Sketchbook for Android

What Sketchbook is

Sketchbook is a drawing and painting app built to feel natural, like sketching on paper — just with layers, brushes, and pro tools. It stays lightweight and calm, which is why so many people keep it as their “default” art app on Android.

Interface: made for drawing, not for menus

Sketchbook hides most controls until you need them, so the canvas gets maximum space. This is especially nice on phones and smaller tablets, where big tool panels can ruin the flow. The app is easy to start with, but it doesn’t feel “toy-like” once your skills improve.

Brushes and control

You get the usual core tools — pencils, markers, ink, airbrush, blend/smudge, erasers — plus enough control to make them feel personal. The app is built so you can sketch fast, then refine without changing to a different program.

Layers: the feature that changes everything

Layers are what turn simple doodling into real illustration work. You can keep a rough sketch at the bottom, add clean linework above it, then paint underneath or on top. Sketchbook also supports blend modes (how layers interact), so it’s easier to build shadows, highlights, and texture without making your colors look muddy.

Precision tools: straight lines, symmetry, perspective

Sketchbook isn’t only “freehand vibes.” It includes guides like rulers and other helpers, so you can draw clean straight lines while still keeping your hand style. Symmetry tools are great for faces, characters, icons, and patterns.

If you like architecture or urban sketching, perspective guides are a big win. Sketchbook supports one-, two-, and three-point perspective, plus a fisheye mode, which is surprisingly fun for dynamic scenes.

Export and file formats

Sketchbook lets you export common formats like JPG and PNG for sharing, and it also supports higher-quality formats like TIFF and PSD (useful if you want to finish a piece in another editor while keeping layers). PDF export is available with the Premium Bundle.

Premium Bundle: what you unlock

Sketchbook on Android is free to download, but there’s an optional Premium Bundle (an in-app upgrade).

Better color control

You can import and export palettes, use color harmony tools (like complementary or triad palettes), create gradients, and even extract palettes from reference images.

Stronger canvas and export options

Premium adds extra export options, including multi-page PDF export from the Gallery. It also adds more control over canvas settings, such as resolution in px/inch or px/cm (these Premium additions were announced for Android after iOS).

Advanced layer/creation tools

Premium is aimed at artists who want more advanced control for building finished work (layer management and creation tools are specifically called out as part of the Premium upgrade).

Pricing

Sketchbook for Android is free to download and use. The Premium Bundle is a one-time purchase (not a subscription), and many users report it costing roughly about $2, though the exact price can vary by region and store.

Separate from the Android app, there is also a desktop product (Sketchbook Pro) often listed at a one-time $19.99 price point on software listing sites. You don’t need that for Android, but it’s useful context if someone wants a desktop workflow later.

Who Sketchbook is best for

Sketchbook is ideal if you want a clean drawing app that can handle real projects: sketches, linework, comics, character art, shading, and full illustrations. It’s also great for beginners because it doesn’t overwhelm you, but it has enough depth to stay useful for years.

How to start (without getting overwhelmed)

Start with one pencil brush, one inking brush, and 3 layers: sketch, line, color. Use symmetry or a ruler only when you need it. When you begin wishing for deeper color tools or PDF export, that’s the moment the Premium Bundle starts to make sense.