ibisPaint X review
Free drawing and animation app packed with brushes
- ibis inc.
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Windows, Mac
Does it deserve #10?
Is ibisPaint X worth it?
It depends on what you need. ibisPaint X scores 7.9/10 and ranks #10 in Design & Creativity. It's best for students and hobby artists who want a capable free app on an iPad or phone. Skip it if you want no ads, no tracking and no upsells while you draw. Price: Free with ads; ad removal is $15.99 once, or Premium is $4.49 a month.
The verdict
ibisPaint X shows how deep a free drawing app can go. You get a huge brush library, layers with blend modes, vector and text tools, screentones, rulers, frame-by-frame animation and time-lapse recording, and it runs on phones as well as iPad. The catch is the business model: ads in the free version, Premium for the best filters and unlimited vector use, and a privacy label that lists data used to track you.
- Huge brush library
- Frame-by-frame animation with audio
- Vector, text and screentone tools
- Smart Shapes and per-brush stabilizers
- Time-lapse recording
- AI Disturbance in Premium
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Sep 2026Ver. 14.1 added Smart Shapes, 3D layers, per-brush stabilizers and audio for animations
- Sep 2026Some advanced Smart features now spend Smart Credits; Premium includes a monthly allowance
- Apr 2026Ver. 14 brought named color palettes, CMYK export options and a Speech Bubble shape
Privacy 5.4/10
App Store label: purchases, coarse location, IDs, usage and diagnostics may be used to track you and are linked to you, including for third-party ads. Premium's AI Disturbance adds noise meant to deter AI copying.
What we like
- Generous free version with a huge brush library
- Animation, vector and comic tools in one app
- Runs on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows and Mac
What could be better
- Ads in the free version unless you pay
- Privacy label lists data used to track you
- Free vector tool use is capped at an hour a day
Students and hobby artists who want a capable free app on an iPad or phone
you want no ads, no tracking and no upsells while you draw
Questions about ibisPaint X
Is ibisPaint X worth it in 2026?
It depends on what you need. ibisPaint X scores 7.9/10 and ranks #10 in Design & Creativity. It's best for students and hobby artists who want a capable free app on an iPad or phone. Skip it if you want no ads, no tracking and no upsells while you draw. Price: Free with ads; ad removal is $15.99 once, or Premium is $4.49 a month.
Is ibisPaint X free?
Yes, ibisPaint X is free with ads. A one-time Ad Removal Upgrade removes ads, and Premium Membership adds unlimited vector use, premium filters and more.
What is the difference between ibisPaint and ibisPaint X?
ibisPaint X is the free version with ads. ibisPaint is the paid version without ads, and otherwise the features are the same.
Can I use ibisPaint on a computer?
Yes. ibisPaint is free on Windows from the Microsoft Store and on Mac from the Mac App Store, alongside the iPhone, iPad and Android apps.
What are the best alternatives to ibisPaint X?
The closest alternatives are Adobe Fresco, Clip Studio Paint and Procreate. See all of them ranked on our ibisPaint X alternatives page.
Where does ibisPaint X rank?
ibisPaint X ranks #10 of 10 in our Design & Creativity ranking, with an overall score of 7.9 out of 10.