🎨 Art, music and story makers
Sketchbook
By Sketchbook, Inc.. Visit Sketchbook
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A clean, simple drawing app, once known as Autodesk SketchBook and now run by Sketchbook, Inc. Kids sketch with pencil, ink and paint brushes, use rulers and guides, and work in layers. The phone and tablet app is free with a small one-time bundle, and there is a paid Pro version for Mac and Windows. Art stays on the device and the app no longer needs a login.
Our take: A calm, private sketching app for kids starting digital drawing, installed by a parent; serious young artists may outgrow it.
| Ages it suits | about 8+ |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | 16 or older. Children under 16 may use it only if a parent or guardian downloads it and lets the child use it; the privacy policy says under-16s must review it with a parent first. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Free on phones and tablets; Premium Bundle $2.99 one time on the US App Store (Oct 2026). Sketchbook Pro for Mac and Windows is sold through the app stores; price not on the maker's site. |
| Works on | iPhone and iPad, Android, Mac, Windows |
| Account | No account needed |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
| The AI in it | No AI. |
What's good
- Simple, uncluttered screen
- No ads and no login
- Low one-time cost
Watch for
- Terms say 16+ unless a parent installs it
- Fewer features than Procreate or ibisPaint
- Pro desktop version costs extra
Data and privacy
The App Store label says no data is collected; the privacy policy says the maker has no access to art made in the app and uses only strictly necessary cookies on its website. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No studies found.
Alternatives to Sketchbook
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Where these facts come from
- https://www.sketchbook.com/
- https://www.sketchbook.com/privacy
- https://www.sketchbook.com/legal
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sketchbook/id883738213
- Reviews on G2: https://www.g2.com/products/sketchbook/reviews
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.