10 Best Digital Art Software to Have A Try in 2024 (Quickly Reviewed)

Summary: In this article, we will talk about digital art and share the 10 best digital art software for beginners and professional digital artists. Find the best digital art software to design stunning work on desktop and mobile.

Drawing software are invaluable tools for aspiring or professional digital artists. In the dynamic world of digital art, where imagination knows no bounds, the choice of software can significantly influence an artist's creative journey. With a plethora of options available, both free and paid, navigating through the digital art software landscape can be a daunting task. Whether you're an aspiring digital artist or a seasoned professional, selecting the right drawing software can make all the difference in your artistic pursuits.

In this article, we'll explore the 10 best digital art software options for 2024, ranging from well-established industry giants to innovative newcomers.

Best Digital Art Software: Our Top Picks

To help you find the tool that’s right for you, we’ve tested out the best digital art software as follows. Let’s dive in.

Fotor AI Image Generator

Fotor's AI image generator is one of its standout features that sets it apart from other digital art software. This powerful tool utilizes artificial intelligence to generate stunning and realistic digital art images, saving artists time and effort. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced digital artist, the AI image generator in Fotor provides endless possibilities for creating unique and captivating artwork.

Just enter your digital art inspiration prompts and you can get the artwork that AI draws for you. Or you can turn your own images into paintings without drawing it in the related art styles such as cartoon, anime and more. While it may not offer the extensive features of some premium software, Fotor's simplicity and affordability make it an appealing option for those just venturing into the world of digital art.

Available: Windows, macOS, IOS, Android

Pros:

• Easy to use interface; Good for beginner

• Excellent image quality and accuracy

• Various image generation styles to choose from

• Text-to-image and image-to-image conversions

• Built-in image editing tools

Cons:

• Fast generation mode is fee-based

Pricing:

• Fotor Basic: Free

• Fotor Pro: $3.33/month

• Fotor Pro+: $7.49/month

Adobe Photoshop

No list of digital art software is complete without mentioning Adobe Photoshop. A powerhouse in the creative industry, Photoshop remains a staple for both photographers and digital artists. Its unparalleled versatility, extensive brush library, and comprehensive editing capabilities make it a top choice for professionals. While it comes with a subscription cost, the wealth of features and resources available in Photoshop justifies the investment for serious artists. Additionally, Adobe Photoshop integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud so users can share their digital art with others and collaborate in real-time.

Available: Windows, macOS, iOS

Pros:

• Provides helpful tutorials and guides for beginners.

• Wide selection of digital filters and effects.

• Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud.

• Available for Windows, Mac, and iPad.

Cons:

• Expensive subscription fees if you want access to all features.

• The interface can be quite intimidating for beginners.

Pricing:

• $20.99 per month

Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is a professional digital art software, that artists use to create concept art, print designs, logos, mock-ups and much more. The digital drawing software is fast and responsive, making it feel smooth and enjoyable to use. It has gained a strong following in recent years for its impressive vector-based capabilities. As an alternative to Adobe Illustrator, this software offers a seamless blend of precision and artistic freedom. With a one-time purchase fee, Affinity Designer provides a cost-effective solution for creating intricate digital illustrations and designs.

Available: Windows, macOS

Pros:

• Professional-grade features

• Supports various colour spaces

• One-time purchase

• High customization

Cons:

• No free trial

• Less intuitive for beginners

Pricing:

• Desktop apps: one-off payment $69.99

• iPad apps: one-off payment $18.49

Corel Painter

Corel Painter is a digital painting and illustration software that’s available for Mac. It caters specifically to digital painters, replicating traditional painting techniques in a digital environment. Its vast array of brushes, textures, and customizable palettes empowers artists to create lifelike artworks with remarkable depth and detail. Corel Painter's unique focus on emulating traditional media sets it apart from other digital art software options. This drawing program is intuitive and feels easier to learn and use compared to Photoshop. It was designed to emulate the look and feel of traditional painting media. Drawing and painting techniques can be recreated with Corel Painter.

Available: Windows, macOS

Pros:

• Revolutionary digital painting software

• Natural media tools for realistic results

• Customizable brushes, palettes, and textures

• Easily transition from traditional to digital art

• Powerful drawing and painting capabilities

Cons:

• Tablet or mobile apps are not available.

• Performance issues on less powerful computers.

Pricing:

• One-time purchase: $429

Procreate

Procreate is an incredible digital art app packed with features to help you create your masterpiece. Exclusively available on iOS devices, Procreate has established itself as a favorite among iPad users. Its intuitive interface, fluid brush engine, and extensive layer management system contribute to its popularity. Procreate's ability to handle large canvases and offer real-time performance makes it a valuable tool for on-the-go artists seeking professional-grade results.

Available: iPad

Pros:

• Professional-quality painting and drawing

• Intuitive and responsive brushes

• Customizable canvas and layers

• Fast and powerful tools

• Easy sharing and export options

Cons:

• Available only for iPad and iPhones.

Pricing:

• One-time purchase of $12.99

Clip Studio Paint

Clip Studio Paint, known as Manga Studio in its earlier iterations, is a versatile digital art software tailored to comic book and manga artists. Its specialized features, such as panel creation and speech bubble tools, cater to the unique needs of comic creators. With both standard and EX versions available, artists can choose the edition that best suits their creative ambitions and budget.

Available: Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, Chromebook

Pros:

• Professional-grade software for digital art creation

• Variety of tools for drawing, coloring, and creating comics

• Easy-to-use interface with customizable workspace

• Compatible with Windows, Mac, iPad, and iPhone

• Intuitive features such as auto-correction and perspective rulers

Cons:

• The Pro and Ex versions of Clip Studio Paint are expensive.

• The user interface can be confusing for digital art beginners.

Pricing:

• One-time purchase of $49.99

• Monthly usage plan: $0.99 per month

Artweaver

Artweaver is a lesser-known digital art software that deserves recognition for its impressive range of brushes and realistic simulation of traditional art materials. It offers a free version with limited features and a paid version that unlocks more advanced tools. While it may not have the same level of industry presence as other options, Artweaver's capabilities make it a worthwhile consideration for artists seeking a more tactile digital drawing experience. Furthermore, Artweaver has another strong suit when it comes to working on joint art projects, because you can use the app to collaborate with colleagues and clients on the same document.

Available: Windows

Pros:

• Intuitive interface

• Realistic brush simulation

• Professional editing tools

• Support for multiple layers

• Compatibility with various file formats

Cons:

• Available for Windows users; no mac OS version is available.

• Do not support open-type fonts.

• The interface is outdated.

Pricing:

• Free (basic)

• $41.16 (plus)

Krita

Krita, an open-source digital art software, has garnered a loyal following due to its extensive feature set and collaborative community. Tailored for artists, illustrators, and concept designers, Krita boasts an impressive selection of brushes and customizable workflows. Its open-source nature makes it accessible to artists of all backgrounds, and its regular updates ensure a continually evolving platform.

Available: Windows, macOS, Linux

Pros:

• Professional digital painting software

• Free and open-source

• Thousands of brushes and tools

• Highly customizable interface

• Compatible with multiple operating systems

Cons:

• Some features may seem unintuitive.

Pricing:

• Free

Rebelle

For artists who yearn to replicate the organic and unpredictable nature of traditional watercolors and acrylics, Rebelle provides a unique solution. This digital art software simulates the behavior of real-world media, allowing artists to create stunningly realistic artworks. While it may not have the widespread recognition of some other options, Rebelle's emphasis on simulating traditional media sets it apart. There are also ‘dry’ tools like pencils, markers and erasers, so you don’t have to stick to paintbrushes. The drawing app also boasts some interesting capabilities like the ability to tilt the canvas you’re working on.

Available: Windows, macOS

Pros:

• Designed by a pro artist

• Simulates realistic painting experience

• Lots of customization options

• Toolkit bursting with brushes and tools

Cons:

• The Standard edition lacks some new features.

• It can be slow on older hardware.

Pricing:

• One-time payment of $149.99

Adobe Illustrator

Completing our list is Adobe Illustrator, a powerhouse in the realm of vector graphics and design. While Illustrator is often associated with graphic design, its tools and capabilities extend well into the domain of digital art. One of the main advantages of Adobe Illustrator is its scalability. This makes Adobe Illustrator ideal for creating logos, icons, and text effects since they will look equally good at any size.

Adobe Illustrator offers everything an artist needs – basic shapes and figures and more advanced options such as brushes, gradients effect, and transformation tools.

Available: Windows, macOS

Pros:

• It is a versatile software for digital artists.

• Best file recovery

• Offers multiple exporting options

• An incredible tool for image tracing.

• Available for Windows, Mac, and iPad.

Cons:

• It’s not beginner friendly.

• Provide minimal support for raster graphics.

Pricing:

• $31.49 per month

Conclusion

In this blog, we have talked about digital art and shared 10 best digital art software for digital painting. The realm of digital art software is a diverse landscape, offering a wide array of options to suit artists of all skill levels and preferences. As you embark on your digital art journey in 2024, take the time to explore these exceptional software options. Have a try!