ibisPaint

ibisPaint is a drawing app for phones, tablets, and computers, with tools for illustration, manga, and animation. It suits artists who want a broad creative toolkit across devices; the free version’s ads and 64MB of cloud storage make it less appealing for anyone who needs a quiet, spacious workspace.

Overview

The app’s scale is its clearest advantage: more than 47,000 brush types, over 23,000 color and monochrome materials, and more than 80 filters give artists many ways to start and refine a piece. Layers, brush customization, pressure sensitivity, and stroke stabilization add control. That breadth is useful for varied projects, though a large library alone does not make ibisPaint the right choice for every workflow.

ibisPaint runs on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Its social features let users post drawing-process videos to ibispaint.com or share them through LINE, X, and Facebook.

For more options, see our Digital Painting Software and Graphic Design Software lists.

Key features

Drawing and image tools

Brushes draw at speeds up to 120 fps, and filters include background removal and a watercolor-style conversion. AI Super-resolution is designed to improve small-canvas image quality, while AI Disturbance adds noise intended to deter fine-tuning by image-generating AI. Smart Features use Smart Credits: Premium Credits replenish monthly up to a grant limit, while purchased Paid Credits do not expire.

Manga and animation

Manga tools include 46 screen tones, frame division, speech bubbles, and rulers, making the app a strong fit for artists building comics as well as illustrations. Animation features include frame copying and onion skin display, which help when drawing successive frames. The combination broadens ibisPaint’s use beyond static artwork.

Cloud storage and privacy

Cloud Storage syncs artwork across smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Free accounts get 64MB, while Premium Membership includes 20GB; that difference matters if you want a growing portfolio accessible across devices. Deleting an ibispaint.com account also deletes data uploaded to the site and Cloud Storage. IBIS INC. says it processes device and usage data for personalized advertising, service analytics, security, and bug investigation, under applicable data protection laws including Japan’s Act on the Protection of Personal Information.

Pricing

The free version costs nothing and offers unlimited usage time, 64MB of cloud storage, and advertisements. It is a sensible way to try the core app, but the ads and small storage allowance are meaningful trade-offs for regular users.

Premium Membership costs $4.49 a month when billed monthly, or $27.99 a year when billed annually. Both include premium features, no advertisements, and 20GB of cloud storage; the monthly option also includes unlimited original brush pattern imports. Windows and Mac subscriptions offer a one-week trial on the monthly plan or a one-month trial on the yearly plan, each available once. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled.

On Mac, Premium Membership is $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year, with unlimited usage, 20GB of storage, and premium features. Windows Premium Membership is $4.49 a month or $27.99 a year and includes the same listed benefits. These desktop plans suit users who want unlimited use and more cloud space without ads.

The Ad Removal Upgrade costs $15.99 a month and removes ads from the free mobile version; it does not include the Premium plan’s listed storage and feature benefits. Windows Free trial / Demo Mode costs nothing and limits use to one hour per day, with 64MB of storage and up to five original brush pattern imports.

Pro Upgrade is $62.99 a month and adds unlimited Windows and Mac usage, CMYK export, and custom keyboard shortcuts. Separate Mac Pro Upgrade and Windows Pro Upgrade options each cost $62.99, paid once, with unlimited usage, 64MB of storage, and Pro features.

Platforms

ibisPaint supports Android 7 or later, iOS/iPadOS 15 or later, macOS 11 Big Sur or later, Windows 10 version 2004 or later, and Windows 11 version 21H2 or later. That range is useful for people moving between mobile drawing and desktop work, while the system-version requirements exclude older devices.

Who it's for

Choose ibisPaint if you want one app for digital drawing, manga assets, and frame-by-frame animation, especially when cross-device cloud sync and social sharing matter. The free version is a practical starting point for casual use. Artists who draw often or keep work in the cloud will find more room in Premium Membership; those who need CMYK export or custom keyboard shortcuts should consider Pro. If ads or limited free storage are deal-breakers, the free tier is a poor long-term fit.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Extensive brushes, materials, and filters offer a wide range of starting points for different art styles.
• Pro: Manga and animation tools make ibisPaint more versatile than a drawing-only toolkit.
• Pro: Cloud sync connects smartphones, tablets, and PCs, with 20GB included in Premium Membership.
• Con: The free version includes ads and only 64MB of cloud storage, limiting its appeal for sustained use.
• Con: The Ad Removal Upgrade costs $15.99 a month but only removes ads from the free mobile version.
• Con: Desktop system requirements rule out older versions of Windows and macOS.

Alternatives

Drawpile is a free, open-source option with free official community servers and support for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web, and self-hosting. Krita is also free and open source, with no subscriptions or trials, and runs on Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Sketchbook offers a free mobile app with brushes, layers, guides, rulers, and stroke tools. FireAlpaca is a free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows with customizable brushes, layered artwork, animation tools, and CMYK display.

MyPaint is a free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Infinite Painter is a freemium choice for Android and iOS; its free plan is limited to three layers at device resolution and selected tools and features.

Clip Studio Paint is a paid option for Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows, with a free trial and a PRO annual/monthly plan at $0.99 a month. Artweaver offers a free Windows and macOS version for non-commercial and academic purposes.

Verdict

ibisPaint is a strong choice for artists who want drawing, manga, animation, and cross-device syncing in one app. Its extensive toolset is the main reason to choose it; ads and 64MB of storage on the free version are the clearest reasons to look elsewhere or budget for Premium Membership.