busy. But finding one that's actually free, age-appropriate, and worth the storage space? That takes a little more digging.
We tested dozens of drawing apps with real kids (ages 4–10) and narrowed it down to five standouts. Each one is free to download and use, though some offer optional paid extras. Here's what we found.
1. Sketchbook by Autodesk
Sketchbook has long been a favorite among digital artists, and the free version is surprisingly full-featured for kids too. It offers a wide range of brushes, a clean canvas, and a simple enough interface that older kids (7+) can figure it out on their own. Younger kids may need a little help navigating the tool panel, but once they get going, the drawing experience is smooth and responsive. It's available on iPad, iPhone, and Android.
Best for: Older kids who want a "real" drawing tool with professional-grade brushes.
2. Tayasui Sketches
Tayasui Sketches is one of the most realistic-feeling drawing apps out there. The watercolor brush actually bleeds like watercolor, and the crayons have that slightly rough texture you'd expect. Kids who are used to physical art supplies tend to love this one because it feels familiar. The free version includes a solid set of tools, and the interface is intuitive enough for kids around age 5 and up.
Best for: Kids who love the feel of real art supplies and want something that mimics paper-and-crayon drawing.
3. PaintPal
PaintPal takes a different approach from most drawing apps. It's built around drawing together. Kids open a room, share a link, and draw on the same canvas at the same time with a friend or sibling — with built-in video chat so they can see and talk to each other while they create. The real-time collaborative drawing works smoothly, so there's no awkward lag or taking turns. Kids can swap between coloring book pages from a built-in gallery, use simple coloring tools designed for little hands, and save their shared creations to the camera roll.
The app is simple on purpose. There's no social feed, no ads, and no contact from strangers. Video chat only works inside private drawing rooms. It's free on the App Store and works on the web too.
Best for: Kids who want to draw with a friend in real time with video chat, whether they're in the same room or across the country.
4. Picsart Color
Picsart Color (previously called Color by Picsart) is a dedicated drawing and painting app that's separate from Picsart's main photo editor. It has layers, a symmetry tool, and a pretty decent brush engine, all for free. The interface is colorful and approachable for kids, and the symmetry mode is a huge hit with the 6–9 age group because everything they draw gets mirrored in real time. It's available for iOS and Android.
Best for: Kids who like experimenting with symmetry, patterns, and layered drawings.
5. Drawing for Kids by Bini Bambini
This one is designed specifically for younger children (ages 2–5). Instead of a blank canvas, kids trace outlines of animals, vehicles, and characters, which then animate when finished. It's more guided than the other apps on this list, which makes it great for toddlers and preschoolers who aren't ready for freeform drawing yet. The free version includes a rotating set of drawings, with more available through a subscription.
Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers who want a structured, animated drawing experience.
Which one should you pick?
It depends on your kid. If they want a full-featured sketchpad, go with Sketchbook or Tayasui Sketches. If they're younger and need more guidance, Drawing for Kids is the clear winner. If they love patterns and symmetry, Picsart Color is a lot of fun. And if the best part of drawing for your kid is doing it with someone else, PaintPal is the only app on this list that makes real-time collaborative drawing the main feature.
All five are free to try, so there's no harm in letting your kid test a few and see what clicks.