Clip Studio Paint review
Comic, manga and animation tools on iPad and desktop
- CELSYS
- Subscription
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Mac, Windows
Does it deserve #9?
Is Clip Studio Paint worth it?
For most people, yes. Clip Studio Paint scores 8.3/10 and ranks #9 in Design & Creativity. It's best for comic, manga and webtoon artists who want pro tools on iPad and desktop. Skip it if you want to pay once on iPad or only sketch now and then. Price: 30-day free trial on iPad, then plans from $4.89 a month; one-time buy on Windows and Mac.
The verdict
Clip Studio Paint is built for comics and manga, and it shows. Panel frames, speech balloons, effect lines and screentones sit next to frame-by-frame animation and posable 3D models you can draw over. Version 5 added Smart Shape for clean lines, and the same tools run on iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac. The catch on iPad: after the free trial you need a plan just to save or export, and the interface feels like desktop software.
- Panel frames, balloons and screentones
- Multi-page comic projects in EX
- Frame-by-frame animation
- Posable 3D figures and hand models
- Smart Shape line correction
- Artist-made brushes and materials
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Jul 2026Ver. 5.1 added Lab color sliders plus Glow, Inflate and Drop shadow filters
- Mar 2026Ver. 5.0 brought Smart Shape, 3D hand models and faster rendering
- Mar 2026Simple Mode gained basic animation, Puppet warp and 3D head models
Privacy 7.2/10
App Store label: identifiers may be used to track you across other companies' apps; identifiers, usage and diagnostics are collected but not linked to you. Google Play lists no data shared with third parties.
What we like
- Complete comic toolkit, from storyboard to print
- Posable 3D models help with anatomy and perspective
- Same app on iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac
What could be better
- Saving and exporting on iPad need a paid plan
- Busy, desktop-style interface takes time to learn
- Multi-page comics and long animations need pricier EX
Comic, manga and webtoon artists who want pro tools on iPad and desktop
you want to pay once on iPad or only sketch now and then
Questions about Clip Studio Paint
Is Clip Studio Paint worth it in 2026?
For most people, yes. Clip Studio Paint scores 8.3/10 and ranks #9 in Design & Creativity. It's best for comic, manga and webtoon artists who want pro tools on iPad and desktop. Skip it if you want to pay once on iPad or only sketch now and then. Price: 30-day free trial on iPad, then plans from $4.89 a month; one-time buy on Windows and Mac.
Is Clip Studio Paint free on iPad?
Only during the free trial. After that you need a PRO or EX plan to save and export on iPad, while the iPhone app is free for up to 30 hours a month.
What is the difference between PRO and EX?
PRO covers illustration and short animations. EX adds multi-page tools for comics and manga plus unlimited animation frames.
Can I buy Clip Studio Paint once instead of subscribing?
Only on Windows and Mac, where a one-time license is sold. On iPad, iPhone and Android it works by subscription.
What are the best alternatives to Clip Studio Paint?
The closest alternatives are Procreate, Adobe Fresco and Krita. See all of them ranked on our Clip Studio Paint alternatives page.
Where does Clip Studio Paint rank?
Clip Studio Paint ranks #9 of 10 in our Design & Creativity ranking, with an overall score of 8.3 out of 10.